Turkish Citizenship process: Expert Guide to the Turkish Citizenship Process.

Introduction

With the growing interest of Arab and foreign investors in the Turkish Citizenship by Investment Program, one essential question is repeatedly asked by all applicants: What are the stages of Turkish citizenship? How long does each stage take? And what does each status of my application actually mean?

At Al-Hafez Real Estate, we believe that accurate knowledge of procedures is just as important as the investment itself. Following up on a citizenship application without a real understanding of its stages may create unnecessary concern, even though most of these stages are purely procedural and routine.

In this comprehensive guide, we take you step by step through all stages of exceptional Turkish citizenship, from the moment the application is registered until the final naturalization decision is issued. We explain the meaning of each stage, the reasons for moving between them, the approximate duration of each, and the role of the legal team in accelerating and reviewing the process.

First: What Is Meant by the Stages of Turkish Citizenship?

The stages of Turkish citizenship refer to the procedural statuses that an applicant’s file goes through after officially submitting the application. These stages are tracked through the government’s citizenship monitoring system.

Each stage indicates:

• The file’s location within government institutions
• The type of review currently being conducted
• The authority responsible for the application at that moment

It is important to note that:

• A delay at a specific stage does not mean rejection
• Movement between stages is not always linear
• Some files may return to a previous stage for organizational reasons
• Fingerprinting after acceptance of documents and specifying the name when applying for citizenship (i.e., he can change his name and surname)

Second: What Are the Stages of Turkish Naturalization?

The process of obtaining exceptional Turkish citizenship passes through several official stages, starting from the registration of the application and ending with the official notification of the naturalization decision. These stages do not necessarily mean a new evaluation each time; rather, they reflect the file’s status within the government system and the authority reviewing it at that moment.

Investors should understand that:

• Almost all applications follow the same sequence
• Differences in the duration of each stage are normal
• Movement between stages is not always linear, and files may move backward for administrative reasons

Understanding these stages provides reassurance and prevents unnecessary anxiety while waiting for the final decision.

Stage One: Citizenship Application Registration

At this stage, your application is officially registered in the electronic citizenship system, and initial procedures begin.

What does this stage mean?

• Your file has been formally accepted
• All basic documents are complete
• Initial administrative review has started

Is any action required from you?
No. This stage is fully automatic.

Estimated duration:
From a few days up to two weeks.

Stage Two: File Transfer to the Central Authority

At this stage, your documents are sent from the application authority to the relevant General Directorate, but the file has not yet physically arrived.

What happens here?

• Transfer of the file between official authorities
• Internal organization of documents
• Entry of data into the central system

Important note:
This stage is purely administrative and usually does not take long, but it may sometimes be extended due to application volume.

Stage Three: File Arrival and Initial Review

Here, the file reaches the General Directorate and undergoes an initial document review.

What is reviewed?

• Authenticity of documents
• Consistency of personal data
• Completeness of certificates and translations
• Compliance with citizenship requirements

The Role of the Legal Team

Having specialized lawyers significantly reduces the likelihood of:

• Requests for additional documents
• File returns
• Unjustified delays

Missing Documents Stage (If Applicable)

This is not a mandatory stage and appears only if there is:

• A missing document
• A translation error
• Missing official certification

What should be done?

• Immediate communication with the application authority
• Completing the missing requirements without delay

At Al-Hafez, we monitor this stage directly to prevent the file from stalling.

Civil Registry (Population Directorate) Review Stage

At this stage, the citizenship file is linked with civil registry records. You may be asked to:

• Visit official authorities, or
• Respond to an inquiry through official government channels

Does this indicate a problem?
Not necessarily. Often it is simply:

• Data matching
• A routine procedure

Stage Four: Review and Archiving (The Most Important Stage)

This is the longest and most sensitive stage and includes several sub-statuses:

1. Document Examination

A detailed review of the file in terms of:

• Legal background
• Validity of the investment
• Compliance with legal procedures

2. Inclusion in the Archive List

Your file is added to the first list sent for archival investigations.

3. Archival Investigation

The file is sent to the relevant authorities for:

• Security checks
• Legal record review
• Verification of the absence of legal obstacles

4. Under Review (Evaluation in Progress)

This means:

• The investigation is ongoing
• No decision has been issued yet
• The file is progressing normally

5. Re-Evaluation (If Occurs)

The file may return for re-evaluation due to:

• Internal updates
• Standardization of decisions
• Organizational changes

6. File Cancellation (Rare Cases)

This occurs only if:

• Incorrect information was submitted
• Citizenship requirements were violated

Stage Five: Preliminary Approval

At this stage, your file is included in the decision list.

