Living in Turkey is the dream life for many foreigners due to the mild climate, cultural diversity, great food, wonderful nature, and historical heritage. Likewise, Turkey immigration for Pakistani citizens has been popular because of these perks and the strong ties between the two countries.
The most commonly preferred option for immigration to Turkey from Pakistan is by investment. Turkish citizenship for Pakistanis by investment is in such demand because of its many advantages for Pakistani families such as the excellent free education facilities and a solid healthcare system.
If you want to obtain more information about Turkish citizenship for Pakistani citizens, proceed to read this article in which we provide a guide for the basics of the process.
This guide includes:
- Advantages of Turkey immigration for Pakistani citizens
- Routes to Turkish nationality for Pakistani investors
- Investment options to get Turkish citizenship
- Steps to getting citizenship in Turkey
Advantages of Turkey Citizenship for Pakistan Citizens
Becoming a Turkish citizen is very advantageous for a Pakistani due to many reasons. Find below some of the benefits of citizenship:
- Education: Turkey has excellent education facilities, from kindergarten to high education. There are international schools and university programs that offer education in English. For those who study in a Turkish university as a citizen of Turkey, being a participant in the Bologna Accord provides the chance to attend an exchange program and study abroad for a semester. Moreover, having a Turkish degree provides an advantage for those who plan to live and work in the EU.
- Healthcare: Turkey has an exceptional healthcare system that you can benefit from if you become a citizen. The country even gets immense medical tourism due to its healthcare facilities that provide services that fulfill international standards.
- Higher quality of life: Turkey is the 54th country in the quality of life index, whereas Pakistan holds the 70th position. Turkey is a safer and more peaceful country than Pakistan, offering better living standards.
- Nondiscrimination: Due to most Turks being Muslims, those of Pakistani descent are very unlikely to experience discrimination on religious grounds. Moreover, the abundance of mosques and other religious facilities in Turkey allows Pakistanis to practice their religion freely. Although Turkey has a secular state where Turkish citizens have freedom in terms of religious beliefs, there鈥檚 no prejudice or discrimination among the citizens against those who practice Islam.
- Visa-free travel: Turkish citizens can travel to 110 countries without the requirement of a visa.
- Dual citizenship: You鈥檙e allowed to hold on to your Pakistani citizenship as well when you become a Turkish citizen. This provides you with the advantage of not having to renounce your rights as a Pakistani citizen.
How To Obtain Turkey Citizenship for Pakistani
There are a few ways for Pakistanis to obtain Turkish citizenship. Some of the options to acquire citizenship in Turkey are as follows:
1. Naturalization
You can apply for Turkish citizenship if you鈥檝e resided there for at least five years. To meet the criteria to apply for citizenship by naturalization, you’re required to be able to speak Turkish at a certain level and show proof of your financial adequacy.
2. Descent
If one or more of your ancestors鈥攑arents, grandparents, and sometimes great-grandparents鈥攊s Turkish, you get the right to apply for Turkish nationality for Pakistan citizens. Although this is the easiest and safest process, it鈥檚 not very common due to its terms.
3. Special Merit
Turkey offers citizenship to those who hold a Turquoise Card, which it grants to people who鈥檝e shown extraordinary success in fields such as sports, business, or culture.
4. Investment
Obtaining Turkey citizenship for Pakistan citizens by investment is the most popular option to become a citizen of Turkey. Benefiting from the special programs that Turkey offers foreign investors is the most efficient way to get citizenship if you鈥檙e not of Turkish descent.
Investment Options To Acquire Turkish Citizenship
There are several investment types that you can choose from:
- Investing an amount of minimum $400,000 in real estate
- Investing at least $500,000 of cash in fixed assets established by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
- Setting up a company that employs at least 50 Turkish workers (investing an amount of minimum $250,000)
- Depositing at least $500,000 in a Turkish bank not to withdraw it for at least 3 years
- Buying at least $500,000 worth of government bonds not to sell them for at least 3 years
- Buying at least $500,000 worth of venture capital investment fund share or real estate investment fund share not to sell for at least 3 years
Real Estate in Turkey
The wide range of options for luxury and affordable, newly constructed, off-plan, renovated apartments and villas, and resale properties is one of the main factors driving foreigners’ interest in buying property in Turkey. There are several options, ranging from mansions with sea views to straightforward, affordable apartments.
To encourage investment in the real estate sector, the government has taken the necessary steps to ensure that the procedure is simple. This is one of the factors that influence foreigners’ decision to invest in real estate in Turkey.
