Turkey citizenship by marriage has always been a preferred method in terms of citizenship acquisition. With the increase of globalization and the development of technology, the relations of people from different nationalities have also increased. As a natural result of this increase, people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage have increased as well as in all parts of the world.

In a study on the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage, the rate of increase of people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship over years is included.

According to the report of the  Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs included in the study, while 2000 people applied for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage in a year in 2005, this number increased to approximately 8500 in 2015.

In this study, we will discuss the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage, which is very much wondered by people. The conditions for acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage, the procedure, and the legal consequences of acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage are among the topics we will examine.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Conditions

The acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is regulated in Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law. In the provision, there are conditions that people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage must fulfill. Persons meet these conditions can apply by submitting the necessary documents to the relevant authorities.

The fact that the Turkey citizenship by marriage application has been made does not directly provide Turkish citizenship to applicant. Turkey citizenship by marriage conditions are as follows:

1. Get Married with Turkish Citizen:

The person who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage should marry a Turkish citizen. Besides, the marriage has to be real. Fake marriages for the purpose of obtaining citizenship are invalid.

The marriage must also be legally valid. In this respect, the formal conditions and substantial conditions of the marriage must be completed.

The marriage capacity is subject to the national law of the parties. In terms of Turkish law, some of these conditions are the fact that the parties are over the age of 17, they have different genders, and that the marriage was made in front of the registrar.

2. Time Requirement:

In order to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage, the marriage must last at least three years. There are no exceptions in this regard.

3. Continuation of Marriage:

The marriage of the person who applies for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage must continue at the time of application.

4. Living in Family Unity

Another condition sought for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is living in a marriage union. Spouses must prove that they do not live alone and apart, and that there is a marriage union.

5. The Absence of Acts Incompatible with the Marriage Union:

Another condition sought for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is that spouses should not have behaviors that are incompatible with marriage. The presence of such behavior will give the impression that the marriage is fake.

6. Not to Pose a Threat to National Security and Public Order:

Persons who acts contrary to national security and public order will not be able to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage. In this respect, it is forbidden for married people that violate public order. It is also prohibited for marriage that disruptive to public order.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Process

The procedure for acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage begins with an application to the competent authorities. In order to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage, individuals must apply in person.

After completing the  application form, the required documents must be submitted. The required documents are as follows:

• Request form
• Identity registration copy of the Turkish citizen spouse,
• Passport or similar document showing the citizenship of the person
• Document showing the identity of the person
• If the place of residence is in Turkey, the recent residence document
• If there is a finalized court decision due to any crime, a certified copy of it,
• Service fee receipt

After the documents listed above are collected by the competent authority, a security investigation is carried out by the police department. In this investigation, matters such as whether the marriage is real and whether there is a threat to public order are investigated.

Then the file is sent to the “Citizenship Application Review Commission”. An opinion report is received from the commission for the application.

After all the documents are completed, the Ministry of Interior makes the final decision about acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage. The said decision is first notified to the application authority.

Finally, the decision made by the ministry of interior is notified to the parties.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Legal Consequences

The acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage has some consequences. From the positive decision of the ministry of interior, citizenship has results. The person who acquires Turkey citizenship by marriage is in the same status as those who acquired citizenship by birth. They have equal rights and obligations.

1. Dual Citizenship:

Turkey is one of the countries that accept dual citizenship. Therefore, the previous citizenship of the person who acquired Turkey citizenship by marriage does not cause any problems. However, it should also be investigated whether dual citizenship is accepted in terms of the person’s previous citizenship.

2. Military Service:

Another result regarding the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is related to military service. According to the regulation made on this subject, some persons are deemed to have completed their military service. These people are those, who have done their military service in his own country and those who have completed the age of 22.

3. Citizenship of Children:

Another issue is the citizenship status of the children of the person who acquired Turkey citizenship by marriage. The children of the person who acquires Turkey citizenship by marriage will be born as Turkish citizens anyway.

If the person who acquires Turkish citizenship has another child, the children who are in custody will acquire Turkish citizenship if the other spouse gives consent.

Conclusion

Acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage has been a preferred method for many years. Marriage and family are very important issues regarding public order. For this reason, the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is subject to strict conditions. For the same reason, authorities are trying to prevent the acquisition of citizenship by making fake marriages, and inspections are carried out.

As we explained in detail above, people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage can obtain the necessary documents and application. Since the procedure is detailed, it is necessary to follow the procedures carefully.

