Turkish Citizenship by Birth and Descent
Legal Review of Descent and Population Records
Turkish citizenship may be acquired by birth on the basis of descent or place of birth. Turkish citizenship acquired by birth is acquired automatically and takes effect from the moment of birth.
Regardless of whether the child was born inside or outside Türkiye, the fact that one of the child's parents was a Turkish citizen at the time of birth is the fundamental element for acquiring Turkish citizenship by descent. It is no obstacle that the other parent is a citizen of a foreign state.
Canaydın Law Firm provides legal services in determining citizenship status based on a Turkish mother or father, registering births abroad with the population registry, late birth notifications, reviewing old population and family records, and resolving descent and record discrepancies.
- Review of Descent and Citizenship Status
- Review of Documents
In Which Cases Can a Descent- or Birth-Based Procedure Be Carried Out?
01 — Those Born to a Turkish Mother or Father
A child born within marriage, in Türkiye or abroad, to a mother or father who is a Turkish citizen is a Turkish citizen. It is sufficient for only one of the parents to be a Turkish citizen. The fact that the child has also acquired the citizenship of another country does not, on its own, prevent the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by descent.
02 — Children Born Out of Wedlock
A child born out of wedlock to a Turkish citizen mother and a foreign father acquires Turkish citizenship by birth. For a child born out of wedlock to a Turkish citizen father and a foreign mother, however, the descent relationship with the father must be legally established. The establishment of the descent relationship through means such as acknowledgment, subsequent marriage to the mother or a court decision determining paternity is important for citizenship and population registration.
03 — Persons Born Abroad but Not Registered in Türkiye
For persons who were born abroad to a Turkish mother or father but whose birth was never reported to the Turkish population records, the registration and citizenship status can be regularized afterwards. In particular, if the person applies after reaching the age of 18, registration in the family register can be carried out only if the Ministry determines, following its examination, that the person acquired Turkish citizenship through a Turkish citizen mother or father.
Having turned 18 does not eliminate citizenship. Having turned 18 does not mean that citizenship acquired at birth by descent lapses automatically. However, the determination and registration procedure applied to previously unreported births abroad differs.
04 — Applications Based on Old Population Records and Family Ties
Where the mother or father appears in the old Turkish population records, the record is closed, there are discrepancies in name or date of birth, or the person is registered abroad with different identity details, the citizenship status is examined through the chain of documents.
In these files, in particular:
Does Being Born in Türkiye Alone Confer Turkish Citizenship?
No. Türkiye, in general, does not consider birth in Türkiye alone sufficient for Turkish citizenship.
However, a child born in Türkiye who cannot acquire the citizenship of any state at birth through the mother or father is a Turkish citizen from birth. A child found in Türkiye is also deemed to have been born in Türkiye unless proven otherwise.
Birth in Türkiye ≠ automatic Turkish citizenship. Citizenship on the basis of place of birth applies in special cases where the child cannot acquire any citizenship from the mother or father.
Registration of Children Born Abroad with the Population Registry
As a rule, the birth of a child born abroad must be notified to the Turkish foreign mission within 60 days. If no notification has been made, the procedure can also be carried out later before the population directorate in Türkiye.
In the procedure concerning a birth abroad, the birth certificate issued by the foreign country and the family records are checked for consistency with the Turkish population records.
In particular:
Birth Notifications Made After the Age of 18
In the file of a person who was born abroad, has reached the age of 18 and whose birth was not previously reported to the Turkish population records, a normal child birth registration is not carried out directly.
The Ministry examines whether citizenship was acquired from birth through the Turkish citizen mother or father. In these files, the birth certificate, the person's foreign identity, marital status documents and documents establishing the family tie are important.
Old Population Records and Investigation of Descent
In some files, the problem lies less in the birth certificate than in establishing the old population records of the mother or father who is claimed to be a Turkish citizen.
In this case:
In files based on more than one generation, merely establishing that "there is a Turkish grandfather or grandmother" is not sufficient. The chain of citizenship and descent must be established through documents for each generation.
What We Do for You
Preliminary Review of Citizenship and Descent
A legal assessment is made of the citizenship claim based on a Turkish mother or father, using the existing population and marital status records.
Review of Old Population Records
Old population records relating to the Turkish parent or family, closed records and family connections are assessed.
Review of Birth Documents from Abroad
The consistency of the birth certificate, family records and foreign identity documents with the Turkish population records is checked.
Late Birth Notification and Determination of Citizenship
The procedure to be applied to late birth notifications made before or after the age of 18 is determined and the file is prepared.
Procedures for Establishing Descent
In particular for persons born out of wedlock to a Turkish father and a foreign mother, acknowledgment, paternity and other descent procedures are assessed.
Resolving Record Discrepancies
The effect on the file of discrepancies in first name, surname, date of birth, place of birth and family details is examined, and the necessary population and document procedures are carried out.
Apostille, Translation and Certification Procedures
The apostille or consular certification, translation and notary processes required for documents obtained from foreign countries to be used in Türkiye are coordinated.
Population Registration and Subsequent Procedures
After the citizenship or birth record is established, registration in the family register, the identity card and, where necessary, passport procedures are followed.
How the Process Works
- 01
Review of the Family and Citizenship History
The Turkish citizen mother or father on whom the citizenship claim is based is identified.
- 02
Review of Turkish Population Records
The population and citizenship records of the parent and, where necessary, of previous generations are reviewed.
- 03
Checking Foreign Documents
Documents showing birth, marriage, death, identity and the family tie are compared.
- 04
Establishing the Descent and Record Chain
The legal family tie between the Turkish citizenship record and the applicant is demonstrated through documents.
- 05
Resolving Record Discrepancies
If there are discrepancies in names, surnames, dates or marital status, the necessary procedures are determined before the application.
- 06
Preparation of the Application and Registration File
Depending on the nature of the application, the birth notification, citizenship determination or population registration file is prepared.
- 07
Administrative Review and Follow-Up
The review and requests for additional documents before the Population and Citizenship Affairs authorities and other necessary bodies are followed.
- 08
Population Record, Identity and Passport
Once the procedure is successfully completed, the population record and the related identity procedures are carried out.
Do You Have an Ongoing Descent or Registration File?
In birth registration, citizenship determination or descent files that have already been initiated, the remaining procedures can be determined by reviewing the existing documents and the administrative stage.
Was Your Application Rejected or Your Citizenship Not Determined?
If a request for citizenship or population registration based on descent is rejected, the grounds of the decision and the administrative or judicial remedies available are assessed separately.