One of the most common questions Arab investors ask before committing to Turkish citizenship is not about the property — it’s about their family. Can my spouse get Turkish citizenship too? What about my children? What if one of them is already 18?
The answers matter before you commit, not after.
One Investment — The Whole Family
Turkish citizenship by investment covers your immediate family under a single application. You do not need to purchase separate properties for your spouse or each child. A single qualifying investment (minimum $400,000) covers the citizenship application for all included family members at no additional property cost.
Who Is Automatically Included?
Your Spouse
Your legally married spouse is included in your citizenship application as a co-applicant. The marriage must be officially registered and supported by a certified translated marriage certificate. Turkish law recognizes one spouse per applicant — only one marriage is eligible for inclusion.
Children Under 18
All biological or legally adopted children under the age of 18 at the time of application submission are included. Three conditions apply:
- Age: Under 18 on the date of application submission — not the date of approval
- Status: Legally registered as your children, supported by birth certificates
- Marital status: Unmarried
Who Is NOT Included?
Children 18 or Older
If your child is 18 or older on the day you submit the application, they cannot be included in your file. Their options are limited to two paths: an independent qualifying investment of $400,000+, or obtaining Turkish residency first and pursuing citizenship through other pathways — a process that takes years.
There is no workaround to add adult children to a parent’s citizenship file.
Parents and Siblings
Parents, brothers, and sisters are not eligible under your application. Each requires a separate investment and independent application.
The Name Change: What Happens to Your Arabic Name?
Turkish law requires all new citizens to have their name registered in the Turkish Latin alphabet. Your Arabic name is phonetically transliterated — not replaced with a new name. “Muhammad Abdullah” becomes “Muhammed Abdullah” in Turkish official documents.
Your Turkish passport carries the Latin transliteration. Your spouse and children’s names follow the same process. Your original Arabic name in your home country passport remains unchanged.
Removing the Property Restriction After Citizenship
When a property is purchased for citizenship purposes, a legal annotation (serh) is placed on the title deed (Tapu) preventing sale during the mandatory 3-year holding period. After the holding period expires, this annotation must be formally removed through the Land Registry — it does not lift automatically. Coordinate with a Turkish real estate lawyer to handle this at the right time.
Required Documents Per Family Member
Primary investor: Valid passport + certified Turkish translation, birth certificate, marriage certificate, children’s birth certificates — all with certified translations.
Spouse: Valid passport + translation, birth certificate, copy of marriage certificate.
Each minor child: Birth certificate + certified Turkish translation, valid passport if available.
All documents issued outside Turkey require Apostille certification or diplomatic legalization. Names must match exactly across all documents — any discrepancy causes processing delays.
Timeline
| Stage | Estimated Duration |
|---|---|
| Property purchase + title registration | 2–4 weeks |
| DAB certificate + currency conversion | 1–2 weeks |
| Document preparation (all members) | 3–6 weeks |
| Application submission + processing | 4–12 months |
| Passport issuance after approval | 2–4 weeks |
Timelines are estimates. No specific timeline can be guaranteed.
Common Questions
My child turns 18 in two months — can I still include them? Yes, as long as they are under 18 on the formal submission date. Do not delay document preparation.
Can my spouse be the primary investor? Yes. Your spouse can hold the investment, and you and the children are included in their application under the same conditions.
Does one family member’s rejection affect the others? Applications are processed together, but citizenship is granted independently to each person. In rare cases, one member may face additional review without affecting the rest of the family.
Summary
Turkish citizenship by investment includes your spouse and children under 18 in a single application at no additional property cost. It does not include children over 18, parents, or extended family. Know your family’s exact age situation before signing — the cutoff is the submission date, not the approval date.
Related Articles
- Turkish Citizenship Rejection Reasons: What No One Tells You
- Alternatives to Property for Turkish Citizenship
Have a child near the age limit, or a specific family situation? Book a free consultation to assess your family’s eligibility before committing.
