Turkey Citizenship by Investment in 2026
Turkey grants citizenship for a property purchase from USD 400,000 or a USD 500,000 financial investment, usually within months and with no stay requirement. What it costs, what the passport does – and does not – give you, and how it compares with EU options in Malta.
Turkey grants citizenship by investment to foreigners who buy property worth at least USD 400,000, or invest USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank deposit, government bonds, investment funds, a private pension or company capital, and keep it for three years. Passports are usually issued within about three to six months of investing, there is no stay or language requirement, and dual citizenship is allowed. Turkey is not an EU or Schengen member: Turkish citizens need a visa for most of Europe, the UK and the USA.
Turkish citizenship by investment at a glance
Property, with a three-year no-sale annotation on the title deed
Deposit, bonds, funds, private pension or capital, held for three years
Typical time from investment to passports
No residence or language requirement; dual citizenship allowed
What has changed since 2022
In June 2022 Turkey raised the property threshold from USD 250,000 to USD 400,000, and the deposit, bond, fund and capital options from USD 250,000–500,000 to USD 500,000. Offers for a “Turkish passport from USD 250,000” are out of date. Foreign currency used for the property, deposit, bond, fund and pension routes must be sold to a Turkish bank and converted to Turkish lira, the property value must be confirmed by a licensed valuer, and the property must not be sold for three years.
Since October 2023 a plain residence permit through property needs a purchase of at least USD 200,000, and a 2024 law (No. 7533) lets the authorities adjust which property types and values qualify. The programme remains open in 2026, but rules can change at short notice, so check the current position with us before you buy.
Want an EU passport sooner? Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and Malta allows dual citizenship. See Citizenship by Merit: steps and timeline.
How Turkish citizenship by investment works
- Free assessment and due diligence. We check your eligibility and source of funds and introduce you to our partner firm located in Turkey.
- Tax number and bank account. You obtain a Turkish tax number and open a bank account, which a lawyer can do for you with a power of attorney.
- Make the investment. For property, a licensed valuer confirms the value and a three-year no-sale annotation is placed on the title deed; for the financial options, the funds are converted to lira and committed for three years.
- Residence permit and application. After the certificate of conformity is issued, you receive a residence permit and file the citizenship application with the Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
- Approval and passports. After security checks and a presidential decision, you and your family receive Turkish ID cards and passports, usually about three to six months after investing.
Full requirements, investment options and documents: Turkish citizenship by investment programme information.
Turkey vs Malta
Turkey and Malta both offer a second citizenship, but they are very different products. Turkey is fast and the investment can be recovered; Malta gives EU citizenship, with the right to live and work anywhere in the European Union.
| Turkey | Malta | |
|---|---|---|
| EU and Schengen | No – EU candidate since 1999, talks stalled; not in Schengen | Yes – Malta is an EU, Schengen and euro member |
| What you get | Turkish citizenship and passport | EU citizenship under the discretionary Citizenship by Merit framework; or permanent residence (MPRP) |
| Minimum investment | USD 400,000 property or USD 500,000 deposit, bonds, funds or capital | MPRP: €99,000 in government fees + property bought from €375,000 or rented from €14,000 a year; Citizenship by Merit assessed case by case |
| Is the money recoverable? | Yes – the property or deposit can be sold or withdrawn after three years | Government fees and contributions are not refundable |
| Time to a passport | About 3–6 months after investing | About 12–16 months under Citizenship by Merit |
| Family | Spouse, children under 18 and dependent disabled children | Spouse, children, parents and grandparents (MPRP) |
| Travel | Visa needed for Schengen, the UK and the USA; eligible for the US E-2 investor visa | Schengen free movement; US Visa Waiver (ESTA); UK visits without a visa (ETA) |
| Right to live and work | Turkey | All 27 EU countries (with Maltese citizenship) |
| Keep your current passport? | Yes – dual citizenship allowed | Yes – dual citizenship allowed |
Where Turkey is stronger
- Lower entry cost, and the investment can be sold or withdrawn after three years
- Fast: passports usually within about three to six months
- Turkish citizens can apply for the US E-2 treaty investor visa
Where Malta is stronger
- EU citizenship: live, work and study in any of the 27 EU countries
- Visa-free travel to the Schengen Area and US Visa Waiver eligibility
- A euro-based, EU-regulated legal and banking system
- English is an official language
- Permanent residence for parents and grandparents too (MPRP)
Our view: Turkey is a good fit if you want a second passport quickly, would like to own Turkish property anyway, or are aiming for the US E-2 visa. If you need the right to live in Europe or visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, Turkey does not provide it and Malta is usually the better choice. We handle both and will tell you honestly which suits you. Details: Malta Citizenship by Merit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum investment for Turkish citizenship in 2026?
USD 400,000 in property, or USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank deposit, government bonds, fund units, a private pension or fixed capital. Each investment must be held for three years. Creating 50 jobs also qualifies.
Is the USD 250,000 Turkish citizenship option still available?
No. The property threshold was raised to USD 400,000 in June 2022. Offers based on USD 250,000 are out of date.
How long does it take to get a Turkish passport?
Usually about three to six months after the investment is made, including the residence permit stage, security checks and the final decision.
Does a Turkish passport allow visa-free travel to Europe?
No. Turkey is not in the EU or the Schengen Area, so Turkish citizens need a Schengen visa, as well as visas for the UK and the USA. Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access covers more than 110 destinations, including Japan and Singapore.
Can I get EU citizenship instead?
Malta’s Citizenship by Merit framework can lead to Maltese (EU) citizenship in about 12–16 months. It is discretionary and assessed case by case, and you can keep your current passport. It gives the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, which Turkish citizenship does not.
Sources
- Turkey Golden Visa 2026: thresholds and rules (Rona Legal)
- Turkish citizenship by investment 2026 (Gurcan Partners)
- Turkey citizenship by investment in 2026 (Global Citizen Solutions)
- Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs, Türkiye
Checked November 2026. Programme rules and amounts change often; we confirm current figures in writing before you commit. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Talk to a licensed adviser
Tell us your goals and timeline. Turkish applications are handled with licensed partner firms located in Turkey; Malta applications, including EU residence and citizenship, are handled by our own licensed team.
- Licensed in Malta: Zenturo Ltd. is a licensed agent (Residency Malta Agency licence RES-DALI), company C-39472.
- In business since 2006: one team from first question to approval.
- Fast replies: usually within one hour, by e-mail, phone, WhatsApp, Telegram or WeChat.