The Republic of Turkey continues to hold its position as one of the most attractive destinations for immigration. In 2017, the country launched a citizenship investment program, which allowed thousands of foreign citizens to obtain the coveted Turkish passport. By 2026, it had gone through a number of important legislative clarifications and had become more transparent, although more demanding on the details of transactions.
We will tell you in the article how to obtain Turkish citizenship through the purchase of real estate, and what features of the procedure foreigners need to take into account.
Program conditions in 2026
The main advantages of the Turkish program are its speed and the absence of a requirement for mandatory residence in the country. However, the conditions for obtaining Turkish citizenship, such as the financial threshold and the rules for choosing facilities, are strictly regulated.
Minimum investment amount
In 2026, the minimum investment amount for obtaining a local passport through the purchase of real estate is $ 400,000. This figure should correspond to two indicators:
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cadastral value specified in the TAPU;
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a market assessment conducted by a licensed appraiser.
Asset ownership period
An immigrant investor is required to keep the property owned for at least 3 years. After this period, the property can be sold while retaining the acquired citizenship. The profit from the rental or resale during this time remains at the disposal of the homeowner.
Key requirements for real estate properties
In order to exclude fictitious transactions, the Turkish government strictly follows the rules for choosing facilities. The Law No. 5901 "On Turkish Citizenship" provides for the following conditions for obtaining a second passport:
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The seller of the property is only a Turkish citizen. The property must be purchased from a Turkish individual or legal entity. Buying from another foreigner who previously used the same facility to obtain citizenship does not qualify for the program.
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The "one-handed" limitation. A real estate object can participate in the citizenship program only once.
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The type of property. It is allowed to buy residential apartments, villas, commercial areas or land plots (subject to a building permit).
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Currency rules. Payment must be made through local banks. The purchase procedure includes the mandatory exchange of foreign currency for lira through the Central Bank of Turkey.
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Territorial restrictions. Registration of Turkish citizenship for Russians and Ukrainians does not allow the acquisition of real estate on the Black Sea coast.
Who can apply for Turkish citizenship?
The program covers the main applicant and his/her family members — spouse, children under 18 years of age. The investor's parents or adult children are not included in the general citizenship application, but they can apply for a long-term residence permit in Turkey.
The stages of obtaining a Turkish passport
The process of naturalization through investment takes an average of 4 to 8 months. To get a passport, you need to go through several steps:
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Selecting an object and conducting an independent assessment of its value.
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Signing of the purchase and sale agreement and transfer of funds. All transactions must be transparent and carried out wirelessly.
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Obtaining a Certificate of Conformity (Uygunluk Belgesi). Based on TAPU and bank statements, the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization confirms that the investment meets the conditions of the program.
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Registration of a special residence permit. The investor is given a short-term residence permit designed specifically for future citizens.
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Applying for citizenship (başvuru) and biometrics. The applicant and the spouse must submit documents for Turkish citizenship through investment and personally visit GDIM (Directorate General for Migration Management) for fingerprinting.
Before starting the procedure, it does not hurt to ask how much Turkish citizenship costs. In addition to the cost of housing itself, the applicant for a passport needs to be prepared for additional costs — an expert assessment of the apartment, taxes, translation and realtor services, government fees for a passport.
Advantages of Turkish citizenship
One of the main questions many foreigners have when planning to move to permanent residence is what gives Turkish citizenship. The key advantages of obtaining an investor's passport are:
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Visa-free regime. Residency and citizenship allow you to visit more than 110 countries around the world without a visa or with a visa on arrival.
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Education and medicine. Access to free public schools and quality insurance medicine.
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Business opportunities. Turkey is a bridge between East and West with favorable conditions for the registration of international companies.
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Liquidity of assets. The real estate market of the Republic of Turkey (especially in Istanbul, Antalya and Alanya) is showing steady price growth, which makes the purchase a profitable investment.
If you need professional assistance in obtaining a Turkish passport, use the services of the real estate agency Altop Real Estate - go to the website . The company's specialists will undertake a full cycle of support for your transaction and select an object that strictly complies with legal requirements. With the agency, you can quickly complete the procedure and obtain citizenship without unnecessary risks and bureaucratic delays.
