Turkish citizenship for investors from Iran: a complete guide

What are the advantages of Turkish citizenship for investors from Iran?

Turkish citizenship is attractive both to those who plan to live in Türkiye and to those who prefer to maintain their current lifestyle while gaining additional security. A Turkish passport offers wider mobility, access to stable institutions and a reliable long‑term strategy for families and business owners.

Second citizenship without renouncing the first one

Turkey allows multiple nationalities. Investors from Iran who obtain Turkish citizenship retain their original nationality and do not need to renounce their first passport. This simplifies long‑term planning for families and businesses that operate in several countries.

A practical backup plan

Turkish citizens may enter the country even when borders are closed. They can live, study, work and conduct business in Türkiye without restrictions. A second citizenship also gives applicants more flexibility when applying for residence status in other countries. 

Strategic opportunities for business

Turkey’s location between Europe and Asia provides convenient access to major regional markets. Flights from Turkish airports connect to Europe, the United States, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Land travel is available to Greece and Bulgaria, and sea routes connect to the Greek islands.

Foreigners may register companies in Türkiye under the same conditions as local citizens. Investors who create at least fifty jobs can apply for Turkish citizenship by investment.

Access to banking services

Turkish citizens may use the services of local and international banks on the same terms as other nationals of the country. They can obtain bank cards without additional fees and apply for loans subject to banks’ internal policies.

Türkiye has 54 banks, and major international payment systems such as Visa, Mastercard and UnionPay operate in the country. For many investors from Iran, this access is an important benefit when diversifying assets and conducting international transactions in a compliant manner.

Freedom of movement

Holders of Turkish citizenship can visit more than 120 countries without a visa or with simplified entry, including destinations such as Hong Kong and Japan.

They may apply for a 10‑year B‑1/В‑2 visitor visa to the United States for travel related to tourism, medical treatment or events. The visa does not permit employment.

Applicants from Turkey are also eligible for the E‑2 business visa when they establish or purchase a business in the United States. The visa allows investors and their families to live in the country for the duration of the visa.

Turkish nationals may additionally apply for a Schengen C‑2 visa, which permits stays of up to five years in Norway, Iceland and the member states of the European Union.

High‑quality healthcare

Türkiye ranks 27th globally in the Numbeo healthcare index ^[179] Source: Health Care Index, Numbeo . Medical services in the country are of higher quality than in Canada, the UAE, and the USA.

Citizens receive treatment free of charge in public medical institutions. If a private clinic participates in the compulsory insurance system, patients pay only 20% of the service cost. Insurance also allows purchasing prescription medicines at five times below the retail price.

Recognised education

Turkey has been part of the Bologna Process since 2001, which means that its higher education system aligns with European standards. Degrees from Turkish universities are recognised across the European Union.

26 Turkish universities appear in global rankings ^[180] Source: Top Global Universities, QS World University Ranking 2026 . The Middle East Technical University is among the most respected institutions, known for programs in engineering, sciences, social sciences and economics.

Life by the sea

Türkiye is surrounded by four seas: the Mediterranean, Aegean, Marmara and Black Seas. The swimming season usually lasts from May to October.

Residents of coastal regions enjoy clean sea air and access to fresh seafood at local markets. The coastline offers opportunities for water‑based activities, including diving, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing and other sports.

How to obtain Turkish citizenship by investment

Investing in the country’s economy is the fastest way to obtain a Turkish passport. A foreigner fulfils the investment condition and submits an application to the General Directorate of Migration Management under the Ministry of Interior. 

For investors from Iran, this route is often the most predictable option because it has a clear legal framework and a defined sequence of steps from choosing an investment to receiving passports.

The application is usually processed in 8 or more months. Applicants may qualify for Turkish citizenship from the age of 18. An applicant confirms that they have no criminal record or serious illnesses and proves that they have a legitimate source of income. 

