Turkish Citizenship via the General Way

Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship after 5 Years of Residence in Turkey

Citizenship by General Way

Application for Turkish Citizenship via the General Way

One of the ways to subsequently acquire Turkish citizenship is for foreigners who have resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for a certain period to apply for Turkish citizenship under general provisions. Unlike applications via investment, the application via the general way is not based on a certain investment amount, but on the applicant having a legal, uninterrupted residence history showing intention to settle in Turkey.

Under Article 11 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, the foreigner who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship via the general way must have resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for five years backward from the application date. However, the completion of the five-year residence period alone does not grant citizenship rights. The applicant must also be adult and have the power of discernment, confirm by their behavior that they have decided to settle in Turkey, not have a disease posing a danger in terms of general health, be of good moral character, speak Turkish at a sufficient level, have income or profession to support themselves and their dependents in Turkey, and not have a situation posing an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.

This application path is particularly important for foreigners who work in Turkey with a work permit, live with a family residence permit, have a long-term residence permit, own real estate or commercial activity in Turkey, have established a family order in Turkey, or show the will to settle in Turkey permanently.

This guide has been prepared to explain the residence period, valid residence types, day count, application documents, who the application covers, and key aspects to consider in the citizenship process for foreigners who want to apply for Turkish citizenship via the general way after five years of residence in Turkey.

The guide is for informational purposes only. Please obtain support from an expert lawyer for legal consultancy.

SECTION ONE - LEGAL BASIS OF CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION VIA THE GENERAL WAY

Applications for Turkish citizenship via the general way are regulated under Article 11 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the provisions of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law. In this type of application, citizenship is not acquired directly or automatically. The applicant must document that they meet the conditions prescribed in the law, and must be deemed appropriate to be admitted to citizenship as a result of the examination to be conducted by the administrative authorities.

The basic condition in the application via the general way is having resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for five years backward from the application date. However, the completion of this five-year period only calendar-wise is not sufficient. The residence must be legal, show the intention to settle in Turkey, be based on accepted residence types, and not have been interrupted due to stays abroad.

Therefore, before applying for citizenship via the general way, the applicant's residence history of the last five years, residence permit types, entry and exit records to Turkey, work permit or residence permit periods, address registration, and family status must be evaluated together.

SECTION TWO - REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENSHIP VIA THE GENERAL WAY

The basic conditions sought in the application for Turkish citizenship via the general way are:

  • The applicant being adult and having the power of discernment according to their own national law, or if stateless, according to the Turkish Civil Code,
  • Having resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for five years backward from the application date,
  • Confirming by behavior that they have decided to settle in Turkey,
  • Not having a disease posing a danger in terms of general health,
  • Being of good moral character,
  • Speaking Turkish at a level to adapt to social life,
  • Having income or profession to support themselves and their dependents in Turkey,
  • Not having a situation posing an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.

All of these conditions are evaluated together. The citizenship application of every foreigner who completes the five-year residence period is not automatically accepted. The administration examines the factual bond established by the applicant with Turkey, their social adaptation, income status, criminal record, public order status, and their will to settle in Turkey permanently.

SECTION THREE - FIVE-YEAR RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT

In order to apply for Turkish citizenship via the general way, the applicant must have resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for five years backward from the application date. This period is calculated backward from the application date, not forward.

For example, if the application date is July 1, 2026, the applicant is expected to have a continuous and legal residence history in Turkey since July 1, 2021. During this period, there should not be long gaps between residence permits, the applicant should not fall into visa violation or unauthorized stay status, and stays abroad should not reach a level that would interrupt the residence.

In calculating the five-year period, not only the days actually spent in Turkey but also the legal status on which this stay is based is important. Stays in Turkey without a legal residence permit are not accepted as valid residence for the application via the general way.

SECTION FOUR - DAY COUNT AND STAYS ABROAD

One of the most important issues in citizenship applications via the general way is whether the periods spent outside Turkey by the applicant interrupt the residence condition. The applicant's entry and exit records to Turkey are examined within the five-year period backward from the application date.

Especially the following points should be considered when performing the day count in practice:

  • Total period spent outside Turkey in the last five years,
  • Total period spent outside Turkey in the last one year,
  • Whether stays abroad are based on justified reasons such as compulsory public service, education, or health,
  • Whether the foreigner has a valid residence permit or work permit in Turkey,
  • Whether there is a gap between residence permits,
  • Whether the foreigner's factual bonds showing intention to settle in Turkey continue.

In terms of general residence law, except for compulsory public service, education, and health reasons, stays outside Turkey exceeding six months in total in a year or exceeding one year in total in the last five years can be evaluated as an interruption in residence. Therefore, individuals planning to apply via the general way must be careful not to stay abroad for more than one year in total in the last five years, and especially not more than six months in total in the last one year.

