Turkish Dual Citizenship Status: What Foreigners Should Know

A foreigner who acquires Turkish citizenship often faces a critical question: "Will I lose my home-country citizenship?" The answer depends not only on Turkish law but also on the applicant's home-country law. This guide examines the legal consequences of dual citizenship status and key practical considerations.

Turkey's Approach to Dual Citizenship

Turkish law accepts dual (and even multiple) citizenship. Acquiring Turkish citizenship doesn't automatically end the applicant's existing citizenships. During processing of the Turkish citizenship file, the applicant is not required to renounce home-country citizenship under prevailing rules.

Turkey's approach is pragmatic: a Turkish citizen may also be a citizen of many other countries; from Turkey's perspective, holding two identities is not an obstacle.

Home-Country Law Is Decisive

The actual restrictions come from the applicant's own country. There are three broad approaches worldwide:

1. Countries Open to Dual Citizenship

The United Kingdom, the United States (as a rule), Canada, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, France, Italy, Poland, and many more accept dual citizenship. Applicants from these countries generally retain home-country citizenship after acquiring Turkish citizenship.

2. Countries Allowing Dual Citizenship Subject to Notification

Germany under specific conditions, the Netherlands in limited fashion, allow dual citizenship. Applicants from these countries:

• Must apply for permission with home-country authority before applying for Turkish citizenship,
• Otherwise risk losing their home-country citizenship.

For example, Germany prohibited dual citizenship for years; recent legislative changes have softened this. Therefore, current legislation must be checked.

3. Countries Prohibiting Dual Citizenship

Some countries explicitly prohibit their citizens from acquiring another country's citizenship or provide for automatic loss of home-country citizenship in such case. China, Japan, India, Singapore (with details varying for each) fall in this category.

For applicants from such countries, the critical decision is between acquiring Turkish citizenship and retaining home-country citizenship.

Practical Consequences of Losing Home-Country Citizenship

If the applicant's home country prohibits dual citizenship and the applicant loses home-country citizenship through Turkish citizenship acquisition, in practice:

• Home-country passport cannot be renewed,
• Some rights in the home country (property, social security, voting rights) may end,
• Visa may be required to enter the home country,
• Different rules may apply to future inheritance processes.

To make this situation predictable for the applicant, consultation with home-country experts before Turkish citizenship application is recommended.

Practical Consequences of Acquiring Turkish Citizenship

Passport and Travel

The Turkish passport provides visa-free travel to many countries. A Turkish citizen may travel using either Turkish or home-country passport; both documents are valid.

Employment Rights

As a Turkish citizen, you can be employed in Turkey without needing a work permit. The door to state-sector positions also opens.

Property Acquisition

Existing acquisition restrictions on foreigners (area, number, military zone prohibition, etc.) lift for Turkish citizens. This is a significant liberalisation for investment.

Taxation

Turkish citizenship alone does not create income tax liability in Turkey. Liability is tied to residency:

• Persons resident in Turkey (spending a defined period in a calendar year) are liable on worldwide income,
• Non-residents are liable only on Turkey-source income.

For foreign investors who acquire Turkish citizenship without living in Turkey, tax status should be assessed alongside home-country residency rules.

Military Service

Male Turkish citizens face military service obligation within specific age limits. However:

• Those acquiring citizenship through investment may have exemption or paid military service options under prevailing rules,
• For citizens born abroad or having lived abroad long-term, alternative methods like paid foreign-service are available.

Male applicants should obtain concrete analysis of military status before application.

Voting and Standing

As a Turkish citizen, you gain the right to vote in local and general elections. Turkish citizens living abroad can vote at consulates.

Citizenship for Children and Spouse

The foreigner admitted to citizenship may apply for citizenship for their spouse and minor children at the same decision. This makes acquiring citizenship as a family possible.

A child born of a Turkish-citizen parent automatically becomes a Turkish citizen at birth — when mother or father is Turkish. Therefore, the child does not need a separate citizenship application.

Loss of Citizenship

Losing Turkish citizenship is unusual; however, it can occur in:

• The applicant's own request to renounce citizenship,
• Administrative loss of citizenship by the state — for cases of acquiring through false declaration, conduct against Turkey's substantial interests,
• Voluntary acquisition of another state's citizenship — there are rules under prevailing legislation but with permission, dual citizenship continues.

Citizenship acquired through sham marriage or investment fraud may be subsequently revoked.

Strategic Decision: Considerations Before Citizenship

1. Home-country law status — particularly for those from countries prohibiting dual citizenship.
2. Tax effects — tax burden may change after Turkish citizenship; pre-analysis is essential.
3. Military service status — critical for male applicants.
4. Family members' position — opportunity for spouse and children to apply together.
5. Professional legal support — a small mistake in application can lose years.

Legal Support

In Antalya, for all phases of the Turkish citizenship acquisition process and for assessing the legal effects of dual citizenship status, MONA HUKUK provides comprehensive advisory to foreign clients. Bridging home-country law with Turkish law, we make practical consequences of citizenship acquisition predictable.

Contact us at contact@monahukuk.com or call +90 (242) 606 14 32 to schedule a consultation in Antalya.