Turkish citizenship by investment involves a property or other qualifying investment, evidence from the competent authority, and an exceptional-naturalisation file. An agency can coordinate that work. It cannot replace the authority that assesses the investment or decides the citizenship case.
What does “licensed agency” mean in a Turkish CBI file?
Start by separating a marketing label from a document trail. Ask which company will contract with you, which professionals will handle legal representation, valuation and land-registry steps, and which public authority issues each certificate. The official route is authority-led, so an agency’s promise is never an approval.
The Republic of Türkiye Investment Office lists the qualifying investment routes and says eligibility remains subject to the President’s decision. For the property route, the published threshold is USD 400,000 or equivalent foreign currency, with a title-deed restriction against resale for at least three years. That is the rule to test a proposal against, before discussing service packages.
Which agency checks should happen before any payment?
Use a written verification pack before reserving property or transferring funds. It should identify the contracting entity, the person authorised to sign, the full service scope, every third-party cost, the proposed property seller or developer, and the party responsible for each filing. Vague “all inclusive” language is a reason to pause.
- Request the commercial registration and tax details of the entity that will invoice you.
- Ask for named contacts for legal work, valuation coordination and land-registry execution.
- Require a fee schedule that separates agency fees, government fees, legal fees, valuation costs, translations and taxes.
- Ask how conflicts are disclosed if the agency introduces the developer, seller or financing provider.
- Keep payment instructions, contracts and receipts in the buyer’s name and preserve a dated copy set.
“Licensed” should be capable of evidence. A credible provider will show the legal entity behind the sales brand and explain where regulated work is performed by a separately identified professional. If the answer stays verbal, do not send funds.
How should the agency map the official process?
A sound engagement converts the public process into an accountable checklist. For a real-estate case, it should map due diligence, valuation, banking and foreign-exchange evidence, title-deed work, the certificate of eligibility, residence-permit steps where relevant, and the citizenship application. Every handoff needs an owner and a document output.
The Investment Office states that a foreign national can apply to the relevant administrations after land-registry procedures using the certificate of eligibility. Its guidance also says a residence permit is not a precondition to acquiring real estate. Read the step-by-step Turkish CBI process alongside the agency timeline, then ask which date depends on an authority rather than the agency.
Why do banking and property documents need independent attention?
They are evidence, not administrative decoration. The Land Registry and Cadastre authority’s notice says foreign buyers must first sell foreign currency to the Central Bank through a bank in the covered acquisition process. The agency should explain the bank trail before closing and retain the relevant certificate and transfer evidence in the file.
Do not accept a substitute document just because a salesperson calls it standard. Match the buyer, property, payment path and declared citizenship purpose across the paperwork. A mismatch can create a delay or a rejection risk. See the common CBI rejection reasons before signing a reservation or representation agreement.
What should the engagement letter say?
The agreement should define deliverables, client approvals, document custody, fee triggers, refund terms, complaint handling and the right to end the mandate. It should also state that the provider does not control a bank, land registry or citizenship decision. This protects both the client and the provider from invented expectations.
Keep one simple rule: no irreversible payment before the written scope, identity of the service entity and evidence plan make sense together.
Questions to ask before appointing a Turkish CBI agency
Can an agency guarantee Turkish citizenship?
No. The published route is subject to the relevant authority process and the President’s decision. An agency can manage documents and coordination; it cannot promise the outcome.
Is a property purchase itself enough?
No. The property route has a published minimum value, a three-year resale restriction and an official evidence sequence. The file must be coherent from payment through the eligibility certificate and citizenship application.
Should the same provider represent the buyer and the seller?
Ask for the relationship in writing and obtain independent advice where a conflict could affect price, property selection or the evidence trail. Disclosure is the minimum; a clear separation is often easier to audit.
What records should the client retain?
Keep the signed engagement, invoices, bank records, foreign-exchange documents, valuation material, title-deed documents, authority receipts and every submitted application copy in a secure folder.
This is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Turkish rules and document practice can change, and authorities decide individual cases.
Need an implementation review? Corpenza’s citizenship-by-investment team can help map responsibilities and document controls before a file is submitted.
