Frequently Asked Questions
Turkish Citizenship
By making a real estate investment of over $400,000 in Turkey and agreeing not to sell the property for a minimum of 3 years, one can qualify for Turkish citizenship.
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s per the Turkish Citizenship Law published in the Turkish Official Newspaper on 13-06-2022, individuals can apply for Turkish citizenship through various means, including:
- Investing in a property valued at over $400,000 and committing to retain ownership for a minimum of 3 years.
- Making a fixed investment of at least $500,000.
- Creating job opportunities for at least 50 Turkish citizens.
- Depositing a minimum of $500,000 in a Turkish bank.
To qualify for Turkish citizenship through real estate investment, you must adhere to the following criteria:
- Purchase a property in Turkey either from a Turkish citizen or a Turkish legal entity, such as a real estate company.
- The property should have a legal title deed, even if it is still under construction.
- The property’s value must exceed $400,000.
- Payment for the property should be conducted through a bank transfer from a bank either outside or inside Turkey.
- As the buyer, you must commit not to sell the property for a minimum of 3 years.
The dollar exchange rate for the property will be determined based on the official rate as per the Turkish Central Bank bulletin on the date of purchase.
The Turkish government has established a dedicated office for citizenship applications, aimed at streamlining the process for investors. After submitting all required documents, the office processes and evaluates the files promptly. The decision regarding citizenship approval is typically issued within 45 days from the date of receiving a complete application.
The decision to grant Turkish citizenship is solely made by the Turkish government after thorough scrutiny of all submitted documents. Once the government receives all required documents, they assess the file and make the citizenship decision accordingly.
inheritance law and property inheritance in Turkey
An inheritance tax is levied on the recipient of an estate left by a deceased individual.
Turkish inheritance law applies to legal heirs of immovable property situated within Turkey, determining their specific legal shares of the estate. In contrast, movable property is subject to the inheritance laws of the deceased owner’s nationality.
If there is no legal will, the deceased’s children, husband, or wife are the first to inherit the estate.
Turkish law governs the ownership of real estate within the borders of the Turkish Republic.
To process inheritance in Turkey, heirs need to provide a family statement and a “real estate inventory” indicating their kinship relationship, which must be certified and translated into Turkish. They must also apply for the tax register, obtain tax numbers, and provide a valid passport and personal photo.
Compared to other European Union countries, Turkey’s inheritance tax is relatively low, ranging from 1% to 10%.
The inherited tax must be paid within a maximum period of 3 years from the date of death.
In Turkey, individuals have the right to create a will, specifying the beneficiaries to whom their property shall be transferred upon their demise.
Under specific circumstances, a legal heir’s share of the inheritance can be withheld, provided that the individual providing the inheritance presents the reason for such action in court for consideration.
Certainly, in accordance with Turkish law, the transfer of real estate from the deceased to the rightful heirs is implemented.
Real estate residence permit in Turkey
In brief, the real estate residence permit in Turkey is a renewable permit granted to foreigners who own properties in the country. Typically valid for one year, this permit also extends to the spouse and children below 18 years old, as they are considered dependents of the property owner.
Among the key benefits of the real estate residence permit are:
- Holders and their family members enjoy full residence permit rights in Turkey, allowing entry without visas or security clearances.
- It offers similar aspects to a tourist residence permit but is stronger in terms of renewability and granted duration.
- Permits holders to open bank accounts, conduct banking operations, and send and receive money in Turkish banks.
- Allows the possibility of applying for visas to other countries from within Turkey.
- Permits holders to apply for a Turkish driver’s license, own a private car, and obtain medical insurance in Turkey’s hospitals.
- Facilitates registration in Turkish schools and universities.
- Eligible for Turkish citizenship application if the property value reaches $400,000, subject to specific conditions.
To obtain a real estate residence permit, the following requirements must be met:
- The foreigner must own a property intended for residential use, and it must be used as such.
- The property must be registered in the Land Registry, and the title deed must be obtained.
- All necessary documents and legal forms must be obtained.
Required documents for a real estate residence permit application in Turkey include:
- Property title deed.
- Earthquake insurance for the property.
- Passport with at least six months validity.
- Translated and ratified family statement for children from the Turkish embassy in the home country.
- Health insurance for each family member in Turkey.
The real estate residence permit is typically granted for one or two years, renewable annually.
The duration of the real estate residence permit is generally consistent across different provinces, subject to the responsible administration’s decision. Health insurance coverage for the same period is required for two-year permits, aligned with the validity period in the passport.
Property prices must be at least $75,000 in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya, Gaziantep, Adana, and Mersin to be eligible for real estate residency. In smaller Turkish cities, the property value must be at least $50,000.
Applying for a real estate residence permit incurs straightforward costs, primarily related to health insurance, which varies based on age groups, and some additional fees.
Owning a property worth $400,000 in Turkey entitles the owner, spouse, and children under 18 to apply for Turkish citizenship. If the property value is lower, the owner can include other properties to reach the required total value for citizenship application.