Turkish Citizenship by Investment
Turkish citizenship for the whole family through a USD 400,000 real-estate investment. We manage the process, the required documents and the timeline end to end.
Turkey grants citizenship by an exceptional route in return for a qualifying real-estate investment. The GMC® Legal Team runs every step on your behalf — from choosing the right property to the passport.
At a glance
USD 400,000
Minimum real-estate investment (value set by an SPK-licensed appraisal).
3 years
Holding period, recorded as a no-sale annotation on the title deed.
Whole family
Applicant + spouse + children under 18 on the same file.
~3–6 months
Typical time to approval once documents are ready.
110+ countries
Visa-free / visa-on-arrival travel on the Turkish passport.
Dual citizenship
Turkey allows dual citizenship; no residency requirement and no language test.
Why Turkey?
At the crossroads of Europe and Asia sits a young, dynamic economy of roughly 86 million people: Turkey offers not just a passport, but a gateway to a growing market and a strategic location. You invest in one of the world's largest economies — one that is once again drawing in global capital. The figures below are drawn from official sources; we recommend confirming current values with your advisor.
~86 million people, median age under 35
Turkey's population reached roughly 86 million by the end of 2025, with a median age of 34.9 — far below the EU average of about 44. A young, sizeable domestic market means both demand and a deep workforce.
Among the world's ~16th–17th largest economies
Turkey ranks among the world's 16th–17th largest economies by GDP (2024–2025). As a member of the G20 and the OECD, it holds a seat at the table of the global economy.
A strategic location bridging two continents
Bridging Europe and Asia, Turkey borders eight countries and serves as a logistics hub opening onto the EU, the Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia. This geography offers unmatched reach for both business and lifestyle.
EU Customs Union member since 1995
Turkey has been part of the EU Customs Union since 1995, giving industrial goods largely tariff-free access to the EU market. It is a strong manufacturing base in automotive, textiles (around the world's 5th-largest textile exporter), machinery and steel.
Record 2024 tourism: ~62 million visitors
In 2024 Turkey welcomed roughly 62 million visitors and posted an all-time record of USD 61.1 billion in tourism revenue — its strongest year on record. This vibrant demand underpins rental income and property liquidity.
Rising FDI: ~USD 11.3 billion in 2024
Global capital is moving in: foreign direct investment reached USD 11.3 billion in 2024 and rose about 27% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with the Netherlands, Germany and the USA among the top sources. As these figures are volatile, confirm current data with your advisor.
The Turkish Property Market and the Citizenship Route
At the heart of Turkey's citizenship route is an asset-backed investment: you buy at least USD 400,000 of qualifying real estate, hold it for three years, and in return gain not just a passport but a tangible asset you own. After the 2022 peak, foreign demand has normalised — meaning a more balanced market with more reasonable prices. The yield and price data below are indicative; past performance does not guarantee future returns.
An established foreign-buyer base
In 2025 the top cities for sales to foreigners were Istanbul (7,989), Antalya (7,118) and Mersin (1,800), with Russia, Iran, Ukraine, Germany and Iraq the leading buyer nationalities. Thousands of international families have already invested here before you.
Price growth: TRY nominal vs USD
Home prices rose roughly 26–33% year-on-year in nominal lira terms; but with high inflation, real (inflation-adjusted) prices have declined recently. In USD terms, prices climbed between 2022 and 2025 (e.g. ~USD 825 per m², June 2025) — but this is currency-dependent and volatile, not guaranteed.
Indicative gross rental yields: ~6–8%
Nationwide gross rental yields have recently ranged from about 7.1% to 7.8%, varying by city (e.g. Ankara ~8.3%, Istanbul ~7.3%, Antalya ~5.7%; 2025). Net yields run roughly 1.5–2 points lower after tax, maintenance and vacancy. These are indicative ranges, not promises.
The rule: USD 400,000 + SPK appraisal + 3 years
For citizenship the property must be valued at no less than USD 400,000 (in effect since 13 June 2022; the threshold has changed twice before), paid through Turkish banking channels, and held for three years with a no-sale annotation on the title deed. The valuation is now an SPK-licensed report centralised through GEDAŞ under the 2024 circular. Confirm the current procedure with your advisor.
Advantages of Turkish Citizenship
A single qualifying investment means lifelong second citizenship for your whole family — with no residency requirement, language test or interview. Fast and asset-backed, Turkish citizenship is one of the world's most practical citizenship programmes. We set out the benefits below clearly but truthfully; we recommend confirming each figure as current with your advisor.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival to ~110+ destinations
The Turkish passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 110+ destinations (Henley 2025 ranks it 46th with ~116 destinations; indices count differently). To be honest: this list does not include the Schengen area, the USA, the UK or Canada — these still require a visa.