However, administrative practice in citizenship applications can be evaluated more cautiously. In the practice of the Directorate of Population and Citizenship, if the total period spent outside Turkey within the sought residence period exceeds six months, it can be evaluated that the residence period is interrupted, so entry-exit records must be examined in detail before the application.

Therefore, before applying for citizenship via the general way, the applicant's entry-exit records to the country before the police or relevant authorities must be obtained, calculated day by day for the last five years, and evaluated whether the application carries a risk.

SECTION FIVE - WHICH RESIDENCE PERMITS ARE ACCEPTED AS VALID?

In the application for Turkish citizenship via the general way, not every type of residence permit is automatically accepted as valid. A legal residence permit is required, but it is also important that this permit is of a nature showing the intention to settle in Turkey.

Generally, the residence or permit types that can show the will to settle in Turkey are:

  • Work permit,
  • Family residence permit,
  • Long-term residence permit,
  • Short-term residence permit based on owning real estate in Turkey,
  • Short-term residence permits showing commercial connection, establishing a business, investment, or similar intention to settle,
  • Residence permits showing that a family order has been established in Turkey,
  • Other legal residence permits forming a basis for living in Turkey long-term and uninterruptedly.

Since the work permit also replaces a residence permit by law, the periods of foreigners who are in Turkey with a work permit can be important for the application. However, in work permit periods, whether there is actual presence in Turkey, stay abroad periods, and gaps between permits must also be examined.

On the other hand, some residence types that do not show the intention to settle in Turkey may not be accepted as valid. Especially tourist residence permits, student residence permits, permits obtained to accompany a studying child, permits obtained for medical treatment, stays based on asylum or refugee applications, and foreign mission personnel identity cards providing diplomatic or consular privileges may not be evaluated as valid residence for the application.

Therefore, the applicant's presence in Turkey for five years alone is not sufficient. Which residence permit they have, whether this permit shows the intention to settle in Turkey permanently, and whether the previous residence types will be counted for the application must be evaluated separately.

SECTION SIX - POINTS TO CONSIDER REGARDING TOURIST AND STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMITS

Tourist residence permits are one of the most common sources of problems in citizenship applications via the general way. Because, as a rule, a residence permit obtained for tourist purposes is not evaluated as a type of residence showing the intention to settle in Turkey. Therefore, staying in Turkey for five years with only a tourist residence permit is not accepted as sufficient. A tourist residence permit is a highly problematic type of residence permit for citizenship applications. The periods spent with a tourist residence permit are not included in the day count, and having obtained a tourist residence permit even for a short period after spending time holding one of the residence permit types (family, real estate, etc.) that can be accepted as basis for citizenship resets the periods spent in the previous residence permit types, and it is considered as if the person has no stay period in Turkey forming a basis for the citizenship application.

Similar care must be taken regarding student residence permits. The student residence permits of foreigners who are in Turkey for education purposes may not be accepted as a type of residence showing direct intention to settle. However, if the applicant completes their education in Turkey and then transitions to a status that can be accepted as valid, such as a work permit, family residence, real estate, establishing a business, or long-term residence, an evaluation can be made on a file basis. While periods spent in Turkey with a student residence permit are taken into into account in calculating the 5-year period and evaluated as a valid residence permit, having an active student residence permit at the time when the citizenship application is wanted to be made at the end of the 5-year period is an obstacle to the application. At this stage, the person must have transitioned to one of the valid residence permits or a work permit specified in the legislation.

Therefore, the residence history of individuals who have stayed in Turkey for a long time with a tourist or student permit must be examined in detail before applying. Especially whether tourist residence periods will be included in the calculation even if a valid residence type is transitioned to later must be handled carefully.

SECTION SEVEN - HAVING A VALID RESIDENCE PERMIT OR WORK PERMIT DURING THE APPLICATION

When applying for Turkish citizenship via the general way, the applicant must have a valid residence permit or work permit in Turkey. Even if the five-year residence condition backward from the application date is met, not having a valid residence permit at the time of application may prevent the file from being processed.

Among the application documents, a residence permit with a duration sufficient to conclude the citizenship transactions forward from the application date is sought. Therefore, in applications with very short periods remaining for the residence permit, extension transactions must be planned before the citizenship application to ensure the process is conducted soundly.

For foreigners with a work permit, it may not be necessary to obtain a separate residence permit, because the work permit replaces a residence permit under certain conditions. However, it is important that the work permit is valid, its duration continues at the time of application, and there are no gaps in previous work permit periods.

The termination of the applicant's legal status at the time of application, not making an extension application, or having a residence permit violation creates a serious risk. Indeed, applications of applicants with less than 1 month remaining for their residence permit are usually not accepted by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.

