Turkish citizenship by bank deposit is one of the recognised investment routes to a Turkish passport, and it works in a simple way: you place a fixed sum in a Turkish bank and keep it there for three years. As of the time this article is written, the amount required is 500,000 United States dollars, or the equivalent in another foreign currency or in Turkish lira, held in a bank operating in Turkey with a formal commitment not to withdraw it for three years. This guide explains the Turkish citizenship by bank deposit route in plain terms: how much you need, who qualifies, the documents involved, the steps in order, a realistic timeline, and the mistakes that slow applications down.
What Is Turkish Citizenship by Bank Deposit?
Turkish citizenship by bank deposit is a way to acquire Turkish nationality by depositing a qualifying sum in a Turkish bank and holding it for a set period. It sits inside the wider Turkish citizenship by investment programme, which was introduced in 2017 and has been amended several times since. Getting a Turkish passport through bank deposit is the choice many applicants prefer when they want a financial route rather than buying property, because the money stays in their own account rather than being spent on an asset.
The legal basis is the regulation on the implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law. Under it, a foreign national who deposits the qualifying amount in a bank operating in Turkey, and undertakes to keep it there for three years, may apply for citizenship on that basis. The deposit is confirmed by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), which issues a certificate of conformity. Knowing how to get Turkish citizenship through bank deposit starts with understanding that the deposit itself is only the trigger; a full citizenship file is then built around it.
How Much Do You Need for Turkish Citizenship by Bank Deposit?
The minimum for Turkish citizenship by bank deposit is 500,000 United States dollars as of the time this article is written. You can hold the equivalent value in another convertible foreign currency or in Turkish lira, converted at the rate the bank applies. The figure was raised from an earlier, lower threshold, and it is exactly the kind of number that changes by presidential decree, so it should be confirmed with a lawyer or the bank before you transfer anything.
Three points about the amount matter in practice. The deposit must be made in a bank operating in Turkey, not in a foreign branch. It must be held for three years without dropping below the required level. And the source of the funds should be clean and documented, because banks apply anti-money-laundering checks before they will issue the conformity certificate. Meeting the Turkish citizenship bank deposit requirements is as much about the paperwork behind the money as about the sum itself.
Currency and interest
You can keep the deposit in a foreign-currency account or a lira account, and it can sit in a term account that earns interest. The interest is yours. What you cannot do is let the balance fall under the qualifying amount at any point during the three years, because that breaks the commitment and can put the citizenship at risk. This is one reason a term deposit is often used: the funds are locked and the balance is stable.
Eligibility and Conditions for the Bank Deposit Route
Most adult foreign nationals can use the bank deposit route, with a few conditions attached. The core requirement is the qualifying deposit held for three years and confirmed by the BDDK. Around that sit the general citizenship conditions and some practical limits.
- You must be a foreign national and, in practice, of legal age to hold the account and make the commitment.
- The 500,000 dollar deposit must be held for three years with a written undertaking not to withdraw it below the threshold.
- The bank must issue, and the BDDK must confirm, a certificate showing the deposit meets the rules.
- Your spouse and any children under 18 can generally be included in the same application as dependants.
- You should not pose a national-security or public-order concern, which is checked during the process.
One point worth flagging early: you do not need to give up your current nationality. Turkey permits dual citizenship, so acquiring a Turkish passport through the bank deposit does not, by itself, cancel your existing citizenship. Whether your home country allows dual nationality is a separate question to check under that country’s law.
How to Get Turkish Citizenship Through Bank Deposit, Step by Step
The Turkish citizenship bank deposit application steps follow a clear order, and each step has an authority attached to it. Doing them out of sequence is the usual cause of delay. Here is the process stage by stage.
- Get a Turkish tax number from the local Tax Office, then open a bank account in Turkey as a foreign national.
- Transfer and deposit the qualifying amount, then place it in a term account with the three-year commitment recorded.
