Introduction

Foreign investors considering Turkish citizenship do not necessarily need to purchase real estate or establish a company in Turkey. One of the most straightforward financial investment options available under Turkish citizenship legislation is the bank deposit route.

Under the Turkish citizenship-by-investment framework applicable in 2026, a foreign investor may become eligible to apply for exceptional Turkish citizenship by depositing at least USD 500,000 or the qualifying equivalent in a bank operating in Türkiye and undertaking to maintain the qualifying deposit for at least three years.

The investment must be verified by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, commonly referred to by its Turkish abbreviation BDDK and internationally as the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency or BRSA.

The General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship currently confirms that depositing at least USD 500,000 or its qualifying equivalent in banks operating in Türkiye, subject to a three-year holding commitment, is one of the officially recognised routes to Turkish citizenship by investment.

For certain foreign investors, this route may be more attractive than purchasing USD 400,000 of Turkish real estate because it does not involve:

• choosing and valuing property;
• title deed due diligence;
• dealing with developers;
• construction risks;
• rental management;
• property taxes;
• title deed disputes; or
• a future property sale.

However, the bank deposit route should not be misunderstood as simply transferring USD 500,000 to any Turkish bank account.

The process generally requires:

1. determining eligibility for the exceptional citizenship programme;
2. opening an appropriate bank account in Türkiye;
3. completing the bank’s KYC and source-of-funds procedures;
4. depositing the qualifying amount;
5. signing the required three-year blocking or holding declaration;
6. ensuring that the bank submits the investment information through the appropriate process;
7. obtaining investment confirmation from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency;
8. obtaining the relevant investor residence permit;
9. filing the exceptional citizenship application; and
10. completing administrative and security examinations.

Turkey’s Civil Registration and Citizenship authority expressly identifies the Certificate of Conformity, the investor residence permit under Article 31/1(j) of Law No. 6458 and the subsequent citizenship application as distinct stages of the investment citizenship process.

This article explains in detail how to obtain Turkish citizenship by depositing USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank, the three-year investment requirement, how bank accounts are opened, whether the deposit can earn interest, whether several accounts can be used, whether the investor must live in Türkiye, whether the spouse and children can obtain citizenship and which legal risks should be considered before transferring funds.

1. Can You Obtain Turkish Citizenship by Depositing USD 500,000 in a Turkish Bank?

Yes.

Under the exceptional citizenship regime, a foreign investor may potentially qualify by depositing at least:

USD 500,000 or its qualifying equivalent

in a bank operating in Türkiye and undertaking not to withdraw the qualifying investment amount for at least:

three years.

The investment must be confirmed by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency.

This is one of several qualifying investment categories.

Other routes currently include:

• USD 400,000 qualifying real estate;
• USD 500,000 fixed capital investment;
• employment of at least 50 people;
• USD 500,000 government debt instruments;
• USD 500,000 qualifying real estate or venture capital investment fund units; and
• USD 500,000 qualifying private pension contributions.

The bank deposit route is particularly attractive to investors who prefer a financial asset rather than real estate or direct business ownership.

2. What Is the Legal Basis of the Bank Deposit Citizenship Route?

The principal legal basis for Turkish citizenship by investment is Article 12 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, together with Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law.

Foreigners satisfying the qualifying investor conditions may apply for exceptional Turkish citizenship, provided that there is no obstacle concerning national security or public order.

The investment route should therefore be distinguished from ordinary naturalisation.

Ordinary naturalisation generally involves requirements such as continuous residence for a statutory period.

The investor route instead allows qualifying foreign investors to proceed through an exceptional citizenship mechanism.

Importantly, completion of the investment does not mean citizenship is automatically created at that moment.

The investment establishes the applicant’s eligibility to enter the exceptional citizenship procedure.

The final citizenship decision remains subject to the applicable administrative assessment.

3. Which Institution Confirms the USD 500,000 Bank Deposit?

For the bank deposit route, the competent institution is the:

Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency – BDDK / BRSA.

Turkey’s current official investment guidance expressly identifies BDDK as the authority responsible for determining whether the applicant has deposited the required amount in a bank operating in Türkiye and maintained the applicable three-year restriction.

