Turkey Residence by Investment
Secure Turkish residency through a $200,000+ property investment — affordable access to a G20 economy, world-class healthcare, and a pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.
Turkey's RBI program offers property-based residency from $200K in a G20 economy with 1–4 month processing, renewable permits, and a pathway to citizenship after 5 years.
Program Overview
Turkey's Residence by Investment program offers legal residency through property purchase starting at $200,000 — half the cost of the Turkish CBI program. The property-based short-term residence permit, governed by Law No. 6458 and administered by the DGMM, provides a renewable 1–2 year permit with a pathway to permanent residency after 8 years and citizenship through naturalisation after 5 years. The minimum was raised from $75,000 to $200,000 in October 2023. Processing takes 1–4 months depending on the city (faster in smaller cities, longer in Istanbul).
The program suits retirees, remote workers, and property investors seeking legal status in a G20 economy bridging Europe and Asia. Since January 2025, rental-based residence permits can no longer be renewed — only property ownership qualifies. Turkey also launched a Digital Nomad Visa in April 2024 for remote workers from 36 eligible countries earning $3,000+/month. Important: neighbourhoods where foreign residents exceed 20–25% of the population are closed to new permit applications, even for property owners.
Key Benefits
- Affordable entry: $200,000 buys legal residency in a G20 economy — the lowest real estate entry point among major economies.
- Tangible asset: Property can appreciate and generate rental income in high-demand markets like Istanbul, Antalya, or Bodrum.
- Pathway to citizenship: After 5 years of legal residence, apply for citizenship through naturalisation. Dual citizenship fully permitted.
- World-class healthcare: Top-5 global medical tourism destination. Private hospitals match European standards at 50–80% lower cost.
- Low cost of living: 60–70% below Western Europe. Comfortable single living at $1,200–$2,000/month, families at $2,000–$3,500/month.
- Strategic location: Istanbul within 4 hours of 65+ countries. EU Customs Union access, free trade with 30+ nations.
Risks and Considerations
- No passport benefits: A residence permit does not grant visa-free travel. For passport benefits, you need the CBI ($400K) or naturalisation after 5 years.
- No work rights: The property-based permit does not include work authorisation. A separate work permit is required for local employment.
- Neighbourhood restrictions: Hundreds of areas with 20%+ foreign residents are closed to new permits. Verify foreign ratio with local Population Directorate before purchase.
- Long path to permanent residency: 8 years continuous residence required — longer than Panama (immediate) or Portugal (5 years). Absences over 6 months may reset the clock.
- Threshold may increase: Turkey raised the minimum from $75K to $200K in Oct 2023 (167% increase). Further adjustments are possible.
