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Gordion Partners

Turkish Citizenship Advisory for Iranian Investors

We advise Iranian nationals on Turkish citizenship by investment: the route that fits, documents from Iran, the transfer of funds and how Iranian law treats a foreign nationality, in English or in any of the ten languages of this site.

In short

Iranian nationals can apply for Turkish citizenship through the seven investment routes, from USD 400,000 in real estate kept for 3 years. Documents must be apostilled or legalised, depending on the issuing country. Iranian law does not recognise a foreign nationality acquired without following the legal procedure. We advise you on the route, the documents and the transfer of funds, in English or another language of this site.

By , Founder & Managing Partner, Gordion Partners · Updated

Key facts (as of October 2026)

Routes
7 investment routes: real estate USD 400,000; bank deposit, government bonds, fund units, private pension or fixed capital USD 500,000; or 50 jobsSource: NVİ, nvi.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
Holding period
3 years on the real estate route and the four financial routesSource: NVİ, nvi.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
Transfer of funds
Foreign currency sold to a bank in Turkey and on to the Central Bank with a DAB before the investment; through banks only, never in cashSource: TKGM, tkgm.gov.tr (FAQ, 27.01.2022) (opens in a new tab)
Family
Spouse and children younger than 18, on the same investmentSource: NVİ, nvi.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
Timeline
Usually 8 to 12 months end to end for a complete file; never guaranteed
Documents from Iran
Apostilled or legalised, depending on the issuing country; we check this for your documents
Dual nationality
A foreign nationality acquired without following the legal procedure is not recognised (Civil Code, Article 989)Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, mfa.gov.ir (nationality laws, Embassy in Brussels) (opens in a new tab)
Languages
Advice in English and the nine other languages of this site

Each figure links to its official source. Rules change, so we confirm the current position before you act.

Who it is for

  • Iranian nationals planning Turkish citizenship by investment
  • Investors comparing a USD 400,000 property with a USD 500,000 financial route
  • Families who want the spouse and children under 18 included
  • Investors planning the transfer of funds from Iran

Which route suits you

We handle all seven investment routes to Turkish citizenship under Article 12/1-b of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. Turkish law sets the amounts and conditions; the right choice for you depends on your budget, how long you can keep the money invested and whether you want to own property in Turkey.

Our advice on the four financial routes is led by our founder, Burak Ünal. He holds an MSc in Finance from the London School of Economics (2019) and worked at Oliver Wyman, the management consulting firm, as a Financial Services Consultant before founding Gordion Partners. That background is the basis of how we explain the currency, holding period and exit questions of a USD 500,000 financial investment.

For an Iranian national, one question comes before the route: how Iranian law treats a foreign nationality (see dual citizenship below). We go through it with you before any money moves.

Documents from Iran

Each person in the application needs identity and civil status documents, such as passports and birth and marriage records, and the family relationship must be documented. The exact list depends on your family and on current practice, so we confirm it for your case at the start.

Documents must be apostilled or legalised, depending on the issuing country; we check this for your documents. This applies to documents issued in Iran and to any document issued in another country where you have lived.

Foreign documents must be translated into Turkish and certified in a form accepted in Turkey.

Transfer of funds

Every route is paid through banks, never in cash. Before the investment, your foreign currency is sold to a bank operating in Turkey and on to the Central Bank (TCMB), and the bank issues a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB). On the real estate route, only USD, EUR and GBP are accepted for this sale, and the DAB must show the USD equivalent and the citizenship purpose; the bank deposit is USD 500,000 or the equivalent in EUR or GBP. If your savings are in Iranian rials or another currency, plan their conversion into one of these currencies before the transfer to Turkey.

The rules of the country the money is sent from, and the requirements of the banks involved, apply to the transfer itself, so check them with your bank before you start. Keep the bank records of every payment: on the real estate route, the payments to the seller must be proven by bank records.

