Turkish Citizenship by Marriage

Step-by-Step Process

Steps to Apply for Turkish Citizenship by Marriage

All steps of the marriage route citizenship application consisting of 17 sections:

1. 1

   SECTION 1 - LEGAL BASIS OF THE CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION BY MARRIAGE

   The application for Turkish citizenship by marriage is regulated under Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the provisions of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law.

   According to the law, marrying a Turkish citizen does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship to the foreign spouse. For the foreign spouse to apply, they must be married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, and the marriage must be ongoing on the application date.

   The core of this application type is that the marriage forms a real family unity. Therefore, the administration is not satisfied with only the existence of an official marriage certificate; it investigates whether the spouses live together, whether the marriage union factually continues, and whether the marriage was entered into as a formality solely to obtain citizenship.

2. 2

   SECTION 2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP BY MARRIAGE

   The basic requirements for Turkish citizenship by marriage are as follows:

   • Being married to a Turkish citizen,
   • The marriage continuing for at least three years,
   • The marriage continuing on the application date,
   • The spouses living in family unity,
   • The applicant not engaging in activities incompatible with the marriage union,
   • The applicant having no condition posing an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.

   All these conditions are evaluated together. Complete of the three-year marriage period does not mean citizenship is guaranteed. The applicant must demonstrate that the marriage is genuine, the family unity continues, and there is no obstacle in terms of public order or national security.

3. 3

   SECTION 3 - HOW IS THE THREE-YEAR MARRIAGE PERIOD CALCULATED?

   To apply, the foreign spouse must be married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years as of the application date. As a rule, the three-year period is calculated from the date the marriage is officially established.

   If the marriage took place in Turkey, the period starts from the date of the official marriage ceremony. If the marriage took place abroad, registration of the marriage in the Turkish civil registry is crucial. Recognition and registration of marriages performed abroad are necessary for the application process.

   The most important aspect in calculating the three-year period is that the marriage date is clearly stated in official documents in terms of day, month, and year. Discrepancies in the marriage date between the marital status document, marriage certificate, population registry extract, and documents issued by foreign authorities can cause problems.

   Applications filed before the three-year marriage period is complete may not be processed. Therefore, although preparations can start early, the official application must be made after the three-year period has expired.

4. 4

   SECTION 4 - WHEN MUST THE SPOUSE'S CITIZENSHIP HAVE STARTED?

   In applications by marriage, the applicant must have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years. Therefore, not only the three-year marriage period is important, but also the citizenship status of the Turkish citizen spouse during this relationship.

   If the spouse is a Turkish citizen by birth, the three-year period from the marriage date will be the primary criterion. However, if the spouse acquired Turkish citizenship later, the date from which the applicant meets the requirement of 'being married to a Turkish citizen' is evaluated separately.

   Therefore, the spouse's citizenship status, marriage date, and information in the Turkish civil registry must be reviewed together before the application. If there is a discrepancy between the marriage date, the date the spouse acquired Turkish citizenship, and the civil registry records, additional documents or explanations may be required.

5. 5

   SECTION 5 - REQUIREMENT OF ONGOING MARRIAGE

   For a citizenship application by marriage, the marriage must be ongoing on the application date. Divorced persons cannot apply through their former Turkish citizen spouses.

   Filing a divorce lawsuit before the application, physical separation, or situations showing that the family unity has ended create a risk. This is because the application requires not only the continuation of the official marriage record, but also the factual continuation of family unity.

   If the marriage ends due to the death of the Turkish citizen spouse after the application date, the requirement of living in family unity may not be sought. However, this does not mean the application is automatically accepted; the file continues to be examined for other requirements.

6. 6

   SECTION 6 - REQUIREMENT OF LIVING IN FAMILY UNITY

   One of the most important requirements is that the spouses live in family unity. Living in family unity means that the spouses maintain a common life within a genuine marriage relationship.

   Under this condition, the administration evaluates:

   • Whether the spouses live at the same address,
   • Whether there is a common residence,
   • Whether the spouses know each other's family, work, and social environment,
   • Whether the marriage factually continues,
   • Whether the spouses maintain their economic and social lives together,
   • Whether the marriage was entered into solely to obtain citizenship,
   • Whether the spouses' statements are consistent with each other.

   Spouses temporarily residing in different cities or countries due to work, education, health, military service, family obligations, or similar justified reasons does not mean there is no family unity. However, in this case, the separation must be temporary, justified, and explainable.

