Requirements for Turkish Citizenship

The requirements for acquiring Turkish citizenship are regulated by the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. This law sets out the conditions under which Turkish citizenship may be acquired either by birth or subsequently, including through marriage, investment, or residence based on a work permit.

Law No. 5901 also regulates the eligibility requirements for Turkish citizenship, the application procedures, and the evaluation process carried out by the competent authorities.

How Can Turkish Citizenship Be Acquired?

Under the provisions of Law No. 5901, Turkish citizenship may be acquired in the following ways:

1. Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Birth

• Acquisition based on descent (jus sanguinis)
• Acquisition based on place of birth (jus soli)

2. Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship After Birth

• By decision of the competent authority
• Through adoption
• By exercising the right of option

3. Exceptional Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship

• Acquisition of Turkish citizenship through investment
• Acquisition of Turkish citizenship as a migrant
• Acquisition by persons whose naturalization is deemed necessary

4. Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Without a Residence Requirement

5. Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Subject to a Residence Requirement

6. Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Birth

Turkish citizenship may be acquired automatically at birth in two different ways: through descent or through the place of birth. In either case, the individual is not required to submit a citizenship application, as citizenship is acquired automatically by operation of law.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

1. Where Both Parents Are Turkish Citizens

The place where the child is born is irrelevant. If both the mother and the father are Turkish citizens, the child automatically acquires Turkish citizenship.

However, one important condition is that the marriage between the parents must be legally valid under Turkish law.

2. Child Born Outside Marriage

A child born outside a legally recognized marriage may acquire Turkish citizenship under the following circumstances:

• If the mother is a Turkish citizen: the child automatically acquires Turkish citizenship.
• If the father is a Turkish citizen: the legal parent-child relationship (paternity) must first be established before the child can acquire Turkish citizenship.

Under Turkish law, paternity may be established either by:

• Acknowledgment of paternity (recognition) by the father; or
• A court decision establishing paternity through a paternity lawsuit.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Place of Birth (Jus Soli)

Another way of acquiring Turkish citizenship by birth is based on the place of birth (jus soli) principle.

A child born in Türkiye acquires Turkish citizenship if they are unable to obtain the citizenship of any other country at birth. Therefore, merely being born in Türkiye is not sufficient. It is also necessary that the child cannot acquire any nationality through either parent.

Examples include:

• Example: A child born in Türkiye to stateless parents automatically acquires Turkish citizenship.
• Example: A child born in Türkiye who is eligible to acquire the citizenship of another country through either parent does not acquire Turkish citizenship.
• Example: A child found abandoned in Türkiye whose parents cannot be identified is presumed to be a Turkish citizen until proven otherwise.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship After Birth

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Decision of the Competent Authority

In practice, the statutory requirements for Turkish citizenship are most commonly assessed in applications submitted to the competent authority.

An applicant must satisfy the following conditions to acquire Turkish citizenship by decision of the competent authority:

• Be of legal age and have legal capacity.
• Have legally and continuously resided in Türkiye for at least five years.
• Demonstrate an intention to settle permanently in Türkiye.
• Not pose a threat to public health.
• Be of good moral character.
• Have an adequate command of the Turkish language.
• Have sufficient income or financial means to support themselves and their dependents.
• Not pose a threat to national security or public order.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Adoption

A foreign child may acquire Turkish citizenship if adopted by a Turkish citizen.

However, the adoptive parent’s Turkish citizenship alone is not sufficient. The adopted child must also not pose any risk to national security or public order.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship by Exercising the Right of Option

Turkish citizenship may also be acquired by exercising the right of option in circumstances specifically provided for under the Turkish Citizenship Law.

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage

Turkish citizenship through marriage is regulated under Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, titled “Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage.”

Marrying a Turkish citizen does not automatically result in Turkish citizenship. The foreign spouse must also satisfy the legal requirements prescribed by the law.

Requirements for Turkish Citizenship Through Marriage

To become eligible for Turkish citizenship through marriage, the applicant must meet the following conditions:

• The marriage must have lasted for at least three years.
• The spouses must be living together as a genuine family.

The Turkish Citizenship Law does not recognize marriages entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship. The authorities examine whether the marriage is genuine and whether the spouses maintain a real family life. However, if the Turkish spouse dies after the citizenship application has been submitted, this requirement is no longer applied.

• The applicant must not engage in conduct incompatible with the marital union.

Turkish law imposes certain mutual rights and obligations on spouses. Conduct inconsistent with these obligations may be considered evidence that the marriage was entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining Turkish citizenship.

• The applicant must not pose a threat to national security or public order.