Turkish Citizenship by Bank Deposit

How the bank deposit route works

The bank deposit route is one of the seven investment routes to Turkish citizenship under Article 12/1-b of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and Article 20 of its implementing regulation. Instead of buying a property, you place USD 500,000, or the equivalent amount in EUR or GBP, on deposit with banks operating in Turkey and undertake to keep it there for 3 years. The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) confirms that the deposit meets the conditions, and that confirmation is the basis of the citizenship application.

There is no property search, no valuation report and no title deed on this route. The checks of the real estate route, such as the valuation test, the seller checks and the title deed rules, do not apply. The citizenship stage itself, with the security review and the Presidential decision, is the same as on every other route.

Conditions

• Amount: USD 500,000, or the equivalent amount in EUR or GBP. Since 6 January 2022 the amounts are stated in USD or the equivalent foreign currency only; a Turkish lira amount does not qualify.
• Currency sale: the foreign currency is sold to the bank in Turkey and on to the Central Bank (TCMB), and a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB) is issued before the investment.
• Deposit: the resulting Turkish lira amount is held on deposit.
• Holding period: 3 years.
• Certification: BDDK.

The Turkish lira question

This is the point every investor should understand before choosing this route. Under the rule as applied in 2026, your dollars, euros or pounds are converted into Turkish lira at the start, and the deposit is kept in Turkish lira for the 3 years. You therefore carry the exchange-rate risk over the whole period: what the deposit is worth in your own currency at the end depends on how the Turkish lira moves against it, and on the terms the bank gives you.

The bank sets the terms of the deposit, including any interest. We do not quote rates on this page, because they change and they are a matter between you and the bank. We go through the bank's written terms with you before you transfer anything, so that you know what you are signing for 3 years.

Timeline

No official processing time is published, and no timeframe can be guaranteed. Without a property purchase there is no property search, valuation or title deed stage. The stages that remain are:

• Bank account, currency sale, DAB and deposit: arranged with the bank, once your documents are in order.
• BDDK certificate and residence permit: a few weeks.
• Citizenship application to decision: advisers commonly report about 3 to 6 months for a complete file. The security review and the Presidential decision are usually the longest stage.

See the process, documents and timeline for each stage.

Holding period and exit

The condition of the route is that the deposit stays in place for 3 years. Do not plan on access to the money during that period: withdrawing early means the investment no longer meets the condition the application was based on. Before you deposit, we read the bank's terms for the 3 years and for the release of the money at the end, so that the exit is planned on day one rather than in year three.

Family members

The investor's spouse and children can apply on the same deposit, so the amount does not change with the size of the family. We confirm which children can be included for your case before the file is prepared. See family members.

Costs

There is no title deed fee, VAT or valuation fee on this route, because no property is bought. The bank's own charges and terms are set by the bank. Our fees are not published: contact us for fees, questions and service scope.

Risks and common mistakes

• Underestimating the currency risk: the deposit is held in Turkish lira for 3 years.
• Transferring money before the currency sale and the DAB are arranged as the rules require.
• Depositing less than the full amount, or in a form the bank cannot certify for citizenship.
• Planning to use the money within the 3 years.
• Choosing a bank without reading its written terms for the full period.
• Relying on old guides that still mention a Turkish lira amount: since 6 January 2022 the amounts are in USD or the equivalent foreign currency only.

Why our advice on financial routes

Our advice on the financial routes is led by our founder, Burak Ünal. He holds an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics (2019) and, before founding Gordion Partners, worked at Oliver Wyman, the management consulting firm, as a Financial Services Consultant, on projects in Turkey, Italy and Greece. That background is the basis of how we explain the currency, holding period and exit questions of a USD 500,000 financial investment, in plain terms and in your language.

We do not promise returns, interest rates or exchange rates, and we do not hold or manage your money: the bank holds the deposit, and the investment decision is yours. For tax questions in your home country, consult a tax adviser.

Compare the other routes

• Real estate investment (USD 400,000): the lowest amount, with a property you keep for 3 years.
• Government bonds and investment fund shares: USD 500,000 held for 3 years.
• Private pension fund (BES): USD 500,000 in one citizenship pension contract.
• Our guide to the USD 500,000 bank deposit.

Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp: we will go through the currency question and the bank's terms with you before you decide.