Can you still get Turkish citizenship for USD $250,000 property investment?
Turkey raised the CBI property minimum from USD $250k to $400k in June 2022. The $400k applies to new applications + the 3-year hold requirement is strictly enforced.
The truth
Turkey's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program — introduced 2017 — became the world's most popular CBI route, attracting Iranian, Iraqi, Afghan, Pakistani, Russian, Chinese and Ukrainian applicants in volume. Original property threshold was USD $1M (2017), reduced to $250k in 2018 (driving a 600% increase in applications), then raised to USD $400k in June 2022 to address overheated property markets in Istanbul + Ankara + Antalya + Bodrum. Current requirements: (1) USD $400k+ property purchase (single property OR multiple totaling $400k+); (2) property valuation by SPK-licensed valuation firms — over-valuation has been a fraud problem and is now strictly checked; (3) 3-year hold commitment (cannot sell within 3 years of citizenship grant — title registration includes an annotation); (4) clean criminal record from country of residence + Interpol check; (5) due diligence by Turkish General Directorate of Land Registry + Census Affairs; (6) Turkish bank account + USD payment in Turkish lira at official central bank rate. Alternative CBI routes: USD $500k+ in Turkish bank deposit (3-year hold), USD $500k+ in capital investment, USD $500k+ in Turkish government bonds, or job creation for 50+ Turkish citizens. Application via local lawyers + Land Registry + General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus). Processing 3-8 months. Citizenship grants full Turkish passport + family members included. Note: Turkish citizenship requires no residence + no language test — uniquely permissive among CBI programs.
Why this rumour persists
Pre-June 2022 marketing dominated the diaspora press in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine — many websites + agencies continue to advertise the $250k threshold despite the increase. Plus aggressive Turkish property developers benefit from the confusion.
What to actually do
- Confirm USD $400k threshold (USD valuation at Turkish central bank conversion rate to TRY)
- Engage an SPK-licensed property valuation firm + lawyer experienced with CBI — fraud has triggered application refusals
- Property must be held 3 years post-citizenship — title-deed annotation prevents sale, ignore agents offering 'sell-after-1-year' workarounds
- Due diligence is real — applicants from PEP (Politically Exposed Person) categories or Interpol-listed nationals face refusal
- Family members (spouse + minor children) included in primary application — no separate fee
- Turkish citizenship permits dual citizenship + no language test + no residence requirement — among the most permissive globally