BDDK’s own institutional materials also confirm that it has been assigned the duty of determining whether foreign investors have deposited the qualifying amount in Turkish banks for purposes of the citizenship programme.

This distinction is important.

The commercial bank holds the money.

However, the citizenship investment is verified through the BDDK framework.

The bank itself does not make the final citizenship decision.

4. Can the Investment Be Made in Any Turkish Bank?

The relevant rule refers to banks operating in Türkiye.

Foreign investors should therefore work with a bank legally operating within the Turkish banking system.

In practice, investors commonly use established deposit or participation banks with experience processing citizenship-by-investment applications.

Different banks may apply different internal procedures regarding:

• account opening;
• minimum customer requirements;
• documents;
• source-of-funds information;
• tax identification;
• residence documentation;
• physical attendance;
• power of attorney;
• deposit products;
• interest rates; and
• citizenship-related blocking instructions.

Therefore, the fact that two banks are both legally authorised to operate in Türkiye does not mean that their practical onboarding procedures will be identical.

Foreign investors should determine banking feasibility before sending substantial funds to Türkiye.

5. Does the Investor Need to Open a Turkish Bank Account?

Yes, in practice the qualifying investment must be held through an appropriate account with a bank operating in Türkiye.

The investor normally establishes a banking relationship in his or her own name and completes the bank’s compliance process.

Opening a Turkish bank account may involve documentation such as:

• passport;
• Turkish tax identification number;
• proof of foreign address;
• contact information;
• source-of-funds evidence;
• tax-residency information;
• FATCA or CRS declarations where applicable;
• bank forms; and
• additional compliance documentation.

The precise requirements depend on the bank and investor profile.

An investor from a higher-risk jurisdiction, a politically exposed person, or an individual transferring unusually large funds may be subject to enhanced due diligence.

This is normal within international banking compliance.

6. Does the Investor Need a Turkish Residence Permit Before Opening the Account?

Not necessarily.

A foreign person can potentially open a bank account in Türkiye without already being a Turkish resident, subject to the relevant bank’s compliance requirements.

However, banks have discretion over their customer acceptance policies.

Some banks may require additional documentation from non-resident foreigners.

Therefore, a distinction should be made between:

legal eligibility to open an account

and

a particular bank’s willingness to onboard the investor.

Citizenship planning should ideally begin by identifying a bank experienced with non-resident investor applications.

7. Does the Investor Need a Turkish Tax Identification Number?

A Turkish potential tax identification number is commonly required for various banking and immigration procedures involving foreign nationals.

Obtaining a Turkish tax number does not mean that the investor:

• becomes a Turkish citizen;
• becomes a Turkish tax resident automatically;
• receives a residence permit; or
• receives permission to work.

It is primarily an administrative identifier.

Tax residence remains a separate legal issue and depends on the applicable Turkish tax rules and international tax treaties.

8. Can the Investor Deposit Turkish Lira Instead of US Dollars?

The statutory and official materials have historically referred to USD 500,000 or qualifying equivalent foreign currency and, in certain official formulations, equivalent Turkish lira.

For example, current NVI materials expressly refer to at least USD 500,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish lira for the deposit route.

Current Invest in Türkiye guidance expresses the requirement as at least USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency.

Because banking implementation rules and the denomination used for blocking can be affected by current foreign-exchange rules, investors should confirm the intended currency structure with the relevant bank before transferring funds.

This is especially important where the investor wants to avoid unnecessary currency conversion exposure.

9. Can Euros, Pounds Sterling or Other Currencies Be Used?

Potentially, provided that the deposited amount is recognised as satisfying the equivalent of the statutory USD 500,000 threshold.

For example, an investor may potentially fund the investment using:

• EUR;
• GBP;
• another acceptable convertible foreign currency; or
• another qualifying denomination permitted under the applicable banking procedures.

The relevant equivalent amount must satisfy the minimum threshold at the applicable determination stage.

Foreign exchange fluctuations therefore create a practical risk.

Where an investor intends to fund the account in a currency other than USD, it may be prudent to leave an appropriate margin above the minimum equivalent value.

