Türkiye

Türkiye's Citizenship by Investment Programme has become one of the most widely used routes to a second passport, combining a relatively accessible entry point with the standing of a large, strategically located G20 economy. Introduced in 2017 and expanded since, it grants citizenship to investors who commit qualifying capital, most commonly through real estate. We advise clients who want genuine optionality and a credible long-term jurisdiction rather than a quick transaction.

The programme matters because Türkiye sits at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, and offers an economy with real depth. A Turkish passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a substantial list of countries, and Turkish citizens benefit from a specific pathway: holding Turkish nationality is one of the qualifying routes toward the United States E-2 treaty investor visa, which makes the programme of particular interest to founders eyeing the American market.

Who it suits

Türkiye appeals to a broad range of applicants, but it fits some profiles especially well:

• Entrepreneurs who want a route that may later support a US E-2 application.
• Investors comfortable holding real estate in a major emerging market for the required period.
• Families seeking to include a spouse and dependent children in a single application.

It is less suited to those who need immediate European Union rights, or who are uncomfortable with currency and property-market volatility.

Cost and what is really involved

The headline route is real estate. As at 2026, the qualifying threshold is a property purchase of approximately US$400,000, which must be held for a minimum period of around three years. Alternative routes include a fixed capital deposit or bank deposit at higher thresholds, again with a holding requirement.

Beyond the investment itself, applicants should budget for:

• Property transfer taxes, valuation reports, and legal fees.
• Government and processing charges, plus professional advisory costs.
• Currency exposure, since the investment is benchmarked in US dollars but transacted in a local market.

Tax and lifestyle

Becoming a Turkish citizen does not automatically make you Turkish tax resident; residence generally turns on physical presence and the location of your main interests. If you do become resident, Türkiye taxes worldwide income, so the tax position must be planned carefully and separately from the citizenship decision. We coordinate with local and home-country advisers so the two questions are never conflated.

For those who choose to spend time in the country, Türkiye offers a high quality of life, a low cost of living relative to Western Europe, and excellent connectivity through Istanbul's major hub airports.

The process and timeline

The process is comparatively fast when the file is well prepared:

• We identify and verify a qualifying, correctly valued property or alternative asset.
• The investment is completed and the official valuation and title work are secured.
• The citizenship application is filed with supporting documents and source-of-funds evidence.
• On approval, citizenship and passports are issued for the family unit.

From a complete file, approval is often achieved within around three to six months, though the property acquisition stage can add time if not managed tightly.

Pitfalls and how we avoid them

The most frequent problems are overpriced or mis-valued property sold specifically to citizenship buyers, and disputes over whether a purchase truly meets the threshold. We use independent valuation and legal review to protect against both. Currency timing, hidden transfer costs, and unclear exit terms on the property are further risks we plan for in advance.

We are also candid about market risk. Real estate purchased at a premium may not hold its value, so we treat the investment as a citizenship cost first and an investment second, and we never present the asset as a guaranteed return.

How HPT helps

We manage the engagement end to end: eligibility and goal assessment, independent property due diligence, coordination of legal transfer and valuation, preparation of the citizenship file, and oversight of the timeline. Where the US E-2 pathway is the real objective, we plan the sequence so the citizenship step supports it correctly. Our commitment is to conservative, accurate advice and a single point of accountability throughout. We begin with a confidential review and a transparent estimate of your all-in cost.