- Obtain the certificate of conformity for the deposit, issued by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK).
- Apply for a short-term residence permit tied to the investment, issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management.
- File the citizenship application with the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, submitting the full document set.
- Wait for the review and the decision, which is finalised at the Presidency level once the file passes its checks.
These Turkish citizenship bank deposit application steps are usually handled through a lawyer holding a power of attorney, so that the applicant does not have to stay in Turkey for every stage. Whether this route fits your situation depends on your funds, your family and your existing nationality; a lawyer can assess it in a short consultation.
Documents You Will Need
The document set for the bank deposit route is broadly the same as for the other investment routes, plus the deposit paperwork. Gather these early, because missing or expired documents are the most common reason a file stalls.
- A valid passport, with notarised Turkish translations of the relevant pages.
- Biometric photographs meeting the official specification.
- Your Turkish tax number and the bank account records.
- The bank certificate and the BDDK conformity confirmation for the deposit.
- Birth certificate, and marriage certificate if a spouse is included, legalised or apostilled and translated.
- The investment-linked residence permit.
- Proof of valid health insurance where required during the process.
Documents issued abroad usually need an apostille or consular legalisation, then a sworn Turkish translation. In our practice at Karanfiloglu Law Firm, a large share of the delays we see come from foreign documents that were translated but never properly legalised, so the file has to go back a step.
Timeline: From Deposit to Passport
The whole process usually takes around six to twelve months from the deposit to the citizenship decision, though it varies with the caseload and how complete the file is. It helps to think in stages rather than as one figure.
- Tax number and bank account: usually a few days once you are in Turkey or represented locally.
- Deposit and conformity certificate: often one to three weeks, depending on the bank and the anti-money-laundering review.
- Investment-linked residence permit: commonly a few weeks to a couple of months.
- Citizenship review and decision: frequently the longest stage, often several months.
These ranges are estimates, not promises, and processing times shift. The deposit itself, remember, must then stay in place for a full three years after citizenship is granted; the three-year clock is a holding condition, not part of the approval wait.
Costs Beyond the Deposit
The 500,000 dollar deposit is not the only money involved, though it remains yours and is returned to your control after three years. Budget separately for the costs that are genuinely spent.
- Legal fees for handling the application and representation.
- Sworn translation and notary costs for the documents.
- Apostille or consular legalisation fees in your home country.
- Official application and residence-permit fees.
- Health insurance, where it is required during the process.
Unlike the property route, the bank deposit is not a purchase, so there is no title deed transfer tax or valuation report to pay for. That is one reason some applicants weigh the Turkish citizenship bank deposit requirements against buying real estate: the deposit keeps the capital liquid, while property may appreciate but ties the money to an asset and its transaction costs.
Comparing the Bank Deposit Route with Other Investment Options
The bank deposit is one of several qualifying investments, and the right one depends on what you want to do with the capital. The table below compares the main routes at the thresholds current as of the time this article is written; all of these figures can change, so confirm them before you commit.
| Route | Minimum amount | Holding period | Capital tied up in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank deposit | 500,000 USD | 3 years | Your own bank account |
| Real estate | 400,000 USD | 3 years | Property |
| Fixed capital contribution | 500,000 USD | 3 years | A business investment |
| Government bonds | 500,000 USD | 3 years | State debt instruments |
Learning how to get Turkish citizenship through bank deposit does not mean it is automatically the best fit. If you want an income-producing asset, property or a business may suit you better; if you want your capital to stay liquid and low-effort, a Turkish passport through bank deposit is often the simpler choice.
Common Mistakes That Delay Bank Deposit Applications
Most delays on the bank deposit route come from a small set of avoidable errors. Knowing them in advance is the cheapest way to keep the file moving.
- Depositing in the wrong entity: the funds must sit in a bank operating in Turkey, not a foreign branch, or the deposit will not qualify.
- Letting the balance drop: allowing the account to fall below the threshold, even briefly, breaks the three-year commitment.
