Turkish citizenship is acquired in one of two ways: by birth or subsequently. This page covers the routes by which a foreign national can acquire citizenship subsequently, that is, by decision of the competent authority. The main source is Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (TVK) and the Regulation on its implementation.
One point should be clear from the start: under TVK Art. 10, meeting the requirements does not give an absolute right to acquire citizenship. The administration may refuse even an application that meets the requirements on grounds of public order or national security. This discretion is not unlimited; it is subject to judicial review and must be supported by concrete information and documents. Even so, preparing a complete and consistent file from the outset is the most decisive part of the process.
Which routes lead to citizenship?
Subsequent acquisition is divided into several routes, each with its own requirements under the Law. Which route fits depends on how long and under what permit the person has lived in Türkiye, whether they are married, whether they have made an investment and whether they were previously a Turkish citizen.
General route (TVK Art. 11)
This is the most common route and is intended for foreign nationals who have lived in Türkiye for a long time. The applicant must be of age and have the capacity to act; have resided in Türkiye without interruption for five years immediately before the application; confirm through their conduct that they have decided to settle in Türkiye; not have an illness posing a danger to public health; be of good moral character; speak sufficient Turkish; have an income or profession sufficient to support themselves and their dependants; and not present an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. The Law also provides that the applicant may be asked to renounce their existing citizenship (Art. 11(2)).
Calculating the five-year period is where most mistakes are made in practice. According to the application information published by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVİ), periods spent abroad totalling up to six months within that time count as residence; time abroad exceeding six months in total, or staying more than six months without a valid residence permit, interrupts the period and earlier residence is no longer counted. Certain types of residence, such as student, tourist, medical treatment and some international protection permits, are not accepted as valid residence for this calculation. Entry and exit records obtained from the police should be checked against these criteria one by one before applying.
Acquisition by marriage (TVK Art. 16)
Marrying a Turkish citizen does not in itself confer citizenship. A foreign national who has been married for at least three years and whose marriage is continuing may apply, provided that they live together as a family, do not engage in activities incompatible with the marital union, and present no obstacle in terms of national security and public order. This route and the family-unity investigation are covered in detail on the Turkish Citizenship by Marriage page.
Exceptional route (TVK Art. 12)
Granted by Presidential decision, this route covers persons who bring industrial facilities to Türkiye or who have rendered, or are expected to render, outstanding services in scientific, technological, economic, social, sporting, cultural or artistic fields; those who make an investment of a specified amount; Turquoise Card holders; persons whose naturalisation is deemed necessary; and persons accepted as immigrants. Investment-based applications do not require five years' residence, Turkish language skills or proof of income, but the investment must be made in the manner set out in the regulation and a certificate of conformity must be obtained from the relevant authority. For details, see the Turkish Citizenship by Investment page.
Reacquisition (TVK Art. 13)
Persons listed in the Law, such as those who lost Turkish citizenship by obtaining permission to renounce it and their children, may reacquire citizenship by decision of the Ministry regardless of how long they have resided in Türkiye. These persons must also present no obstacle in terms of national security.
Where to apply and with which documents?
General-route applications are made in person, or through a specific power of attorney issued for this purpose, to the governorship (provincial directorate of population and citizenship) where the foreign national resides; applications by post are not accepted. For investment-based applications, the dedicated offices set up in Istanbul and Ankara also play a role. The file usually includes:
- Application form and biometric photograph
- Passport or document showing nationality; birth certificate or civil registry extract
- Document showing marital status (marriage, divorce or spouse's death certificate)
- Medical report showing no illness posing a danger to public health
- Documents showing income or profession in Türkiye (work permit, tax registration, etc.)
- Entry-exit record from the provincial police department showing five years of uninterrupted residence
- A valid residence permit covering the period after the application date
- Certified copies of any final criminal convictions and a receipt for the service fee
Documents issued by foreign authorities must bear an apostille or consular legalisation and be accompanied by a sworn translation. As the document list varies by type of application, the current list should be checked for each file on the relevant NVİ application page.
