Did you know that you can obtain Turkish citizenship by providing local labor employment in Turkey? The program for obtaining Turkish citizenship by investment now makes this process very easy. If the foreign investor ensures employment to at least 50 people in Turkey, they have the right to apply for Turkish citizenship in an exceptional way.

Moreover, entrepreneurs can secure a Turkish passport by setting up a company and creating at least 50 jobs under the guidance of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Launched in 2017, the Turkish citizenship by investment program was occur to encourage and attract foreign direct investment in the Turkish economy and stimulate the real estate market. The investment scheme invites qualifying applicants to invest in the country, in exchange for lifelong citizenship rights. The Turkish citizenship by investment program, or Turkish Golden Visa was introduced in 2016. This program provides investors to obtain a Turkish passport within a short period of three or four months. The program offers different investment methods that individuals can choose from, those being an investment in real estate, a fixed capital contribution, or a bank deposit in a Turkish bank.

Turkish citizenship by property investment is the most affordable choice, where an investment worth at least $400,000 in Turkish real estate qualifies for the visa.

Other options contain investing in government bonds or establishing an enterprise that would create local job opportunities for Turkish citizens, both of which ask for a minimum qualifying investment of $500,000.

Foreign people can acquire Turkish citizenship by the President's decision if they create employment for at least 50 people in Turkey.

The Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services determines this situation. First, it is necessary to apply to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services for the document of conformity. In the next step, if there is no missing document, the application will be forwarded to the relevant units. In the case that an application is made with incomplete data and documents, the applicant is given a thirty-day period to complete the deficiency. In terms of ensuring employment and continuity, trade registry records, social security institution records, workplace list, and tax records should be submitted with the application. It takes around 6 months to obtain the certificate of conformity and complete the citizenship application if there is no missing data or document.

Procedure of Turkish Citizenship by Jobs Creation

A foreign national who has created at least 50 new jobs in Turkey and who has been able to confirm it with the Ministry of Labor and Social Infrastructure is entitled to apply for Turkish citizenship. They have to perform the following actions in order to become a full citizen of Turkey:

Apply to the Ministry of Labor and Social Infrastructure for a conformity document. The Ministry officers will inform you about the documents that you have to bring in order to achieve the certificate.
Apply to one of the authorized state organs (a Civil Status Registration Department or an embassy) for citizenship of Turkey while bringing the documents specified above and the conformity certificate. The Government of the country has not specified additional documents required to obtain Turkish citizenship via employment investment option.
The state body that the candidate for citizenship has applied to will examine the application.
The application for Turkish citizenship might be signed and submitted by the applicant personally or via an authorized agent acting on a power of attorney.

Conditions for Achieving Turkish Citizenship through the Employment of 50 Turkish Persons

A residence permit in accordance with article 31, paragraph 1 (j), of the Foreigners and International Protection Act, No. 6458.
The existence of a "Turquoise Card" residence permit, which grants foreign people the right to live and work permanently and does not have to renew residence every year.
Registration of workers in the Turkish Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services
A pledge not to decrease the number of 50 Turkish employees for three years, here the Turkish government gives you the right to obtain Turkish citizenship within this decision.
Paying all estimated costs for employing 50 laborers over the three years.
Achieving the necessary permits from the Turkish Ministry of Labour to apply for the Turkish citizenship file of the investor, his wife, and children under the age of 18.
Absence of an obstacle to the foreigner person Turkish national security
The Turkish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services identifies foreigners who have ensured employment opportunities for 50 Turkish citizens to be granted Turkish citizenship by the decision of the President within the scope of subparagraph (b) of paragraph 1 of Article 12 of Law No. 5901.

Required Documents for Turkish Citizenship by Local Labor Investment

Foreign entrepreneurs who will request a certificate of conformity that they create employment for at least 50 (fifty) people, might apply with the documents listed below. Foreign investors must make a written application to the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services (General Directorate of International Labor Force).

Statement of signature of the applicant, achieved from the notary public
Employment Information Document
A valid passport and notarized Turkish translation of the certificate
Four color passport type biometric photographs
Documents offering the capital and partnership shares of the company or companies employing a minimum of 50 Turkish citizens in total. Moreover, trade registry gazette registration and valid Trade Registry Certification
Document showing the list of all insured labors working in the workplace of which the foreign person is the owner or shareholder. Updated Workplace Employee List achieved from the SGK (Social Security Institution) system
A letter from the GİB (Revenue Administration) system, showing the tax debt status of the foreign investor’s partner or workplace
A form from the SGK (Social Security Institution) system showing the social security premium debt status of the workplace of which the foreign person is the owner or partner
Written statement that the company has not been penalized in the last 6 months in administrative audits conducted by public departments. If a penalty has been received, the relevant documents must be added

The General Directorate of International Labor Force of the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services reviews all employment applications.

