Turkish Citizenship by Investment: The Legal Conditions Explained

Turkish citizenship by investment is not a special visa product but a set of conditions written into regulations issued under Turkish citizenship law. These rules define which investments qualify, how their value is measured and proven, and what the investor commits to. Understanding them before you choose a property helps you avoid a purchase that looks right on paper but does not meet the program's requirements. This article explains each condition of the real estate route as it applies today, and then looks at the other investment routes the program accepts.

The minimum value and how it is measured

The central condition is value. The property must be worth at least USD 400,000, or the equivalent in another foreign currency, and the threshold can be met with a single property or with several properties together, which gives buyers some flexibility in how they structure the investment. What counts, however, is not only the price agreed with the seller. An appraisal company licensed by the Capital Markets Board, known in Turkey as SPK, values the property, and the value stated in its official valuation report must meet the threshold. This is why the valuation report is part of the citizenship file, and why it is wise to check before signing that the expected valuation supports the amount you plan to invest.

Payment in foreign currency

The law also sets how the money arrives. The price is paid by bank transfer in foreign currency, which is converted at a Turkish bank against a Foreign Currency Purchase Certificate, called DAB. This certificate proves that the investment was made in the required way. A payment that does not follow this route may not provide the proof the application needs, so the order of payment and paperwork matters as much as the amount itself. It is therefore worth agreeing with the seller and your bank, before any transfer, on how the payment will be made and documented.

The three-year commitment and the Certificate of Conformity

An investor who buys for citizenship commits to keeping the property: an annotation is added to the title deed stating that it will not be sold for at least three years. In return, the same investment covers the family, and the spouse and children under 18 are included in the application without any additional investment. Because the annotation stays on the title deed for the whole period, a citizenship purchase is best planned as a medium-term commitment rather than a quick trade.

Once the purchase is registered, the Land Registry issues a Certificate of Conformity confirming that the investment meets the program's conditions. This certificate is the link between the property and the citizenship file. Homes under construction are also eligible: in that case the buyer signs a notarised promise-to-sell agreement that carries the same three-year commitment, so off-plan projects can qualify just as completed ones do.

Other routes the program accepts

Real estate is the most popular route, but the regulations recognise other investments: a bank deposit of $500,000 kept in a Turkish bank for at least three years, Turkish government bonds of $500,000 held for at least three years, and $500,000 in shares of real estate or venture capital investment funds held for at least three years. A fixed capital investment of $500,000 in a business, confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, is another option, as is creating jobs for at least 50 people, confirmed by the Ministry of Labour. HADARA specialises in the real estate route; for the others, we refer you to trusted partners. Each of these routes has its own conditions and paperwork, and for the financial routes the three-year period applies as well.

The figures in this article reflect the rules in force at the time of writing and may change, because the government can update these regulations. This article is general information, not legal advice, and our team confirms the current requirements before any purchase.

HADARA, your real estate partner in Istanbul, helps you match these conditions with real homes. Contact us or book a private video tour to review eligible options with one of our advisors, then visit Istanbul to see them in person before you decide.