Turkish nationality law
Turkish nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. Children who are born to a Turkish mother or a Turkish father are Turkish citizens from birth. The intention to renounce Turkish citizenship is submitted in Turkey by a petition to the highest administrative official in the concerned person's place of residence, and when overseas to the Turkish consulate. Documents processed by these authorities are forwarded to the Ministry of Interior for appropriate action.
Definition of citizenship
Citizenship is defined in Article 66 of the Turkish constitution:Adoption
A child adopted by a Turkish citizen automatically becomes a Turkish citizen if under 18 years old on the date the application for adoption was made. In some cases, those who have foreign names and are applying for Turkish citizenship change their name to a Turkish name. Examples of people who have done this include football players Colin Kazim-Richards and Mehmet Aurélio.Loss of citizenship
There are three different states of loss of citizenship in Turkey. They are either, cancellation, revocation, or renunciation.- Loss of citizenship in Turkey may occur under Article 31 where the national in question has misrepresented or concealed essential information in regards to his acquisition of Turkish nationality, Turkish nationality also may be revoked or renounced, under the Turkish Citizenship Law.
The Blue Card as a form of "Citizenship lite"
Naturalization
A foreign national may apply for naturalization if the following conditions are met:- Legal majority as defined by the laws of the applicant's country of origin or those of Turkey in the case of stateless persons,
- Residence in Turkey for an uninterrupted period of five years prior to the application,
- Intention to settle in Turkey and demonstration thereof,
- No risk to public health,
- Good moral character,
- Adequate command of the Turkish language,
- Sufficient income for his or her own livelihood and that of any dependants in Turkey,
- No threat to national security or public order.
A foreign national who has been married to a Turkish citizen for three years and is still married to that partner may apply for naturalization under a different set of conditions:
- Residence with the Turkish spouse,
- Absence of acts jeopardising the marriage,
- No threat to national security or public order.
Citizenship by Investment
Since 18 September 2018, Law No 5901 disposes that foreign citizens investing in Turkey will be granted the right to apply for Turkish citizenship.Foreigners who meet any of the following criteria may be eligible for Turkish citizenship:
- Made a minimum fixed capital investment of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira, as attested by the Ministry of Industry and Technology,
- Acquired a property worth a minimum of USD 250,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira with a title deed restriction on its resale for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization,
- Created jobs for at least 50 people, as attested by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services,
- Deposited at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira in banks operating in Turkey with the condition not to withdraw the same for at least three years, as attested by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency,
- Bought at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira worth of government bonds with the condition that they cannot be sold for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance,
- Bought at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira worth of real estate investment fund share or venture capital investment fund share with the condition that they cannot be sold for at least three years, as attested by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey
Applicants must submit documents issued in their name that shows their name and surname, name of their fathers and mothers, city of their birth, date of their birth, their ID/passport numbers, their marital status and other main details about them. Financial declarations are not required as well as criminal background check documents.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program does not have a pre-approval system that many Caribbean citizenship programs have but also the program's application requirements are easier and approval ratings are higher.
The investment made and claimed by the foreign national will be monitored and confirmed by the relevant Government authority. Once the investment is confirmed by the relevant governmental authority, the foreign national will be granted Turkish citizenship.
Dual citizenship
is possible in Turkish law.The laws of Turkey provide for acquisition of Turkish citizenship based on one's descent—by birth to a Turkish citizen parent in Turkey and also by birth abroad to a Turkish citizen parent —regardless of the other nationalities a person might acquire at birth. Children born in Turkey to foreign citizens do not have a claim to Turkish citizenship, unless one of the parents is also a Turkish citizen or the child would otherwise be stateless. The automatic acquisition of a foreign nationality does not affect Turkish citizenship. Turkish laws have no provisions requiring citizens who are born with dual nationality to choose one nationality over the other when they become adults.
While recognizing the existence of dual nationality and permitting Turkish citizens to have other nationalities, the Turkish government requires that those who apply for another nationality inform the relevant Turkish authority and provide the original naturalisation certificate, Turkish birth certificate, document attesting to completion of military service, marriage certificate and four photographs. Dual nationals are not required to use a Turkish passport to enter and leave Turkey; it is permitted to travel with a valid foreign passport and the Turkish National ID card.
Since not all countries allow dual citizenship, Turks must sometimes give up their Turkish citizenship in order to naturalise as citizens of another country.
Visa requirements for Turkish citizens
Holders of an ordinary Turkish passport may travel without a visa, or with a visa received upon arrival, to 117 countries, as of 1 January 2019 according to the Visa Restrictions Index.Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Turkey also provides a special sort of "passport for foreigners" to citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, to enable them to travel freely, as this country is generally not recognized and the local passports are not accepted as valid travel documents in some countries.Citizens of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are also entitled to become citizens of Turkey if they wish and apply to do so. They are exempt from the above criteria. The only criterion is that they are born Turkish Cypriots, i.e., of a Turkish Cypriot mother or father.