1. Frequently asked questions are;

• What conditions should I meet to acquire Turkish citizenship exceptionally?
• What are the documents required when applying for Turkish citizenship?
• What is the application procedure?”

This brief  article aims to answer these questions. However, it is important to note that it is useful to get help from experts in this field, which is very technical and difficult.

2. Article 12 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 regulates exceptional circumstances for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship. According to this article ;

 “The following foreigners may acquire Turkish citizenship by the decision of the President of the Republic, provided that they do not have any obstacle in terms of national security and public order.

a) Persons who bring industrial facilities to Turkey or who have passed or are expected to pass extraordinary services in scientific, technological, economic, social, sports, cultural and artistic fields and for whom a justified offer has been made by the relevant ministries,

b) Turquoise Card holder foreigners and their foreign spouses, minor or dependent foreign children of himself and his spouse,

c) Persons deemed necessary to be Turkish Citizen ,

d) Persons who are accepted as immigrants.”

3. With the change in the regulation published in the Official Gazette on 06.01.2022, the circumstances in which foreigners will acquire Turkish citizenship exceptionally have been rearranged. According to the regulation change made with the Presidential Decree, a foreigner who fulfills any of the following conditions will be able to acquire Turkish citizenship.

a) It is determined by the Ministry of Industry and Technology that it has made a fixed capital investment of at least 500,000 USD or equivalent foreign currency.

b) Purchased the immovable property   with at least US $ 400,000 or equivalent foreign currency, provided that an annotation is placed in the land registry that it will not be sold for three years, or a condominium or floor servitude has been established, at least US$ 400,000 or equivalent in foreign currency has been deposited in advance and transferred to the land registry for a period of three years. It is determined by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change that the sale of the immovable is promised with the contract drawn up in the notary, provided that the commitment not to be abandoned and abandoned.

c) It has been determined by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security that it has created employment for at least 50 people,

d) It has been determined by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency that it has deposited at least 500,000 USD or equivalent foreign currency deposits in banks operating in Turkey, provided that it is kept for three years,

e) As determined by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, to have purchased government debt instruments worth at least 500,000 USD or equivalent foreign currency, provided that they are kept for three years.

f) As determined by the Capital Markets Board, to have purchased real estate investment fund participation shares or venture capital investment fund participation shares in the amount of at least 500.000 USD or equivalent foreign currency, on the condition that they hold at least three years.

g) It is determined by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency that it has invested at least 500,000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency into the private pension system, provided that it is kept in the funds determined by the Insurance and Private Pensions Regulation and Supervision Agency and remains in the system for three years.

4.  In practice, we can say that foreigners act in order to meet the relevant conditions, often by depositing a deposit of 500,000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency in banks operating in Turkey on the condition of keeping them for three years, or by placing an annotation that immovable property worth 400,000 USD or equivalent in foreign currency is not sold in the land registry for three years.

5. A foreigner who meets any of the above-mentioned conditions and wishes to acquire Turkish citizenship exceptionally applies to the relevant authorities with the following documents.

a. Vat-4 “Application Form”

b. Passport

c. Birth Certificate

d. Marital Status Certificate

e. Citizenship Application Service Fee (20TL per person)

f. 2 Biometric Photos

g.  Certificate Of Conformity

h. Residence Certificate

i.  Declaration form

A citizenship file consisting of application documents is prepared for the foreigner who is offered to acquire Turkish citizenship exceptionally, upon the written instruction of the Ministry, by the governorship in which the place of residence is located in the country, and by our foreign representative offices abroad.

 Attorney Yalcin TORUN