Turkish citizenship by marriage is acquired by a foreign national who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, whose marriage is still ongoing, and who applies under Article 16 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. Marriage alone does not grant citizenship automatically: an application must be filed, family unity is investigated, and the decision is made by the Ministry of Interior.
Author: Av. Egemen Yasin Şahalioğlu · Istanbul Bar Registration No. 66465 · Last updated: 24.10.2026
Table of contents
- Short answer
- Requirements for citizenship by marriage
- How is the three-year period calculated?
- Documents required for the application
- The application process step by step
- Grounds for refusal and how to challenge them
- Divorce or death of the spouse
- Frequently asked questions
- Official sources
Short answer
- Legal basis: Article 16 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law.
- Core requirement: at least 3 years of marriage to a Turkish citizen, with the marriage still continuing.
- Where to apply: the provincial civil registry directorate in Turkey, or a Turkish embassy or consulate abroad.
- Residence in Turkey: the law does not require a separate minimum period of residence in Turkey.
- Decision: made by the Ministry of Interior; meeting the conditions does not guarantee that citizenship will be granted.
Requirements for citizenship by marriage
Under Article 16 of the law, the foreign applicant must meet all of the following conditions together:
- Being married for at least three years to a Turkish citizen, with the marriage still ongoing,
- Living together as a family (family unity),
- Not engaging in any activity incompatible with the continuation of the marriage,
- Not posing an obstacle in terms of national security and public order.
These conditions must be met on the date of application and must continue until a decision is made. In practice, the condition that causes the most difficulty is showing that the couple actually live together as a family.
How is the three-year period calculated?
The period runs from the date the marriage was officially concluded until the date of application. Points to keep in mind:
- A marriage concluded abroad must be registered in the Turkish civil registry. If it has not been registered, this must be done first.
- A religious-only marriage or a period of cohabitation does not count towards the three years; only the official civil marriage counts.
- Time spent in a previous marriage is not added to a new marriage.
Documents required for the application
The current document list is provided by the provincial civil registry directorate or the consulate. The following are usually requested:
- Application form and biometric photograph,
- Passport or equivalent document, with a certified Turkish translation,
- Birth certificate and certificate of marital status (apostilled or legalised by a consulate, with Turkish translation),
- Marriage certificate and the Turkish spouse’s civil registry record,
- Residence permit, if any,
- Receipt showing payment of the application fee.
For the legalisation and translation rules for foreign documents, see our guide to power of attorney and apostille from abroad.
The application process step by step
- Preparing documents: foreign documents are apostilled or legalised by a consulate and translated into Turkish with notarial certification.
- Application: the spouses apply together at the provincial civil registry directorate or the Turkish mission abroad.
- Family unity investigation: the police or the relevant unit may check on site whether the spouses live together.
- Interview: the citizenship investigation commission may interview each spouse separately.
- Security investigation and forwarding of the file to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
- Decision: with a positive decision the applicant acquires Turkish citizenship; the ID card and passport procedures follow.
The timeline varies by file and by province. While waiting, the foreign spouse must keep a lawful stay in Turkey; a family residence permit is usually used for this.
Grounds for refusal and how to challenge them
Applications are most often refused for the following reasons:
- The family unity investigation finds that the spouses do not live together,
- Findings that the marriage was entered into solely to obtain citizenship,
- Public order or security records,
- Missing or contradictory documents and statements.
An action for annulment of the refusal may be filed before the administrative court within 60 days of notification (Article 7 of Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577). For details, see our page on administrative cases for foreigners; check the deadline carefully against the date of notification.
Divorce or death of the spouse
- Divorce after citizenship is acquired: if the marriage was entered into in good faith, a later divorce does not automatically end citizenship.
- Divorce during the application: since the marriage condition no longer exists, the application cannot succeed.
- Death of the Turkish spouse after the application: Article 16(2) of the law does not require the family unity condition in this case.
- Sham marriage: if it is later established that the marriage was entered into only for citizenship, citizenship may be revoked.
For the divorce procedure, see our guide to divorce in Turkey for foreigners. For those who want citizenship without waiting for the marriage period, an alternative route is Turkish citizenship by investment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I become a Turkish citizen immediately after marrying a Turkish citizen?
No. At least three years of marriage and family unity are required; an application is then filed and a decision is awaited.
Do I have to live in Turkey to obtain citizenship by marriage?
The law does not set a specific period of residence. If the couple live abroad, the application is made to a Turkish embassy or consulate; however, it must be shown that family unity continues.
What questions are asked at the interview?
Questions usually cover how the spouses met, their life together, family details and daily routines. The aim is to understand whether the marriage is genuine.
Is dual citizenship possible?
Turkish law permits dual citizenship. Whether you can keep your current citizenship depends on the law of your own country.
Can I reapply after a refusal?
A new application is possible if the conditions are met. However, an application filed without addressing the reason for refusal may lead to the same result, so the grounds should be reviewed first.
Official sources
- Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (mevzuat.gov.tr)
- General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs
- Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577
Av. Egemen Yasin Şahalioğlu — attorney registered with the Istanbul Bar (No. 66465), practising since 2019. Egemen Global Law Office, Skyland Istanbul, Sarıyer. Consultations in Turkish, English, Arabic and Persian. Phone/WhatsApp: +90 532 276 80 85 · lawyer@egemenyasinsahalioglu.av.tr
This article is for general information only and does not replace legal advice on the specific facts of your case. No particular outcome is promised for any application.