10. Is Exactly USD 500,000 Enough?

Legally, the threshold is at least USD 500,000 or the applicable equivalent.

However, from a risk-management perspective, investors should be cautious about placing exactly the statutory minimum into an account if fees, currency fluctuations or other movements could cause the qualifying balance to fall below the threshold.

A safer approach may involve keeping a small additional amount outside or above the citizenship-blocked amount.

The key principle is that the qualifying investment should remain continuously compliant throughout the required three-year period.

11. Must the Money Be Kept in the Bank for Three Years?

Yes.

The fundamental requirement is that the qualifying deposit be maintained for at least:

three years.

The General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship and Invest in Türkiye both expressly confirm the three-year holding condition.

The investor therefore cannot treat the deposit as freely withdrawable cash during the statutory period.

The funds remain the investor’s property, but the qualifying amount must remain subject to the citizenship-related restriction.

12. Does the Three-Year Period End When Citizenship Is Approved?

No.

One of the most common misconceptions is:

“Once I receive my Turkish passport, I can immediately withdraw the USD 500,000.”

This should not be assumed.

The investment must remain compliant for the required three-year period regardless of whether the citizenship application is approved earlier.

The statutory holding obligation and the citizenship application timetable are separate.

The investor should therefore plan liquidity needs on the assumption that the qualifying investment will remain committed for the full three-year period.

13. Can the Investor Withdraw Part of the USD 500,000 During the Three Years?

Doing so may place the investment conditions at risk.

The investor must maintain the qualifying minimum deposit throughout the commitment period.

If withdrawals, charges, conversions or other transactions cause the qualifying investment to fall below the required amount, the matter may create a compliance problem.

Therefore, the investor should ensure that:

• ordinary banking charges;
• account maintenance costs;
• international transfer fees; and
• other debits

do not reduce the citizenship investment below the legally required threshold.

A separate operating account may be preferable for ordinary banking transactions.

14. Can the USD 500,000 Earn Interest?

The citizenship legislation focuses on maintaining the qualifying deposit rather than requiring the funds to remain economically unproductive.

Turkish banks may offer:

• time deposit accounts;
• foreign currency deposit products;
• Turkish lira deposit products; or
• participation accounts under participation banking structures.

Interest rates and participation profit-sharing rates are determined by banks according to their products and market conditions rather than being fixed by BDDK. BDDK’s current banking FAQ expressly states that deposit interest and participation-related rates may vary between banks, products and customers.

Accordingly, a foreign investor may discuss available return structures with the bank.

However, the citizenship-specific blocked amount must remain compliant.

Any withdrawal of interest, profit-share amounts, principal or conversion between products should be discussed with the bank before execution so that the citizenship restriction is not accidentally disturbed.

15. Can the Investor Use a Participation Bank Instead of a Conventional Interest-Bearing Bank?

Potentially, yes, where the relevant institution is authorised and the account structure is accepted under the investment procedure.

Türkiye has both conventional deposit banks and participation banks.

Participation banking products operate through profit-and-loss participation mechanisms rather than conventional interest structures.

This may be particularly attractive to investors who prefer Islamic finance principles.

The key citizenship issue remains whether the qualifying investment is held through an appropriate bank in Türkiye and whether the BDDK verification requirements are satisfied.

16. Can the USD 500,000 Be Divided Between Several Bank Accounts?

In practice, citizenship deposit structures may sometimes involve more than one account or banking product, but investors should not structure multiple accounts without prior confirmation from the relevant banks and the BDDK-related procedure.

The safest structure is often operationally simple:

one investor → clearly identifiable qualifying funds → clearly documented citizenship blocking instruction.

Complex multi-bank arrangements create additional administrative and evidentiary risk.

Before dividing the investment between accounts or institutions, the investor should obtain written confirmation regarding how the total investment will be recognised.

17. Can the Investor Borrow the USD 500,000?

Citizenship legislation establishes an investment threshold, but banking and anti-money laundering rules also require consideration of the true source of funds.

Where an investor intends to finance the deposit through:

• a bank loan;
• shareholder loan;
• private lender;
• family loan; or
• another financing arrangement,

the legal and compliance implications should be reviewed carefully.

