Interior Ministry announces thousands have had their citizenship revoked: Irregular transactions

The Ministry announced that 72 suspects were apprehended in an operation targeting a network that provided irregular citizenship through fake real estate valuation reports across 16 provinces. The Ministry of Interior reported that the citizenship decisions of a total of 6,134 people have been revoked or rescinded due to irregular transactions.

The Ministry's statement is as follows:

"A need to inform the public has arisen following the apprehension of 72 suspects in an operation conducted in 16 provinces against a network that provided irregular citizenship through fake real estate valuation reports.

The application, audit, and evaluation processes for foreign nationals wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship through investment are carried out meticulously in accordance with the provisions of Article 12, paragraph 1, clause (b) of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law. In this context, foreigners who have obtained a residence permit in accordance with Article 31, paragraph 1, clause (j) of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, as well as their foreign spouses, and their own or their spouse's minor or dependent foreign children, may apply for Turkish citizenship by making fixed capital investments, acquiring real estate, making foreign currency deposit investments, investing in government debt instruments, investing in real estate/venture capital investment fund participation shares, or investing in the private pension system in the amounts determined by legislation.

THOUSANDS OF CITIZENSHIPS RESCINDED OR REVOKED

"For each type of investment, an investment eligibility certificate is issued by the relevant public institutions; for foreigners who make real estate investments in the amount specified within the scope of Article 20, paragraph 2 of the Regulation, eligibility certificates are issued by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) based on valuation reports prepared by valuation companies licensed by the Capital Markets Board (SPK), and as of 2024, by Gayrimenkul Değerleme AŞ (GEDAŞ), a subsidiary of the TOKİ Presidency, under the coordination of the TKGM.

Following the receipt of the eligibility certificate, a comprehensive security investigation and archive research are conducted on the applicants through the General Directorate of Security and the National Intelligence Organization Presidency; if the research yields positive results, the approval stages are completed by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, and Turkish citizenship is acquired.

As a result of the investigations conducted by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, the Tax Inspection Board, and the General Directorate of Security against groups attempting to abuse the process with fake and irregular appraisal reports, the investment eligibility certificates of 1,150 investors found to have carried out collusive or irregular transactions were cancelled, and the citizenship decisions of a total of 5,391 people, including their family members, were revoked.

Following the acquisition of citizenship, the citizenship decisions of a total of 743 people, including 263 investors and their family members who were determined by the General Directorate of Security and the National Intelligence Organization to be objectionable in terms of public order and national security, were rescinded on the grounds that the legal requirements were not met. Thus, the citizenship acquisition decisions of a total of 6,134 people, including 1,413 investors and their family members, have been revoked or rescinded in accordance with Articles 31 and 40 of Law No. 5901.

Since February 11, 2026, the Turkish citizenship of a total of 1,358 people, including 443 investors whose investment eligibility certificates were cancelled and their family members, has been revoked, and the citizenship of 7 people has been rescinded due to reports of them being objectionable in terms of national security and public order."