   Living separately for a long time, lack of common address registration, not knowing basic details about each other, lack of documents supporting common life, or situations giving the impression of a sham marriage can lead to rejection.

7. 7

   SECTION 7 - NOT ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE MARRIAGE UNION

   The law requires that the foreigner applying for citizenship does not engage in activities incompatible with the marriage union. This condition is aimed at evaluating the authenticity of the marriage and whether the applicant behaves in accordance with family life.

   In practice, this evaluates:

   • Whether the marriage is a formality,
   • Whether the applicant lives in a factual relationship with someone else,
   • Whether they are engaged in activities incompatible with the marriage union,
   • Whether the marriage involves abuse of the family institution for citizenship,
   • The applicant's past criminal or administrative records,
   • Police investigation and commission evaluation.

   This condition is not limited to criminal acts; activities contrary to the purpose of marriage, family unity, and public order can also be evaluated negatively.

8. 8

   SECTION 8 - NATIONAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER ASSESSMENT

   The applicant must have no condition posing an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. This condition is a basic evaluation criterion in all citizenship applications.

   The applicant's criminal records, ongoing investigations or prosecutions, administrative records, activities that may pose a risk to public order, and security check results are evaluated.

   Being married to a Turkish citizen for more than three years does not mean the application will be accepted if there is a negative assessment. Therefore, checking criminal records, lawsuits, administrative restrictions, and similar risks before applying is important.

9. 9

   SECTION 9 - INTERVIEW AND COMMISSION PROCESS

   The interview and examination process is one of the most critical stages. The foreign spouse and the Turkish citizen spouse may be interviewed together or separately by authorized authorities.

   The interview generally evaluates:

   • When and how the spouses met,
   • Marriage dates,
   • The wedding or marriage process,
   • Common address and cohabitation setup,
   • Spouses' families, jobs, and social circles,
   • Daily life habits,
   • Household setup and common life details,
   • Spouses' basic knowledge about each other,
   • Whether the marriage is genuine and a family unity is maintained.

   The commission evaluates whether the spouses' statements are consistent and match the documents. Giving completely different information, not knowing basic family details, or lack of any documents supporting common life can pose a risk.

   The purpose of the interview is to evaluate the authenticity of the marriage and the continuation of family unity. Therefore, consistency must be ensured before the interview.

10. 10

    SECTION 10 - POLICE INVESTIGATION AND ADDRESS REVIEW

    In addition to the interview, a police investigation and address check can be conducted. This checks whether the spouses live at the same address, neighbor or environment statements, common life setup, and the authenticity of family unity.

    It is important that the registered address in the address system matches the actual residence address. Spouses registered at different addresses, living separately, or outdated address registrations may require additional explanation.

    A negative report from the police investigation affects the commission evaluation and the final decision. Therefore, address registrations, rental agreements, title deeds, invoices, and other documents supporting family unity must be checked before applying.

11. 11

    SECTION 11 - APPLYING FROM WITHIN TURKEY AND ABROAD

    Applications can be made from within Turkey or abroad depending on the applicant's place of residence. For foreigners living in Turkey, the application is made to the valilik (Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship) of the place of residence.

    Foreigners living abroad can apply through consulates. For foreign applications, the marriage must be registered in the Turkish civil registry, documents prepared, and official documents from the foreign country must have an apostille or consular approval with certified Turkish translations.

    For applicants residing in Turkey, the latest residence permit can be included. However, unlike general route applications, the application by marriage is not based on a 5-year residence requirement, although the status in Turkey can be important for proving address registration and family unity.

12. 12

    SECTION 12 - WHO THE APPLICATION COVERS

    The application is primarily made by the foreign spouse married to the Turkish citizen. The Turkish citizen spouse is not the applicant, but is a natural party to the process for proving family unity, interview, and examination.

    If the applicant has minor foreign children from a previous or current marriage, whether they can acquire citizenship is evaluated separately. Acquisition of citizenship does not affect the spouse, but minor children under the custody of the acquiring parent can acquire citizenship with the other parent's consent.

    Adult children do not automatically acquire citizenship. They must file a separate application if they meet the conditions. Therefore, children's ages, custody, consent of the other parent, and family documents must be evaluated before applying.

