Turkish citizenship for your family, through a secure bank deposit.
A fast and straightforward route to citizenship: deposit USD 500,000 in a Turkish bank for three years and you and your family can become Turkish citizens — with no requirement to live in Turkey, and your capital returned in full at the end of the term. NLI Global is a licensed Istanbul law firm: we structure the deposit so it legally qualifies, obtain the BDDK certificate, and file and represent your application before the authorities.
Free, no-obligation consultation with a licensed lawyer.
Disclaimer: NLI Global is an independent law firm providing legal consultancy and representation services. NLI Global is not a government agency and does not issue or directly grant citizenship or official documents. All citizenship grants are made solely by competent government authorities.
USD 500,000 deposit route
Capital returned after 3 years
No residence required
Whole family included
A straightforward route to citizenship — your capital preserved.
A fast, secure alternative with your capital preserved: the funds stay within the banking system and are returned to you in full after three years.
Your capital returns
Only the principal is locked. After three years the deposit is released and you may withdraw 100% of it.
It earns interest
The interest or profit share on the deposit is yours to keep throughout the term.
Simple to hold
Your capital stays within the banking system, with nothing to actively manage during the three-year term.
Family included
Your spouse and children under 18 are granted citizenship in the same application.
No residence requirement
You are not required to live in Turkey before, during, or after the process.
Global mobility
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 110+ destinations, and dual citizenship is permitted.
The conditions your deposit must legally meet.
We confirm each of these before any money moves — the difference between a qualifying deposit and a rejected file.
USD 500,000 minimum — deposited in a bank operating in Turkey, or the convertible-currency equivalent.
Three-year hold — a written undertaking not to withdraw the principal for three years.
An approved bank — the deposit must be with a bank operating in Turkey and reported to the BDDK.
BDDK Certificate of Conformity — official confirmation that the deposit meets the citizenship criteria.
Documented source of funds — transferred through the banking system with a clear, compliant origin.
Maintained value — the qualifying balance kept above the threshold for the full term, including currency movements.
From first consultation to citizenship approval.
Consultation & Strategy
Before any funds move, we confirm the route suits you and plan the compliant structure.
Account Opening & Compliance
We open the account at an approved bank and handle your tax number and source-of-funds documentation.
Deposit & Three-Year Pledge
We coordinate the transfer, the currency conversion and the three-year no-withdrawal undertaking.
BDDK Certificate of Conformity
We obtain the certificate confirming the deposit qualifies for citizenship.
Application Filed
We file the residence permit and citizenship application and represent you before the authorities.
Citizenship Granted
Upon approval, the Turkish authorities grant citizenship to you and your family.
The threshold and timelines are set by the Turkish authorities and may change; NLI Global prepares, files and represents — the decision to grant citizenship rests with the relevant government authority.
How long it takes, phase by phase.
A realistic picture of the journey from first consultation to citizenship. Durations are indicative — the government review is the longest stage and is not within any firm's control.
Consultation & compliance setup
1–3 weeksWe assess your situation, plan the structure, and begin source-of-funds documentation — before any money moves.
Account opening, deposit & three-year pledge
2–4 weeksWe open the account, coordinate the transfer and currency conversion, and register the three-year no-withdrawal undertaking.
BDDK Certificate of Conformity
2–6 weeksThe deposit is certified as meeting the citizenship criteria by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency.
Citizenship application & government review
5–9 monthsWe file the residence permit and citizenship application and represent you throughout the authorities' review — the longest stage.
Decision & finalization
1–2 weeksOn approval, the Turkish authorities grant citizenship to you and your family.
One firm — from the deposit to the authorities' decision.
Independent representation
We act for you, not the bank. Our interest is a deposit that qualifies and an application that is approved.
Istanbul-based, 15+ years
Led by attorney Furkan Kayım, specialising in Turkish citizenship by investment and immigration law.
Built for foreign investors
English-language representation for clients across the GCC and Europe, handled in a language you read.
Compliance handled
Source-of-funds, currency and BDDK certification managed correctly, so nothing derails the file.
Citizenship by bank deposit, answered.
Not sure where to start? Ask us — we'll explain the process and what it takes, before you commit to anything.
Request a ConsultationHow much do I need to deposit?
USD 500,000 — or the convertible-currency equivalent — in a bank operating in Turkey, held for three years. The threshold is set by the authorities and can change, so we confirm the current figure at the outset.
Do I get my money back?
Yes. Only the principal is locked for three years; after the term you may withdraw 100% of it. The interest or profit share is yours to keep throughout.
Do I have to live in Turkey?
No. A short-term residence permit is taken as a procedural step, but there is no requirement to actually live in Turkey before, during or after.
Can my family be included?
Yes. Your spouse and your children under 18 are included in the same application and become citizens alongside you.
Which bank, and in what currency?
The deposit must be with a bank operating in Turkey; funds are typically converted to Turkish lira. We handle the account, the conversion and the BDDK certification.
What if the exchange rate moves against me?
The qualifying balance must stay above the USD 500,000 equivalent for the full term. We structure the deposit to protect the threshold and keep it under review.
How does the deposit route compare to buying real estate?
Both are strong routes to the same citizenship. The real estate route lets you own a property; the deposit route is operationally simpler, since your capital stays within the banking system and is returned at the end of the term. Either way, the legal file, source-of-funds compliance and certification have to be correct — which is our role. We're happy to walk you through both so you can choose what fits you.
How long does it take?
The process typically takes around 8 to 12 months from start to citizenship. Exact timelines are set by the Turkish authorities and vary by case.
What our clients say.
Feedback from international investors we have represented through the bank-deposit route.
We chose the deposit route because it was the most straightforward option for us. NLI structured the deposit, obtained the BDDK certificate, and filed everything on our behalf. We were kept informed in English until the authorities approved the application.
🇸🇦 Client from Saudi Arabia
Citizenship by Bank Deposit
We applied as a family. NLI handled the account, the source-of-funds documentation, and the three-year pledge, and represented us throughout the review. My spouse and children were included in the same file.
🇰🇼 Client from Kuwait
Family Application · Bank Deposit
My main concern was keeping the qualifying balance compliant through the currency conversion. NLI planned the structure so the amount held for the full term and documented the source of funds correctly. Everything was in order when the file was reviewed.
🇦🇪 Client from the UAE
Deposit Structuring · Compliance
Individual experiences vary. Outcomes depend on each applicant's circumstances and the final decision of the competent government authorities.
Put a law firm on your side from the first step.
Tell us what you're planning. A lawyer will explain how the bank-deposit route works and how we protect your capital and your application from the outset — long before any funds move.
The same citizenship, through a USD 400,000 real-estate investment.
