Turkish Citizenship by Government Bonds

How the government bond route works

The government debt instrument 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. You buy government debt instruments issued by the Republic of Turkey for at least USD 500,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, on condition that you do not sell them for 3 years. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance certifies the investment, and that certificate is the basis of the citizenship application.

As on every route, the foreign currency is first sold to a bank in Turkey and on to the Central Bank (TCMB), and a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB) is issued before the investment. The purchase itself is made through a bank in Turkey.

Conditions

• Amount: USD 500,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency. Since 6 January 2022 the amounts are stated in USD or the equivalent foreign currency only.
• Instruments: government debt instruments of the Republic of Turkey.
• Holding period: 3 years.
• Certification: the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

The conditions of this route are set out in the regulation as reported by law firms and the press; we did not find them on an official web page in October 2026. We therefore confirm with the bank and the Ministry which instruments, currencies and maturities qualify at the time of your purchase, before any money moves.

Choosing the instruments

Government debt instruments differ in currency, maturity and coupon. For citizenship, what matters first is that the instruments qualify, that the amount reaches USD 500,000 and that you can keep them for the full 3 years. We go through the options the bank offers with you, explain how a maturity inside or beyond the 3 years would be handled and what the currency of the instrument means for you. We do not quote yields on this page, because they change daily and are set by the market.

Timeline

No official processing time is published, and no timeframe can be guaranteed. There is no property search, valuation or title deed stage. The stages are:

• Bank account, currency sale, DAB and purchase of the instruments: arranged once your documents are in order.
• Ministry 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 instruments are not sold for 3 years. Selling earlier means the investment no longer meets the condition the application was based on. Before you buy, we check with the bank what happens if an instrument matures within the period, and how the holding is evidenced, so that the 3 years are covered from the first day.

Family members

The investor's spouse and children can apply on the same investment, 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. The bank's charges for buying and holding the instruments are set by the bank. Our fees are not published: contact us for fees, questions and service scope.

Risks and common mistakes

• Buying instruments that do not qualify for the route, or in an amount below USD 500,000 once converted.
• Not planning for an instrument that matures before the 3 years end.
• Selling within the 3 years.
• Ignoring the currency: what the investment is worth in your own currency depends on the instrument's currency and the exchange rate.
• Transferring money before the currency sale and the DAB are arranged as the rules require.

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 maturity, currency, holding period and exit questions of a USD 500,000 bond investment, in plain terms and in your language.

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

Compare the other routes

• Bank deposit (USD 500,000): a deposit held in Turkish lira for 3 years.
• Investment fund shares: real estate or venture capital fund units, blocked for 3 years.
• Private pension fund (BES): USD 500,000 in one citizenship pension contract.
• Our guide to government bonds in Turkey.

Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp: we will check which instruments qualify at the time of your purchase and go through them with you.