Applications without any deficiencies are resulting within 7 (seven) business days. In applications made with incomplete data and documents, 30 (thirty) days are given to the applicant in order to complete the deficiency.

Applications that are not completed within this process will be rejected. As a result of the evaluations made, the results of the applications regarding foreign people who are determined to meet the necessary conditions are notified to the applicant with the Ministry of Interior.

Can Foreign Entrepreneurs Buy An Existing Company That Already Has 50 Employees?

Foreign Direct Investment Law and connected regulations in Turkey have the equal treatment principle. Which means that foreign investors have the same rights and obligations as local investors. Therefore, conditions for setting up business, asset/share transfer, merger and acquisition are the same as those applied to local entrepreneurs. Thus, foreign investors might establish as well as take over any form of company set out in the Turkish Commercial Code.

On the other hand, foreign investors must not forget about the six months of employment requirement. Because according to the related instructions, the applicant in person has to be the employer of those 50 Turkish Citizens for at least 6 months before applying for citizenship.

However, since the reduction of investment limits (19.09.2018), there are not many applications regarding the ensuring employment option. Therefore, even the officers at the application authority are still not sure about the applicability of such a situation. There was the requirement of being the employer for at least 6 months. Furthermore, this procedure is not yet annulled even after the reduction of investment limits. Nevertheless, with the determined law it is expected to be annulled for the employer only.

In short, even if international investors buy an existing business/company with 50 employees there is a 6 months condition. They have to be the employer of those employees at least for 6 months before applying for Turkish citizenship.

Hiring 50 employees might sound too much. On the bright side, investors are not obliged to hire 50 employees for one certain business. For example, foreign investors can hire 35 employees for a restaurant, 10 employees for café and 5 employees for another business. Turkish citizenship is acceptable, as long as the total number of the employees is at least 50.

Creation of Job and Other Ways for Turkish Citizenship

Turkish citizenship can be acquired in several ways, involving marriage or employment or living for a certain period. Another option is making investment in Turkey. Accordingly, those who fulfill the requirements set out in the law can easily get Turkish citizenship after filing the required documents.

Although the most famous option for citizenship is to buy at least US$ 400,000 worth of real estate, there are several other opportunities introduced the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. In this respect, the applicable legislation proposes the following investments options to foreign people to qualify for Turkish citizenship:

Investment of Fixed Capital: Invested a fixed capital investment at least for an amount of US$ 500,000.00 or its equivalent in any other currency and determination of such investment by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Purchase of Real Property: Accordingly, any foreign person applying for Turkish citizenship based on purchase of a real estate must undertake not to sell the relevant real estate for 3 (three) years as of the acquisition.

Ensuring Employment: Having generated employment for at least 50 (fifty) workers; and determination of such employment by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services.

Purchase of Government Bonds: Having purchased government debt instruments with a value of US$ 500,000.00 or its equivalent in any other currency (excluding TRL), provided that the instruments are kept in reserve for the following 3 (three) years; and determination of such purchase by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance.

It is significant to emphasize that Turkish citizenship acquired through one of the above investment categories provides the applicant the same status as Turkish citizens who have acquired citizenship by birth. That is to say, those who achieve Turkish citizenship by investment will have the same citizenship rights as enjoyed by other citizens.

Benefits of Turkish Citizenship

One of the main benefits of applying for Turkey’s citizenship program is that it takes about three to four months for your application to be approved. This means you can obtain citizenship in practically no time. You will not even have to attend any formal interview, nor will you have to travel Turkey before, during, or after your application. To top it off, investors will have access to an incredible property market.

The main applicant can involve their spouse, dependent children below 18, and children of any age who are differently abled in their application. Have peace of mind knowing that your family members have access to the same Turkish citizenship advantages as you. Turkey is currently participating in talks to join the European Union. Turkish citizens can enjoy eventual visa-free trips across the EU. Obtain a passport in your hands within four months, with no minimum residency period required and enjoy visa-free travel opportunities.