The most important issue at this stage is the obligation to have one of the residence permit types specified in the legislation at the time when the citizenship application or the day count is wanted to be made. Otherwise, it is not possible to have a day count performed or to make a citizenship application. During the day count application, applicants must have one of a real estate residence permit (b), family residence permit (a), long-term residence permit, or work permit. Applications or day count requests of individuals with residence permits other than these types will not be accepted.

SECTION EIGHT - SHOWING THE INTENTION TO SETTLE IN TURKEY

In the application via the general way, residing for five years alone is not sufficient. The applicant must show by behavior that they have decided to settle in Turkey.

Some situations that can show the intention to settle in Turkey are:

  • Acquiring real estate in Turkey,
  • Establishing a business in Turkey,
  • Making an investment in Turkey,
  • Transferring the center of trade or business to Turkey,
  • Working in a workplace subject to a work permit,
  • Residing in Turkey with family,
  • Being married to a Turkish citizen,
  • Having a mother, father, sibling, or child who has previously acquired Turkish citizenship,
  • Having completed education in Turkey,
  • Living in Turkey based on a long-term residence permit,
  • Establishing social, economic, and family bonds in Turkey.

It is not required that all of these elements are present at the same time. However, the applicant must be able to show that they are in Turkey for the purpose of settling permanently, not for temporary, tourist, or short-term stays.

SECTION NINE - INCOME, PROFESSION AND LIVELIHOOD REQUIREMENT

In the application for Turkish citizenship via the general way, the applicant must have income or a profession to support themselves and their dependents in Turkey.

This condition is important for evaluating whether the applicant has the economic opportunity to sustain their life without needing social assistance in Turkey. In proving the income or professional status, the following documents can be used:

  • Work permit,
  • Salary slip,
  • Employment contract,
  • Tax plate,
  • Company partnership documents,
  • Bank account statements,
  • Real estate rental income,
  • Pension income,
  • Other documents showing regular income or professional activity.

The income must be regular, sustainable, and compatible with the applicant's family obligations. Money movements from short-term or uncertain sources alone may not always be deemed sufficient for proving the livelihood condition.

SECTION TEN - TURKISH KNOWLEDGE AND INTERVIEW PROCESS

In the application via the general way, the applicant must be able to speak Turkish at a level to adapt to social life. This condition does not make it mandatory for the applicant to know Turkish at an advanced academic level, but they are expected to be able to express themselves in daily life, answer simple questions, and have communication skills to adapt to social life in Turkey.

During the application process, the applicant may be interviewed by the citizenship examination commission. In the interview, the applicant's Turkish speaking skills, life in Turkey, family status, profession, income status, purpose of settling in Turkey, social environment, and declarations regarding the citizenship application are generally evaluated.

It is important that the answers given at the interview stage are consistent with the documents in the file. Applications of individuals who do not actually live in Turkey, have inconsistencies between address registration and actual place of life, or cannot sufficiently show the intention to settle in Turkey may carry risks.

SECTION ELEVEN - WHO THE APPLICATION COVERS

The application for Turkish citizenship via the general way primarily yields results regarding the foreign real person applicant. Acquisition of Turkish citizenship by decision of the authorized authority does not, as a rule, directly affect the citizenship of the applicant's spouse. Therefore, the spouse does not automatically become a Turkish citizen only by the applicant acquiring citizenship.

A separate evaluation is made regarding minor children of the applicant. In case one of the parents acquires Turkish citizenship, minor children whose custody belongs to them can acquire Turkish citizenship together with the consent of the other spouse. If the mother and father acquire Turkish citizenship together, minor children can also be processed together under certain conditions.

Adult children, on the other hand, do not automatically acquire citizenship depending on the mother or father. Since the personal status of children who become adults while the application process continues will change, these individuals may need to make separate applications.

Therefore, when making an application via the general way, who the family members consist of, children's ages, custody status, consent of the other parent, and family documents must be evaluated in detail before the application.

SECTION TWELVE - DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR APPLICATION

In the application for Turkish citizenship via the general way, the following documents are generally prepared:

  • Application form,
  • Biometric photograph,
  • Passport or document replacing passport,
  • Document regarding statelessness status if present,
  • Birth certificate or official document showing identity information,
  • Civil status document,
  • Marriage certificate if married,
  • Divorce document if divorced,
  • Death certificate of spouse if widowed,
  • Population registry copy or similar document showing family bond with spouse and children,
  • Health report showing that they do not have a disease posing a danger in terms of general health,
  • Documents showing income or professional status,
  • Work permit, bank record, or similar documents,
  • Entry-exit records showing that they have resided in Turkey uninterruptedly for five years backward from the application date,
  • Residence permit or work permit with a duration sufficient forward from the application date,
  • Certified copy of finalized court decision if present,
  • Receipt of service fee,
  • Additional information and documents if deemed necessary.