Banks commonly ask questions regarding:

• source of wealth;
• source of funds;
• loan agreements;
• beneficial ownership; and
• international transfers.

An artificial arrangement under which the investor never genuinely controls or bears economic responsibility for the qualifying funds may attract enhanced scrutiny.

18. Does It Matter Where the USD 500,000 Comes From?

The citizenship threshold focuses on the qualifying investment, but banking compliance examines the origin of funds.

Large international transfers can trigger enhanced KYC and AML review.

The bank may request documents such as:

• company sale agreements;
• property sale agreements;
• employment or business income records;
• audited financial statements;
• dividend evidence;
• inheritance documents;
• investment account statements;
• tax returns; or
• bank statements showing accumulation of funds.

Foreign investors should collect source-of-funds documentation before initiating the transfer.

A legitimate investor can still experience major delays if the supporting documentation is unavailable when the bank requests it.

19. Can a Company Deposit USD 500,000 on Behalf of the Investor?

The citizenship applicant is a natural person.

Where funds originate from a company owned by the applicant, the transfer structure should clearly establish the legal basis on which the funds become available to the individual applicant.

Possible structures may include:

• dividend distribution;
• repayment of shareholder loan;
• salary or bonus;
• capital reduction;
• sale proceeds; or
• another documented payment.

Simply transferring corporate funds to an individual’s citizenship account without a clear legal basis may create:

• tax issues;
• company-law issues;
• AML concerns; and
• questions regarding beneficial ownership.

Cross-border corporate investors should therefore obtain tax and corporate advice before transferring funds.

20. What Is the Three-Year Blocking Declaration?

The investor is required to make the relevant commitment that the qualifying deposit will remain in the banking system for the statutory period.

BDDK’s institutional materials specifically refer to declaration forms used for foreign-person citizenship applications and note that the authority verifies deposits made under the relevant regulation.

In practical terms, the bank places or records an appropriate citizenship-related restriction on the qualifying investment.

The investor should review the wording and operational consequences carefully before signing.

21. What Happens After the Bank Blocks the Deposit?

After the deposit has been placed into the appropriate citizenship structure, the bank communicates the relevant information through the prescribed administrative mechanism.

The investment is then verified by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency.

Once the qualifying deposit is confirmed, the investment stage proceeds toward the Certificate of Conformity.

The Certificate of Conformity confirms that the applicant has satisfied the prescribed investment requirement.

The investor can then proceed to the immigration and citizenship stages.

22. What Is the Certificate of Conformity?

The Certificate of Conformity is a key document in every Turkish citizenship-by-investment route.

It demonstrates that the competent public authority has verified the qualifying investment.

For the bank deposit route, the relevant verification falls within BDDK’s jurisdiction.

The citizenship authorities do not ordinarily conduct the underlying banking assessment themselves.

Instead, the competent investment authority confirms eligibility, after which the applicant proceeds to the next stage.

23. Does the Investor Need a Residence Permit?

Yes, the investment citizenship procedure includes obtaining the qualifying short-term investor residence permit.

Article 31/1(j) of Law No. 6458 provides a short-term residence permit framework for foreigners who make qualifying investments within the prescribed scope and amount, together with certain qualifying family members.

The official NVI process states that after obtaining the Certificate of Conformity, the investor obtains the Article 31/1(j) short-term residence permit and then files the citizenship application.

Therefore, the sequence is broadly:

USD 500,000 deposit → three-year commitment → BDDK confirmation → investor residence permit → citizenship application.

24. Does the Investor Need to Live in Türkiye for Five Years?

No.

The bank deposit citizenship route falls under the exceptional citizenship framework.

The applicant is not required to complete the ordinary five-year residence period before applying under this route.

This is one of the programme’s key advantages.

A foreign investor may potentially maintain his or her principal residence and business outside Türkiye while pursuing the investment citizenship procedure.

25. Must the Investor Physically Stay in Türkiye During the Three-Year Deposit Period?

The investment obligation concerns maintaining the qualifying deposit.

It does not mean that the investor must physically remain in Türkiye continuously for three years.

