Acquisition Of Citizenship Through Property Purchase
Acquisition of Citizenship through Property Purchase
Especially after the global economic difficulties experienced globally after the pandemic, states started to prefer different methods in order to attract foreign citizens to their countries through investment. One of these, the acquisition of citizenship with real estate, has been updated and revised again in terms of the law. Let’s examine this issue in general terms.
FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW
According to Article 66 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey entitled “Turkish citizenship”, “Everyone who is bound to the Turkish State by the bond of citizenship is a Turk. A child of a Turkish father or a Turkish mother is a Turk. Citizenship shall be acquired under the conditions laid down by law and shall be lost only in cases specified in the law. No Turk shall be deprived of citizenship unless he has committed an act incompatible with loyalty to the homeland. No judicial remedy may be closed against decisions and procedures related to deprivation of citizenship.”
Article 5 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 stipulates that ‘Turkish Citizenship is acquired by birth or later’. We will examine the acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through investment in our article.
ARTICLE 11 OF THE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP LAW NUMBERED 5901
foreigners who wish to acquire Turkish citizenship in accordance with the Turkish Civil Code No. 4721;
To be an adult and have the power of discernment according to their own national law, or if stateless, according to the Turkish Civil Code No. 4721.
To have resided in Turkey for five years without interruption prior to the date of application.
T.o have confirmed their decision to settle in Turkey by acquiring immovable property in Turkey, establishing a business, making an investment, transferring their trade and business centre to Turkey, working in a workplace subject to a work permit and similar acts, or marrying a Turkish citizen, applying as a family, having parents, siblings or children who have previously acquired Turkish citizenship or completing their education in Turkey.
Not having a disease that poses a danger to general health.
T.o show that he/she has good morals by acting with the sense of responsibility required by living together in society, to give confidence to his/her environment with his/her behaviour, not to have bad habits that are not welcomed by the society and contrary to the values of the society.
To be able to speak Turkish at a level that can adapt to social life.
To have an income or a profession that will ensure the livelihood of himself/herself and his/her dependents in Turkey.
Not having any condition that would constitute an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.
ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP EXCEPTIONALLY
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 12 OF THE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP LAW NUMBERED 5901:
Pursuant to Article 12 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901:1-) The following foreigners may acquire Turkish citizenship upon the proposal of the Ministry and the decision of the Council of Ministers, provided that there is no obstacle in terms of national security and public order:- Persons who bring industrial facilities to Turkey or who have rendered or are expected to render extraordinary service in scientific, technological, economic, social, sportive, cultural, artistic fields and for whom a reasoned proposal is made by the relevant ministries. Foreigners who are granted residence permit pursuant to subparagraph (j) of the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 dated 4/4/2013 and numbered 6458, foreigners holding Turquoise Card and their foreign spouses, their and their spouses’ minor or dependent foreign children.
INVESTMENT CONDITIONS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH INVESTMENT
To realise a fixed capital investment of at least USD 500.000 or its equivalent in foreign currency or its equivalent in Turkish Lira
To purchase immovable property amounting to at least USD 250.000 or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira and to have the title deed records annotated as not to be sold for three years
T.o create employment for at least 50 people,
Deposit at least USD 500.000 or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira in banks operating in Turkey and make a commitment to keep it for three years
To purchase government debt instruments amounting to at least USD 500.000 or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish Lira and to make a commitment to hold them for three years.
THE PROCESS TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP THROUGH INVESTMENT
1-) Fulfilment of one of the investment conditions specified in Article 20 of the Regulation and obtaining the Certificate of Conformity from the relevant institution,
2-) Obtaining a short-term residence permit in accordance with subparagraph (j) of the first paragraph of Article 31 of the Law No. 6458,
3-) Applying to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship of the province of residence for acquiring Turkish Citizenship through investment.
All these processes should be followed strictly in legal terms, otherwise there may be problems in terms of both time and legal process. For this reason, it will be useful to follow the process through a lawyer and get general counselling.
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