Turkish citizenship for Pakistanis is a really good opportunity to reach out to the world. Pakistanis can have access to restriction-free travel to many countries around the world, a higher quality of living, world-class English education, excellent healthcare, and more. Fortunately, Pakistanis have several options available when they want to obtain citizenship in Turkey, including being awarded citizenship based on merit and naturalization.

One of the simplest and fastest ways to obtain Turkish citizenship, however, is by making use of the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program. It allows you and your spouse and children to obtain citizenship by simply making an investment in Turkey.

In this post, we’ll look at how you can obtain citizenship and, more importantly, how the Citizenship by Investment program works in more detail.

What are the Benefits of Turkish Citizenship for Pakistanis

Before looking at the process of obtaining Turkish citizenship in more detail, let’s first consider why you, as a Pakistani, would want Turkish citizenship. In other words, what are the benefits of Turkish citizenship for Pakistanis?

There are actually quite a few, including:

• Turkish passport. Based on the Henley & Partners Passport Index, a Turkish passport is much stronger than a Pakistani passport. It’s ranked 50^th, while Pakistani passports are ranked 108^th. This means that Turkish passport holders have access to 110 visa-free or visa-on-arrival countries, while Pakistani passport holders only have access to 31. Ultimately, this results in fewer travel restrictions.
• Movement. When you’re a Turkish citizen, you can enter and exit the country without restrictions as often as you’d like and spend as much time there as you want. This makes it ideal for businesspeople or if you want a safe haven.
• English education. In Turkey, you’ll have access to world-class English education. There are international schools and certain universities also offer courses in English.
• Higher standards of living. Generally, Turkey offers higher standards of living compared to Pakistan. As such, it’s peaceful and has less crime than Pakistan. And, in terms of quality of living, Turkey also ranks higher.
• Healthcare. Turkey has an advanced medical system and, as a Turkish citizen, you’ll have access to this medical system free of charge.

How Pakistanis Can Obtain Turkish Citizenship ?

Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of Turkish citizenship for Pakistanis, let’s look at how Pakistanis can obtain Turkish citizenship. If you want to obtain Turkish citizenship, you have several options:

• Marriage. You can obtain Turkish citizenship if you marry a Turkish citizen. However, it’s important to remember that this citizenship is not granted automatically upon marriage and there are some requirements that you’ll need to meet. Firstly, the marriage must be genuine and, secondly, you must have been married for at least three years.
• Merit. When you’re a Turkish Turquoise Card holder, you could be awarded Turkish citizenship based on merit. These cards are used to attract highly skilled and professional people to Turkey and are issued to those who have achievements in science, business, culture, or sports. To award these Turquoise cards, a points-based application system is used.
• Naturalisation. You can also obtain Turkish citizenship through naturalization. In other words, you can become a Turkish citizen after staying in the country for a defined period of time. Here, you can qualify for citizenship after living in Turkey for five years. Also, it’s important to remember that, to qualify, you can’t leave Turkey for more than six months during this period. Also, you’ll need to prove that you know Turkish on a sufficient level and that you have enough income to sustain your livelihood.
• Investment. You can also become a Turkish citizen by making an investment in the country. This is arguably the quickest and easiest way to become a Turkish citizen as the entire process takes about six months and you don’t need to be in Turkey to apply.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment for Pakistanis

Let’s now look at the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program in more detail. This program was launched in January 2017 in order to attract foreign investment in the country and increase growth in its real estate sector.

When using the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program, you have several investment options available:

• Real estate. One of the most popular investment options under the program is real estate. Here, you’ll need to acquire real estate for at least $400,000.
• Capital. You can also qualify if you make a fixed capital investment of at least $500,000.
• Deposit. You can also choose to deposit at least $500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira into a Turkish bank account.
• Government bonds. Another option under the program is to invest in government bonds. Here, you should commit at least $500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira.
• Investment. You can also choose to make an investment. When you do, you should invest at least $500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira into a real estate investment fund. This investment can also be made into a venture capital investment fund.
• Pension. You can also commit a minimum amount of $500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira into a private pension system. This investment should be made for a minimum period of three years.
• Job creation. You can also qualify for the program if you can create jobs for at least 50 people.

Irrespective of what type of investment you choose, you’ll also be able to include your spouse and children under the age of 18 as part of the application. You’ll also be able to include any children over the age of 18 who are living with disabilities.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to include your parents or children over the age of 18 in your application. They can only qualify for residence permits and, if they have their own source of income, they’ll need to lodge their own applications.

How to Obtain Turkish Citizenship

Now that we’ve seen the investment options you have available when you want to use the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program, let’s look at the process you’ll need to follow to apply:

• Choosing your investment option. The first step in the process is deciding the investment option you want to use. You’ll also need to make sure of all the requirements relating to the type of investment you choose.
• Gathering all the documents. Once you’ve chosen your investment option, you’ll need to gather all the documents for your application. These documents include a copy of your passport, photos, a police clearance certificate, and proof that you’ve completed the investment once you’ve done so.
• Completing the investment and obtaining residence. Before applying for citizenship, you’ll need to apply for a temporary residence permit. So, once you’ve gathered all the documents and completed the investment, you can submit them for consideration to the government. The government will then review your application and grant a temporary permit if they’re satisfied.
• Application for citizenship. Once your residence permit has been granted, you can apply for citizenship. You don’t need to be in Turkey to lodge this application and you can do it from the Turkish embassy. For this application, you’ll need to submit a copy of your residence permit and all the documents you used for the initial application. The Turkish government will then consider your application.
• Issuing of passport. Once you’ve submitted your documents, you can expect to receive your Turkish passport within about three or four months. You can collect your passport in Turkey or at a Turkish embassy or consulate in Pakistan.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this post illustrated the options available to Pakistanis to obtain Turkish citizenship. We hope this post also gave you some insights into the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program, the available investment options, and how you would apply for Turkish citizenship under the program.

To learn more about the Turkish Citizenship by Investment program and similar programs around the world, get in touch with Smart Citizenship. With our industry-first investment algorithms, we can help you choose the right investments and save you time, money, and hassle in the process.

FAQs

Apart from the information provided above, we’ve also compiled a list of frequently asked questions people often have when it comes to Turkey’s Citizenship by Investment program.

How long do I need to maintain my investment?

To obtain citizenship by using the program, you’ll need to maintain your investment for at least three years. Keep in mind, however, that you don’t need to wait for three years before you apply.

How long do I need to stay in Turkey before I apply?

Under the program, you don’t need to spend any time in Turkey before or after applying.

Can I work in Turkey after I’ve acquired citizenship in terms of the program?

Yes, once you’ve obtained citizenship by using the Citizenship by Investment program, you’ll have the same rights as any other Turkish citizen.