Applicants from Iran usually need to provide more detailed evidence of the origin of funds and payment routes so that banks and authorities can complete enhanced compliance checks.

A spouse and children under 18 years of age may apply for Turkish citizenship together with the investor. This is especially important for Iranian families who want to secure a long‑term plan for their spouse and children even if they do not relocate immediately.

There are four investment options available for obtaining a passport by investment.

Purchase of shares

A foreigner invests at least $500,000 in government bonds or units of an investment fund. The investment must be maintained for 3 years; afterwards, the securities may be sold and the funds returned. 

For investors from Iran the bank or intermediary often carries out additional screening, so it is advisable to prepare documents on the origin of funds before transferring money.

Placing a deposit in a Turkish bank

The minimum deposit amount is $500,000. The funds must remain in the bank account for at least 3 years, and interest accrues on the deposit in accordance with the bank’s terms. 

Applicants from Iran commonly face stricter checks when opening an account and placing a deposit, and they may need to use compliant routes for sending funds from abroad that meet banks’ sanctions and anti‑money laundering requirements.

Business investment

An applicant for citizenship establishes a company and employs at least 50 staff. The employment must be officially recognised by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. Another option is to invest at least $500,000 in the share capital of an existing company. The business share may be sold after 3 years. 

For entrepreneurs from Iran, this option can be combined with moving part of the business to Turkey, but the corporate structure and employment of staff must fully comply with Turkish company and labour law.

Purchase of real estate

A foreigner purchases residential or commercial property in Türkiye worth at least $400,000. There are no requirements regarding the floor area or location of the property. Many applicants buy holiday homes or investment properties to rent out.

Foreigners are not allowed to purchase real estate in military and strategically important areas. 

Citizens of Iran also need to check in advance whether the chosen district is open for foreign buyers at the time of purchase and whether banks are ready to work with their profile for the purposes of the transaction.

What documents are required to obtain Turkish citizenship by investment?

To qualify for citizenship, an investor prepares a set of documents, which includes:

• application;
• application form;
• birth certificate;
• copy of the internal passport and the international passport;
• biometric photograph 50 × 60 mm;
• tax identification number in Türkiye;
• confirmation of having fulfilled the investment requirement;
• health insurance;
• police clearance certificate;
• power of attorney for a licensed lawyer;
• proof of financial solvency, such as bank statements, tax returns or income certificates;
• receipt for payment of the state fee for issuing a passport.

All documents must be translated into Turkish and notarised in Turkey. Most of them must also be apostilled or legalised by a consulate.

For applicants from Iran, banks and authorities in Türkiye often request additional documents that clarify the origin and movement of funds. These may include:

• extended proof of the source of funds, such as sale and purchase agreements, company financial statements, dividend records and service contracts;
• detailed bank statements for a longer period, including accounts where the savings were accumulated;
• corporate documents if the investor owns a business, such as a commercial register extract and information about beneficial owners;
• proof of residential address in Iran or in another country, for example utility bills or official letters from banks or tax authorities;
• an explanatory letter describing the planned route of transfers and the banks involved, so that the Turkish bank can complete its compliance checks in line with its internal rules.

These additional documents help reduce the risk of delays at the stage of opening an account and transferring the investment, which is especially important for investors from Iran who face stricter know‑your‑customer and sanctions screening procedures.

Other ways to obtain Turkish citizenship

Turkish citizenship can also be obtained in several other ways, for example, by proving descent, marrying a Turkish national, starting a business or working in Türkiye for at least five years. Each route has its own procedure, eligibility requirements and time frame.

Citizenship by naturalisation

A foreign national may apply for Turkish citizenship after five years of living in Turkey with a residence permit. The residence permit may be obtained for studies, employment, family reunification, humanitarian reasons or the purchase of real estate.

To have an application for citizenship approved, an applicant confirms their knowledge of the Turkish language and proves that they have a stable income.

