Turkish Citizenship by Investment for Iranian Citizens

Turkish Citizenship by Investment for Iranian Citizens

Iranian nationals have, for several years, been among the largest groups of foreign investors acquiring property and citizenship in the Republic of Türkiye. According to General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü, TKGM) data, Iranian citizens have consistently ranked among the top foreign purchasers of Turkish residential real estate across the post-2019 period. This advisory note sets out, on a statutory basis, how the Turkish citizenship-by-investment framework applies to Iranian applicants, and the practical and legal considerations an Iranian investor and their advisor should weigh before proceeding.

This note is general legal information. It is not legal advice, and it does not address any individual's circumstances. It also does not address Iranian law, on which Turak Law Office does not advise.

Is the Framework Open to Iranian Nationals?

Yes. The Turkish citizenship-by-investment framework applies to foreign nationals generally, and its investment thresholds and conditions do not distinguish by country of origin. Iranian nationals apply on the same statutory terms as applicants of any other nationality. There is no separate threshold, no nationality-based quota, and no nationality-based exclusion within the citizenship legislation itself.

Every application — regardless of nationality — is subject to the individual review of the competent Turkish authorities, including security and financial-compliance screening. Eligibility on the statutory criteria is the starting point; it is not a guarantee of outcome, which remains a matter for the Turkish State.

The Legal Basis: Law No. 5901 and the Implementation Regulation

The acquisition of Turkish citizenship by investment rests on two instruments:

• Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu), and in particular Article 12, which provides for the acquisition of citizenship by decision of the competent authority in exceptional cases, including for foreign nationals who bring a qualifying investment into Türkiye; and
• the implementing Regulation on the Implementation of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (Implementation Regulation 2010/139), and in particular Article 20, which sets the current investment thresholds.

The thresholds referenced in this note are those established under the current framework. Threshold figures and qualifying conditions are set by regulation and are subject to change by the Turkish authorities; current figures should be confirmed at the time of any application.

The Two Principal Investment Pathways

Turkish law recognises several qualifying investment routes. For most Iranian investors, two are of primary relevance.

The Bank Deposit Pathway (USD 500,000)

Under the bank deposit route, the applicant deposits a minimum of USD 500,000 (or the equivalent in foreign currency or Turkish lira) with a bank operating in Türkiye and undertakes to maintain the deposit for a minimum of three years, running from the blokaj date. The commitment is confirmed to the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu, BDDK) through the required certification.

Turak Law Office's core practice is the bank deposit pathway. In our representation, the client retains online banking access to monitor the deposit for the duration of the holding period. A mandatory residence permit (İkamet) application accompanies the citizenship file for bank deposit applicants.

The Real Estate Pathway (USD 400,000)

Under the real estate route, the applicant acquires immovable property in Türkiye with a minimum value of USD 400,000, confirmed by an official valuation report, and records an annotation on the title deed (Tapu) undertaking not to sell the property for three years from the Tapu transfer date. Given the historic scale of Iranian property investment in Türkiye, this pathway is frequently the natural fit for Iranian clients who wish to hold a tangible asset. Turak Law Office provides full legal representation on the real estate pathway, including title (Tapu) due diligence and transfer.

Source of Funds and AML/MASAK Compliance

Every citizenship-by-investment application requires that the invested funds be of lawful origin and that their source be documented and traceable. This is a mandatory, non-negotiable feature of the process for applicants of all nationalities.

Türkiye's Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Mali Suçları Araştırma Kurulu, MASAK) sits within the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and administers the country's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing framework. The receiving Turkish bank, regulated by the BDDK, acts as the first compliance gatekeeper: it must satisfy itself that incoming funds are legitimate and traceable before processing the investment. Documentation typically traces each material source of funds to its origin — for example, employment income, business income and dividends, proceeds of an asset sale, or inheritance — supported by underlying records.

For Iranian applicants, the practical reality is that international banking and compliance review require careful, individualised preparation of the source-of-funds file. This is handled case by case, strictly within the applicable Turkish and international legal framework. Turak Law Office conducts all matters lawfully. We do not provide, and this note does not contain, any guidance on circumventing sanctions, banking rules, or compliance requirements of any jurisdiction. Where compliance questions arise, they are addressed through lawful documentation and, where appropriate, coordination with the relevant financial institutions. An applicant whose funds are of lawful, well-documented origin is best positioned for a clean review.

Passport Mobility: A Factual Comparison

Global-mobility considerations are among the reasons investors of many nationalities pursue a second citizenship. As a factual matter drawn from published passport-mobility indices for 2026, the Turkish passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to a substantially larger number of destinations than the Iranian passport. Independent indices for 2026 place Turkish passport access in the region of roughly 110 to 120 destinations, against roughly 40 for the Iranian passport, though exact counts vary by index and by how visa-on-arrival and e-visa categories are counted.

These figures are published by third-party indices, change over time, and are not controlled by Turak Law Office. They are provided for general context only and should be verified against current sources before any decision.

Taxation: The Türkiye–Iran Framework

Türkiye and Iran are parties to a bilateral agreement for the avoidance of double taxation on income. In broad terms, such treaties allocate taxing rights between the two states and provide relief mechanisms — exemption or credit — to reduce the risk of the same income being taxed twice. The specific application of the treaty to any individual depends on residence status, the type and source of income, and the facts of the case.

Tax residence is distinct from citizenship. Acquiring Turkish citizenship does not, by itself, make a person a Turkish tax resident, nor does it automatically alter their tax position in Iran or elsewhere. Cross-border tax questions should be reviewed with a qualified tax adviser on the specific facts. Turak Law Office can coordinate with tax advisers as part of a structured engagement.

Why Iranian Investors Consider This Pathway

Investors' reasons are individual, but the drivers most frequently discussed in our practice, and reflected in the market data, include:

• Regional access and proximity — Türkiye's geographic and cultural proximity to Iran, and established travel and commercial links, make it a familiar base.
• Global mobility — broader visa-free and visa-on-arrival travel on a Turkish passport, as reflected in published mobility indices.
• Asset diversification and security — holding assets, whether a bank deposit or real estate, in a different jurisdiction and currency is a common wealth-planning consideration.
• A tangible, holdable asset — the real estate route in particular offers an asset the investor owns outright after the holding period.
• Family inclusion — a single qualifying investment ordinarily extends to the applicant's spouse and children under 18, subject to the applicable rules.

None of these is a promise of any outcome. Each investor should weigh them against their own objectives.

Timelines and Honest Caveats

Processing timelines are determined by the Turkish authorities and reflect their workload; they are not within attorney control. From a complete and compliant file, applicants should plan for a period of several months through to final decision, with figures commonly discussed in the range of six to twelve months. Any timeline is an expectation, not a commitment, and can be affected by case complexity, source-of-funds review, and administrative volume. The decision to grant citizenship rests exclusively with the competent Turkish authorities.

How Turak Law Office Represents Iranian Applicants

Turak Law Office is an İstanbul Bar-registered practice that has specialised in Turkish citizenship-by-investment matters since 2019. The firm provides Persian-language client communication and manages the legal file end to end — from investment structuring on the qualifying pathway, through the source-of-funds documentation and residence permit (İkamet) filing, to the citizenship application itself. Our role is legal representation, conducted lawfully and transparently. We inform; we do not pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Iranian citizens obtain Turkish citizenship by investment?

Yes. The framework under Law No. 5901 applies to foreign nationals generally and does not set different thresholds or conditions based on nationality. Iranian nationals apply on the same statutory terms as other applicants, subject to the individual review of the Turkish authorities.

What is the minimum investment for the bank deposit pathway?

A minimum of USD 500,000 (or foreign-currency/Turkish-lira equivalent) deposited with a bank in Türkiye and held for at least three years, certified to the BDDK. Threshold figures are set by regulation and should be confirmed at the time of application.

What is the minimum for the real estate pathway?

A minimum of USD 400,000 in immovable property, confirmed by official valuation, with a three-year no-sale annotation recorded on the title deed (Tapu).

What documentation is required for source of funds?

Applicants must show that the invested funds are of lawful origin and traceable to their source — for example employment income, business income, asset-sale proceeds, or inheritance — supported by underlying records. The receiving BDDK-regulated bank reviews this under Türkiye's MASAK anti-money-laundering framework. Preparation is individualised and handled case by case, strictly within the law.

Can Turak Law help move funds around banking or sanctions rules?

No. The firm conducts all matters lawfully and does not provide any guidance on circumventing sanctions, banking rules, or compliance requirements of any jurisdiction. Our work is limited to lawful documentation and representation.

How much stronger is the Turkish passport than the Iranian passport?

Published 2026 mobility indices place Turkish passport access at roughly 110 to 120 destinations visa-free or visa-on-arrival, against roughly 40 for the Iranian passport, with exact counts varying by index. These are third-party figures that change over time and should be checked against current sources.

Is there a tax treaty between Türkiye and Iran?

Yes. The two states are parties to a bilateral double-taxation avoidance agreement on income, which allocates taxing rights and provides relief mechanisms. Its application depends on individual residence and income facts and should be reviewed with a qualified tax adviser.

How long does the process take?

Timelines are set by the Turkish authorities and reflect their workload. From a complete file, a period commonly discussed is in the range of six to twelve months through to final decision. This is an expectation, not a commitment, and the decision rests solely with the Turkish authorities.

This article provides general information on Turkish law and does not constitute legal or tax advice. To review your circumstances on the specific facts, arrange a confidential consultation with Av. Abdulsamed Burak Turak, İstanbul Barosu. The consultation is where general information becomes a considered legal assessment of your position.