How Can Turkish Citizenship Be Obtained Through Marriage? What Are The Requirements?
Acquiring Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage
Turkish citizenship can be acquired in two ways. The first is through birth. One of the ways to acquire citizenship later in life is through marriage, as explained below.
Requirements for Becoming a Turkish Citizen Through Marriage
First of all, marriage to a Turkish citizen does not automatically grant foreign nationals the right to become Turkish citizens. The requirements for becoming a Turkish citizen through marriage are regulated in Article 16 of the Citizenship Law No. 5901. According to the relevant law, a foreign national must meet the following conditions to become a citizen through marriage:
The foreign national applying for citizenship must have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years, and the marriage must still be ongoing;
The spouses must live together as a family;
The foreigner must not have engaged in activities contrary to the marriage union;
The foreigner must not pose a threat to public security.
Foreigners who meet the above conditions may apply for citizenship at the governor’s office where they reside. However, if the Turkish citizen spouse dies after the date of application, the condition of the spouses living within the family unit is not required.
The last paragraph of the law concerns the status of a foreigner who acquires Turkish citizenship as a result of the marriage being annulled. If the foreigner is acting in good faith in the marriage, their citizenship will not be revoked.
Documents Required to Become a Turkish Citizen Through Marriage
Documents Required for Application
A fully completed citizenship application form;
A photocopy of the Turkish spouse’s identity card;
A notarized Turkish translation of the passport or similar document;
A notarized Turkish translation of the foreign spouse’s birth certificate;
Marriage certificate (a photocopy must be submitted);
Residence permit obtained most recently for foreigners residing in Turkey;
Document proving that the spouses live together as a family (such as a rental agreement or bank account);
Biometric photograph taken within the last 6 months with a white background;
Notarized copy of any final court decision regarding the foreigner for any criminal offense;
Document showing that the citizenship application service fee has been paid.
How long does it take to complete the naturalization process?
Please note that the speed of the naturalization process depends on you. The information and documents provided in naturalization applications must be complete and truthful. If the administration has to obtain this information, it will cause the application process to proceed slowly.