The Process of Obtaining Turkey Citizenship for Pakistani
First and foremost, there are a few requirements that you should meet to be eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship for Pakistani investors. These criteria are as follows:
- Being at least 18 y/o
- Having no criminal record in both Turkey and Pakistan
- Not having resided in or entered Turkey illegally
- Fulfilling the investment criteria
After making sure you meet these criteria, finalizing the investment, opening a bank account in Turkey, and getting a taxpayer number, there are a few steps to follow during the process of acquiring Turkey citizenship for Pakistani citizens.
1. Collecting and Delivering the Required Documents
The required documents include:
- Application form
- Passport copy
- Photos
- Receipts of fee payments
- Police clearance certificate
- A permit provided by the notary regarding the processing of the applicant鈥檚 data
- Document proving that the required investment was made
2. Obtaining a Permit for Residency
Turkish citizenship for Pakistani investors need to get a temporary residence permit first and state they aspire to get citizenship in the relevant application form.
3. Applying for Turkish Citizenship
After you鈥檝e completed the above steps, you can apply for Turkish citizenship. To be a valid applicant, you鈥檙e required to deliver the documents you鈥檝e collected to get the residence permit, the biometrics, and a copy of the residence permit itself. The Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs processes the documents in about three months.
4. Obtaining the Passport
Upon the approval of your application, you can obtain your Turkish passport in Turkey or from the Turkish embassy in Pakistan.
Time To Get Turkey Citizenship
| By Investment | By Marriage | By Naturalization |
| 鈫� | 鈫� | 鈫� |
| 3-4 Months | 3 Years | 5 Years |
Turkey Passport Visa-Free Countries
There are several advantages to holding a Turkish passport, but the most alluring advantage is visa-free travel. Countries where you can travel visa-free, visa on arrival, or via Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) are listed below.
| Albania | Dominica | Kuwait | North Macedonia | Sri Lanka |
| Antigua and Barbuda | Dominican Republic | Kyrgyzstan | Oman | St. Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Argentina | Ecuador | Laos | Pakistan | Sudan |
| Armenia | El Salvador | Lebanon | Palau | Syria |
| Azerbaijan | Eswatini (Swaziland) | Macao (SAR China) | Panama | Taiwan |
| Bahamas | Fiji | Madagascar | Paraguay | Tajikistan |
| Barbados | Gabon | Malaysia | Peru | Tanzania |
| Belarus | Gambia | Maldives | Philippines | Thailand |
| Belize | Georgia | Marshall Islands | Qatar | Timor-Leste |
| Bolivia | Guatemala | Mauritania | Rwanda | Togo |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Guinea-Bissau | Mauritius | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Tonga |
| Botswana | Haiti | Mexico | Saint Lucia | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Brazil | Honduras | Micronesia | Samoa | Tunisia |
| British Virgin Islands | Hong Kong | Moldova | Sao Tome and Principe | Turks and Caicos Islands |
| Brunei | Indonesia | Mongolia | Senegal | Tuvalu |
| Cambodia | Iran | Montenegro | Serbia | Uganda |
| Cape Verde | Jamaica | Morocco | Seychelles | Ukraine |
| Chile | Japan | Mozambique | Sierra Leone | Uruguay |
| Colombia | Jordan | Namibia | Singapore | Uzbekistan |
| Comoros | Kazakhstan | Nepal | Somalia | Vanuatu |
| Cook Islands | Kenya | Nicaragua | South Africa | Venezuela |
| Costa Rica | Kosovo | Niue | South Korea | Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
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FAQ
Which country gives citizenship easily to a Pakistani?
It鈥檚 relatively effortless for a Pakistani to get citizenship in Turkey by investment.
Is there dual citizenship right in Turkey?
Yes. You don鈥檛 need to renounce your existing citizenship to become a Turkish citizen. That is, of course, if your country of origin allows you to have dual citizenship. If not, you need to give up one of the said citizenships
How can a Pakistani get a residence permit in Turkey?
Pakistani citizens can get a residence permit in Turkey by making an investment in real estate, buying government bonds, making a direct cash investment in fixed assets, depositing in a Turkish bank for at least 3 years, or buying venture capital investment fund share/real estate investment fund share. The required amounts for these types of investments vary between $250,000 and $500,000.
Can I get Turkish citizenship by buying a house?
Yes, purchasing a property in Turkey is one of the investment options through which you can obtain Turkish citizenship. The property you buy to apply for citizenship must be at least $400,000 worth.