The USA E-2 Investor Visa route
Turkey is a US E-2 treaty country, so Turkish citizens can apply for the E-2 Investor Visa to establish and run a real business in the USA. There is no statutory minimum, but in practice a substantial, at-risk investment of roughly USD 100,000–300,000+ is expected. The E-2 is a renewable non-immigrant visa (not a green card or permanent residence); a spouse and children under 21 may accompany. Confirm details with a US immigration attorney.
The whole family included — one investment
A single qualifying investment covers the main applicant plus their spouse and children under 18 (and, per several sources, dependent disabled children regardless of age). One decision, security for the whole family.
No residency, language test or interview
You need not live in — or even visit — Turkey to obtain or keep citizenship, and there is no Turkish-language exam or culture test for the investment route. Much of the process can be completed remotely through a power of attorney.
Typical timeline: ~3–6 months
With a complete, correctly sequenced file the process commonly completes in about 3–4 months, realistically 4–7 months. We do not present timelines as guarantees; the decision rests with the Turkish authorities and processing times fluctuate.
Dual citizenship permitted
Turkey permits dual or multiple citizenship; you are not required to renounce your existing nationality. You should separately check whether your own country allows it — some require renunciation.
Easier banking and business set-up
Citizenship eases opening a Turkish bank account, forming a company, and tapping the country's Customs-Union-linked trade position. A young workforce and a domestic market of ~86 million provide solid ground for doing business.
Turkey's Tax Climate
Turkey's tax system holds meaningful advantages for international investors: there is no annual general wealth tax, individuals who hold property for more than five years are exempt from capital-gains tax, and holding the passport alone does not make you a Turkish tax resident. The rates below are general and re-indexed for inflation each year; you must confirm them against your individual situation with a qualified tax advisor.
Progressive income tax: 15%–40%
Personal income tax is progressive, from 15% at the bottom to 40% in the top bracket (2026); the TRY bands are re-indexed for inflation each year. Only income you actually earn is taxed.
Corporate tax: 25% standard
The standard corporate tax rate is 25% (30% for the financial sector), raised from 20% effective for income earned from 2023. A reduced 12.5% rate for manufacturing/agricultural activities is set for the 2027 tax year.
No annual general wealth tax
Turkey levies no national wealth tax. (Exception: a 0.3%–1.0% high-value residence tax applies to homes above roughly TRY 17.7 million — that is a property tax, not a general wealth tax.)
Property taxes + foreign-buyer VAT exemption
The title-deed transfer fee is 4% of the declared value (legally 2% buyer / 2% seller). Annual property tax on homes is 0.1% (doubled in metropolitan municipalities). A foreign buyer bringing in foreign currency from abroad can be exempt from VAT on a new property in its first sale, provided it is held for a set period (commonly 1 year) — confirm current conditions with your advisor.
Capital-gains exemption after 5 years
For individuals, gains on real estate held for more than five years are exempt from income tax. Sales within five years are taxed on the 15%–40% progressive scale; but because the cost base can be inflation-adjusted (PPI), the taxable gain is often sharply reduced. (This exemption is for personal assets, not real-estate trading businesses.)
Passport ≠ tax residency (the 183-day rule)
Anyone present in Turkey for more than 183 days in a calendar year (or domiciled there) is taxed on worldwide income; non-residents are taxed only on Turkish-source income. The key point: simply holding the passport does not by itself make you a Turkish tax resident.
The process
- Eligibility & property selectionSelecting CBI-eligible property worth at least USD 400,000.
- SPK appraisalObtaining the official valuation report from a licensed appraiser.
- Purchase & title deedTitle transfer with the 3-year no-sale annotation, and payment routed through a Turkish bank.
- Certificate of ConformitySecuring the certificate confirming the investment qualifies.
- Residence permitApplying for the short-term residence permit.
- Citizenship applicationFiling the citizenship application together with family members.
- Approval & passportReceiving the Turkish ID and passport after approval.
Required documents
- Valid passport (and ID copies)
- Biometric photographs
- Birth certificate; marriage certificate if applicable (apostilled + sworn translation)
- SPK-licensed real-estate appraisal report
- Title deed (with the 3-year no-sale annotation)
- Certificate of Conformity
- Bank receipts proving the USD 400,000 was transferred via a Turkish bank
- Valid health insurance
Frequently asked questions
How much must I invest?
Do I have to live in Turkey?
Is my family included?
How long does it take?
Can I keep my current citizenship?
Can I sell the property?
本内容为一般性信息，不构成投资或法律建议；请自行独立核实。