Residence and citizenship
Residence permits and citizenship by investment
For foreign nationals acquiring property in Turkey, residence permits and citizenship often arise as a natural continuation of the purchase. This page introduces the types of permit and the general framework of citizenship by investment. The conditions of each application depend on personal circumstances, and the outcome rests with the assessment of the authorities concerned.
Permit types
Common residence permits
Short-term residence permit
Issued for those who own property in Turkey, those staying for tourism and similar situations. Property ownership may, under certain conditions, form the basis of the application; the duration and renewal conditions depend on the authority’s assessment.
Family residence permit
Issued for the spouse and children of a Turkish citizen or of a foreign national holding a valid residence permit in Turkey. Proof of the family relationship and adequate means of support are expected.
Long-term residence permit
A permit that may be granted indefinitely to foreign nationals who have resided in Turkey lawfully and without interruption for a set period, where the statutory conditions are met.
Student residence permit
Issued for foreign nationals studying at a higher education institution in Turkey, linked to the duration of their studies.
Citizenship
Citizenship through real estate investment — the general framework
Turkish citizenship legislation allows foreign nationals who make certain types of investment to acquire citizenship by way of exception. Acquiring property is one of these investment types, and the application is assessed separately from the general conditions for citizenship.
The minimum value required for an application based on property is set by Presidential decision and has changed several times over the years. For that reason no amount is given here; please confirm the current figure with official sources before applying.
The value of the property is established by a valuation report prepared by a CMB-licensed (SPK) valuation firm. In addition, an annotation is entered on the title stating that the property will not be sold for three years.
Fulfilment of the conditions is confirmed by a certificate of conformity issued by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre. Together with this certificate, the other documents needed for the residence permit and citizenship application are prepared.
The review and decision on the application are at the discretion of the authorities concerned. The assessment, including the security check, may vary from person to person and over time, so no definite timeframe can be given.
This page was prepared for general information as at 8 October 2026; legislation and amounts may change, so please confirm with official sources before applying.
Authorities
Presidency of Migration Management and Provincial Directorates
Receive, assess and decide residence permit applications through the e-İkamet system.
General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre
Carries out transfers through the land registry offices and issues the certificate of conformity for citizenship by investment.
General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs
Reviews citizenship applications and, following the decision, handles civil registration.
Tax office
Issues tax identification numbers to foreign nationals and handles property tax and other tax obligations.
There is no connection to official systems on this site; applications are made through the authorities’ own systems.
This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.