Topo Law Firm has been following the citizenship process for its domestic and foreign clients since 2015. If you want to get detailed information about this subject from our lawyers who are experts in their fields, do not forget to contact us.

FAQ About Turkey Citizenship by Marriage

1. How do I get Turkish citizenship by marriage?

If the necessary conditions are met and the necessary documents are submitted, Turkish citizenship can be acquired through marriage.

2. Can a foreigner marry a Turkish girl?

Of course, in Turkish legislation, there is no prohibition on the marriage of people of different nationalities.

3. How long does it take Turkish citizenship by marriage?

Acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage results in approximately 6 or 7 months after the documents are submitted to the Ministry of Interior. However, it can be decided in a shorter time, and if there are deficiencies in the documents, the process may take up to one or two years until the deficiencies are completed.

4. Does the name and surname change in the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage?

In the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by marriage, the previous name and surname may continue to be used, if they are written in accordance with the Turkish spelling rules.

Turkey citizenship by naturalization is a way of acquiring Turkish citizenship, which is often preferred by foreigners. According to Article 9 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, Turkish citizenship is acquired by birth or afterbirth. The acquisition of citizenship after bith takes place through the decision of the competent authority (Turkey citizenship by naturalization), the exercise of the right to choose or adoption.

Acquiring Turkey citizenship by naturalization is an easily preferable way for foreigners who are not in an exceptional situation. You can become a Turkish citizen by fulfilling the conditions that will be discussed detailed and you can get benefit from Turkish citizenship.

In this article, we will talk about the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by naturalization, the necessary conditions, the procedure. If you want to learn about the acquisition of Turkish citizenship, keep reading!

Who is Eligible for Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization?

In terms of acquisition of Turkey citizenship by naturalization, some conditions are listed in the law. If these conditions are met, the right to acquire Turkish citizenship arises.

On the other hand, despite the completion of the meeting of the conditions and the completion of the necessary procedural actions, it cannot be said that Turkish citizenship has been acquired certainly. At this point, there must also be a positive decision of the competent authority. The competent authority is the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey.

Different Ways of Acquiring Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization

Turkey citizenship by naturalization can be obtained in three ways. These ways are, Turkey citizenship by naturalization through general acquisition, Turkey citizenship by naturalization through exceptional ways, re-acquisition, through marriage.

1. Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization Through General Conditions

The conditions listed in the Turkish Nationality Law art.11 for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by naturalization are as follows:

• Be at the age of maturity possessing the distinguishing power according to his/her own national legal system, or according to the Turkish law if she/he is stateless;
• Be residing in Turkey for five years, without interruption, prior to her/his date of application;
• Have the intention of settling in Turkey and prove this intention with action;
• Have not any disease that constitutes a danger to public health;
• Be a person of good morals;
• Speak an adequate level of Turkish;
• Have an income or profession to provide for his own livelihood and those of his/her dependents in Turkey;
• Not pose a threat to national security and public order

2. Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization Through Exceptional Ways

Exceptional Turkey citizenship by naturalization stipulated in art.12 of the Turkish Nationality law no. 5910. Persons who have brought industrial plants into Turkey, persons whose naturalization has been considered necessary, persons who have been recognized as immigrants.

For detailed information about Turkish citizenship by investment, you can click and read our related article.

3. Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization Through Marriage

The acquisition of citizenship through marriage includes different conditions at some points compared to the general provisions.

In case of general acquisition of citizenship, the residence period, which is determined as 5 years, is specified as 3 years for acquisition through marriage. During this three-year marriage period, the conditions are sought to live in family unity, not to behave contrary to marriage, and not to creates a threat regarded public order.

4. Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization Through Re-acquisition

In some cases, citizenship can be acquired without the residence requirement. One of them is that, those who had lost Turkish citizenship by obtaining renunciation permission can acquire Turkey citizenship by naturalization without residence permit. Second of it is that, Of the persons who had lost their citizenship because of their parents, those who did not enjoy the right of choice.

Persons whose citizenship was listed by a presidential decision and persons who lost their Turkish citizenship with the right to choose can acquire Turkish citizenship by residing in Turkey for three years.

In addition to all these, as a general condition, the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by naturalization  does not create a threat to Turkish public order.

Conclusion about Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization

The acquisition of Turkey citizenship by naturalization is the most preferred way by foreigners. Foreigners who do not have an exceptional situation can acquire Turkish citizenship by completing the necessary conditions.

It will be beneficial for you to get help from an expert for the necessary procedural procedures in the process of acquiring Turkey citizenship by naturalization.

