Required Documents for Citizenship Program in Turkey

Turkey’s citizenship program has become a serious alternative for investors, professionals, and families, especially in recent years. However, one of the main issues that causes the most time loss during the application process, and even leads to rejection, is missing or incorrectly prepared documents.

In this article, we summarize the documents required for citizenship applications in Turkey as of 2025; we provide a simple yet in-depth overview based on investment, marriage, naturalization, and other main categories. The goal is to ensure that you have a complete document checklist when you sit down at the table.

Turkey Citizenship Program: Main Paths and Common Document Logic

Citizenship in Turkey is possible through birth, lineage, marriage, naturalization, investment, and exceptional/humanitarian situations. Regardless of the path you choose, the fundamental principles on which the system is based remain the same:

• Clear documentation of your identity and family status,
• Proof that your criminal record is clean,
• Presenting a financially transparent and sustainable profile in Turkey or globally,
• Completion of official documents in the apostille, sworn translation, and notarization triangle.

Applications primarily proceed through the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs. If you are starting from abroad, your first point of contact may be Turkish consulates, but the requirement for a physical application in Turkey often continues at critical stages.

Common Documents for All Applicants

Regardless of the type of application, there are “core” documents that are present in almost every file. Applicants who prepare this core set correctly significantly accelerate the process.

1. Passport and Identity Information

• Valid passport (at least 6 months validity is recommended)
• Photocopy of all pages and sworn translation into Turkish by a certified translator
• Pages showing entry-exit stamps to Turkey

Passport photocopies must be notarized in Turkey; if the document comes from abroad, it must complete the apostille and then translation-notarization triad.

2. Birth Certificate

• Official birth certificate or birth registration sample
• Apostilled (or consulate-approved if apostille is not possible)
• Sworn translation in Turkish + notarization

In family applications, the birth certificates of the spouse and children under 18 must also be added to the file.

3. Marital Status and Family Documents

• If married: Apostilled, translated marriage certificate / marriage registration sample
• If divorced: Divorce decree and finalization annotation
• If widowed: Death certificate of the spouse
• Birth certificates of children and custody decisions, if any

Turkey carefully examines family ties and especially the status of children. Therefore, presenting complete documents regarding family structure increases the reliability of the file.

4. Biometric Photo

• Generally 4–6 biometric photos
• White background, 35×45 mm standard, taken within the last 6 months

5. Criminal Record (Police Record)

• Criminal record from the country of citizenship
• Criminal records from other countries where you have lived in the last 5 years
• The date of issuance should generally not exceed the last 6 months
• Apostilled + sworn translation + notarization

After 2024, advanced security and financial review processes will be in place as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. Therefore, a clean and up-to-date criminal record is critical.

6. Residence and Address Proof

• If you have a residence permit in Turkey (residence card), a photocopy
• Lease agreements, title deeds, or address declarations
• If necessary, address records from countries where you previously resided

7. Financial Sufficiency and Income Proof

• Recent bank statements
• Pay slips, tax returns
• Property deeds or other asset documents

Both in citizenship by investment and naturalization, you must demonstrate your capacity to support yourself and your family. The legitimacy of resources (where the source comes from) becomes particularly important in investment applications.

8. Tax Number and Application Forms

• Turkey tax number (obtained from the Tax Office)
• Relevant citizenship application form (for example, standard VAT-6 form)

Forms must be signed with a wet signature. If you are applying through a lawyer with a power of attorney, this authority must be clearly defined in the power of attorney.

9. Health Insurance

• Private health insurance policy valid in Turkey
• It is recommended that the policy remains valid throughout the citizenship file period

Although not mandatory for every file, private health insurance has now become a de facto standard in residence and citizenship processes.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment: Required Documents (2025 Updates)

Citizenship by investment is the most preferred program in Turkey. As of 2025, the minimum amount for real estate is in the range of 400,000 USD/€ and the investment must be held for at least 3 years. For options like bank deposits, government bonds, and investment funds, the threshold is generally around 500,000 USD.

In addition to general documents, specific documents are required based on the type of investment.

1. Common CIP Documents

• All identity, family, criminal, and financial documents listed above
• Special application forms for citizenship by investment
• Financial documents showing the source of the investment to be made in Turkey
• If proceeding with a power of attorney, a notarized and apostilled power of attorney containing authority to invest and follow up on the application

2. Required Documents for Real Estate Investment

• Title deed: Ownership document with a no-sale annotation (3-year non-sale annotation)
• Real estate valuation report obtained from a licensed appraisal company
• Payment documents proven with bank receipts and SWIFT outputs
• Official letter obtained from the land registry showing that there are no mortgages, liens, etc. on the property
• Eligibility certificate from the relevant public institution (e.g., General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre)

Ensuring that the real estate complies with earthquake regulations and current zoning legislation has recently become a prominent review criterion.

3. Bank Deposit, Bond, or Fund Investment

• Official letter showing a deposit of at least 500,000 USD obtained from a Turkish bank
• Bank commitment that the deposit will not be withdrawn for at least 3 years
• Purchase certificates or contracts for government bonds, investment funds, or similar instruments
• Approval letters obtained from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) or relevant regulatory institutions

4. Business Establishment and Job Creation Investment

• Company’s trade registry newspaper and articles of association
• Documents showing at least 500,000 USD fixed capital investment or employment of 50 full-time Turkish employees
• SGK (social security) declarations for employees
• Eligibility and confirmation letters obtained from the relevant Ministry

5. Additional Documents for Family Members

• Spouse’s passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate
• Birth certificates of children under 18
• Custody decisions, if necessary

In most cases, the application proceeds through a single file for the main investor, spouse, and children under 18. For children over 18 who are continuing their education or disabled, dependent status can be proven with additional documents.