- Weak source-of-funds proof: banks will not issue the conformity certificate if the origin of the money is not clearly documented.
- Documents legalised incorrectly: foreign certificates that lack an apostille or a sworn translation get sent back.
- Applying out of order: filing for citizenship before the BDDK conformity certificate and residence permit are in place.
Getting the Turkish citizenship bank deposit application steps right the first time is largely about preparation. Clients we advise in Istanbul who assemble the source-of-funds paperwork before transferring the money tend to move through the bank stage noticeably faster.
Turkish citizenship by bank deposit rewards preparation more than speed. Line up the source-of-funds evidence, deposit the qualifying sum in a bank operating in Turkey, and file the stages in the right order. Because the threshold and official fees change, confirm the current figures with a lawyer or the bank before you transfer anything.
Talk to a Lawyer in Istanbul
If you would like advice on your own situation, Karanfiloglu Law Firm is a registered law office in Istanbul serving foreigners and Turkish clients across Turkey. You can reach us by phone or WhatsApp at +90 532 659 35 11, by email at [email protected], or visit us at Mecidiyeköy Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No:67-71, Alba İş Merkezi, Kat:8, Şişli, İstanbul. Contact us to discuss your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need for Turkish citizenship by bank deposit?
You need 500,000 United States dollars, or the equivalent in another foreign currency or Turkish lira, as of the time this article is written. The amount must be deposited in a bank operating in Turkey and held for three years. The threshold is set by decree and can change, so confirm the current figure before you transfer funds.
How long does Turkish citizenship by bank deposit take?
The process usually takes around six to twelve months from the deposit to the citizenship decision, depending on the caseload and how complete your file is. The 500,000 dollar deposit then has to remain in place for three years as a holding condition after citizenship is granted.
Can I withdraw the deposit after I get citizenship?
No, not immediately. The deposit must be kept in the Turkish bank for three years from the date of the commitment, and the balance must not fall below the qualifying amount during that time. After the three years, the funds are freely yours to withdraw.
How do I get Turkish citizenship through bank deposit if I live abroad?
You can complete most of how to get Turkish citizenship through bank deposit from abroad by appointing a lawyer under a power of attorney. Opening the account and the deposit generally require the funds and your documents, but a representative can handle the filings so you do not need to be in Turkey for every stage.
Does the bank deposit earn interest?
Yes, you can hold the deposit in a term account that earns interest, and the interest belongs to you. The condition is that the principal must stay at or above the qualifying amount for the full three years, which is why a locked term deposit is often used.
Can my family get citizenship through my bank deposit?
Yes, your spouse and your children under 18 can generally be included as dependants in the same application. A single qualifying deposit covers the family unit, subject to the standard document requirements for each person.
Do I have to give up my current nationality?
No, Turkey allows dual citizenship, so Turkish citizenship by bank deposit does not cancel your existing nationality by itself. You should still check whether your home country permits dual nationality under its own law.
Is the bank deposit route better than buying property?
Neither is better in the abstract; it depends on your goals. The bank deposit keeps your capital liquid in your own account, while property ties the money to an asset that may rise or fall in value and carries transaction costs. A lawyer can help you compare them against the Turkish citizenship bank deposit requirements and your plans.
About the Author
Kaan Karanfiloğlu is the founder of Karanfiloglu Law Firm, an Istanbul-based registered law office serving Turkish and international clients across Turkey. He is a lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar Association (Reg. No. 58270) and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (No. 133074), and has practised law in Turkey since 2017. He holds an LL.B. from Galatasaray University Faculty of Law (2016) and advises clients in Turkish, English and French; the firm also serves clients in Russian and Chinese with experienced in-office translators.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Turkish law and is not legal advice. Laws, regulations, official fees and procedures change over time and every situation is different. For advice on your specific circumstances, please consult a qualified lawyer. No liability is accepted for any loss arising from reliance on the information in this article.
