Name Change Challenges During and After Acquiring Turkish Citizenship by Investment

The Importance of Name Selection in Turkish Citizenship Applications

Getting a new citizenship is not just a legal step. It is a deeply personal and life changing experience.

One of the most overlooked yet significant aspects of this journey is name selection. Especially for foreigners applying for Turkish citizenship by investment, the decision to keep, modify, or entirely change one’s name must be approached with care.

This is not just a symbolic choice, but a decision with legal, bureaucratic, cultural, and financial consequences.

Legal Constraints on Name Changes in Türkiye

What Are the Options During the Citizenship Application?

Foreigners applying for Turkish citizenship through real estate purchase or bank deposit must declare their desired name and surname during the application process. At this stage, two options are available:

1. Retain the original name from their previous nationality.

2. Adopt a fully Turkish name and surname, which must:

   • Be written in the Latin alphabet

   • Avoid using foreign characters not accepted in Turkish (such as W, Q, X)

The decision made here is final in most cases. Once Turkish citizenship is granted and identity documents (ID card, passport) are issued, the chosen name becomes legally binding.

Changing the Name Later Requires a Lawsuit

If a foreigner wants to change their name after becoming a Turkish citizen, for example by returning to their original name or choosing a completely new foreign name, this is not a simple administrative step. It requires the following:

• Filing a civil lawsuit at a court of first instance (Asliye Hukuk Mahkemesi)

• Demonstrating justifiable reasons for the change

• Waiting a minimum of 6–9 months for the court decision

This is often a long and costly legal procedure that could have been avoided with better foresight during the initial application.

Bureaucratic and Practical Issues of a Name Change

Common Real-Life Conflicts for Investors

At Bayraktar Attorneys, we have seen many investors face problems when trying to transfer money under their original name, while their Turkish documents show their new Turkish name.

Bank compliance departments in Türkiye and abroad often block or delay these transactions due to mismatched names, flagging them as suspicious.

Another recurring problem arises when investors apply for citizenship and choose a Turkish name, while other family members retain their foreign names.

In such cases, proving family lineage in official documents becomes difficult, especially if the names no longer match across birth certificates, passports, or family registers.

Cultural and Linguistic Sensitivities in Name Choices

Identity and Acceptance in a New Society

Names carry deep cultural and emotional meaning. A name that is common or significant in one country may be misunderstood, mispronounced, or even rejected in another.

For this reason, many foreigners are encouraged—or even pressured—into adopting Turkish names. While this may help with social integration, it may also create a sense of detachment from one’s original identity.

Furthermore, not all foreign names translate well linguistically into Turkish. Some names may inadvertently resemble Turkish words with negative or confusing meanings, leading to practical and social awkwardness.

Documentation and Record Management After a Name Change

Changing a name, whether before or after acquiring Turkish citizenship, means updating a wide range of documents:

• National ID card

• Passport

• Tax records

• Bank accounts

• Property titles

• Social security records

Any inconsistency or delay in updating these can create legal and logistical problems, especially during travel, court procedures, or financial transactions.

H2: Financial Costs of Changing Your Name in Türkiye

Aside from the legal complexity, changing one’s name in Türkiye comes with additional expenses:

• Court filing fees

• Attorney fees

• Notarization and translation of documents

• Reissuance of ID cards and passports

For foreigners who already incurred significant costs during the citizenship-by-investment process, these added costs can become a financial burden.

Our Advice: Make the Right Name Choice from the Start

At Bayraktar Attorneys, we strongly advise all foreign investors, especially high net worth clients who are applying for Turkish citizenship, to think carefully about their name choice before submitting their application..

Choosing a name is not only a legal matter. It also affects your identity, your banking experience, and how you interact with government offices and even your family members.

If you want to keep your original name, that is completely fine. If you choose to take a Turkish name instead, make sure it is a carefully made, long term decision. Changing it later to a different foreign name will not be allowed unless you file a full lawsuit.

Let Bayraktar Attorneys Guide You Through the Process

With our team’s deep understanding of Turkish legal procedures and cultural norms, we provide strategic advice and full legal representation for investors acquiring Turkish citizenship. We help you:

• Prepare all required documents

• Declare your name according to Turkish naming rules

• Avoid complications related to banking, taxation, and family proof

• Represent you in court, should you need to request a name change later

Our clients include citizens from China, Russia, Iran, India, the UK, and the US, all of whom benefit from our cross-cultural legal expertise and our ability to foresee risks before they arise.