The investor may generally continue international business and travel, subject to immigration formalities relevant to his or her residence status.

This makes the bank deposit route particularly attractive to internationally mobile investors.

26. Can the Investor’s Spouse Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

Potentially, yes.

The exceptional citizenship framework provides for qualifying family members of the principal investor.

The foreign spouse may generally be included in the principal investor’s exceptional citizenship application, subject to proper documentation and the applicable citizenship rules.

The spouse does not ordinarily need to make a separate USD 500,000 bank deposit simply to be included with the qualifying principal investor.

27. Can Children Be Included?

Qualifying minor and dependent foreign children may also potentially be included under the exceptional investment citizenship framework.

The relevant family relationship must be documented.

Depending on the circumstances, the citizenship authorities may require:

• birth certificates;
• family registry records;
• custody documents;
• parental consent;
• marriage certificates;
• divorce judgments; or
• other civil status documentation.

Family documentation should be prepared early, especially where the applicant has:

• children from a previous marriage;
• adopted children;
• dependent adult children; or
• civil status records issued in several different countries.

28. Does the Spouse Need to Be a Joint Holder of the USD 500,000 Account?

Generally, the qualifying investment is made in relation to the principal applicant.

It is normally unnecessary to add the spouse as co-owner of the citizenship investment merely for the spouse to be included in the family citizenship application.

Indeed, account ownership and source-of-funds documentation should be kept as clear as possible.

Where joint accounts are being considered, the structure should be confirmed with the bank before the investment is blocked.

29. What Documents Are Usually Needed for the Citizenship Application?

The exact documents depend on the applicant’s nationality and family circumstances.

Typical documents may include:

• exceptional citizenship application forms;
• passport and notarised Turkish translation;
• biometric photographs;
• birth certificate;
• civil status documentation;
• marriage certificate;
• spouse’s documentation;
• children’s birth certificates;
• custody or parental consent documentation where applicable;
• qualifying investor residence permit;
• Certificate of Conformity;
• bank investment documentation; and
• proof of relevant official fees.

Foreign public documents may need:

• apostille certification; or
• Turkish consular legalisation,

followed by Turkish translation and notarisation.

Investors should ensure that names and dates are consistent across all documents.

30. Is a Criminal Record Certificate Required?

Administrative documentation requirements may vary according to the applicant’s nationality, country of residence, current citizenship authority practice and the facts of the application.

In addition to submitted documents, exceptional citizenship applications are subject to public order and national security review.

The investor should therefore disclose requested information accurately and avoid incomplete or misleading documentation.

A qualifying investment does not override national security or public order considerations.

31. Is Citizenship Guaranteed After Depositing USD 500,000?

No.

This point must be emphasised.

The USD 500,000 bank deposit establishes eligibility for the investment-based exceptional citizenship procedure if the applicable requirements are properly satisfied.

It does not amount to purchasing a guaranteed passport.

Turkish citizenship remains subject to:

• investment verification;
• immigration requirements;
• document review;
• identity verification;
• national security assessment;
• public order assessment; and
• the final administrative citizenship decision.

Therefore, banks, lawyers and consultants should not legitimately promise citizenship as an unconditional result.

32. Can a Citizenship Application Be Rejected Even If the Deposit Is Valid?

Potentially, yes.

Investment conformity and citizenship approval are legally separate matters.

Possible problems may arise from:

• inconsistent identity information;
• false documentation;
• immigration violations;
• national security concerns;
• public order concerns;
• family documentation problems; or
• failure to satisfy procedural requirements.

The deposit is a qualifying gateway to the exceptional citizenship procedure rather than an absolute guarantee of approval.

33. What Happens if the USD 500,000 Is Withdrawn Early?

Early withdrawal may cause the investor to cease satisfying the conditions on which the investment citizenship procedure was based.

This can create serious legal consequences.

Therefore, the investor should not:

• close the blocked account;
• move the qualifying funds;
• reduce the balance below the required amount; or
• remove the citizenship restriction

before confirming that the three-year statutory period has been fully satisfied.

If the investor needs liquidity before the three-year period ends, legal and banking advice should be obtained before changing the investment structure.

