Turkey’s citizenship by investment program looks simple and straightforward. However, in practice, the process involves many legal and financial nuances that often come as a surprise to investors. Mistakes in contracts, an incorrect property valuation, or improperly executed bank transfers can lead to delays or even refusal to review the application. In this article, we will look at the difficulties applicants face and how a lawyer can help when applying for a Turkish passport.
Financial Thresholds and Additional Costs
One of the most common mistakes investors make is focusing only on the minimum threshold amount set by the government program. Investors often fail to take into account the additional expenses that arise during the transaction process.
Expectation: it is enough to purchase real estate worth at least $400,000 to obtain citizenship without any issues.
Reality: the established threshold is indeed $400,000, but this refers only to the value of the property. Taxes, government fees, registration payments, and processing expenses are added to this amount. On average, additional costs increase the budget by approximately 7–10%.
As Fatih Barçın, managing partner of the Alanya-based law firm Tuncay & Barcın Law Office, notes, the key criterion when buying property for citizenship is not the nominal price of the apartment, but the official property valuation. For passport purposes, it must correspond to the market indicators recorded in state registers.
Restrictions on Disposing of Property After Receiving Status
Foreign real estate is often viewed by investors as capital that can be quickly sold if necessary. In this case, the purchase strategy is built without taking into account the rules for registering and formalizing property ownership in Turkey. These legal specifics can significantly affect the possibility of reselling the property later. The issue can be resolved by the best lawyer in Antalya and other cities, who assesses the legal consequences of a potential exit from the investment before the purchase agreement is signed.
Expectation: the property can be sold immediately after obtaining citizenship, allowing the investor to quickly recover their investment.
Reality: Turkey has a mandatory property ownership period after receiving a passport — at least 3 years. Selling the property during this period is prohibited under the investment program.
Family Members Included in the Program
Many investors believe that citizenship by investment automatically applies to the entire family. This often creates a mistaken understanding of who exactly can participate in the program.
Expectation: all family members receive status, including parents and adult children.
Reality: the program covers only the main applicant, their legally married spouse, and children under the age of 18. Other family members are not included in the list of citizenship applicants and must go through immigration procedures on general grounds.
Actual Timelines and Format for Obtaining Citizenship
In advertising, the process of obtaining Turkish citizenship is often presented as extremely simple. As a result, investors may get the impression that the procedure is almost effortless and can be completed remotely.
Expectation: a passport can be obtained within 2–3 months after the transaction is completed, with no personal involvement required.
Reality: in practice, application review takes an average of 6–12 months. Citizenship cannot be obtained fully remotely. The applicant and their spouse must personally come to Turkey to complete the biometric procedure.
Requirements for Real Estate Properties
At first glance, Turkey’s real estate market may seem universal — the large number of projects creates the impression that any property can be used for the citizenship program as long as the required investment amount is reached. However, the actual requirements are much stricter.
Expectation: an investor can choose any property they like, as long as the purchase amount reaches $400,000.
Reality: only real estate with registered ownership rights or an occupancy permit is suitable. It is also important to take into account that the property must have a transparent history and must not have been used previously for obtaining investment citizenship. Legal services help avoid serious problems during the transaction process that could lead to refusal by state authorities to review the citizenship application.
To reduce the likelihood of mistakes and go through the passport application process as predictably as possible, contact the law firm Tuncay & Barcın Law Office for professional support. The firm’s specialists will adapt the documents to the current requirements of Turkish legislation and make the procedure simpler and faster for the applicant’s entire family.
