A Turkish citizenship application is an administrative process carried out within the framework of Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship and the relevant regulations, and it is strictly subject to formal requirements. Submitting the application with complete, accurate, and up-to-date documents is of great importance in order to prevent delays in the process, avoid rejection of the application, and ensure that the security investigation is completed smoothly.

Below are the basic documents commonly requested in practice for Turkish citizenship applications made through the general procedure, exceptional procedure, marriage, and investment. It should be noted that additional documents may be requested depending on the type of application and the personal circumstances of the applicant.

Documents Required for Turkish Citizenship Application

1.) Application form stating the request for citizenship
This is the application form obtained from the competent authority and fully completed, clearly expressing the applicant’s intention to acquire Turkish citizenship.

2.) Passport or document serving as a passport
A valid passport or an official identity document serving as a passport belonging to the applicant must be submitted. For stateless persons, if possible, official documentation regarding this status must be presented.

3.) Marital status document
This is the document showing the applicant’s marital status:

If married, a marriage certificate,

If divorced, a divorce decree,

If widowed, a death certificate of the spouse must be submitted.

4.) Document showing identity information
A birth certificate, population registration record, or an equivalent official document containing the applicant’s identity and birth information.

5.) Document showing family ties
If the applicant is married, a population registration record or similar official document showing family ties with the spouse and children must be submitted.

6.) Consent document for children
If it is requested that a child under the age of 18 under the applicant’s custody also acquire Turkish citizenship:

Executed before a notary public in Türkiye,

Or, if abroad, issued by Turkish foreign missions or the competent authorities of the relevant country,
a document showing the consent of the other parent and its notarized Turkish translation are required.

7.) Population registration record of Turkish citizen relatives
If the applicant has first- or second-degree relatives who are Turkish citizens, population registration records belonging to these persons must be submitted.

8.) Document or declaration regarding completion of the date of birth
For applicants whose date of birth does not include day and month information:

A document obtained from the competent authorities of their country, or

If the document cannot be obtained, a signed declaration stating acceptance of processing pursuant to Article 39 of the Population Services Law No. 5490 must be submitted.

9.) Receipt showing payment of the service fee
A receipt showing that the service fee prescribed for the citizenship application has been paid to the Treasury cashier.

10.) Health report
A health report obtained from authorized healthcare institutions showing the applicant’s general health status.

11.) Criminal record (Judicial record certificate)
Belonging to the applicant:

A criminal record obtained from Türkiye, or

If issued abroad, an apostilled / consular-certified criminal record and its notarized Turkish translation.

This document is extremely important in terms of assessing whether the applicant poses an obstacle to public order and national security.

12.) Biometric photograph
Two biometric photographs taken within the last 6 months, with a white background.

13.) Notarized Turkish translations of documents
Notarized Turkish translations of all documents issued in a foreign language.

14.) Power of attorney
If the application is made through an attorney, a duly issued special power of attorney.

Important Legal Reminder

Criminal records are among the documents most frequently cited as grounds for rejection in Turkish citizenship applications. The content of the criminal record is examined in detail within the scope of the security investigation and the discretionary authority of the administration. For this reason, it is of great importance to conduct a legal assessment before submitting the document.

As Uzunpınar & Tüfek International Law Firm, we provide end-to-end professional legal support to our clients in Turkish citizenship applications, including document preparation, criminal record and security assessment, annulment lawsuits against rejection decisions, and all administrative procedures.