← Turkish Citizenship by Investment: overview
Real estate is not the only way. Six other routes exist, each with its own certifying authority and its own handling rules. This page explains how they differ and what to check before choosing one.
Short answer: Besides real estate, the Regulation lists fixed capital investment, bank deposit, government debt instruments, real estate or venture capital investment fund units and private pension contributions (each at least USD 500,000), and the employment of at least 50 people (art. 20/2). For deposits, government debt instruments and pension contributions, the foreign currency is sold to a bank and through it to the Central Bank, and the Turkish lira amount is held in a lira deposit, lira government debt instruments or pension funds for three years (art. 20/10).
Last updated: 28 October 2026 · Written by Av. Osman Turhan
Key facts
- Legal basis: Law No. 5901, art. 12(1)(b); Implementing Regulation, art. 20(2)
- Lowest threshold: USD 400,000 in real estate, with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed
- Other routes: USD 500,000 (fixed capital, bank deposit, government debt instruments, fund units, private pension) or 50 jobs
- Holding period: Three years for real estate, deposits, government debt instruments, fund units and pension contributions
- Decision: Presidential decision after a national security and public order review; meeting a threshold is not a guarantee
- Last verified: 28 October 2026, against the legal texts listed below
Change log
- 29 October 2026 – Added key facts, breadcrumbs, author and review information; clarified the fee wording.
- 28 October 2026 – First publication, checked against Law No. 5901, the Implementing Regulation and the authorities’ published procedures.
How each route works
- Fixed capital investment (USD 500,000): confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. It suits investors who plan a real business activity in Türkiye. The determination procedure is set by the ministry, so the timeline should be checked early.
- Bank deposit (USD 500,000): held for three years in a bank operating in Türkiye and confirmed by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency. The converted amount is held in a Turkish lira deposit.
- Government debt instruments (USD 500,000): held for three years and confirmed by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The converted amount is held in Turkish lira government debt instruments.
- Real estate or venture capital investment fund units (USD 500,000): held for at least three years and confirmed by the Capital Markets Board (see below).
- Private pension contributions (USD 500,000): contributions to funds within the scope set by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority, kept in the system for three years.
- Employment (50 people): confirmed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The fund route in detail (Capital Markets Board procedure)
- You apply to the Board in writing with a copy of your passport, your MKK registry number, the details of your fund units and a document showing that the units are blocked in the “citizenship blockage sub-account” at the Central Registry Agency (MKK).
- The Board asks MKK to confirm the holding. After MKK’s reply, the certificate of conformity is issued within two working days.
- A fall in the value of the units below USD 500,000 caused by exchange-rate changes does not affect the application or the acquisition. A decrease in value or number of units caused by the fund itself (for example dividends, redemption or liquidation) does not mean the minimum investment is lost.
- A pledge, seizure, injunction or other encumbrance on the units during the three years means the “held for three years” condition is treated as not met. Releasing the blockage voluntarily, selling or transferring the units ends the process.
- MKK runs weekly checks and reports any release of the blockage, any sale or any encumbrance to the Board, which notifies the migration and citizenship authorities.
Choosing a route
- Liquidity and the three-year hold.
- Turkish lira exposure: on the deposit, bond and pension routes the converted amount is held in lira.
- Whether the route needs a business activity or staff (fixed capital, jobs).
- Which authority certifies the route and how long its procedure takes.
- The Regulation allows moving between investment types to complete the three-year period (art. 20/8), so a choice is not always final.
Taxes on income from the investment are a separate question; see our costs and tax page.
Frequently asked questions
Which route is the cheapest?
The real estate route has the lowest threshold at USD 400,000. The other routes start at USD 500,000, or 50 jobs. The lowest amount is not the only factor: liquidity, risk and the three-year hold matter too.
Is the deposit kept in dollars?
No. Under Regulation art. 20/10, the foreign currency is sold to a bank and through it to the Central Bank, and the resulting Turkish lira amount is held in a lira deposit for three years.
Can I move from one route to another?
The Regulation allows moving between investment types to complete the three-year period (art. 20/8). The details depend on the routes and the certifying authorities, so ask us before moving funds.
Who certifies the investment?
Each route has its own authority: Industry and Technology (fixed capital), the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (deposit), Treasury and Finance (government debt), the Capital Markets Board (funds), the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Authority (pension) and Labour and Social Security (jobs).
Legal basis and sources
More in this guide
- Turkish Citizenship by Investment: overview
- Real estate route
- Process and documents
- Spouse and children
- Rejection, cancellation and lawsuits
- Costs, tax and 2026 updates
- Turkish citizenship lawyer in Ankara
This page is general information, not legal advice for your case. Results depend on the facts of each file and on the decisions of the authorities.
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Talk to us about your file
Send your messages and book your appointment in English or Turkish. Office hours: Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00, Saturday 09:00–15:00.
Av. Osman Turhan
Turhan Hukuk & Danışmanlık, Ankara — foreigners and citizenship law first, followed by real estate, corporate and tax, administrative, family, labour, enforcement, criminal, inheritance, traffic accident, health and consumer law.