5 min read 
The legislation on Turkish citizenship has recently undergone significant updates, prompting many questions from individuals interested in obtaining a Turkish passport. Previously, foreign buyers of real estate or investors in the economy were unable to acquire Turkish citizenship. One could only become a citizen for family reasons, such as marriage, family reunification, or belonging to a Turkic ethnic group (such as Meskhetian Turks). Thus, the Republic of Turkey historically maintained a stricter approach to granting citizenship status compared to European countries, which have long offered citizenship by investment.
Later, Turkey introduced legislation allowing economic investors and property buyers to officially obtain Turkish citizenship. Initially, this program did not see widespread adoption, as the entry threshold for real estate was set at $1,000,000 in cadastral value (which is typically specified in the TAPU at a rate significantly lower than the actual market price). For example, when buying a villa worth $1,000,000, its cadastral value in official documents would often be 3–4 times lower. Other thresholds were equally high: an investment of $2,000,000 in industrial manufacturing or a bank deposit of the same amount was required—substantial figures even by European standards.
Subsequently, the government introduced key amendments to the law, significantly lowering the investment thresholds and making it far more accessible for foreign nationals to obtain a Turkish passport.
Under the current regulations, there are 5 main routes to obtaining Turkish citizenship:
- Investment in the Turkish economy (e.g., establishing a plant or factory) – $500,000 (previously $2,000,000)
- Investment in Turkish real estate – $250,000 (previously $1,000,000). Note that this refers to the cadastral value, meaning the TAPU must reflect an amount equivalent to at least $250,000. The mandatory holding period is 3 years, after which the property may be sold
- Creating 50 new jobs (previously 100) in manufacturing, hospitality, food service, or other industries
- Depositing funds into a Turkish bank account for 3 years – $500,000 (previously $2,000,000), often with higher interest rates than European banks
- Investment in Turkish securities worth at least $500,000
