The Turkish citizenship by investment program (often referred to as a Turkey Golden Visa) was launched in 2016. It allows foreign investors to obtain a Turkish passport within three to six months.
The minimum investment option is purchasing real estate worth at least $250,000. Other options include investing in government bonds or establishing an enterprise that will create job opportunities for Turkish citizens. You must keep your investment for at least three years.
Turkey Citizenship by Investment Options
The options for obtaining Turkey citizenship by investment are as follows:
- Purchase real estate worth at least $250,000.
- Purchase at least $500,000 worth of government bonds and hold the investment for at least three years.
- Establish a company that will employ at least 50 people.
- Make a capital investment of at least $500,000.
- Deposit at least $500,000 in a Turkish bank and keep it for a minimum of three years.
- Invest at least $500,000 in a real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund share for at least three years.
Benefits of the Turkey Investment Visa
Turkey offers many advantages to foreign investors, such as:
- Turkish passport in as little as three months. As soon as you make your investment, you can submit your application for Turkish citizenship. You will have a Turkish passport within three to six months.
- Immediate permanent residence and citizenship in Turkey. As soon as you apply for a Turkish Investment Visa, you receive a permanent residence card, which you can use to live in Turkey and start your investment.
- Pathway to the US E2 Investment Visa. Once you are a Turkish citizen, you can apply for the US E2 Investment Visa, which allows you to live, invest, and work in the US.
- Business opportunities in EEC (European Economic Community) countries. As a Turkish citizen, you can make use of the Ankara Agreement, which allows Turkish citizens to work, establish a business, and permanently move to an EEC country. Although a visa is required, the application process is more accessible than in other countries.
- Pathway to the UK’s Turkish Businessperson visa. Once you have a Turkish passport, you can use a facilitated pathway to set up a UK business and obtain British permanent residence.
- Visa-free entry to over 110 countries. As a Turkish citizen, you can visit over 110 countries without a visa, including Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The case of granting Turkish nationals Schengen visa liberalisation is also being discussed.
Residency Requirements
There are no residency requirements to obtain Turkish citizenship as an investor. This means you can obtain a Turkish passport six months after you make an investment, without ever living in Turkey.
Additionally, you can hire representatives to handle your investment, visa application, and citizenship process. As such, you do not have to be in Turkey for your investment and visa application either, if you so wish.
However, you may need to enter Turkey to oversee your investment. For example, if you are purchasing real estate, you will have to go and check the property or compare different options.
Who Can Apply for a Turkey Investment Visa?
You can apply for a Turkey Investment Visa if you fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- You are an adult.
- You do not have a criminal background.
- You have never stayed in Turkey illegally.
- You have completed due diligence on your investment.
- You have obtained your funds legally.
How to Apply for a Turkey Investment Visa?
The process of applying for a Turkish Investment Visa is as follows:
- Choose a qualifying investment. You should talk to your advisors to determine which investment is best for you, depending on your finances, family structure, and your end goals.
- Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility. Depending on your investment, there are different authorities responsible for issuing a certificate of eligibility. For example, you must approach the Turkish General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadaster of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization for investment in real estate.
- Open a Turkish bank account. You have to open a bank account in Turkey, where you must deposit your money. Your advisors and legal representatives can help you set up the account.
- Apply for a Turkish residence permit. Once your investment is approved, you can apply for a residence permit at the Turkish Provincial Directorate of Immigration Administration. The residence permit is issued immediately after, and you can use it to live in Turkey while finalising your investment and applying for citizenship.
- Make your investment. You have to finalise your investment and collect all required documents, certificates, translations, etc., for the citizenship application.
- Apply for Turkey citizenship. As soon as you have made your investment, you can submit your application for Turkish citizenship at the Provincial Directorate of Census and Citizenship. This application is usually resolved within four months.
Where to Receive Certificate of Eligibility for Turkey Investor Visa?
To obtain a Certificate of Eligibility for investment in Turkey, you must apply to the following institutions (based on the nature of your investment):
- For investment in real estate – Turkish Land Registry and Cadaster of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization.
- For a capital investment – Incentive Application and Foreign Capital of the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Technology.
- For a deposit in a Turkish bank account – Department of Financial Consumer Relations of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency.
- For an investment in government bonds – Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
- For purchasing real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund share – Department of the Brokerage Activities of the Capital Markets Board of Turkey.
- For establishing a company that will employ at least 50 people – General Directorate of International Labor of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services.
Family Members of Turkey Investor Visa Applicants
If you apply for a Turkey Investor Visa, you can include the following family members in your application:
- Your spouse or partner.
- Children under the age of 18.
- Children up to 21 years of age who are financially dependent.
- Dependent elderly parents.
Documents for Turkey Investor Visa Application
The documents needed for a Turkey Investor Visa application are:
- Passport (for each applicant).
- Proof of having made the necessary investment.
- A Turkish Tax Number.
- Document proving you have never stayed in Turkey illegally.
- Proof of having paid the necessary taxes and fees for the Turkey Investment Visa application.
- Criminal background (for each applicant).
- Birth certificate (for each applicant).
- Passport-size pictures (for each applicant).
- Marriage certificate (if applicable).
- Divorce certificate (if applicable).
- Death certificate (if applicable).
- Proof of health insurance that’s valid in Turkey (for each applicant).
Remember: The exact requirements will differ for each applicant, depending on the investment type, background, and nationality. You can consult with investment advisors or lawyers regarding the complete document checklist for Golden Visa applications.
The Validity of Turkey Investor Visa
The Turkey Investor Visa is indefinite. After your investment, you can apply for Turkish citizenship – which is granted for life – and a Turkish passport. You have to renew your passport every ten years.
Does Turkey Allow Dual Nationality?
Yes, Turkey allows dual nationality. If you acquire a Turkish passport as an investor, you can also maintain your current nationality.
However, for dual citizenship to be possible, the nationality laws of both countries must allow it.
If your current country of nationality does not allow dual citizenship, you must renounce it before obtaining a Turkish passport.
Going From Turkey Investor Visa to the US E2 Investment Visa
One of the main benefits of the Tukey Investor Visa is that you become eligible for the US’s E2 Investment Visa. The US has a treaty with 78 countries (including Turkey), granting applicants an E2 Visa in return for an investment of $100,000 to $200,000.
Although the E2 Visa is non-immigrant (does not grant a Green Card), it is a five-year visa that can be renewed indefinitely. The reason the E2 is more desirable compared to the EB5 immigrant investment visa is due to the low investment requirement ($200,000 as opposed to $900,000).
Considering that by investing in Turkey, you can obtain Turkish citizenship relatively quickly, many investors who have their eyes set on the US choose to go through this process: invest in Turkey, get a Turkish passport, apply for the E2 Visa.
In return, they have a Turkish passport in addition to US residency.