Turkish Citizenship by Investment — Frequently Asked Questions

Most nationalities are eligible — over 110 have been approved. The following are currently restricted: Armenians, Syrians, Cubans, and North Koreans. If your nationality is not on the restricted list, you are likely eligible. Ikamet confirms eligibility during the initial consultation.

The main applicant must be at least 18 years old. There is no maximum age limit — investors of any age can apply.

Minor offences may be acceptable depending on their nature and age. Serious criminal convictions will disqualify an applicant. Ikamet reviews criminal history on a case-by-case basis during the consultation stage.

No. There is no Turkish language requirement for the citizenship by investment programme. You are not required to pass a language test at any stage of the process.

The minimum is $400,000 USD. This value must be verified by an SPK-licensed (Capital Markets Board) independent appraiser. The purchase price alone is not sufficient — the appraiser's report is the official figure used by the government.

Yes. A portfolio of two or more properties with a combined SPK-appraised value of $400,000 or more qualifies. Each property must have its own appraisal report and the TAPU annotation is applied to all properties in the portfolio.

No. Residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties all qualify. Agricultural land near military zones does not qualify. Ikamet confirms property eligibility before any purchase is made.

Yes. You may rent out the property and receive rental income during the mandatory 3-year hold. The TAPU annotation preventing sale remains, but all other rights of ownership — including letting — are retained.

The SPK appraisal is a mandatory property valuation conducted by a firm licensed by the Capital Markets Board (Sermaye Piyasası Kurulu). The report formally confirms that the property meets the $400,000 USD minimum threshold required for the citizenship application. Without this report, the application cannot proceed.

For most applicants, the process takes 3–6 months from property purchase to passport. This includes the TAPU transfer, SPK appraisal, document preparation, PMM submission, and biometrics. Ikamet tracks every stage and responds to any government requests for additional information.

No. There is no minimum residency requirement under the citizenship by investment programme. You do not need to spend any time in Turkey before, during, or after receiving citizenship.

At least one visit is typically required — for biometric enrolment and to complete the TAPU title deed transfer. Many other steps, including property purchase and document submission, can be handled remotely using a notarised power of attorney.

The TAPU is the Turkish title deed — the official document issued by the Land Registry (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü) proving property ownership. For citizenship applications, a TAPU annotation is added to the deed preventing sale for the mandatory 3-year hold period. Once the 3 years have elapsed, the annotation is removed and the property can be sold freely.

Yes. Your spouse and children who are under 18 at the time of application are included in the same application at no additional investment cost. All family members receive full Turkish citizenship and are issued a Turkish passport.

No. Turkey permits dual citizenship and does not require you to renounce your original nationality. You should, however, verify your home country's rules on dual citizenship, as some countries do have restrictions. Ikamet can advise on this during the consultation.

No. Adult children aged 18 or over at the time of application cannot be included as dependants. They must apply separately and make their own qualifying investment of at least $400,000.

Approximately $20,000–25,000 in process costs, depending on family size and whether translation services are needed. This includes the title deed transfer tax (4%), SPK appraisal report (~$650), government application fees (~$530 per person), translation and notarisation (~$2,500), attorney fees (~$2,000), and Ikamet's case management fee ($2,500). Use our calculator at /citizenship/calculator/ for a personalised breakdown.

The property investment is recoverable — not refundable. Once the mandatory 3-year hold period ends, you may sell the property on the open market and receive the proceeds. You are not permanently losing the investment; you are committing it for a minimum of 3 years.

Ikamet's fee starts from $2,500 for full case management. This covers property sourcing and due diligence, SPK appraisal coordination, document preparation, sworn translations, PMM application submission, and follow-through to passport delivery. There are no hidden charges — the fee is fixed at the outset.