34. Can the Deposit Be Moved From One Turkish Bank to Another?

This should never be done casually.

Even if the investor intends to maintain the same economic amount, moving the citizenship deposit may technically affect the recorded restriction or BDDK confirmation.

The investor should obtain advance confirmation from:

• the existing bank;
• the receiving bank; and
• where appropriate, the competent administrative process

before transferring the qualifying amount.

The citizenship investment should always remain traceable and continuously compliant.

35. What Happens After Three Years?

Once the full statutory holding period has been completed and the relevant restriction is properly released, the investor may generally regain full flexibility over the deposit.

The investor may then consider:

• withdrawing the money;
• transferring it abroad;
• reinvesting it in Türkiye;
• purchasing property;
• investing in securities;
• keeping it on deposit; or
• using it for business purposes.

Before taking any action, the investor should obtain confirmation that the citizenship blocking period has legally ended.

36. Is the Money Protected by Turkish Deposit Insurance?

Foreign investors should distinguish between:

citizenship eligibility and banking investment risk.

The fact that the Turkish government recognises a USD 500,000 bank deposit as a qualifying citizenship investment does not mean that the entire USD 500,000 is automatically guaranteed against every banking or market risk.

Türkiye has statutory deposit insurance mechanisms, but coverage limits and conditions are governed by separate banking rules and should not be confused with the citizenship investment amount.

An investor placing a large deposit should therefore evaluate the financial strength and risk profile of the selected bank independently.

37. Is the Bank Deposit Route Better Than the USD 400,000 Property Route?

It depends on the investor.

Bank Deposit May Be More Suitable Where:

• the investor does not want property risk;
• liquidity after three years is important;
• the investor prefers financial assets;
• no property management is desired;
• the investor wants to avoid title deed and construction disputes; or
• the investor already maintains significant liquid assets.

Real Estate May Be More Suitable Where:

• the investor wants an appreciating property asset;
• rental income is desired;
• the investor wants a home in Türkiye;
• diversification into Turkish real estate is commercially attractive; or
• the lower USD 400,000 minimum investment is preferable.

The property route currently requires USD 400,000, while the bank deposit route requires USD 500,000.

The correct choice depends on investment objectives rather than citizenship alone.

38. Bank Deposit or USD 500,000 Fixed Capital Investment?

The fixed capital route may be more appropriate for entrepreneurs who intend to establish or acquire a Turkish operating business.

The bank deposit route is usually significantly more passive.

A bank investor generally does not need to deal with:

• employees;
• payroll;
• commercial contracts;
• corporate governance;
• machinery;
• factories;
• company debts; or
• operating risks.

For an investor who wants citizenship but has no intention of operating a Turkish business, the bank deposit route may therefore be comparatively simple.

39. Bank Deposit or Investment Fund Route?

The qualifying investment fund route may provide higher investment-market exposure but also exposes the investor to fund performance.

A bank deposit may provide greater predictability depending on:

• currency;
• interest or participation return;
• inflation;
• bank risk; and
• deposit product.

The investor should separate two decisions:

Which route is legally suitable for citizenship?

and

Which investment makes financial sense?

A citizenship lawyer can analyse the first question.

Financial and tax advisers should assist with the second.

40. What Are the Main Risks of Turkish Citizenship Through a Bank Deposit?

Although this route is often simpler than real estate, it is not risk-free.

The principal risks include:

Currency Risk

The investor may satisfy the citizenship threshold but experience financial losses due to exchange-rate movements.

Bank Risk

The investor places a significant amount with a financial institution and should evaluate its risk profile.

Liquidity Risk

The qualifying amount must remain committed for three years.

Compliance Risk

Large international transfers may be delayed pending source-of-funds verification.

Documentation Risk

Errors in bank declarations or citizenship documents may delay the process.

Premature Withdrawal Risk

Reducing the qualifying amount before expiry of the holding period may jeopardise compliance.

Tax Risk

Interest, profit-sharing income or international tax residence may generate tax consequences.

Regulatory Change Risk

Citizenship rules and banking implementation procedures may change over time.

