TurkeyCitizenship

Naturalisation, general terms in Turkey

Naturalisation on the general terms is governed by the citizenship law and is intended for foreign nationals who have lived in Turkey for the period laid down. The process requires eight conditions to be met: being of full age, continuous residence, the intention to settle, health, good character, language, financial independence and the absence of security concerns. Alternative routes include naturalisation through marriage, through exceptional services, and for the children of Turkish citizens.

Visa term

Citizenship has no end date.

Work

A Turkish citizen works without a work permit.

Residence

The period of residence in Turkey for naturalisation on the general terms is five years.

Source: Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs of Türkiye

Who each route to naturalisation suits

Turkey has several routes to citizenship. Choose the one that suits you on the basis of your situation.

General terms

Foreign nationals with five years of continuous residence in Turkey
Working in their occupation or having a regular income
Speaking Turkish at the level of everyday communication
With no problems of health or with the law

Through marriage

Spouses of Turkish citizens
With at least three years of living together
Meeting the health and security requirements
Speaking Turkish at the level of everyday communication

Exceptional naturalisation

Investors bringing in industrial facilities
Academics, technologists and specialists of exceptional standing
People with economic, social, sporting or cultural merits
Holding a recommendation from the relevant Turkish ministries

For children

Born in Turkey without any other citizenship
Children of Turkish citizens born abroad
Adopted by Turkish citizens
May register after 18 or automatically where the conditions are met

When this programme will not suit you

You have less than 5 years of continuous residence in Turkey

Obtain a residence permit (ikamet) and wait until the required period has passed

You do not speak Turkish at the level of everyday communication

Take Turkish language courses before applying

You have no stable income or occupation

Find work in Turkey or confirm another source of income

You have convictions or problems with Turkish law

Resolve the legal problems, wait until the limitation periods expire or check whether a pardon is possible

What it costs

Fee for naturalisation on the general terms (per person)Charged for each applicant and each family member included in the application	957,26 TRY
Fee for naturalisation through marriage (per person)The same rate as for the general terms	957,26 TRY
Fee for repeat naturalisation (per person)For citizens of the TRNC and persons who previously held Turkish citizenship	505,72 TRY
Fee for exceptional naturalisation (per person)For investors, academics and persons with exceptional merits (where the ministries approve)	135,45 TRY
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Fee for repeat naturalisation (per person)” branch replaces the “Fee for naturalisation on the general terms (per person)” line — 1 462,98 TRY; the “Fee for exceptional naturalisation (per person)” branch replaces the “Fee for naturalisation on the general terms (per person)” line — 1 092,71 TRY. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1 914,52 TRY

Paid separately

Income certificate — Prepared by you or through your employer; not part of the state fee
Health certificate — Issued by private medical clinics; not part of the state fee
Translation and legalisation of documents — Carried out by a notary and a translator; not part of the state fee
Lawyer or migration adviser services — Paid separately if used; not part of the state fee

Documents to gather

The following minimum set of documents is required for the application. The exact list may differ depending on the province and your situation — check with your local NVI office.

Completed application form VAT-3 (available on nvi.gov.tr)
Documents confirming identity and citizenship of the country of origin
Certificate of continuous residence in Turkey (issued by the municipality)
Health certificate (no infectious diseases and no danger to the public)
Criminal-record certificate (no criminal proceedings in Turkey or in other countries)
Certificate of income or professional activity (proof of financial independence)
Documents on property rights or investments in Turkey (if any)
Certificate of knowledge of Turkish or an assessment of the ability to communicate (at an everyday level)
Passport (copy and original)
Photographs (size and number in accordance with the requirements)
Certificate that there are no obstacles from the point of view of national security

How the process runs

Naturalisation involves several stages, from preparing the documents to receiving the certificate of citizenship and a Turkish passport.

1
Preparing the documents and certificates
2-3 months
Collect all the required documents: certificates of health, income, residence and criminal record. Have foreign documents translated into Turkish and legalised. Make sure copies of all the documents are certified and meet the requirements.
2
Filing the application at the provincial NVI office
1 day (formalities)
Go to the local office of the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs in your province. Complete form VAT-3, with the help of the staff if necessary. Pay the state fee (957.26 TL per person) through a bank or at the cash desk. Obtain the receipt showing that the application has been accepted.
3
Checking the documents and certificates
2-4 weeks
NVI staff check that the documents are complete and meet the requirements of the law. They may request further certificates or clarifications. At this stage national security checks and background checks with the law-enforcement authorities are carried out.
4
Consideration of the application and the decision
up to 30 days (officially)
The application is considered by the competent authorities. Under the law on the protection of personal data, the decision must be taken as quickly as possible, within a maximum of 30 days. In practice the timeline may be longer depending on the workload of the office and the complexity of the case. You will be notified of the outcome by letter or through the electronic services system (e-Hizmet).
5
The oath and receipt of the certificate of citizenship
1 day (ceremony)
If the decision is positive, you will be invited to an oath ceremony at the NVI office. You take the oath in Turkish before a witness. You receive the certificate of acquisition of Turkish citizenship (Türk Vatandaşlığını Kazanma Belgesi).
6
Obtaining the passport and documents
1-2 weeks
After receiving the certificate of citizenship, go to the passport department to obtain a Turkish passport. Also obtain the Turkish identity card (T.C. Kimlik Kartı), which is needed for work, banking services and official transactions. These documents confirm your new status as a citizen.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may be included in your naturalisation application if they meet the conditions and are in Turkey with you.

