How to obtain Turkey citizenship by real estate investment
Buying real estate in Türkiye can provide eligible foreign investors with a legal pathway to apply for Turkish citizenship through exceptional acquisition procedures.
The real estate route is one of the investment options established under Turkish law. For investors choosing this route, the key requirement is to acquire qualifying real estate worth at least USD 400,000 and undertake not to sell the property for three years. The required restriction is recorded in the land registry as part of the process.
However, purchasing a property for USD 400,000 or more does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship. The property, payment records, valuation and application documents must comply with the applicable requirements, and the relevant authorities must issue the required approvals.
This 2026 guide explains the process step by step, from selecting an eligible property to completing the citizenship application.
The main requirements for obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment include:
Purchasing qualifying real estate with a value of at least USD 400,000 or the equivalent amount under the applicable rules.
Registering the property through the Turkish Land Registry.
Placing a three-year restriction on the sale of the property in the land registry.
Meeting the applicable valuation and payment requirements.
Obtaining the required Certificate of Conformity (Uygunluk Belgesi) for the real estate investment.
Obtaining the required short-term residence permit for the citizenship application process.
Completing the citizenship application with the required documents.
The Turkish Investment Office confirms that the real estate must be acquired for citizenship purposes, the relevant declaration must be made during the transaction, and the three-year non-sale commitment must be recorded.
Is USD 400,000 the Current Minimum?
Yes. As of 2026, the minimum real estate investment amount for the citizenship route is USD 400,000.
The USD 250,000 threshold used in older articles and guides is no longer applicable to new applications under the current rules. The minimum was increased to USD 400,000 in 2022.
Foreign nationals who meet the legal requirements for the investment route may apply for Turkish citizenship through exceptional procedures.
The applicant must first satisfy the investment conditions and obtain the required Certificate of Conformity. According to the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs, the investment route requires fulfillment of one of the investment conditions specified in the relevant regulation, followed by the residence permit and citizenship application stages.
Eligibility can also depend on the applicant’s nationality and other legal circumstances. Therefore, citizenship eligibility should be checked before purchasing a property specifically for this purpose.
The process can be divided into several main stages.
Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility
Before selecting a property, the investor should confirm that they are eligible to acquire real estate in Türkiye and apply through the investment route.
Foreign nationals are subject to the applicable rules governing property acquisition in Türkiye. A residence permit is not generally required as a precondition for a foreign national to purchase real estate.
At this stage, it is important to determine:
Whether the applicant’s nationality permits real estate acquisition
Whether the intended property can be used for the citizenship route
Whether the investment structure complies with the current regulations
Which family members may be included in the application
Which documents will be required from the applicant and family
Step 2: Select a Citizenship-Eligible Property
Not every property purchase automatically qualifies for citizenship.
The property should be checked before the purchase to ensure that it meets the applicable legal and valuation requirements.
The investment can involve qualifying real estate such as an eligible residential or commercial property, provided that the property and transaction satisfy the citizenship rules.
Particular attention should be paid to:
The property’s title deed status
Existing mortgages, liens or other restrictions
Official property valuation
Previous ownership and citizenship applications involving the property
The purchase price and documented payments
Whether the property is legally suitable for the citizenship application
The Turkish Investment Office specifically advises checking mortgages, liens and similar restrictions that could prevent the property from being transferred before beginning the land registry procedures.
Step 3: Complete the Property Valuation and Payment Procedures
The value of the property is an important part of the citizenship process.
The relevant official valuation and transaction documents must support the required investment amount. Current Turkish property procedures also use the Certificate for Determining the Amount Relevant to Acquiring Citizenship Through Real Estate (TTB) to verify the qualifying amount.
The documented sale price and payment amounts must satisfy the applicable requirements separately. This is one reason why payment records should be planned carefully before completing the purchase.
For international buyers, it is important to retain official bank documentation for all qualifying payments.
Step 4: Complete the Title Deed Transfer
The property purchase is completed through the Turkish Land Registry.
A preliminary agreement or promise-to-sell contract by itself does not transfer ownership. Ownership of real estate in Türkiye is established through registration at the relevant Land Registry Directorate.
During the title deed process, the investor must ensure that the required three-year restriction on selling the property is properly recorded for the citizenship application.
The investor should keep the title deed and all official transaction documents because they form part of the subsequent application process.
Step 5: Obtain the Certificate of Conformity
After the investment requirements have been fulfilled, the relevant authority verifies whether the investment meets the conditions for the citizenship route.
For real estate investments, the Certificate of Conformity is issued by the relevant authority responsible for verifying the property investment.
The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs identifies the Certificate of Conformity as the document used to confirm that the minimum investment requirement under Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law has been fulfilled.
This stage is important because the citizenship application should proceed only after the investment has been formally confirmed as compliant.
Step 6: Apply for a Short-Term Residence Permit
After obtaining the Certificate of Conformity, the investor proceeds with the short-term residence permit stage required for the investment citizenship process.
The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs states that applicants qualifying through investment use the short-term residence permit provision under Article 31/1(j) of Law No. 6458.
The residence permit stage should not be confused with a long-term residence requirement. The investment citizenship route is based on fulfilling the applicable investment conditions rather than establishing a traditional long-term residency history.