13. 13

    SECTION 13 - REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR APPLICATION

    Generally, the following documents are prepared for the application:

    • Application form,
    • Biometric photograph,
    • Passport or equivalent document of the applicant,
    • Document showing statelessness (if applicable),
    • Birth certificate or population registry extract showing identity details,
    • Marriage certificate,
    • Population registry extract of the Turkish citizen spouse,
    • Document showing the marital status of the applicant,
    • Latest residence permit (if residing in Turkey),
    • Certified copy of court decisions (if any),
    • Document or statement if the applicant's birth day and month are missing,
    • Service fee receipt,
    • Additional documents proving family unity if requested.

    To support family unity, the following documents are also helpful:

    • Common address registration,
    • Rental agreement or title deed,
    • Common invoices,
    • Joint bank or payment records,
    • Birth certificates of children,
    • Photographs, travel records,
    • Other documents showing the marriage is factually active.

    Documents from abroad must be approved, apostilled or consular-certified, and notary-approved Turkish translations must be prepared.

14. 14

    SECTION 14 - APPLICATION AUTHORITY AND PROCEDURE

    Applications are made to the valilik of the place of residence in Turkey, or to consulates abroad. The application must be made in person or via a power of attorney containing special authority. Postal applications are not accepted.

    The workflow generally consists of:

    1. 1.Examining the marriage period and the citizenship status of the Turkish spouse,
    2. 2.Checking if the marriage is registered in the Turkish civil registry,
    3. 3.Preparing application documents,
    4. 4.Submitting the application,
    5. 5.Preliminary review,
    6. 6.Interviewing the spouses,
    7. 7.Police and address investigation,
    8. 8.Evaluating the requirement of living in family unity,
    9. 9.Complete of the national security and public order check,
    10. 10.Sending the file to the Ministry of Interior,
    11. 11.Evaluation by administrative authorities,
    12. 12.Acquisition of Turkish citizenship if approved.

    Processing the file does not guarantee citizenship. The final evaluation is made by authorized authorities.

15. 15

    SECTION 15 - APPLICATION RISKS AND REASONS FOR REJECTION

    The most common risks are:

    • The marriage period not being three years,
    • The marriage not being registered in the Turkish civil registry,
    • Discrepancies in dates or identity in marriage documents,
    • Spouses factually living separately,
    • Inability to prove family unity,
    • Spouses giving conflicting statements in the interview,
    • Impression that the marriage is a formality,
    • Assessment that the applicant is engaged in activities incompatible with the marriage,
    • Criminal record or ongoing trial,
    • Negative security assessment,
    • Address registration not matching the actual residence,
    • Incomplete or incorrect documents.

    Therefore, marriage period, family unity, residence, address registration, foreign documents, and interview must be prepared carefully before applying.

16. 16

    SECTION 16 - DIVORCE, DEATH, AND NULLITY OF MARRIAGE

    The marriage must continue on the application date. If divorce occurs before the application, the foreign spouse cannot apply based on the former marriage.

    If the marriage ends due to the death of the Turkish spouse after the application date, the requirement of living in family unity may not be sought, but the file continues to be examined for other requirements.

    If the marriage is later declared null, the foreigner can maintain citizenship if they entered into the marriage in good faith. This is evaluated based on the circumstances of each case.

    Since divorce, death, or nullity can have significant legal consequences during or after the process, legal support must be obtained in such cases.

17. 17

    SECTION 17 - IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE

    Applying by marriage is a process that requires detailed examination of family unity and the authenticity of the marriage, rather than just submitting a marriage document.

    Attorney support is crucial to:

    • Calculating the marriage period correctly,
    • Verifying the registration of marriages performed abroad in Turkey,
    • Assessing the citizenship status of the Turkish citizen spouse,
    • Preparing documents to prove family unity,
    • Verifying the applicant's residence and address registrations,
    • Handling foreign document apostilles, translations, and notary procedures,
    • Ensuring file consistency before the interview,
    • Assessing family coverage for children,
    • Handling requests for additional documents,
    • Evaluating administrative appeals and lawsuits if rejected.

    Incomplete or incorrect applications lead to rejection. Professional legal assistance is highly recommended from the start.

Legal Basis

Legal Basis of the Legal Framework

• Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901

  Regulates the acquisition, loss, and general procedures of Turkish citizenship.

• Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901

  Regulates the conditions for acquiring Turkish citizenship by marriage.

• Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law

  Regulates the procedures and principles of the application by marriage.

• Law No. 5490 on Civil Registry Services

  Important in terms of civil records, marriage registration, birth date, and family links.