Spouse

The spouse of a Turkish citizen is entitled to naturalisation through marriage with at least three years of living together. They may be included in a joint application or apply separately. The language and income requirements are the same.

Minor children

Children under 18 in your care may be included in a parent's application and receive citizenship automatically if it is approved. Once the parent has obtained citizenship they are automatically treated as Turkish citizens, without a separate application.

Adult children

Adult children (18 and over) must file a separate application and meet all eight conditions (including the five years of residence and the language). They cannot be included in a parent's application.

Adopted children

Children adopted by Turkish citizens may obtain citizenship automatically or through a separate procedure. The requirements depend on the age and on the circumstances of the adoption.

Renewal and the grace period

Turkish citizenship acquired through naturalisation has no end date and does not need to be renewed. However, the passport and the identity card are valid for a limited period: the passport is valid for 10 years (for those over 12) or 5 years (for children under 12); the identity card is valid for 15 years. These documents should be renewed before they expire, at the NVI office in your province or at a Turkish consulate if you are abroad. Citizenship itself does not need to be reissued.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Naturalisation, general terms	Short-term residence permit	Turquoise Card
Visa term	Citizenship has no end date	Usually 1 year (property), six months / 1 year (tenancy), up to 2 years; renewable while the ground remains	The exact term and renewal are not disclosed (a transition period is provided for)
Grounds	Turkish Citizenship Law no. 5901	Tourism / property	High qualifications
Work	A Turkish citizen works without a work permit	A short-term residence permit is not a work permit	By its nature it is linked to the right to work; the exact regime is not confirmed
Residence	The period of residence in Turkey for naturalisation on the general terms is five years	No specific minimum number of days is stated	No minimum number of days is stated

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The alternative to citizenship is the long-term residence permit after 8 years of continuous residence. It is granted with no end date.

Route to citizenship

There are eight conditions: being of full age and legal capacity, 5 years of continuous residence before applying, the intention to settle in the country, the absence of an illness dangerous to others, good character, Turkish at the level of everyday communication, income or an occupation, and no obstacles on grounds of national security and public order.

Frequently asked questions about Naturalisation, general terms

Exactly how long a period of continuous residence is required for naturalisation?

Exactly five years of continuous residence in Turkey before the application is filed. That means you must be in Turkey without long absences (holidays do not usually break continuity, but an absence of more than a few months may be a problem). Time runs from the date the residence permit was obtained or from the first official entry. Check the exact dates with your local NVI office.

Is it compulsory to renounce your own citizenship when obtaining Turkish citizenship?

Turkey does not require renunciation of previous citizenship. Your country of origin, however, may require it — check the law of your home country. Turkey recognises dual citizenship and you may hold both passports. If you decide to renounce your old citizenship, this is done through your country's embassy and does not affect the acquisition of Turkish citizenship.

Is there a Turkish language examination to pass?

Turkey requires the ability to speak Turkish at a level sufficient for social integration. That does not mean passing a formal examination, but your level is assessed when the application is considered. You may provide a Turkish language certificate (for example from TÖMER or another accredited centre) or take an oral test at the NVI office. If you have lived in Turkey for five years and work there, this is usually treated as evidence of a sufficient command of the language.

What counts as sufficient income or an occupation for naturalisation?

The law requires income or an occupation sufficient to support yourself and your dependants. No specific minimum income is set — it is assessed case by case. You must prove that you can support yourself and your family without resorting to social assistance. This may be permanent work under a contract, your own business, a pension, or property or assets producing income. A certificate from an employer, a bank statement or documents on property rights are all suitable as evidence.

How much does naturalisation cost and what are the additional expenses?

The state fee for naturalisation is 957.26 TL per person (2026). This amount is the same for naturalisation on the general terms, through marriage and through adoption. Additional expenses (not included in the fee): the health certificate (200-500 TL), translation of documents (200-1,000 TL depending on the volume), and advice from a lawyer or agent (if needed). If you apply for yourself and for family members, the fee is multiplied by the number of people.

What happens if my application is refused?

If the application is refused, you will be sent written notification stating the reason (for example, insufficient income, health problems, problems with continuity of residence or security). You have the right to challenge the decision before the administrative court or to apply again after a certain period (usually a year). If the reason is temporary (for example, an illness that has been cured), it is advisable to wait and apply again. Consult an immigration lawyer about a challenge.

Other ways to move to Turkey

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Turkey.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.