From application to decision: how the process works
Once the file is submitted, the Citizenship Application Review Commission established at provincial level interviews the applicant. The interview assesses the applicant's Turkish, social integration in Türkiye, source of income, family situation and whether the statements are consistent with the documents. A security investigation follows and the file is sent to the Ministry of Interior. Under the general route the decision is made by the Ministry; under the exceptional route, by the President. The acquisition decision is notified to the person concerned (TVK Art. 41).
The file is not closed once the process is complete. An acquisition decision may be annulled if it was obtained through false statements or concealment of material facts (TVK Art. 31); decisions found to have been issued without the legal conditions being met, or more than once, are withdrawn (TVK Art. 40). It is therefore important, not only at the application stage but afterwards too, that every piece of information given is accurate and can be supported by documents.
Common problems
In practice, some refusals stem not from a failure to meet the requirements at all, but from the way the file was prepared. The most common are failing to notice that the five-year residence period was interrupted by a type of residence that does not count or by a period abroad exceeding six months; income documents that do not match the declared standard of living; and answers at the interview that contradict the documents in the file. In marriage-based applications, failing to prove shared life during the family-unity investigation is a frequent problem; in investment-based applications, it is a property or payment that does not meet the formal requirements of the regulation.
What can be done against a refusal?
If the application is refused or left unanswered for a long time, an administrative application and an annulment action are available under Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577. As a rule, the time limit for filing an action is sixty days from notification of the decision (İYUK Art. 7). Time limits, the competent court and judicial review of administrative discretion are covered on the Refusal of Citizenship Applications and Annulment Actions page, and the topic is discussed in detail in our article on refusals of citizenship applications and legal remedies.
Our work in this area
Before an application, we assess which route is suitable and how the residence period should be calculated. We assist with preparing the file, following up translation and legalisation of documents, preparing for the commission interview and monitoring the administrative process. Where a decision is negative, we handle the administrative application and the annulment action. The Immigration and Foreigners Law and Residence Permits pages may also be of interest.
For a more detailed account, see our article on requirements for foreign nationals to acquire Turkish citizenship in 2026.
Areas covered under this heading
Main topics
- Applications under the general route (TVK Art. 11)
- Citizenship by marriage (TVK Art. 16)
- Investment and other exceptional routes (TVK Art. 12)
- Reacquisition of citizenship (TVK Art. 13)
- Citizenship of minor children
- Administrative applications and annulment actions against refusals
- Annulment and withdrawal of acquisition decisions
Frequently asked questions
Do days I spend abroad count towards the five-year residence period?
According to NVİ's application information, periods spent abroad totalling up to six months within the five years count as residence. Time abroad exceeding six months in total interrupts residence and the period starts again. It is advisable to check your entry and exit records against this criterion before applying.
Is time spent on a tourist residence permit enough for citizenship?
In NVİ practice, certain types of residence, such as tourist, student and medical treatment residence, are not counted as valid residence for citizenship under the general route. Which part of your time will be taken into account must be examined separately according to the types of permits you have held.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to become a Turkish citizen?
Turkish law permits dual citizenship. However, under TVK Art. 11(2), applicants under the general route may be required to renounce their existing citizenship. As some countries' own legislation attaches consequences to acquiring another citizenship, you should also check the rules of your own country.
Can my application be refused even if I meet the requirements?
Yes. Under TVK Art. 10, meeting the requirements does not give an absolute right to acquire citizenship. However, the administration's discretion is subject to judicial review, and an annulment action can be filed against a refusal within the time limit.
Can my minor children also acquire citizenship?
Minor children of a mother or father who acquires Turkish citizenship may acquire citizenship under the conditions set out in the Law and, where necessary, with the consent of the other parent. In investment-based applications, the spouse and minor children may be included in the same file.
Legislation and sources
- Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (in Turkish)
- Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law (in Turkish)
- Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (in Turkish)
- General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs – Citizenship services
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice. As legislation may change, the current rules must be assessed separately for your particular situation.