Dual citizenship and Iranian law

Under Article 989 of the Iranian Civil Code, as published by Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Iranian national who acquires a foreign nationality without following the legal procedure continues to be treated as an Iranian national, and the law restricts some rights in that situation, for example the ownership of immovable property in Iran. This is general information from an official publication of the law, not advice on Iranian law: confirm your position with the Iranian authorities before you apply.

Family members

The investor's spouse and children younger than 18 can apply with the investor on the same investment, so the amount does not change with the size of the family. Each person needs their own documents. Men who are 22 or older in the year they become Turkish citizens, or who document military service in their previous country, are deemed to have completed Turkish military service. See family members.

Process and timeline

The investment comes first, then the certificate from the route's authority, a residence permit, the citizenship application, the security review and a Presidential decision. No official processing time is published. For a complete file, citizenship by investment usually takes 8 to 12 months end to end, and no timeframe can be guaranteed. See the process, documents and timeline.

Consultations and property viewings can be done by video call, so you can plan the file from Iran before you travel.

Advice in your language

We give advice in English and in the nine other languages of this site. Our fees are not published: contact us for fees, questions and service scope.

Guides for Iranian investors

Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp: tell us your budget, your family and where your funds are held, and we will tell you which route fits.

How the process works

  1. First consultation

    By video call or at our Istanbul office, in English or another language of this site: your goals, budget, family and the dual nationality question.

  2. Route and document plan

    We confirm the route and list the documents each family member needs from Iran.

  3. Documents and translations

    Your documents are apostilled or legalised as the issuing country requires, then translated into Turkish and certified in the form accepted in Turkey; we check each one.

  4. Investment and transfer

    Your foreign currency is sold to a bank in Turkey with a DAB and the investment is made; on the real estate route, with the valuation and the title deed.

  5. Certificate, residence permit and application

    The route's authority certifies the investment, residence permits are obtained and the citizenship application is filed. The whole process usually takes 8 to 12 months, never guaranteed.

Documents checklist

  • Passport of each person included in the application
  • Civil status documents, such as birth and marriage records, proving the family relationship
  • Apostille or legalisation, depending on the issuing country: we check this for your documents
  • Turkish translations, certified in the form accepted in Turkey
  • Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB) and the bank records of the transfer
  • The final list for your case: we confirm it before anything is submitted

Your full list depends on your situation; we prepare it with you.

Updated

The information on this page is general and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules, amounts and procedures change; contact us to confirm the current requirements before you act.

Frequently asked questions

Can Iranian nationals apply for Turkish citizenship by investment?

Yes. The investment routes are open to foreign investors, including Iranian nationals, who meet the investment conditions and pass the security review. The lowest amount is USD 400,000 in real estate, kept for 3 years.

Does Iran recognise a second nationality?

Under Article 989 of the Iranian Civil Code, an Iranian national who acquires a foreign nationality without following the legal procedure continues to be treated as an Iranian national, with restrictions on some rights, such as owning immovable property in Iran. Confirm your position with the Iranian authorities before you apply.

How are documents from Iran certified?

Documents must be apostilled or legalised, depending on the issuing country; we check this for your documents. They are then translated into Turkish and certified in the form accepted in Turkey.

Can I pay in Iranian rials?

On the real estate route, only USD, EUR and GBP are accepted for the currency sale to a bank in Turkey, which comes with a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB), and the bank deposit is USD 500,000 or the equivalent in EUR or GBP. Plan the conversion of savings in Iranian rials before the transfer, and pay through banks only.

Can my spouse and children be included?

Yes. The investor's spouse and children younger than 18 can apply with the investor on the same investment, so the amount does not change with the size of the family.

How long does the process take?

No official processing time is published. For a complete file, citizenship by investment usually takes 8 to 12 months end to end; no timeframe can be guaranteed.

Which languages do you advise in?

English and the nine other languages of this site: French, Turkish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, German, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu. Consultations and property viewings can be done by video call.

Other citizenship routes

Back to Turkish Citizenship by Investment

Other nationalities

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