What does this mean?

• All checks have been successfully completed
• The file is ready to be presented to the decision-making authority
• Approval probability is very high

Stage Six: Waiting for the Final Decision

At this stage:

• The file is sent to the final decision authority
• Official approval is awaited

Estimated duration:
From several weeks up to approximately two months.

Stage Seven: Registration in Civil Records

After the decision is issued:

• You are registered as a Turkish citizen
• Your data is entered into state civil records

You will then be asked to visit the relevant authority for official notification.

Stage Eight and Final: Decision Notification

At this stage:

• You are officially informed that you have obtained Turkish citizenship
• You can apply for your Turkish ID card and passport

Congratulations, you are now a Turkish citizen.

Total Duration of Turkish Citizenship Stages

On average:

• From 3 to 6 months

This duration may increase or decrease depending on:

• File completeness
• Application volume
• Accuracy of procedures

Duration of Each Naturalization Stage in Turkey

The duration of each stage varies from one file to another based on several factors, most importantly document completeness, accuracy of submission, government workload, and the applicant’s nationality. However, the following table provides an approximate timeline to help investors better understand the process.

Estimated Timeline for Each Stage of Turkish Citizenship

Important note: These durations are estimates and not binding. They may increase or decrease depending on each individual case. Having a specialized legal team directly contributes to shortening each stage and avoiding a return to previous stages.

Why Choose Al-Hafez to Follow Up on Your Citizenship File?

At Al-Hafez Real Estate, we do not merely provide a property eligible for citizenship. We offer a fully integrated system that includes:

A Specialized Legal Team

Consisting of several lawyers specialized in:

• Turkish citizenship
• Title deeds (Tapu)
• Residence permits
• Civil registry follow-up

Precise Follow-Up for Every Stage

• Regular status notifications
• Clear explanations of every file update
• Immediate intervention in case of delays

Real Practical Experience

Hundreds of successful files and in-depth knowledge of the system’s practical details, not just legal texts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How Can You Become a Dual Citizen in Turkey?

Turkey allows dual citizenship, meaning investors can retain their original nationality when obtaining Turkish citizenship, provided their home country’s law allows it. Turkey does not require renouncing previous citizenship, and the new citizen is registered as a full Turkish citizen with complete rights.

Does Turkey Allow Triple Citizenship?

Turkish law does not set a maximum number of nationalities. This depends on the laws of the other countries whose citizenship the person holds. If those countries allow multiple citizenships, there is no legal restriction from the Turkish side.

How Can I Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

Turkish citizenship can be obtained through several methods, most notably:

• Real estate investment of at least USD 400,000
• Long-term residence
• Marriage to a Turkish citizen
• Commercial or industrial investment

Real estate investment is the fastest and most common option for foreign investors.

How Difficult Is It to Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

Obtaining Turkish citizenship is not difficult when legal requirements are met, especially through real estate investment. The real challenge lies in:

• Choosing a property eligible for citizenship
• Submitting a legally sound file
• Dealing with a reliable authority

This is where the importance of working with a specialized company like Al-Hafez becomes clear.

Can Foreigners Buy Property in Turkey?

Yes, foreigners of most nationalities are allowed to purchase property in Turkey, with limited exceptions. They can own apartments, villas, land (under certain conditions), and commercial properties.

What Is the Cost of Obtaining Turkish Citizenship?

The minimum real estate investment is USD 400,000, in addition to:

• Title deed fees
• Property valuation fees
• Legal and administrative expenses

The total cost varies depending on the property type and the number of family members.

How Many Years Does It Take to Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

Through real estate investment, applicants do not need to wait for years. The process usually takes only a few months (3–6 months) from the official application date, making Turkey one of the fastest countries in this field.

Article Summary

Understanding the stages of Turkish citizenship gives you peace of mind and greater confidence while waiting for the decision. Most stages are routine, and longer processing times do not indicate a problem.

With a professional legal team, the citizenship journey becomes:

• Clearer
• Faster
• Safer

If you are considering obtaining Turkish citizenship through real estate investment, starting with the right entity is half the journey.

Al-Hafez accompanies you from the very first step until you receive your passport with expertise, transparency, and professionalism.