41. Common Mistakes Foreign Investors Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Sending USD 500,000 Before Confirming the Bank’s Procedure

The investor should first confirm onboarding and citizenship blocking requirements.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Source-of-Funds Documentation

Large transfers can become trapped in compliance review if documents are unavailable.

Mistake 3: Keeping Exactly the Minimum With No Margin

Unexpected charges or movements may create threshold problems.

Mistake 4: Using the Citizenship Account for Daily Expenses

The qualifying investment account should ideally remain operationally separate.

Mistake 5: Assuming Citizenship Is Automatic

The investment is only one stage.

Mistake 6: Withdrawing the Deposit After the Passport Arrives

The three-year commitment continues independently.

Mistake 7: Ignoring Interest and Tax Consequences

Investment returns may have tax implications.

Mistake 8: Choosing a Bank Solely Based on the Highest Interest Rate

Bank strength, compliance capability and citizenship experience may be equally important.

Mistake 9: Moving the Money Between Banks Without Approval

This may interrupt or complicate the investment restriction.

Mistake 10: Preparing Family Documents Too Late

Apostilles, custody records and civil-status documents can significantly delay the citizenship file.

42. Practical Example: Turkish Citizenship Through a USD 550,000 Deposit

Assume a foreign investor wishes to obtain Turkish citizenship without purchasing Turkish real estate.

The investor has USD 550,000 in a European bank.

Stage 1 – Legal Planning

The investor confirms that the bank deposit route is appropriate and reviews family eligibility.

Stage 2 – Turkish Tax Number

The investor obtains the necessary Turkish administrative identification documentation.

Stage 3 – Bank Selection

A Turkish bank experienced in citizenship investment accounts is selected.

Stage 4 – KYC

The investor submits:

• passport;
• address evidence;
• source-of-funds documents;
• tax residency declarations; and
• other compliance documents.

Stage 5 – Fund Transfer

USD 550,000 is transferred to the investor’s Turkish account.

Stage 6 – Citizenship Investment Instruction

At least USD 500,000 of the qualifying funds is placed under the required three-year investment restriction.

Stage 7 – BDDK Verification

The bank processes the investment information through the relevant mechanism and the qualifying deposit is verified.

Stage 8 – Certificate of Conformity

The investor’s investment eligibility is confirmed.

Stage 9 – Investor Residence Permit

The investor applies for the short-term residence permit under Article 31/1(j) of Law No. 6458.

Stage 10 – Citizenship File

The investor files the exceptional citizenship application together with spouse and qualifying children, where applicable.

Stage 11 – Administrative Review

The relevant authorities complete citizenship and security examinations.

Stage 12 – Citizenship Decision

If approved, citizenship is acquired according to the applicable administrative decision.

Stage 13 – Investment Continues

The USD 500,000 qualifying deposit remains subject to the three-year condition until the statutory period expires.

This is the legally important sequence.

The investor does not simply:

transfer USD 500,000 → receive a Turkish passport → withdraw the money.

Frequently Asked Questions About Turkish Citizenship by Bank Deposit

How much money must I deposit for Turkish citizenship?

At least USD 500,000 or the qualifying equivalent must be deposited in a bank operating in Türkiye under the applicable investment rules.

How long must the money stay in the bank?

At least three years.

Who verifies the investment?

The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency – BDDK / BRSA.

Can I earn interest during the three years?

Banks may offer interest-bearing or participation-based products. Rates are determined by banks and may vary by bank, product and customer. The citizenship qualifying amount must remain compliant throughout the period.

Can I withdraw the interest?

Any transaction affecting the citizenship-linked account should be confirmed with the bank beforehand. The key legal requirement is preserving the qualifying investment amount and restriction.

Can I deposit euros instead of dollars?

Potentially, an equivalent qualifying foreign currency may be used, subject to the current banking implementation rules.

Can I use Turkish lira?

NVI’s current official description also refers to the equivalent Turkish lira amount, although investors should confirm the current operational structure with the receiving bank before depositing funds.

Can I use a participation bank?

Potentially yes, subject to the bank and account meeting the applicable investment verification requirements.

Can I withdraw the USD 500,000 when citizenship is approved?

No. The qualifying investment must remain for the required three-year period.

