A complete, up-to-date guide from a CMB-licensed portfolio manager: who qualifies, what it costs, how long it takes and every step from investment to passport.
Short answer: In 2026, a foreign investor can obtain Turkish citizenship by investing at least USD 500,000 in units of an eligible real estate investment fund (REIF) or venture capital fund (VC) managed by a Capital Markets Board-licensed portfolio management company, and holding those units for three years. The spouse and children under 18 are included in the same application. There is no minimum stay, no language test and no need to give up your current nationality under Turkish law. The whole process typically takes 3–6 months.
This guide explains the 2026 requirements, who qualifies, the step-by-step process, the documents you need, the realistic timeline and the most common mistakes we see. It is written by FT Portföy, a portfolio management company licensed by the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye (CMB / SPK – authorisation certificate GGSPYŞ/PY 10/420) that manages the investment stage of citizenship files every month.
Turkish citizenship by investment is a legal programme that allows foreign nationals to acquire Turkish citizenship "exceptionally" in return for a qualifying investment in Türkiye. Its legal basis is the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the Regulation on its implementation, which list the qualifying investment types and amounts. Applications are decided by the Turkish authorities after the investment has been certified by the relevant public body.
One of the qualifying investments is the purchase of units (shares) of real estate investment funds or venture capital investment funds worth at least USD 500,000 (or its equivalent in another foreign currency), with a commitment not to sell them for three years. For this route, the certifying body is the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye (CMB), which issues a Certificate of Conformity once the investment has been completed correctly.
Unlike buying a specific apartment or villa, the fund route means your money is invested in a professionally managed, regulated portfolio. You do not have to choose, inspect, register, rent out or maintain a property, and your fund units are held in your own name in a custody account where you can follow their value every day.
For the fund route, the main requirements are:
| Requirement | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Minimum investment | At least USD 500,000 (or equivalent foreign currency) in units of an eligible REIF or VC fund |
| Eligible funds | Only real estate investment funds (GYF / PGYF) and venture capital investment funds (GSYF) qualify – not mutual funds, bonds or equities |
| Currency conversion | The foreign currency is converted to Turkish lira through a Turkish bank with a foreign exchange purchase certificate (DAB) |
| Holding period | The units are blocked in your custody account for 3 years |
| Certification | A Certificate of Conformity issued by the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye |
| Applicant | Adult foreign national with a valid passport; standard background and security checks apply |
| Residence | No minimum stay in Türkiye is required, before or after citizenship |
| Language / exams | No Turkish language test or citizenship exam |
The investment must come from abroad in foreign currency and be converted through the banking system; cash already held in Turkish lira does not qualify. Your lawyer and portfolio manager will make sure the paper trail is correct from day one.
One investment covers the whole core family:
Children aged 18 or over are not included automatically and would need their own qualifying investment. Parents of the investor are not covered. Marriage and birth certificates must be apostilled (or legalised) and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.
The process has two stages: the investment stage, handled by the portfolio management company, and the citizenship stage, handled by a law firm.
You are free to work with any lawyer for the citizenship stage. If you wish, we can introduce you to an experienced law firm we work with.
| Step | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Preparation (documents, tax number, powers of attorney, bank and custody accounts) | 1–3 weeks |
| Fund subscription | Monthly window, 1st–7th of each month |
| CMB Certificate of Conformity | About 15 days |
| Residence permit and citizenship review | Depends on the authorities |
| Total, start to passport | Typically 3–6 months |
The fastest files are those where documents are prepared before the subscription window and the investor can spend a few days in Türkiye for the notary and bank steps. Remote files are also possible but usually take a little longer.
Exact civil-status requirements depend on your nationality and should be confirmed with your lawyer.
Besides the USD 500,000 investment itself, investors should budget for:
We share a full, written cost breakdown for your family before you commit to anything.
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 110 countries and territories, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil and many others.
Türkiye is an E-2 treaty country with the United States, so Turkish citizens can apply for the US E-2 investor visa.
Türkiye permits dual citizenship. Check whether your current country also allows it.
Citizenship is permanent and passes to future generations. You and your family may live, work and study in Türkiye.
USD 500,000 or the equivalent in another foreign currency, invested in units of an eligible real estate investment fund or venture capital fund and held for three years.
No. There is no minimum stay requirement before or after citizenship.
Only briefly. Most investment steps can be completed through powers of attorney and your bank account can be opened remotely, but the main applicant and spouse visit Türkiye once for biometrics during the residence permit step.
Yes – your spouse and your children under 18 are included in the same application.
Typically 3–6 months from start to passport, depending on the authorities.
Türkiye allows dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your current nationality depends on the law of your country.
The units are blocked for three years. After that, the block is lifted and the units can be redeemed in line with the fund's rules. The value of fund units can go up or down.
For fund investments, the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye (CMB / SPK) issues the certificate after the investment is completed.
This page is general information and not an investment offer or legal advice. Investment involves risk and the value of fund units may go up or down. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. Citizenship is granted by decision of the Turkish authorities. Details of the citizenship stage should be confirmed with your lawyer. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Related: Turkish citizenship through fund investment (USD 500,000) · FT Portföy – home
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