(TURKEY) Turkey is keeping its Citizenship by Investment program — widely known as the Turkey Golden Visa — steady in 2025, holding the investment bar at $400,000 to $500,000 and continuing to deliver fast processing that often finishes in 3 to 4 months. As of August 22, 2025, no new fee hikes have been announced, and the program remains active and competitive for families and entrepreneurs seeking a second passport, according to analysis by VisaVerge.com.
Officials have tightened checks this year, but the core features that made the program popular have not changed. These include a 3-year holding period on qualifying investments, the ability to include a spouse and dependent children, no minimum stay, and dual citizenship recognition. The program also keeps an important pathway for doing business in the United States 🇺🇸, as Turkish citizenship can support a file for the U.S. E‑2 investor visa.
Policy and Investment Routes in 2025
Authorities continue to accept several routes under the Turkey Golden Visa, which is a Citizenship by Investment path rather than a long-stay residency-first program. Applicants choose one qualifying option and commit funds for at least three years.
Main qualifying categories and thresholds:
– Real estate purchase of at least $400,000, with a three-year no-sale pledge.
– Fixed capital investment of $500,000.
– Bank deposit of $500,000 in a Turkish bank account, held for three years.
– Government bonds worth $500,000, kept for three years.
– Licensed venture capital or real estate investment funds with a $500,000 minimum.
– Job creation verified by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, with at least 50 jobs.
Notes on thresholds and requirements:
– Most financial routes sit at the $500,000 mark; real estate remains at $400,000.
– The 3-year hold is mandatory across all options.
– For cash-based paths, applicants must open a Turkish bank account and convert funds to lira before final steps proceed.
Officials and market watchers say this structure keeps Turkey among the fastest programs globally in the Citizenship by Investment field. The $400,000–$500,000 price band undercuts many European programs (which often require long-term residency) and remains competitive versus other regional offerings. Although experts warn a future rise (for example toward $600,000) is possible, there has been no change to thresholds in 2025.
Authorities have added stricter due diligence and paperwork checks this year to strengthen compliance. These steps aim to:
– Confirm the source of funds
– Ensure taxes and property records are clean
– Verify that each applicant meets security standards
Industry lawyers advise that applicants should plan for a more document-heavy process, but they note that the published 3 to 4 months timeline for citizenship and a Turkish passport remains typical once a file is complete. An optional fast-track is available for an additional fee.
Program Benefits and Family Coverage
Key benefits that drive demand:
– A Turkish passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 110–120 countries, including Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, and many Latin American destinations.
– Families can include a spouse, children under 18, and adult children with disabilities in the same citizenship file.
– There is no language test and no residency requirement before or after approval.
– New citizens gain the right to public services, healthcare, education, and to start or expand businesses in Turkey.
– Dual citizenship is recognized, subject to the applicant’s home-country rules.
Practical considerations for families:
– If purchasing property together, draft the purchase and shares carefully so the title deed supports the citizenship claim.
– For financial routes, funds usually must be in the main investor’s name to meet program rules, though family members can be listed in the citizenship file once the main investment is confirmed.
Process, Timeline, and Step-by-Step Sequence
The standard sequence begins with the investment choice and ends with citizenship issuance. Steps must be followed in order:
- Choose the preferred investment route (real estate, fixed capital, bank deposit, government bonds, venture/real estate funds, or job creation).
- Open a Turkish bank account for financial routes and convert incoming funds to lira.
- Make the investment and secure the mandatory 3-year hold.
- Apply for a residence permit to support the citizenship step using the official portal: https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/.
- Travel to Turkey to submit biometrics (at least one in-person visit is required for fingerprinting).
- File the citizenship application through the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM), with certified translations and supporting papers.
- Receive approval and the Turkish passport, typically within 3 to 4 months (faster processing available for an added fee).
Important warnings and timing:
The 3-year holding period starts once the investment is made and registered under the correct program requirements, not at the time of initial inquiry. Selling or withdrawing funds early can put citizenship at risk.
Document preparation checklist (commonly required):
– Passports
– Birth and marriage certificates
– Clear evidence of source of funds
– Certified translations and apostilles where needed
– Bank letters, tax returns, and corporate records (to support origin of funds)
Agency roles within Turkey:
– Banking compliance is handled by the receiving bank.
– Real estate checks involve land registry records.
– Citizenship files are processed by the migration authority.
If a file is complete and the source of funds is clear, the 3 to 4 months window is achievable. However, added due diligence can lengthen the process if records are incomplete.
Market Context, Tax Considerations, and Risks
Historical context:
– In 2019, Turkey raised the real estate threshold from $250,000 to $400,000.
– Financial routes have remained at $500,000 since then.
– No official increases in 2025, but programs can change with short notice — many lawyers advise acting sooner rather than later.
Tax and legal cautions:
– Investors should account for Turkish gift and inheritance rules that may apply to worldwide assets once a person becomes a Turkish citizen.
– The program does not impose new taxes merely for holding citizenship, but families with complex financial structures should seek professional advice before wiring funds or acquiring property.
– Structuring purchases or deposits correctly at the outset can prevent delays.
Specific documentation requirements by route:
– Real estate: the $400,000 minimum must be supported by an appraisal and recorded on the title deed with a three-year no-sale annotation.
– Financial options: banks and fund managers issue certificates showing the $500,000 amount and the lock-up.
– Government bonds and licensed fund units must be held in approved accounts for the full period.
Risk of early termination:
– Breaking the hold early risks revocation of the citizenship decision.
Human and strategic factors:
– Parents often include teenagers before they turn 18 to avoid separate files later.
– Business owners value access to a large market and regional trade routes.
– Many plan to use Turkish citizenship to pursue a U.S. E‑2 visa as a pathway to run a business in the United States.
Travel Access, Demand Drivers, and Practical Advice
Travel and mobility:
– The Turkish passport is not on par with the top European passports but does provide broad access for many investors’ business and leisure needs.
– The absence of a stay requirement allows families to keep routines in their home country while holding Turkish citizenship as a mobility and security plan.
Demand drivers:
– Speed and family coverage are commonly cited reasons applicants choose Turkey over slower, residency-first programs.
– The program’s geographic position between Europe, the Middle East, and Asia is attractive for travel and investment.
Practical advice for applicants in 2025:
– Expect closer document checks and stronger verification of origin of funds.
– Gather bank letters, tax returns, and corporate records before moving money.
– Rely on official sources and licensed advisors for current rules, property checks, fund subscriptions, and translation requirements.
Official resources:
– Directorate General of Migration Management: https://en.goc.gov.tr/
– Residence permit portal: https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/
Summary and Final Takeaway
With thresholds stable at $400,000 to $500,000, a 3-year hold, and typical approval in 3 to 4 months for complete files, Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment program remains one of the quickest routes to a second passport in 2025.
For families seeking mobility and a Plan B without relocating, the Turkey Golden Visa continues to offer a clear, rules-based path — provided applicants prepare for increased document scrutiny and follow the required steps carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Turkey’s Golden Visa remains at $400,000–$500,000 in 2025 with a mandatory three-year hold and tightened due diligence; complete files typically receive citizenship in 3–4 months. Families, dual citizenship, and visa-free access to 110–120 countries are key benefits.