Topo Law Firm has been providing legal support to foreign clients in the process of acquiring Turkish citizenship since 2015. If you also want to acquire Turkey citizenship by naturalization, you can contact us and get legal advice.

FAQ About Turkey Citizenship by Naturalization

1. How long do you have to be in Turkey to get citizenship?

If you acquire Turkey citizenship by naturalization through general conditions for 5 years, if you acquire it through marriage, you must reside in Turkey for 3 years.

2. What are the benefits of Turkish citizenship?

Right to residence for a lifetime, right to work in Turkey, right to vote, taking advantage of free health and education system visa-free visit to 72 countries, get Turkish ID card and passports and many other benefits can be obtained.

Turkey citizenship by birth and its provisions are explained in the Turkey Citizenship Law No. 5901. According to Article 5 of the Law, Turkey citizenship is acquired by birth or later.

In terms of acquiring Turkey citizenship by birth, two binding points are envisaged. These are the principles of lineage and place of birth. Turkish citizenship is not considered to be acquired by birth for any reason other than these two binding points.

If Turkish citizenship is acquired by birth, citizenship becomes valid from the moment of birth. The person is considered a Turkish citizen from the moment of birth and will have all the constitutional rights provided by Turkish citizenship.

In this article, we will examine the issues and details about the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth. If you have a question regarding the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth, stay with us and keep reading.

Turkey Citizenship by Birth on the Basis of Descent

Article 7 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 examines the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth through descent. Regarding the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth through descent, a distinction should be made between child born within the marriage or out of wedlock.

We should state that when the child is born out of wedlock, the mother or father will be the determining factor in acquiring Turkey citizenship by birth.

Within the Marriage

The first thing we should mention the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth is that the child born within the marriage acquires Turkey citizenship by birth. If the child was born within the marriage, it is sufficient for one of the parents to be a Turkish citizen in order to acquire Turkey citizenship on the basis of descent.

Out of Wedlock

A distinction has been made regarding the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth of a child born out of wedlock. The provision of Article 7 of the Turkish Citizenship Law has attributed different results to the cases which the mother is a Turkish citizen or the father is a Turkish citizen.

If the mother of the child who born out of wedlock is a Turkish citizen and the father is a foreigner, the child acquires Turkey citizenship, without the need for any procedural transaction.

If the father of the child born out of wedlock is a Turkish citizen and the mother is a foreigner, p the principles and procedures regarding the determination of descent must be met.

Determination of Descent

In order for the child born out of wedlock to a foreign mother and a Turkish citizen father to acquire Turkey citizenship by birth, some procedures must be met. There are three ways to do this.

The first of these is to marry the mother. If a foreign mother and a Turkish citizen father get married, the child is considered to have acquired Turkey citizenship by birth directly.

The second of these ways is to open the actio de liberis agnoscendis, which is also called the paternity suit among the people.

The third way is adoption. If the Turkish father recognizes the child born to the foreign mother, the child acquired Turkey citizenship by birth.

Turkish Citizenship by Birth on the Basis of Place of Birth

The second binding point stipulated in the law in terms of the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth is the place of birth. Article 8 of the TNL deals with the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth on the basis of place of birth. In this way, in terms of acquiring Turkish citizenship, one of two different situations must be met.

First of these situations is that, in order to acquire citizenship by birth on the basis of place of birth, the child mustn’t be able to acquire the citizenship of his mother or father for any reason. Children who acquire a citizenship cannot acquire Turkey citizenship by birth, even if they are born in Turkey.

The second condition is that the mother or father of the child must not be known, and the child must be found in Turkey.

Conclusion about Turkey Citizenship by Birth

There are two ways to acquire Turkey citizenship by birth. These ways are the place of lineage and birth. In order for the child to acquire Turkey citizenship on the basis of lineage, the child must either be of a Turkish mother or father within marriage, or be born of a Turkish mother out of wedlock, or be recognized by being of a Turkish father out of wedlock.

In addition to all these explanations, if you want to get detailed information about the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by birth, you can contact us with the expert lawyers of Topo Law Firm.

FAQ About Turkish Citizenship by Birth

1. What are the required documents for registration?

Registration application form, residency or identity documents of parents, child’s birth certificate, marriage certificate of the spouse, registration fee payment.

2. If I have baby in Turkey, shall my baby acquire Turkey citizenship by birth?

It depends on whether your baby acquires the citizenship of either parent at birth. A child who acquires the citizenship of the mother or father at birth cannot acquire Turkish citizenship even if the baby is born in Turkey.