
Exceptional Citizenship By Real Estate Investment Frequently Asked Questions
EXCEPTIONAL CITIZENSHIP BY REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION?
• Title Deed Document of the immovable or information of village/neighborhood, island, parcel, building, independent section,
• Identity document/Passport (with translation if necessary),
• "Immovable Valuation Report" to be obtained from the valuation institutions published on the website of the BRSA (https://www.bddk.org.tr/Kuruluslar-Category/Bankalara-Degerleme-Hizmeti-Vermeye-Yetkili-Kuruluslar/11)
• Compulsory earthquake insurance policy for buildings (housing, workplace, etc.),
• 1 photo of the buyer and 2 of the seller (in the last 6 months, in 6x4 size),
• "Real Estate Market Value Certificate" from the municipality
• Tax number
• Bank-approved remittance receipts (Can be given before or after the sale.)
• Sworn translator for the party who does not speak Turkish (authorized by the Regional Judicial Justice Commission)
• If there is a representation, the document related to the representation (In case of transactions with a power of attorney issued abroad, the conditions sought with the circular numbered 2015/5 (1767) must be met.)
2. HOW IS THE SALE VALUE OF THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY REQUIRED FOR CITIZENSHIP DETERMINED IN THE LAND REGISTRY?
The sales price in the official promissory note and the market value determined by the valuation report (each separately) must be higher than the price sought in the regulation. The transaction is made on the basis of the effective selling rate of the Central Bank on the day of the sale/last published.
3. WHERE TO GET A VALUATION REPORT AND IS IT VALID?
The valuation report will be obtained from the valuation companies published on the BRSA's website (https://www.bddk.org.tr/Kuruluslar-Category/Bankalara-Degerleme-Hizmeti-Vermeye-Yetkili-Kuruluslar/11). The date of issue of the valuation report submitted during the acquisition application must be at most three months before the application date. The valuation report in question will be considered valid until the transaction is completed.
4. HOW SHOULD THE SALE PRICE OF THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BE TRANSFERRED?
It is possible to transfer the sales price from a foreign country or through banks in our country, in foreign currency or in Turkish currency. It is necessary to certify that the amount is out of the buyer's account and deposited into the seller's account with bank receipts approved by the banks.
5. WHAT MUST BE DONE TO OBTAIN A CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY?
In order to obtain exceptional citizenship by purchasing real estate, the transaction documents are sent to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre/Foreign Affairs Department by the Land Registry Directorate after the commitment not to sell the real estate for 3 years.
(This is the application method after the circular dated 15.10.2018 and numbered 2018/12 (1791). In the procurements before this date, the processes were carried out with the follow-up of the relevant persons.)
The Department of Foreign Affairs issues a "Certificate of Conformity". Afterward, the cover letter is sent to the General Directorate of Immigration Management and the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs for necessary information, and to the relevant person for information via e-mail. After the "Certificate of Conformity" is received, a residence permit application is made to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management and then a citizenship application is made to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
6. IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP EXCEPTIONALLY FOR PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES?
For the immovable purchased between 12.01.2017-18.09.2018, the value of the immovable(s) is at least $1,000,000; An application can be made on condition that the value of the immovable(s) to be purchased between 19.09.2018 and 13.06.2022 is at least $250,000. As of 13.06.2022, an application can be made provided that the value of the immovable(s) to be purchased is at least $400,000. Immovable properties purchased before 12.01.2017 are excluded from the scope.
7. CAN ONE APPLY FOR EXCEPTIONAL ACQUISITION OF TURKISH CITIZENSHIP FOR IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES PURCHASED IN SHARES?
The share value is at least $ 1,000,000 for the real estate purchased between 12.01.2017-18.09.2018; For real estate purchased between 19.09.2018 and 13.06.2022, it can be applied if there is at least $250,000. It can be applied if there is at least $400,000 for the immovable purchased as of 13.06.2022.
8. CAN THE NUMBER OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES TO BE PURCHASED TO ACQUIRE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BE MORE THAN ONE?
