A Turkish passport through property investment takes 6–9 months, with no language test and no requirement to live in the country. But the programme is stricter than the adverts suggest: the wrong property, seller or payment method can close the door to citizenship after you've already bought. Here are the 2026 rules and what to check before you sign.
The essentials
- Minimum investment: $400,000, based on a licensed valuation.
- You can't sell the property for 3 years; the restriction is recorded on the title deed.
- Payment by bank transfer only, with currency converted to lira and a certificate to prove it (DAB).
- The seller must be a Turkish citizen or Turkish company. A property already used for citizenship doesn't qualify.
- Your spouse and children under 18 receive citizenship too.
- Turkey doesn't require you to give up your current citizenship.
How much you need to invest
The threshold has been $400,000 since June 2022, up from $250,000, and it hasn't changed in 2026. What counts is the value in a report by a valuer licensed by Turkey's Capital Markets Board (SPK), not the contract price. If the valuation comes in under $400,000, the property won't qualify, even if you paid more.
You can reach the amount with several properties, such as an apartment and a villa, as long as their combined valuation meets the threshold. Off-plan property also qualifies, through a notarised sales contract and full payment.
The alternative is a $500,000 deposit in a Turkish bank for 3 years. For most buyers property makes more sense, since it can earn rental income and gain value.
Property and seller requirements
This is where most problems happen.
- The seller must be a Turkish citizen or Turkish company. A home bought from a foreigner doesn't count towards citizenship.
- The property can't have been used for citizenship before. Each property qualifies only once.
- No military or security zones.
- Title deed or notarised contract (for off-plan) in your name.
We check the title history and the seller's status before you sign. Once the money is transferred, these mistakes can't be fixed.
How to pay
All funds go through a Turkish bank. Foreign currency sent from abroad must be sold for lira, and the bank issues a foreign exchange certificate (DAB). Without it, the payment doesn't count for the programme. Cash, crypto and transfers outside the banking system are not accepted.
Step by step
- Choose the property and get an initial valuation estimate.
- Check the title deed, seller and property history.
- Transfer funds through a bank and obtain the DAB.
- Register the title deed with the 3-year no-sale annotation.
- Obtain the certificate of conformity (uygunluk belgesi).
- Apply for an investment-based residence permit in person, with biometrics.
- File the citizenship application.
- Receive the decision and your passport.
The whole process usually takes 6–9 months, sometimes longer, depending on government checks.
Who else gets citizenship
Your spouse and children under 18 apply with you. Children over 18 need their own investment or 5 years of residence in Turkey.
What a Turkish passport gives you
- Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 110 countries, including Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Schengen still requires a visa.
- The right to live and work in Turkey without residence or work permits.
- The right to buy property in areas closed to foreigners.
- The ability to run a business on the same terms as Turkish citizens.
Turkey allows dual citizenship, but check your home country's rules: some countries don't recognise it.
If $400,000 is more than you planned
A home from $200,000 qualifies for a residence permit; read more in our guide to the Turkish residence permit in 2026. In Alanya, $400,000 puts you in the premium segment: villas, penthouses and apartments in the best seafront complexes. You'll find properties at this level in our catalogue.
How we help
We shortlist properties that clear the threshold with room to spare on valuation, verify the seller and title history, arrange payment with a DAB and support you through to the application. The official rules are published by Turkey's General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
