Obtaining residence permit and citizenship in Turkey when buying a property

Dreaming of life under the Turkish sun? A Turkish Residency Permit is your ticket to a carefree holiday.

Residency allowance not only legalizes your stay for a year or more but also opens doors for work, depending on the type of document obtained.

Learn who can get the coveted status, under what terms, and what benefits it offers to foreigners in our detailed guide.

Residency Allowance: Your pass to a convenient life in Turkey

Getting Ikamet gives leave to delve into local society and enjoy the pros accessible to inhabitants.

Pros:

• Study: Your kids can study in civil schools alongside the country’s inhabitants.
• Accessible Healthcare: You can get free cure at public hospitals and can use the commencement of private ones at reduced prices.
• Variety of Civil Services: Doors to civil sectors and routes will be open to you, allowing you to enrich your leisure time and gain new knowledge.

Important to remember: Ikamet does not immediately give the right to have a job. For employment, you are in need of a work visa.

How to get a Residence Allowance when buying property in Turkey

Country hospitably opens its doors to non-citizen investors. Here are two main variants:

• Rent: Conclude a notarized lease agreement and get a tourist residency allowance for the continuation of the deal (usually up to 2 years).
• Buying a property: Acquire housing of any price and record the possession. This entitles you to a tourist residence allowance, the continuation of which varies (on average 1-2 years, but variations are feasible depending on citizenship).

Vital: Clarify whether the selected area is open for legalization of non-citizens.

New horizons:

From October 2023, buying real estate in Turkey worth from $200000 (as valued in the TAPU paper) opens the way to acquiring citizenship by naturalization. Keep in mind that the assessed value may differ from the market one, especially in resort towns.

Compulsory papers for receiving a Turkish Residency Permit

Mandatory Set:

• Submission Form: Fill out the submission form for an allowance, accurately indicating all the mandatory data.
• TIN: Get a TIN – your personal identifier in the local financial system.
• Photographs: Provide 4 photos that meet the requirements.
• Passport: Make authenticated copies of all pages of your passport and don’t forget the original.
• Evidence of Financial Sufficiency: Confirm the availability of profit or funds in your bank account.
• Medicare: Take out Medicare that will cover your medical expenses in a country.
• Accommodation Papers: Provide a certified lease agreement or TAPU proving your place of living.

Extra Papers (for Working Trips):

• Proposal from an Organization: If the purpose of your visit is to search for business partners, a proposition from a local organization is mandatory.

Keep in mind: The administrative fee for issuing the card is 160 TRY.

The guide of getting a Turkish Residence Allowance

The entire course of action will take you 4 months. These stages have to be completed:

1. Purchase a SIM card from a local mobile operator.
2. Find accommodation and sign a lease agreement.
3. Obtain Medicare.
4. Get the necessary papers translated and  authenticated.
5. Take 4 biometric photos.
6. Submit your residence allowance submission.
7. Attend an interview.
8. Get a TIN.
9. Get an allowance.

The continuation of the Residency Permit of Turkey and ways to extend it

Short-Term Allowance:

• Period of Effectiveness: From 1 to 5 years.
• Extension: Feasible if the rules of stay in the country are observed and there are no violations of the law.
• How to extend Turkish Residency Permit: Submit online or at the migration department.

Extended Allowance:

• Who receives: Non-citizens who have lived in the state for a minimum 8 years.
• Constant Status: The lasting resident allowance card has no expiration date and does not need a renewal.

Turkish Citizenship: From dream to reality

Dreaming of becoming a full-fledged citizen of Turkey? The naturalization program opens up such opportunities! Here is your key to a passport:

1. Put money in the Future: Buy an object that is worth the minimum of $200000 (depending on the cadastral value). This is your ticket to the program.
2. Become a Part of State: Live here for five years, and not leave it in excess of 360 days throughout the entire period. Show your commitment to your new homeland.
3. Get to Know Turkey Better: Pass exams on local language and history. Demonstrate your willingness to delve into this society.

Vital: The “Tourist” residence allowance gotten when acquiring housing for a minimum US $200000 is not taken into consideration when calculating the time of residence for full membership.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment: Your fast track to a new status

Something you have to know:

• Spend US $400000: Invest in a country’s real estate (one or more housings acquired within a 30 days).
• Pick an Object You Wish: Apartments, commercial premises, shares in hotels – the choice is yours!
• Trust the Specialists: Turn to a lawyer to accompany the business dealing and get citizenship (the cost of services is ~ US $5000, + VAT refund).
• Kinship citizenship: Your mate and kids who are juveniles can receive Turkish citizenship.

Important Nuances:

• Prohibition on Sale: Housing acquired within the program cannot be sold for 3 years.
• Local Sellers Only: Buy housing from the country’s inhabitants or developers.
• One-Time Participation: Housings that have already participated in the program are not eligible for re-registration.
• It is vital to note that not all estate falls under this program

Mandatory papers for receiving Citizenship of Turkey

These papers have to be given:

Personal Data:

• Submission Form: Completed and signed.
• Birth Certificates: For the main aspirant and the whole family.
• Marital Status: Marriage license or paper proving marital status.
• Passports: Copies of all pages of internal and international passports of the whole family.
• Photographs: Biometric photographs measuring 50 × 60 mm for the whole family.

Financial and Legal Documentation:

• Financial Institution Report: Proving payment for housing.
• Endorsement from TAPU: Paper from the National Land Administration and Cadastre proving the accomplishment of financial contribution duty.
• Medicare: Authentic in a state.
• Police Clearance: For the main candidate.
• Duplicate of Residence Allowance: If applicable.
• Power of Attorney for a Lawyer: For a licensed local lawyer representing your interests.
• Official Fee Payment Acknowledgment: For issuing passports.

It is vital to clarify the entire list with specialists before submitting documents.

The course of action of receiving Turkish Citizenship

Let’s take a look at the method of getting a passport:

1. Choosing an Agent and Initial Verification:

• Contact a representative of the country’s citizenship program.
• Pass a confidential preliminary AML/KYC check to minimize the risks of refusal.

2. Preparation of Papers:

• Get a comprehensive list of compulsory papers from lawyers and, if vital, use their help in translating, notarizing, and filling out forms.

3. Selecting and Acquiring Housing:

• Check out the offers of verified housing objects from sales specialists.
• Carry out a lawful check of the selected object for encumbrances and compliance of the contract with all necessities.
• Pay for the housing and get a paper of possession.

4. Receiving an Allowance:

• Submit for a residence allowance, which is a vital stage. The card issuance period is 1-2 weeks.

5. Submission for Citizenship:

• Entrust lawyers to file documents on your behalf by proxy.

6. Taking a Passport:

• Acquire your paper at the Turkish embassy in your state without necessity to visit Turkey.