Global Mobility & Dual Nationality - Turkish Citizenship by Investment Lawyer: CBI, Dual Nationality, and Cross-Border Strategy
Turkish citizenship by investment is not simply a property transaction. It requires an investment route that fits the governing rules, a defensible document record, and a cross-border strategy that accounts for citizenship, residence, tax, family, and U.S. immigration considerations. Alaz Law provides attorney-led counsel for clients evaluating those connected decisions.
When a Turkish citizenship lawyer adds value
A citizenship or cross-border investment decision can affect more than one jurisdiction. The decision may involve the selected investment route, property or investment due diligence, the documentary sequence, family planning, dual nationality, and potential U.S. immigration or reporting consequences. Treating those questions as separate transactions can create avoidable gaps in the record.
Alaz Law begins with the legal objective and the supporting evidence. Our founder, Hasan Alaz, Esq., leads the firm’s cross-border strategy discussions. Where a matter requires advice governed by another jurisdiction or specialty, scope and any needed coordination should be established before action is taken.
Dual Citizenship and the Turkish Blue Card (Mavi Kart)
Whether a U.S. naturalization decision affects Turkish citizenship requires a review of the person’s current citizenship status, the Turkish legal route used, and any planned release-permit or Blue Card application. A cross-border legal review should distinguish between maintaining citizenship and formally applying for a release permit (Çıkma İzni).
A Blue Card (Mavi Kart) may be relevant for people who have formally obtained a release permit from Turkish citizenship. Its legal effects, limits, and suitability must be assessed against the individual’s family, property, residence, employment, and long-term planning circumstances. We help clients identify the decision points and coordinate the relevant legal questions before action is taken.
Documenting Source of Funds from Turkey
Turkish real-estate sale proceeds or business-liquidation proceeds may be relevant to a U.S. investor-visa source-of-funds analysis. The evidentiary question is not answered by the sale alone; it depends on how the asset was acquired, how it was sold, what taxes or obligations applied, and how the proceeds moved through the documented financial record.
A useful record can include title, valuation, sale, tax, bank, and transfer documents, but the appropriate evidence depends on the immigration benefit and the source history. Before capital is committed or transferred, a case-specific review should identify the documents, translations, and professional coordination that the particular matter requires.
Turkish Citizenship by Investment: the legal threshold is only the starting point
Turkish citizenship by investment is an exceptional-citizenship route governed by specific investment, evidence, and holding-period requirements. The official Investment Office guidance identifies several qualifying routes. It also makes clear that eligibility depends on the applicable official process and determination; no website summary can substitute for diligence before funds are committed.
| Official route | Published threshold | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying real estate | USD 400,000 | Required title-record declaration not to sell for three years. |
| Fixed capital, bank deposit, government bonds, qualifying funds, or private-pension contribution | USD 500,000 | The applicable three-year holding condition and official determination apply. |
| Employment creation | 50 jobs | The employment threshold must be determined through the applicable official process. |
The real-estate route, for example, requires more than a headline purchase price. Official guidance addresses the title record, valuation and payment documentation, currency-conversion procedure, the three-year restriction, and the relevant eligibility or investment-determination documents. The Turkish government’s Investment Office guidance and the official property-acquisition process should be reviewed alongside a case-specific legal assessment.
Our role is to assess the legal and documentary posture before a transaction is finalized, identify due-diligence questions, coordinate the cross-border evidence plan, and explain the risks and next steps. Eligibility and final citizenship decisions remain with the competent Turkish authorities.
FATCA, FBAR, and Military Service Obligations
Financial reporting: U.S. tax and foreign-account reporting can be relevant to some clients with Turkish financial assets. The reporting analysis depends on tax residence, account history, ownership, and filing status; it should be addressed with qualified tax advice rather than assumed from citizenship alone.
Military-service and citizenship records: Turkish military-service questions and U.S. immigration or naturalization questions arise under different legal systems. A client should not assume that an obligation, registration, or exemption in one system determines the outcome in the other. The facts and applicable rules should be reviewed before a filing or status decision is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep my Turkish citizenship if I naturalize in the US?
Yes. Under Article 28 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, Turkey allows dual citizenship. You do not automatically lose your Turkish citizenship when you become a U.S. citizen unless you formally apply for a release permit (Çıkma İzni), which then transitions you to Blue Card (Mavi Kart) status.
What is the minimum investment for Turkish citizenship by investment in 2026?
Official Turkish government guidance lists a USD 400,000 minimum for qualifying real estate acquired with the required three-year restriction. Other listed routes, including fixed capital investment, qualifying bank deposits, government bonds, funds, and private-pension contributions, generally use USD 500,000 thresholds; job creation has a 50-person threshold. Eligibility and documentation should be checked against the applicable official rules before any transaction.
Do I have to report my Turkish bank accounts to the IRS?
Yes. U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, and resident aliens must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if the aggregate value of their foreign financial accounts, including those in Turkey, exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. FATCA regulations may also require filing Form 8938 with your tax return.
How does Turkish military service affect U.S. naturalization?
Male Turkish citizens entering the U.S. naturalization process must carefully handle the Selective Service question on Form N-400. Confusing U.S. Selective Service with Turkish military registration can lead to a Good Moral Character (GMC) denial. We assist clients in navigating buyout (bedelli) or currency-based (dövizle) exemptions to ensure smooth U.S. naturalization.
How do I document funds from a Turkish real estate sale for an E-2 or EB-5 visa?
A U.S. immigration filing may require a documented path from the original asset through the sale and transfer of funds. The relevant evidence can include title, valuation, sale, tax, and banking records, but the required record depends on the immigration benefit and the source-of-funds history. A case-specific review should determine the appropriate evidence and translation strategy.
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Whether you are a Turkish national navigating the U.S. immigration system, or an international investor seeking Turkish citizenship, Alaz Law provides the cross-border expertise you need.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Dual citizenship, CBI programs, and IRS reporting requirements are highly complex and subject to change. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Author: Hasan Alaz, Esq. | Review date: August 18, 2026
