Turkish Citizenship by the Private Pension System (BES)
We Handle Your BES Investment and Your Citizenship Process Together
Turkish citizenship can be applied for by keeping a contribution of at least USD 500,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, in funds determined by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency, and by the investor remaining in the system for three years.
Canaydın Law Firm manages the process from the preliminary assessment of the investor and family, through the procedures with the pension company and the bank, the conversion of the foreign currency into Turkish lira, the establishment of the BES contract, the suitability letter, the investor residence permit and the Turkish citizenship application, up to the procedures at the end of the three-year period.
The procedures can be carried out on behalf of the investor under a power of attorney drawn up in accordance with the practice of the pension company and the bank.
What We Do for You
Preliminary Assessment of the Investor and Family
The nationality, marital status and existing documents of the main investor, as well as the application status of the spouse and children under the age of 18, are assessed.
Power of Attorney and Preparation of Procedures
A power of attorney suitable for the procedures with the pension company, the bank, residence and citizenship is prepared; the tax number, translation and notary procedures are carried out.
Pension Company and Citizenship Plan
A new individual pension contract is established on behalf of the investor, and the investor is enrolled in a pension plan whose name includes the word "citizenship". The contribution required for citizenship is paid under a single contract; the investment amount cannot be divided among more than one BES contract.
Deposit of the Investment Amount with the Bank
The foreign currency or cash required for citizenship may be deposited at the partner bank designated by the pension company or transferred to the bank account. The consistency of the bank and payment documents with the investor, contract and contribution information is checked.
Conversion into Turkish Lira
The foreign currency deposited or transferred to the bank is sold through the bank to the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye and converted into Turkish lira. The Turkish lira amount obtained from the sale of the foreign currency is transferred to the account of the pension company as the BES contribution.
Commitment to Remain in the System for Three Years
When the BES proposal form is drawn up, the investor gives a commitment to remain in the system for three years. The three-year period begins on the date the pension contract enters into force, when the Turkish lira contribution reaches the pension company.
Suitability Letter
The pension company submits the investment and contract documents to SEDDK through the Pension Monitoring Center. If the documents and investment conditions are found suitable, SEDDK issues a suitability letter.
Residence and Citizenship Procedures
Following the suitability letter, the investor residence permit, Turkish citizenship, biometric procedures, population registration, Turkish identity card and passport procedures are carried out.
How the Process Works
- 01
Assessment of the Investor and Family Structure
The application status of the main investor, the spouse and children under the age of 18, and the family documents are reviewed.
- 02
Determination of the Pension Company and Procedural Structure
The pension company offering the citizenship pension plan, the partner bank and the conditions for carrying out the procedures by power of attorney are assessed.
- 03
Power of Attorney and Tax Number
A power of attorney covering BES, banking, residence and citizenship procedures is prepared; the tax number, translation and notary procedures are completed.
- 04
Establishment of the Citizenship Pension Plan
A new BES contract is prepared on behalf of the investor, the passport details and the governorate where the residence application will be made are recorded in the system, and the commitment to remain in the system for three years is obtained.
- 05
Deposit of the Contribution with the Bank
An amount of at least USD 500,000, or the equivalent in foreign currency, is deposited in cash at the bank designated by the pension company or transferred to the bank account.
- 06
Conversion of the Foreign Currency into Turkish Lira
The foreign currency or cash is sold through the bank to the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Turkish lira amount obtained is transferred to the citizenship BES contract as the contribution.
- 07
Entry into Force of the BES Contract
When the Turkish lira contribution reaches the account of the pension company, the contract enters into force and the three-year period of remaining in the system begins.
- 08
Allocation to Funds
The contribution is invested in the pension investment funds permitted under the citizenship pension plan.
- 09
Conformity Application
From the time the contribution converted into Turkish lira reaches the company's account, the pension company submits the relevant documents through the Pension Monitoring Center infrastructure. After the preliminary check by the EGM, the file is sent to SEDDK.
- 10
SEDDK Suitability Letter
If the investment and contract conditions are found suitable, SEDDK issues a suitability letter.
- 11
Investor Residence Permit
Following the suitability letter, the investor residence permit file is prepared and the biometric procedures required for the application are completed.
- 12
Turkish Citizenship Application
The citizenship files of the main investor, the spouse and the children under the age of 18 are prepared; apostille or consular certification, translation and notary procedures are completed. The citizenship application is made and the required biometric procedures are carried out.
- 13
Turkish Identity Card and Passport
Following the citizenship decision, the population registration, Turkish identity card and passport procedures are completed.
- 14
Procedures at the End of the Three-Year Period
After the three-year period is completed, the citizenship restrictions on the contract are lifted, the necessary name and identity updates are made, and the procedures for continuing in or leaving the system are carried out.
The BES Contract During the Three-Year Period
During the first three years:
No entry fee or management expense deduction is charged in citizenship pension plans. Funds whose titles include the words "foreign" or "external debt instruments" cannot be used under the plan.
Does a BES Investment Generate Returns?
The contribution is invested in the pension investment funds permitted under the citizenship pension plan. Depending on the performance of the funds, a return in favor of the investor may arise, but the value of the savings may also decrease.
If the savings in the BES account later fall below the equivalent of USD 500,000 because of the exchange rate or fund performance, this alone does not affect the citizenship application, provided that the three-year commitment to remain in the system and the other conditions are not violated.
Which Procedures Can Be Carried Out Without Coming to Türkiye?
The preparation of the power of attorney, the tax number, coordination with the pension company and the bank, the deposit of the contribution, the currency conversion, and the procedures up to the BES contract and the suitability letter can be carried out remotely within the framework of the practices of the pension company and the bank.
The pension company or the bank may require the investor to be present in person for identity verification and customer acceptance procedures.
At the investor residence permit and Turkish citizenship application stages, the main investor and the spouse must complete the required biometric procedures in Türkiye.
Applications of the Spouse and Children
The spouse and the children under the age of 18 of the main investor can apply for Turkish citizenship under the main investment, without paying a separate BES contribution.
- Marriage documents
- Birth certificates of the children
- Family registry documents
- Ages of the children
- Children from a previous marriage
- In case of divorce, the divorce decree and custody documents
- Consent of the other parent
- Discrepancies in birth and marital status records
- Apostille, certification, translation and notary requirements for the documents
Files Already Initiated
The files of investors who have previously started procedures with a pension company, signed a BES contract or paid a contribution can be reviewed from the current stage.
If a child is removed from the file or the child's application is rejected because the child turns 18 during the application, administrative appeal and lawsuit options are assessed separately.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How is citizenship through the Private Pension System (BES) assessed?
This route may be considered where a contribution equivalent to at least USD 500,000 in foreign currency is made to the private pension system and the investor remains in the system for at least three years. It is essential that the contribution be made in foreign currency and documented with a Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate.