Turkish Citizenship via Bank Deposit
Deposit USD 500,000 in a BDDK-regulated Turkish bank for a statutory three-year holding period under Presidential Decree No. 418 (19 September 2022). The investment earns interest throughout the holding period. Citizenship is conferred by Presidential Decree upon NVİ review and approval. Turak Law manages the full procedural sequence under Power of Attorney.
Attorney-Managed Process
13 Steps to Your Turkish Passport
Turak Law manages the full procedural sequence under Power of Attorney: Tax ID registration, bank account coordination, İkamet application, document authentication, and NVİ submission. The client is responsible for fund transfer execution and biometric identity document collection.
Preparation Phase
Power of Attorney
You sign a notarized PoA in your country. It is apostilled and sworn-translated into Turkish. Turak Law coordinates with a local notary in your jurisdiction.
Turkish Tax ID (Vergi No)
Applied remotely via the Dijital Vergi Dairesi system. Issued within 24–48 hours. Required before the bank account can be opened.
Bank Account Opening + Online Banking Setup
Turak Law opens a CBI-compliant account at T.C. Ziraat Bankası or another BDDK-regulated institution using the PoA. The client receives full online banking credentials from the date of account activation, permitting remote monitoring of deposit balance and interest accrual at any time. Withdrawal of the qualifying USD 500,000 is restricted for the statutory three-year period; interest accrued is freely accessible.
Investment Phase
Fund Transfer
You transfer USD 500,000 from your overseas account to your newly opened Turkish bank account. Transfer must be from an account in your name.
Bank Blockage Letter
The bank issues an official CBI blockage letter confirming the funds are committed for 3 years. This document triggers citizenship eligibility.
Document Package Assembly
Passports, birth certificates, family statements, marriage certificate, apostilled criminal record, and health certificates compiled and checked.
Application Phase
Sworn Translation
All non-Turkish documents are translated by a court-sworn translator and notarized. Turak Law has an on-file sworn translator for this service.
İkamet Application
Mandatory residence permit application filed on your behalf. Required for all bank deposit pathway applicants before citizenship submission.
Citizenship Application
Full application submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. Turak Law manages the submission and all follow-up communications.
Approval Phase
Ministry Review
The Ministry of Interior reviews your application. Processing typically takes 3–6 months. Turak Law monitors status and responds to any requests.
Presidential Decree
Citizenship under Article 12 of Law No. 5901 is conferred by Presidential Decree (Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kararnamesi). The Decree covers the primary applicant and all included family members simultaneously.
Nüfus Cüzdanı
Turkish National ID card issued at the Civil Registry Office. Turak Law accompanies you or handles collection via PoA.
Passport Issuance
Turkish passport issued. Valid 10 years. Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 110+ countries including Japan, Singapore, and South Korea.
Full Online Banking Access
From the date of account activation, the client holds full online banking credentials and can monitor the USD 500,000 deposit balance and accruing interest remotely at any time. Only withdrawal of the qualifying principal is restricted during the three-year statutory period.
Direct Attorney Access
You communicate directly with Av. Abdulsamed Burak Turak — not a paralegal or case manager. WhatsApp, email, or video call. Your case is always with the attorney responsible for it.
Interest Is Yours to Keep
Your blocked deposit earns Turkish lira interest throughout the 3-year hold period. The interest is not blocked — it accrues to your account and is available to you.
Document Checklist
Required Documents
Turak Law provides a personalised document checklist after your initial consultation, based on your nationality and family composition.
Identity
- ✓Valid passport (all applicants)
- ✓Birth certificate
- ✓Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- ✓Birth certificates of children under 18
Legal / Administrative
- ✓Apostilled criminal record (country of residence)
- ✓Apostilled criminal record (country of citizenship)
- ✓Health insurance policy (Turkey-valid)
- ✓Biometric photo (recent, white background)
Financial
- ✓Bank transfer proof (international wire receipt)
- ✓Source of funds documentation
- ✓Bank blockage letter (issued by Turkish bank)
- ✓Bank account statement
Turkish Documents (prepared by Turak Law)
- ✓Tax ID (Vergi No)
- ✓Power of Attorney (notarized + apostilled)
- ✓Residence permit (İkamet)
- ✓Sworn Turkish translations of all foreign docs
Bank Deposit FAQs
Common Questions
Can I earn interest on my USD 500,000 during the 3 years?
Yes. Your deposit earns the standard bank interest rate on USD accounts at Turkish state banks. The interest is credited to your account normally. Only the principal USD 500,000 must remain blocked for 3 years.
What happens to my money after the 3-year period ends?
After 36 months, the blockage is lifted and you may freely withdraw or transfer your USD 500,000 plus all accumulated interest. Turak Law provides Exit Strategy services to assist with the repatriation process.
Do I need to travel to Turkey at any point?
No. The entire bank deposit pathway can be completed remotely using the Power of Attorney. You may travel to collect your passport personally if you wish, or we can arrange collection via PoA.
Can my spouse and children get citizenship too?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 years old are included in your citizenship application at no additional investment. They go through the same process and receive Turkish passports.
Which banks accept CBI bank deposits?
All major Turkish state banks are accepted: T.C. Ziraat Bankası, Türkiye Halk Bankası, and Türkiye Vakıflar Bankası. Turak Law has a direct manager relationship at Ziraat Bankası and recommends it for smooth processing.
Is there a mandatory residence permit step?
Yes. An İkamet (Turkish residence permit) application is mandatory for all bank deposit pathway applicants before the citizenship application can be submitted. Turak Law handles this on your behalf.
These answers are general information only and do not constitute legal advice. Book a consultation for advice specific to your situation.
Bank Deposit Pathway
Schedule a Consultation on the Bank Deposit Pathway
Av. Abdulsamed Burak Turak has conducted Article 12 bank deposit proceedings since 2019. An initial consultation covers eligibility assessment, document requirements specific to your nationality, projected timeline, and total cost structure.