Citizenship through work or study

Taking up employment or enrolling at a university does not in itself give the right to a Turkish passport. However, one may subsequently obtain citizenship by naturalisation after living in the country with a residence permit for at least five years. Short trips abroad are allowed, but Türkiye must remain the main place of residence.

An applicant undergoes a medical examination and background check and sits exams on Turkish language, history and culture to demonstrate that they have integrated into society.

Citizenship by marriage

The spouse of a Turkish citizen may qualify for a Turkish passport after three years of an official marriage. When processing the application, the authorities verify that the couple live together and have joint property in order to exclude sham marriages.

In some cases, a foreign spouse also undergoes a background check and an interview in Turkish, so at least a basic command of the language is important.

The application is submitted to the local municipality at the place of residence in Turkey or, if the family lives abroad, to the Turkish consulate.

Citizenship by birth

A child becomes a Turkish citizen if at least one of their parents holds a Turkish passport, regardless of the place of birth. Children adopted by Turkish citizens also acquire Turkish citizenship. Where the parents hold different nationalities, the child may receive two passports.

Citizenship by descent 

A foreign national may obtain a Turkish passport if they prove that their ancestors were Turkish citizens. They submit an application to a Turkish consulate in the country of residence and attach evidence of origin: a birth certificate, archival records and other documents confirming Turkish roots.

Citizenship for exceptional services

Outstanding scientists, doctors and IT specialists who can contribute to Türkiye or have already done so may also be granted Turkish passports.

Citizenship is not granted immediately. First, a foreign national receives a Turquoise Card valid for three years, then a permanent Turquoise Card, and after five years, they may be granted Turkish citizenship.

Who can be refused Turkish citizenship?

Applicants from Iran are assessed under the same legal rules as other foreign nationals. Citizenship is usually refused on the following grounds:

1. An incomplete set of documents, false information or errors in the paperwork.
2. The applicant is considered unreliable.
3. Poor visa or immigration history.
4. Insufficient funds to live in the country.
5. An unspent criminal conviction.
6. Evasion of military service by men aged 20 to 41.

At the same time, banks and authorities may pay closer attention to sanctions risks, the source of funds and the routes of transfers. If a bank refuses to open an account or to accept the transfer for compliance reasons, the applicant may not be able to complete the investment, and the citizenship application can be effectively blocked at an early stage.

If an application is refused, one may submit a new application or appeal the decision in court within 60 days of receiving the notification, the Tebliğ formu.

Five disadvantages of Turkish citizenship

For investors from Iran, it is important to understand these points in advance and to plan their investment and stay in Turkey with them in mind.

Mandatory military service

All male citizens between the ages of 20 and 41 are obliged to serve in the Turkish army. An exemption is granted to foreigners who obtained citizenship after the age of 22 or have already completed military service in their home country.

By paying a special fee, the period of service can be reduced from six months to 28 days. The amount is revised every six months. In the second half of 2025, it is 280,850 liras, or about $6,850.

Economic instability

Official inflation in Türkiye reached 44% in 2024. Prices rose most sharply for education services by 92%, real estate by 69%, and restaurants and hotels by 57%.

In 2025, inflation has been gradually decreasing. For example, annual price growth amounted to 33% in July 2025, the lowest level since November 2021.

Bureaucracy

Rules for the provision of services in Turkey change frequently, and there are no unified standards. Requirements of banks, telecom operators and utility providers vary from one branch to another. State authorities may take different decisions on identical applications submitted with the same set of documents.

Restrictions on civil and political rights

Türkiye scored 33 out of 100 points for political rights and civil liberties in the 2024 assessment ^[181] Source: Turkey ranking, Freedom House . Independent media are almost absent, non‑governmental organisations face restrictions, and there are systemic issues within the judiciary.

Necessity to learn Turkish

Without knowledge of the national language, it is difficult to handle everyday matters and administrative procedures. English is usually spoken only by employees in the tourist industry. However, for Iranian nationals this barrier is somewhat easier to overcome: modern Turkish contains many loanwords from Farsi, which makes the learning process smoother.