Step 7: Submit the Turkish Citizenship Application
Once the required investment and residence permit stages have been completed, the applicant can proceed with the citizenship application.
According to the official procedure, citizenship applications under the investment route are submitted through the relevant Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs or the applicable authorized office.
The application file must contain the required documentation for the applicant and any eligible family members included in the application.
Step 8: Application Review and Decision
The citizenship application is reviewed by the relevant Turkish authorities.
The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs states that applications are evaluated and, where there is no issue concerning national security or public order, the citizenship decision is submitted for approval. The final decision is made by the President of the Republic of Türkiye.
The processing period can vary depending on the application, documentation and administrative procedures. Therefore, a guaranteed citizenship or passport delivery date should not be promised before the application has been assessed.
A citizenship-focused property purchase requires more than simply finding a property advertised above USD 400,000.
Before signing a contract, investors should verify:
1. Official Value
Make sure the property’s qualifying value can be supported by the applicable official valuation and amount-determination documents.
2. Payment Documentation
All qualifying payments should be properly documented through the required banking procedures.
3. Title Deed Status
Check ownership information and any mortgage, lien, seizure or other restriction that could affect the transaction.
4. Citizenship Eligibility
Confirm that the property itself and its transaction history are suitable for the citizenship route.
5. Three-Year Restriction
Ensure that the required non-sale annotation is correctly recorded in the land registry.
6. Family Eligibility
If the investor plans to include a spouse or children, confirm their eligibility and prepare their documents in advance.
7. Current Regulations
Citizenship rules, administrative procedures and fees can change. Information should therefore be checked against current official sources before the transaction is completed.
International investors should be particularly careful about the following issues:
Choosing a property based only on its advertised price:
A property’s listing price alone does not establish citizenship eligibility.
Ignoring the official valuation:
The applicable official valuation and amount-determination documents are important parts of the process.
Making payments without proper documentation:
Payment records must comply with the requirements applicable to the citizenship transaction.
Failing to check title deed restrictions:
Mortgages, liens and other restrictions should be reviewed before completing the purchase.
Assuming every USD 400,000 property qualifies:
The investment threshold is only one part of the eligibility requirements.
Relying on outdated information:
Older articles may still refer to the former USD 250,000 threshold. For applications in 2026, the applicable real estate threshold is USD 400,000.
Expecting a guaranteed processing time:
Administrative processing times can vary, so applicants should avoid relying on an unconditional passport delivery promise.
The Turkish citizenship process combines property acquisition, valuation, banking documentation, land registry procedures, residence permit requirements and citizenship application procedures.
A mistake at an early stage can create delays or affect the eligibility of the investment.
For this reason, international buyers should have the property and transaction reviewed before making a significant payment or signing a binding agreement.
Best House Turkey assists international buyers with property selection and the real estate transaction process and can help investors identify properties suitable for their stated citizenship requirements.
How much property do I need to buy for Turkish citizenship in 2026?
The minimum qualifying real estate investment is USD 400,000, subject to the applicable legal and procedural requirements. The property must also be subject to the required three-year non-sale restriction.
Is the USD 250,000 Turkish citizenship investment still valid?
No. The current minimum for the real estate route is USD 400,000. The previous USD 250,000 threshold found in older articles is outdated for current applications.
Can I buy several properties for Turkish citizenship?
A qualifying investment may involve more than one property, provided the properties and transaction structure satisfy the applicable requirements. Each property should be checked before purchase.
Do I have to live in Turkey to obtain citizenship through property?
The investment route does not require the applicant to establish a traditional long-term residence history. However, the citizenship procedure includes the applicable short-term residence permit stage.
Can I sell my property after obtaining Turkish citizenship?
The qualifying property is subject to a three-year non-sale restriction. After the applicable period has been completed, the property may generally be sold subject to the relevant legal procedures.
Can my spouse and children be included?
Eligible spouses and children may be included in the same investment citizenship application, subject to the applicable legal requirements and documentation.
Do I need to speak Turkish?
The investment citizenship route does not require applicants to demonstrate Turkish-language proficiency as a general investment condition.
Do I need a residence permit before buying property?
No. A foreign national does not generally need a residence permit as a precondition to acquire real estate in Türkiye. However, the investment citizenship process includes a short-term residence permit stage after the investment requirements are fulfilled.
How long does Turkish citizenship by investment take?
There is no single guaranteed processing period for every application. The total duration depends on the property transaction, documentation, Certificate of Conformity, residence permit and citizenship review stages.
For this reason, investors should be cautious about companies or advertisements promising a guaranteed passport within a fixed number of days.
Is buying a USD 400,000 property enough to guarantee citizenship?
No. The USD 400,000 threshold is the minimum investment requirement for the real estate route, but the property and transaction must also meet the applicable legal, valuation, payment and documentation requirements. Citizenship is subject to the official application and approval process.
If you are considering Turkish citizenship through real estate investment, the first step is to determine whether you and the property you are considering meet the current requirements.
Best House Turkey can help international buyers explore suitable properties in Türkiye and understand the property purchase process before proceeding with a citizenship application.
Tell us your investment budget, preferred location and family details, and our team can help you explore suitable citizenship-eligible property options.
Contact Best House Turkey to discuss your Turkish citizenship by real estate investment plan.