Do I need to live in Türkiye for three years?

No. The three-year requirement concerns maintenance of the investment, not continuous physical residence.

Do I need to live in Türkiye for five years before applying?

No. This is an exceptional citizenship-by-investment route.

Can my spouse obtain Turkish citizenship with me?

The qualifying foreign spouse may potentially be included in the exceptional citizenship application.

Can my children obtain citizenship?

Qualifying minor and dependent foreign children may potentially be included, subject to the statutory requirements.

Does my spouse need another USD 500,000?

Generally no. The investment is made by the principal applicant and qualifying family members may be included under the exceptional citizenship framework.

Is Turkish citizenship guaranteed after the deposit?

No. The investment establishes eligibility, but citizenship remains subject to administrative, national security and public order review.

Can I move the deposit to another bank during the three-year period?

The investor should not move the qualifying investment without obtaining advance confirmation because doing so may affect the registered investment restriction.

What happens after three years?

After the legally required holding period is completed and the restriction is properly released, the investor may generally regain full control over the funds.

Conclusion: Is Turkish Citizenship by USD 500,000 Bank Deposit a Good Option?

The Turkish citizenship by bank deposit route can be one of the most straightforward investment options available to foreign investors who want to acquire Turkish citizenship without purchasing real estate or establishing an operating company.

As of 2026, the principal requirement remains:

Deposit at least USD 500,000 or its qualifying equivalent in a bank operating in Türkiye and maintain the qualifying deposit for at least three years.

The investment must be verified by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency – BDDK.

However, the process is more than simply opening an account.

A properly structured application should address:

• investor eligibility;
• bank selection;
• Turkish tax identification;
• KYC and AML requirements;
• source-of-funds documentation;
• currency selection;
• account structure;
• three-year blocking documentation;
• BDDK investment verification;
• Certificate of Conformity;
• Article 31/1(j) investor residence permit;
• exceptional citizenship documentation;
• spouse and child applications;
• national security and public order review; and
• maintenance of the investment for the entire three-year period.

Foreign investors should also evaluate the financial consequences of the investment.

USD 500,000 placed into a Turkish bank account for three years may create issues relating to:

• interest rates;
• currency movements;
• inflation;
• taxation;
• bank creditworthiness;
• international tax reporting; and
• liquidity.

The citizenship decision and the investment decision should therefore be analysed separately.

A foreign investor may qualify legally for citizenship through a particular deposit while still deciding that another investment structure makes more financial sense.

The bank deposit route may be particularly suitable for investors who:

• hold substantial liquid assets;
• want a relatively passive investment;
• do not wish to purchase Turkish real estate;
• do not want to manage a Turkish company;
• prefer to avoid construction or property-title risks;
• want their qualifying family members included in the citizenship process; and
• can comfortably maintain USD 500,000 for three years without requiring access to the principal.

The correct procedure can broadly be summarised as:

Legal eligibility review → Turkish bank selection → KYC and source-of-funds approval → USD 500,000 qualifying deposit → three-year holding commitment → BDDK verification → Certificate of Conformity → Article 31/1(j) investor residence permit → exceptional citizenship application → security and administrative review → citizenship decision → continued compliance with the three-year investment period.

Foreign investors should avoid making large international transfers before the banking and citizenship structure has been confirmed.

A transfer that appears simple from a commercial perspective may be delayed because of:

• compliance controls;
• source-of-funds documentation;
• account restrictions;
• foreign exchange procedures; or
• inconsistent citizenship documentation.

The safest approach is therefore to coordinate the bank, immigration and citizenship stages before transferring the qualifying capital.

When properly planned, the USD 500,000 deposit route can provide a comparatively simple path to Turkish citizenship for the principal investor and qualifying family members while allowing the underlying capital to remain within a regulated banking investment rather than being committed to property or business assets.

This article reflects Turkish legislation and official administrative guidance available as of August 2026. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal, banking, tax or investment advice. Citizenship thresholds, banking procedures, foreign-exchange rules and administrative practices may change. Foreign investors should obtain case-specific legal and banking advice before transferring or blocking funds for a Turkish citizenship application.