Certificate of Eligibility for Turkish Citizenship by Investment

Foreign investors seeking Turkish citizenship must first prove that their investment meets the criteria set forth under Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. The official confirmation of this requirement is provided in the form of a Certificate of Eligibility (Uygunluk Belgesi), issued by designated public institutions depending on the type of investment.

What Is a Certificate of Eligibility?

The Certificate of Eligibility confirms that a foreign investor has satisfied one of the minimum investment thresholds required to apply for Turkish citizenship. This document is not the citizenship application itself—it is the first mandatory step that allows the investor to apply for a residence permit and ultimately submit a citizenship application.

Which Authorities Issue the Certificate?

Depending on the type of qualifying investment, the certificate must be obtained from one of the following institutions:

• Real Estate Purchase: General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (under the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change)

• Fixed Capital Investment: Ministry of Industry and Technology

• Employment Generation: Ministry of Labor and Social Security

• Bank Deposit: Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK)

• Government Bonds: Ministry of Treasury and Finance

• Investment Funds (Real Estate or Venture Capital): Capital Markets Board of Türkiye (SPK)

Can Prior Investments Qualify?

Only investments made after January 12, 2017, are eligible for Turkish citizenship through investment. Real estate purchases before this date, or preliminary contracts dated before December 7, 2018, are not valid for citizenship applications—even if they meet the financial threshold.

What Happens After Receiving the Certificate?

Once the certificate is issued, the applicant must apply for a residence permit under Article 31(j) of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (No. 6458). Applications can be made through local Provincial Migration Offices or Special Joint Offices in Istanbul and Ankara.

Upon obtaining the residence permit, the investor can file the official citizenship application either via the Special Joint Offices or through the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.

Required Documents for the Citizenship Application

• Valid passport and notarized Turkish translation

• Official documents proving civil status (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificate), duly apostilled or legalized

• Documents showing family relationships (if applying with dependents)

• VAT-4 application form (wet-signed)

• Payment receipt of 107.94 TL per applicant to the Ministry of Finance

Special Notes for Property-Based Citizenship Applications

To be eligible under the real estate investment category, the following criteria must be met:

• The property must be worth at least USD 400,000

• A three-year no-sale annotation must be placed on the property deed

• If the purchase is made via a notarized promise to sell (satış vaadi sözleşmesi), it must also be annotated in the land registry

Kat Mülkiyeti vs. Kat İrtifakı: Know the Difference

• Kat Mülkiyeti (Condominium Ownership): The building is completed and has a valid Occupancy Permit (İskan Belgesi).

• Kat İrtifakı (Construction Easement): The building is still under construction. It may carry legal risks if the developer fails to comply with the approved architectural plan.

Banks may also refuse to issue mortgages for properties without occupancy permits, even if construction is finished. For this reason, it is highly recommended that investors choose properties with Kat Mülkiyeti to avoid future risks.

Overview of the Six Investment Types Eligible for Citizenship

1. Real Estate Purchase

   • Minimum USD 400,000

   • Must be held for at least three years

   • Can be completed or under construction (with caution)

2. Bank Deposit

   • Minimum USD 500,000 deposit

   • Locked for three years

   • Must be in a Turkish bank operating under BDDK

3. Government Bonds

   • Minimum USD 500,000 purchase

   • Must be held for three years

   • Certificate issued by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance

4. Venture Capital or Real Estate Investment Fund

   • Minimum USD 500,000 participation

   • Held for three years

   • Verified by the Capital Markets Board (SPK)

5. Employment Creation

   • Must employ at least 50 Turkish citizens

   • Employment must be sustained for a minimum of three years

   • Verified by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security

Final Remarks

The Certificate of Eligibility acts as a gateway into Türkiye’s Citizenship by Investment program. While it is a bureaucratic document, it carries crucial legal weight and is the foundation of any valid citizenship application. Due diligence must be observed during the entire process—especially in selecting the type of investment, ensuring compliance with real estate laws, and verifying that all supporting documentation is complete and legally valid.