Documents obtained from foreign countries must be prepared with proper apostille or consular approval, and their Turkish translations must be prepared with notary approval. Name, surname, birth date, birth place, civil status, and family bond information must be consistent in the documents.

SECTION THIRTEEN - APPLICATION AUTHORITY AND PROGRESS OF THE PROCESS

Applications for Turkish citizenship via the general way are made to the governorship where the place of residence is located, i.e., the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs. The application can be made in person or through a power of attorney containing special authority. Applications made by mail are not accepted.

The application process generally consists of the following stages:

1. Evaluation of the applicant's residence history and compliance with conditions,

2. Examining entry-exit records and residence permits,

3. Checking valid residence permit or work permit status,

4. Preparing the required documents,

5. Making the application to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs,

6. Fingerprinting of the individual before the Police Department,

7. Preliminary examination of the file,

8. Completing missing documents if present,

9. Conducting the commission or mülakat (interview) process,

10. Executing security and archive research,

11. Sending the file to the Ministry of Interior,

12. Evaluation of the application by administrative authorities,

13. Acquisition of Turkish citizenship if deemed appropriate.

Processing the application does not mean that citizenship will definitely be acquired. Authorized authorities separately evaluate whether the applicant meets all conditions.

SECTION FOURTEEN - APPLICATION RISKS AND REASONS FOR REJECTION

The most common risks encountered in applications via the general way are:

  • The five-year residence period not being uninterrupted,
  • The applicant staying abroad for a long time in the last five years,
  • Staying abroad for more than six months in the last one year,
  • Gaps between residence permits,
  • Mistakenly thinking that periods spent with a tourist permit are sufficient for citizenship,
  • Absence of a valid residence permit or work permit at the time of application,
  • Failure to show the intention to settle in Turkey sufficiently,
  • Failure to prove income or professional status sufficiently,
  • Turkish proficiency not being found sufficient in the interview,
  • Presence of a criminal record or ongoing criminal prosecution,
  • Negative evaluation in terms of national security or public order,
  • Inconsistencies in identity, date, or civil status in documents,
  • Discretionary power of the administration.

Because of these risks, the file must be examined in detail and the timing of the application must be correctly determined before making an application via the general way.

SECTION FIFTEEN - IMPORTANCE OF ATTORNEY SUPPORT

Applying for Turkish citizenship via the general way does not consist of only filling out a form and delivering documents. Before the application, the residence period, entry-exit records, residence permit types, work permit, family status, income documents, and possible risks in terms of public order must be evaluated together.

Attorney support is particularly important at the following stages:

  • Calculating the five-year residence period,
  • Evaluating stays abroad,
  • Distinguishing valid and invalid residence types,
  • Checking the required residence permit or work permit during the application,
  • Evaluating whether family members can be included in the scope of the application,
  • Preparing the required documents,
  • Executing apostille, translation, and notary processes of foreign documents,
  • Ensuring file consistency before the interview,
  • Meeting missing document or additional information requests,
  • Evaluating administrative appeal or litigation paths in case of rejection.

Applications prepared incompletely or incorrectly may cause not only the process to be extended, but also the application to be rejected. Therefore, it is recommended to obtain legal support from the beginning of the process in applications for Turkish citizenship via the general way.

General Stages of the Process

General Stages of Turkish Citizenship Application via the General Way

  1. 1.1. Examination of the applicant's residence history
  2. 2.2. Evaluation of entry-exit records of the last five years
  3. 3.3. Calculating periods spent abroad
  4. 4.4. Checking the suitability of residence permit types for the citizenship application
  5. 5.5. Determining whether there is a valid residence permit or work permit at the time of application
  6. 6.6. Preparing documents showing the intention to settle in Turkey
  7. 7.7. Completing income, profession, health, civil status, and family documents
  8. 8.8. Submitting the application to the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs
  9. 9.9. Completing the fingerprinting process before the General Directorate of Security
  10. 10.10. Executing preliminary examination, interview, and commission processes
  11. 11.11. Completing security and archive research
  12. 12.12. Evaluation of the file by authorized authorities
  13. 13.13. Acquisition of Turkish citizenship if deemed appropriate

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Legal Basis

  • Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901

    Regulates the acquisition, loss of Turkish citizenship, and the basic procedures and principles regarding citizenship.

  • Article 11 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901

    Regulates the conditions required to acquire Turkish citizenship via the general way.

  • Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law

    Regulates the procedures and principles of the citizenship application via the general way.

  • Foreigners and International Protection Law No. 6458

    Holds importance in terms of residence permit, work permit replacing residence permit, and residence interruption provisions.

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