Turkish citizenship for German investors is available through a qualifying investment, most often a real estate purchase of at least $400,000 held for three years, with most files decided in around six to twelve months. Since Germany reformed its nationality law in 2024, German citizens can generally hold a Turkish passport alongside their German one, without giving up either. This guide sets out the investment routes, the real costs, the timeline and the application steps, written for Germans weighing the program in 2026.
Can German Citizens Get Turkish Citizenship by Investment?
Yes, German citizens are fully eligible for Turkish citizenship by investment, and Germany now generally permits its nationals to hold more than one citizenship. Turkey applies the program the same way to every nationality: there is no separate quota for Germans and no restriction based on where you come from. The most popular path is the real estate route, where a property purchase of at least $400,000 (the threshold as of the time this article is written) leads to citizenship for you, your spouse and your children under 18.
The German angle matters here. For decades, a German who naturalised abroad usually lost German citizenship unless they held a retention permit. That changed when the reform of the Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz came into force in June 2024, which as a general rule now allows multiple nationality. In practice this means Turkish citizenship by investment for German citizens can be genuinely additive: you keep your German passport and gain a Turkish one. Because nationality law can be revised, confirm your own position with the German authorities before you apply.
The program itself is set out in Turkish regulation and administered by Turkish authorities, not by any office in Germany. You do not need to live in Turkey before or after you apply, and there is no language test and no interview. What matters is that the qualifying investment is real, correctly documented, and held for the required period.
Why Turkish Citizenship for German Investors Makes Sense
The clearest benefit of Turkish citizenship for German investors is a second passport that widens your options while your German status stays intact. As an EU citizen you already move freely across the Union, so the value of a Turkish passport lies elsewhere: a base that sits between Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and easier access to markets and travel corridors that matter if your business reaches into those regions.
There are family and lifestyle reasons too. A single qualifying investment covers your spouse and dependent children in the same application, so one purchase can secure status for the whole household. Many German buyers already know Turkey from years of holidays along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, in Antalya, Bodrum or Fethiye, and some decide to turn a familiar place into a long-term base or a retirement plan.
Istanbul, where Gordion Partners is based, draws German investors for its property market and its position as a regional hub. Turkish citizenship by investment for German citizens can also serve as a long-term contingency, a second home base outside the European Union that leaves every right you hold as a German and EU citizen untouched.
Investment Routes Open to German Citizens
There are several qualifying routes for Turkish citizenship, and you only need to satisfy one of them. The figures below are the thresholds as of the time this article is written. Confirm the current amounts with an advisor before you commit, because the rules in Turkey are revised from time to time.
| Route | Minimum amount | Holding period |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate purchase | $400,000 | 3 years |
| Bank deposit in a Turkish bank | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Government bond purchase | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Fixed capital contribution to a Turkish company | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Job creation | Employment for 50 people | Maintained |
The real estate route is by far the most common choice for German investors, because it pairs the path to citizenship with an asset you own and can later sell. The deposit and bond routes suit people who would rather place capital than manage a property. Whichever you pick, the investment must be made in your own name and backed by the correct official paperwork.
The $400,000 Real Estate Route in Detail
The $400,000 real estate route means buying property worth at least that amount, registering it in your name, and holding it for three years. An official appraisal report confirms the valuation, and the purchase price is paid through the banking system so the funds can be traced and documented. The property is registered with the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (Tapu ve Kadastro), and a note is added to the title deed recording the commitment not to sell for three years.
So how can German investors get Turkish citizenship through real estate in practice? You can buy one property or combine several to reach the threshold, and the property can be residential or commercial. After the three years you are free to sell. Many German buyers choose an apartment that can be let during the holding period, so the capital keeps working while the citizenship file runs its course.
Real estate is also the route where the surrounding costs matter most, so budget for the fees on top of the purchase price. The question many German buyers ask us, how can German investors get Turkish citizenship through real estate, comes down to getting the valuation and the payment trail right from the start. Whether the property route or a deposit route fits your situation depends on your wider plans and your tax position in Germany, and our advisors can assess it in a short consultation.
How to Apply for Turkish Citizenship for German Investors, Step by Step
The application for Turkish citizenship for German investors follows a clear sequence. Working with an advisor who handles the Turkish-language paperwork removes most of the friction.
- Get a Turkish tax number and open a Turkish bank account, which can usually be arranged on a short visit or by power-of-attorney.
- Make the qualifying investment, for example the $400,000 property purchase, paid through the banking system and registered at the Land Registry.
- Obtain the certificate of conformity that confirms the investment meets the program rules.
- Apply for a short-term residence permit through the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi).
- Submit the citizenship file to the Citizenship and Population Directorate with passports, photographs, the investment evidence and supporting documents.
- Receive the decision and, once approved, collect your Turkish ID and apply for the Turkish passport.
Documents issued in Germany, such as your birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) or marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde), usually need an apostille and a certified Turkish translation. Germany is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a German authority can apostille the document and a sworn translator prepares the Turkish version. A power-of-attorney lets your advisor complete most steps, so you do not have to stay in Turkey throughout.