Turkish Citizenship by Marriage: Required Documents

Individuals who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years can apply for citizenship through marriage. The key point here is to prove that the marriage is a real and ongoing partnership.

Additional Documents

• Official marriage records: Apostilled and translated marriage certificate / registration sample
• Proof of cohabitation:
  • Joint lease agreement or title deed
  • Joint bank account, credit card statements
  • Joint bills (electricity, water, internet, etc.)
  • Airline tickets, passport stamps showing that you traveled together
  • Birth certificates of joint children, if any
• Photocopy of the spouse’s Republic of Turkey identity card
• Spouse’s criminal record and divorce/death certificates regarding previous marriages, if any

In these applications, an interview is often conducted, and questions may be asked about the parties’ relationship. A consistent and documentable relationship story increases the reliability of the file.

Naturalization: 5-Year Residence Requirement

Foreigners who have legally resided in Turkey for 5 uninterrupted years, have adapted to Turkish society, and can support themselves can apply for citizenship according to general provisions. This path is common for professionals, entrepreneurs, and families moving to Turkey.

Additional Documents Required

• Residence permit cards and extension documents from the last 5 years
• Address declarations, lease agreements, or title deeds showing your residence address
• Movement records showing your entry-exit records to Turkey
• If you are employed, work permit, employment contract, pay slips
• If you are an entrepreneur, company documents, tax plate, financial statements
• Additional documents showing your knowledge of Turkish and your integration into society (language certificates, school registrations for children, NGO/association memberships, etc.)

In this type of application, your good standing in Turkey (criminal record, social integration, etc.) is meticulously examined.

Other Paths: Lineage, Birth, and Exceptional Citizenship

Citizenship by Lineage/Birth

• Applicant’s birth certificate
• Population registration samples and identity documents of the Turkish citizen parent
• Documents showing family ties family registry/tree documents

Exceptional and Humanitarian Citizenship

• Recommendation/suggestion letter from the relevant ministry or public institution
• Documents showing outstanding achievements and contributions in fields such as science, sports, arts, etc. (awards, publications, reference letters)
• If you are in refugee or protection status, correspondence from UNHCR or similar institutions

These categories are entirely discretionary, and the file structure is more flexible than the standard; each case is evaluated within its own dynamics.

Apostille, Translation, and Notary Processes of Documents

The general rule for foreign documents you will present to Turkey is as follows:

• Documents from countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention:
  • First, apostille is obtained in the relevant country,
  • Then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Turkey,
  • The translation is notarized.
• Countries that are not parties to the convention:
  • The document is approved by the relevant country authorities,
  • Then certified by the Turkish consulate,
  • The translation + notarization process is applied in Turkey.

Most documents require to be issued within the “last 6 months.” Therefore, when planning the process, especially for criminal records, bank letters, and residence documents, careful timing is necessary.

Post-Application: Approval, Identity, and Passport Stages

After citizenship approval, the process generally proceeds as follows:

• Notification of citizenship decision and receipt of citizenship certificate
• Application for Republic of Turkey identity card (identity) with this document
• Then application for Turkish passport

For details on identity and passport applications and appointment processes, you should follow the official website of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.

So Many Documents, So Many Details… Why is Professional Support Important?

Applying for citizenship in Turkey operates at the intersection of immigration law, tax, investment, family law, and bureaucracy. A single missing apostille, incorrect translation, or misstructured investment can delay the process for months or completely jeopardize it.

As Corpenza;

• We design the entire chain from real estate selection to title deed and eligibility certificate in citizenship projects through investment,
• We create personalized document checklists in family, marriage, or naturalization files,
• We minimize time and error costs by coordinating apostille, translation, notarization, tax number, residence, and citizenship applications from a single source,
• We integrate immigration, tax, and labor law aspects along the Turkey-Europe line with international corporate structuring, payroll/EOR, and posted worker models.

Especially in citizenship by investment, if the real estate or financial investment is misstructured, both the right to citizenship and the capital are at risk. Therefore, it is critical to proceed with a team that provides strategic consulting, not just “filling out the application form.”

Conclusion: Document Management is the Backbone of Your Turkey Citizenship Strategy

There are three fundamental elements of a successful file in citizenship programs in Turkey: correct path selection, complete and compliant document set, professional process management. As of 2025, rules such as the 400,000 USD/€ real estate threshold and the 3-year holding requirement are clear; however, the details of implementation vary significantly from person to person.

Before applying, it is necessary to clarify which path is most suitable for you within the framework of your profile (investor, manager, entrepreneur, family, retiree), your goals (is it just a passport, or a plan to work and live in Turkey?), and your risk tolerance. The documents are the concrete representation of this strategy in the eyes of the state.

Disclaimer: This text is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Citizenship legislation and investment thresholds in Turkey may change over time. Be sure to check current regulations through official institutions before applying and seek support from professionals in the field for a roadmap suitable for your profile.