What are the key aspects of living in Turkey?

For investors from Iran, these aspects of life in Türkiye are especially important when deciding whether to relocate or to use the country as a long‑term base for their family and business.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Turkey is around 70% lower than in Germany and France. A single person spends on average about $660 a month on food and everyday needs, while a family of four spends from $2,400 ^[182] Source: Cost of living in Turkey, Numbeo .

Rental costs depend on the region and the property’s distance from the city centre. One‑bedroom flats rent from $440 to $620 a month, and three‑bedroom flats from $710 to $1,050. Utility bills for an 85 m² home are $67 a month on average.

The average purchase price of residential property in 2025 is about $1,500 per square metre. Compared with Iran, prices for everyday goods and services in Turkey are broadly similar, but the housing market is generally more affordable and offers a wider range of modern properties.

Safety

Türkiye ranked 57th out of 142 countries in the 2024 safety index, while Iran ranked significantly lower, placing 93rd ^[183] Source: Safety Index, Numbeo . In major cities and tourist destinations, the police patrol the streets regularly, which reduces the risk of serious crime, although petty theft still occurs from time to time.

Climate

Most regions of Turkey have hot summers and mild winters. In July and August, the average temperature is around +35 °C, and daytime temperatures often rise above +40 °C; on such days, even proximity to the sea does not provide much relief from the heat. It can be difficult to stay outdoors for long, so people tend to spend most of the day indoors with air conditioning.

The average winter temperature is about +10 °C, but sub‑zero temperatures occur in some regions. The warmest weather is in Side, Antalya and Alanya. Snow falls in Cappadocia and along parts of the Black Sea coast.

Education

Children attend public kindergartens from the ages of three to five, where they are prepared for school and learn Turkish, as well as the basics of writing and arithmetic.

Public schools are free of charge and enrol children from the age of six. Secondary education is divided into three stages: primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school, each lasting four years.

Higher education at Turkish universities is fee‑paying, but students can receive scholarships and grants that partially cover tuition costs. Graduates obtain bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees.

Taxation

Personal income tax in Türkiye ranges from 15 to 40% and is levied on all income, regardless of its source. The maximum rate applies if an annual salary exceeds $73,000.

The tax rates are the same for employees, self‑employed professionals and individual entrepreneurs. Self‑employed persons may reduce their taxable base by deducting professional expenses such as office rent and advertising. Individual entrepreneurs additionally pay VAT and social security contributions.

Corporate income tax is paid by joint‑stock companies, limited liability companies and partnerships. The standard rate is 25%, while for financial institutions, such as banks, it is 30%. Since July 2024, multinational companies have been subject to a 15% minimum tax.

If a company is registered in Turkey, its worldwide income is included in the Turkish tax base. If it operates through a representative office or local partner, its tax liability is limited to the income generated in Türkiye.

Key facts about Turkish citizenship

1. Turkish citizenship may be obtained by birth, marriage, naturalisation, exceptional services, or investment.
2. Children acquire Turkish citizenship if at least one parent is a Turkish citizen. For investors from Iran, this allows a family strategy, as a spouse and children under 18 can usually be included in the investment application and obtain citizenship together with the main applicant.
3. Investors can obtain Turkish citizenship in 8 months. Applicants from Iran should allow additional time at the start of the process for bank compliance checks when opening an account and transferring funds from abroad.
4. The most popular investment option is the purchase of real estate. For investors from Iran, it is important to check in advance that the selected area is open to foreign buyers at the time of purchase and that the chosen bank is ready to work with their profile.
5. The minimum investment for obtaining a passport is $400,000. In practice Iranian investors often choose to invest $400,000 in real estate or $500,000 in a bank deposit or financial instruments and keep the investment for at least 3 years in line with Turkish program rules.