Timeline: From Investment to Turkish Passport
The Turkish citizenship application timeline for Germans is usually around six to twelve months from the completed investment to approval, though it varies with the workload of the authorities and how complete your file is. That range is typical as of the time this article is written, not a guarantee, and you should treat any promise of a fixed, faster date with caution.
Stage by stage, the pattern is roughly this. Setting up your Turkish tax number and bank account takes a few days. Buying the property and obtaining the certificate of conformity usually takes a few weeks once the funds are in place. The short-term residence permit follows soon after. The citizenship review itself is the longest stage, and it is where most of the six to twelve months is spent.
A clean, well-prepared application with correctly apostilled and translated German documents tends to move faster, which is why the Turkish citizenship application timeline for Germans rewards careful preparation at the start rather than corrections later.
Common Mistakes German Investors Make
Most delays come from a handful of avoidable errors rather than from the program itself. In our experience advising German investors, the single most common reason a file stalls is a valuation report that comes in below $400,000, because the official appraisal, not the price written on the contract, is what the authorities read.
- Paying outside the banking system. Cash or informal transfers cannot be traced, and untraceable funds do not count toward the threshold. Pay through the banks so every step is documented.
- Buying before the valuation. Agree the purchase subject to an appraisal that confirms the $400,000 figure, rather than committing and hoping the number lands where you need it.
- Incomplete German paperwork. A missing apostille or an uncertified translation sends the file back. Arrange the apostille and the sworn Turkish translations before you submit, not after.
- Assuming German tax follows the passport. German tax liability follows residence, not nationality, so holding a Turkish passport for German investors does not by itself create a German tax charge. If you plan to move your residence, discuss exit-tax and worldwide-income questions with a qualified German tax adviser first.
Costs Beyond the Investment
Beyond the qualifying amount, budget for transaction and processing costs. On a property purchase these typically include the title deed transfer fee, the mandatory valuation report, notary and translation fees, the apostille on your German documents, advisory fees, and government charges for the residence permit and citizenship file. As a rough planning figure, these extra costs commonly add a single-digit percentage on top of the investment, though the exact total depends on the property and the size of your family. Confirm the current fees with an advisor, since they are revised periodically.
In short, Turkish citizenship for German investors is a realistic and well-trodden path: choose a qualifying route, most often the $400,000 property purchase, prepare the file carefully, and plan your German residence and tax position in advance. A Turkish passport for German investors now sits comfortably alongside German nationality, and Gordion Partners guides German clients through every stage from our offices in Istanbul, in clear English. Contact us for more information.
Considering Turkish Citizenship or Moving to Turkey?
Gordion Partners is an Istanbul-based advisory firm that has helped foreigners with Turkish citizenship by investment, residence and work permits, and property purchases since 2020. To discuss your own situation, reach us by phone or WhatsApp at +90 533 140 04 96, by email at [email protected], or visit us at Merkez Mahallesi Hasat Sokak No:12A, 34384 Şişli, İstanbul. Contact us for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a German citizen get Turkish citizenship by investment?
Yes, a German citizen can get Turkish citizenship by investment, and since Germany’s 2024 nationality reform, dual citizenship is generally allowed, so you keep your German passport. Turkish citizenship by investment for German citizens follows the same rules and thresholds that apply to every other nationality.
How much do I need to invest as a German citizen?
The most common route is a real estate purchase of at least $400,000 held for three years, which is the threshold as of the time this article is written. Other routes, such as a $500,000 bank deposit or government bond purchase, are also available, and the amounts should be confirmed with an advisor.
How long does the Turkish citizenship application timeline for Germans take?
The Turkish citizenship application timeline for Germans is usually around six to twelve months from the completed investment to approval. The exact time depends on the authorities’ workload and how complete and well-prepared your documents are.
How can German investors get Turkish citizenship through real estate?
German investors get Turkish citizenship through real estate by buying property valued at $400,000 or more, registering it in their name at the Land Registry, and committing not to sell it for three years. The purchase is paid through the banking system and confirmed by an official valuation report.
Does my family get citizenship too?
Yes, a single qualifying investment covers your spouse and your dependent children under 18. They are included in the same application, so one $400,000 property purchase can secure status for your whole household.
Will Turkish citizenship affect my German taxes?
No, Turkish citizenship does not by itself change your German tax position, because German tax liability follows residence rather than nationality. If you plan to change your residence, review worldwide-income and exit-tax questions with a qualified German tax adviser.
Do I have to live in Turkey to keep my Turkish passport?
No, there is no residency requirement to obtain or keep citizenship under the investment program. You do not need to live in Turkey before or after the application, and there is no language test or interview.
About Gordion Partners
Gordion Partners is an Istanbul-based advisory firm specialising in immigration and real estate services for foreigners in Turkey. Since 2020, our advisors have guided international clients through Turkish citizenship by investment, residence and work permits, and property purchases, working in English, French, Turkish, Russian and Chinese. The firm is led by Burak Unal, an investment advisor and registered real estate broker in Turkey (Taşınmaz Ticareti Bilgi Sistemi, registration no. 3408704), who holds an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics and a BBA from Boğaziçi University. We focus on clear, responsive and professional guidance at every step.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and you are strongly advised to consult a professional to evaluate your personal situation. No liability is accepted that may arise from the use of the information in this article.
