Marrying a Turkish citizen provides foreign nationals with significant convenience in obtaining Turkish citizenship; however, it does not automatically confer a right to citizenship. Acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage is regulated in Article 16 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and is subject to the existence of certain legal conditions and to review by the administration.

In this article, we address the basic conditions required by the law and the application process for applying for Turkish citizenship through marriage.

What Are the Conditions for a Citizenship Application Through Marriage?

In order for a foreign national to apply for citizenship on the basis of their Turkish-citizen spouse, they must meet all of the following conditions together:

  • A marriage of at least 3 years: As of the application date, the marriage must have been continuing for at least 3 years.
  • Living in family unity: The spouses must lead a common life in accordance with the marital union and live in family unity.
  • Not engaging in activities incompatible with the marital union: The foreign spouse must refrain from conduct incompatible with the dignity and purpose of the institution of marriage (for example, facilitating prostitution, resorting to immoral means of income, etc.).
  • Not constituting an obstacle in terms of national security and public order: One of the most fundamental conditions is that the applicant must not pose any threat to Türkiye’s national security and public order.

Important exception: If the Turkish-citizen spouse passes away after the application, the condition of “living in family unity” is not sought. However, the existence of the other conditions and whether the marriage was maintained in good faith until the moment of death are examined.

Application Process and Review Stages

Foreign nationals meeting the conditions may apply in person or through a special power of attorney to the Provincial Directorates of Population and Citizenship within the country, and to Turkish Consulates abroad.

After the application, an interview is conducted by the “Citizenship Application Review Commission.” In this interview, it is meticulously investigated whether the marriage is genuine or a “sham (fictitious) marriage” entered into solely to obtain citizenship. Covert and overt investigations are carried out through the police directorate as to whether the spouses live in the same home.

Processes for acquiring citizenship through marriage contain technical details in terms of procedure and principles. In order not to suffer loss of rights and to ensure the process progresses swiftly, it is advisable to obtain support from a lawyer specialized in immigration law.