It is not necessary to have a single immovable, the sum of more than one immovable property is worth at least $ 1,000,000 for the immovable purchased between 12.01.2017-18.09.2018; The value of the real estate/immovables purchased between 19.09.2018 and 13.06.2022 is required to be at least $250,000. The value of the real estate/immovables purchased as of 13.06.2022 is required to be at least $400,000.
9. MUST ALL OF THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES BE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME?
No. Applications can be made for immovable properties purchased at different times. However, for the immovable purchased between 12.01.2017-18.09.2018, the value of the immovable(s) is at least $1,000,000; The value of the real estate(s) purchased between 19.09.2018 and 13.06.2022 must be at least $250,000. The value of the immovable(s) purchased as of 13.06.2022 must be at least $400.00.
10. WHAT SHOULD BE THE NATURE OF THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY?
The quality of the real estate is not important in the process of placing a commitment through purchase. (It can be a residence, workplace, land, field, garden, etc.) In the process of placing a commitment through a notarized sales promise, the condominium or floor servitude must be in the nature of the established immovable.
11. HOW SHOULD THE SUBSEQUENT VALUATION REPORT BE PREPARED FOR IMMOVABLES FOR WHICH TITLE DEEDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN OBTAINED?
If a commitment not to sell for 3 years is requested for immovables whose acquisition process has been completed (deeds have been taken), a real estate valuation report showing the value of the immovable/immovables at the date of sale/acquisition is sought.
12. CAN FOREIGNERS WHO ARE THE OWNER OR PARTNERS OF A COMPANY WITH FOREIGN CAPITAL APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP WITH THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE COMPANY?
They cannot apply because the right to acquire citizenship in an exceptional way by purchasing immovables is valid for immovables purchased by real persons.
13. DOES IT MATTER FROM WHOM THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED IN THE CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION?
The immovables subject to acquisition must not be registered in the title deed of any foreign real person, including the spouse and children of the foreign person, or they should not be immovables transferred by the foreign person himself, his spouse, children or any foreign real person after 12.01.2017.
In addition, the immovable subject to the acquisition must not be one of the immovables registered in the name of the company of which the foreign real person to be acquired is a partner or manager.
14. IS IT POSSIBLE TO SELL THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE ANNOTATION ON THE TITLE DEED (3 YEARS)?
Although it is possible, the situation will be reported to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs by the Land Registry Directorate and the situation regarding citizenship will be re-evaluated. Eventually, if you sell your real estate in 3 years, your citizenship will be cancelled by the goverment.
15. IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP EVEN IF THE PURCHASED IMMOVABLE IS MORTGAGED?
It is possible to apply, but in cases where the immovable to be acquired is subject to a mortgage or is purchased with a mortgage, the remaining portion is taken into account in determining the sought value by deducting the mortgage price. (The remaining part must meet the sought values.) However, in mortgage sales, if the mortgage is canceled within 5 working days at the latest following the sale, the mortgage amount will not be taken into account.
16. IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP IF THE IMMOVABLE PROPERTY IS PURCHASED WITH A HOUSING LOAN?
By deducting the loan amount withdrawn from the bank, the remaining portion should meet the sought values.
17. CAN APPLICATIONS FOR THE ACQUISITIONS OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACQUIRING TURKISH CITIZENSHIP EXCEPTIONALLY BE MADE BY PROXY?
This is possible if this is clearly written in the power of attorney.
18. IS THERE ANY OBSTACLE TO THE PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE BELONGING TO A COMPANY?
The immovable subject to the acquisition must not be one of the immovables registered in the name of the company of which the foreign real person to be acquired is the partner or manager.
19. IS IT POSSIBLE TO APPLY FOR TURKISH CITIZENSHIP WITH A SALES PROMISE AGREEMENT?
On and after 13.06.2022; For immovables where condominium ownership or construction servitude has been established, an application can be made after an annotation in the land registry of the commitment that the contract, which is prepared in the notary public that the sale of the immovable is promised, will not be transferred or canceled for three years, provided that at least 400,000 USD or its equivalent is paid in advance.
20. IS INSTALLMENT SALE POSSIBLE?
For immovables purchased in installments and the sale of which is made after 19.09.2018, the effective selling rate of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on the date of deposit will be taken into account, provided that each installment price is after this date. Payments in installments before 19.09.2018 will not be considered.
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