Turkey Citizenship by Marriage

Turkey citizenship by marriage has always been a preferred method in terms of citizenship acquisition. With the increase of globalization and the development of technology, the relations of people from different nationalities have also increased. As a natural result of this increase, people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage have increased as well as in all parts of the world.

In a study on the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage, the rate of increase of people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship over years is included.

According to the report of the  Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs included in the study, while 2000 people applied for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage in a year in 2005, this number increased to approximately 8500 in 2015.

In this study, we will discuss the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage, which is very much wondered by people. The conditions for acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage, the procedure, and the legal consequences of acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage are among the topics we will examine.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Conditions

The acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is regulated in Article 16 of the Turkish Citizenship Law. In the provision, there are conditions that people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage must fulfill. Persons meet these conditions can apply by submitting the necessary documents to the relevant authorities.

The fact that the Turkey citizenship by marriage application has been made does not directly provide Turkish citizenship to applicant. Turkey citizenship by marriage conditions are as follows:

1. Get Married with Turkish Citizen:

The person who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage should marry a Turkish citizen. Besides, the marriage has to be real. Fake marriages for the purpose of obtaining citizenship are invalid.

The marriage must also be legally valid. In this respect, the formal conditions and substantial conditions of the marriage must be completed.

The marriage capacity is subject to the national law of the parties. In terms of Turkish law, some of these conditions are the fact that the parties are over the age of 17, they have different genders, and that the marriage was made in front of the registrar.

2. Time Requirement:

In order to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage, the marriage must last at least three years. There are no exceptions in this regard.

3. Continuation of Marriage:

The marriage of the person who applies for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage must continue at the time of application.

4. Living in Family Unity

Another condition sought for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is living in a marriage union. Spouses must prove that they do not live alone and apart, and that there is a marriage union.

5. The Absence of Acts Incompatible with the Marriage Union:

Another condition sought for the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is that spouses should not have behaviors that are incompatible with marriage. The presence of such behavior will give the impression that the marriage is fake.

6. Not to Pose a Threat to National Security and Public Order:

Persons who acts contrary to national security and public order will not be able to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage. In this respect, it is forbidden for married people that violate public order. It is also prohibited for marriage that disruptive to public order.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Process

The procedure for acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage begins with an application to the competent authorities. In order to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage, individuals must apply in person.

After completing the  application form, the required documents must be submitted. The required documents are as follows:

  • Request form
  • Identity registration copy of the Turkish citizen spouse,
  • Passport or similar document showing the citizenship of the person
  • Document showing the identity of the person
  • If the place of residence is in Turkey, the recent residence document
  • If there is a finalized court decision due to any crime, a certified copy of it,
  • Service fee receipt

After the documents listed above are collected by the competent authority, a security investigation is carried out by the police department. In this investigation, matters such as whether the marriage is real and whether there is a threat to public order are investigated.

Then the file is sent to the “Citizenship Application Review Commission”. An opinion report is received from the commission for the application.

After all the documents are completed, the Ministry of Interior makes the final decision about acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage. The said decision is first notified to the application authority.

Finally, the decision made by the ministry of interior is notified to the parties.

Turkey Citizenship by Marriage Legal Consequences

The acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage has some consequences. From the positive decision of the ministry of interior, citizenship has results. The person who acquires Turkey citizenship by marriage is in the same status as those who acquired citizenship by birth. They have equal rights and obligations.

1. Dual Citizenship:

Turkey is one of the countries that accept dual citizenship. Therefore, the previous citizenship of the person who acquired Turkey citizenship by marriage does not cause any problems. However, it should also be investigated whether dual citizenship is accepted in terms of the person’s previous citizenship.

2. Military Service:

Another result regarding the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is related to military service. According to the regulation made on this subject, some persons are deemed to have completed their military service. These people are those, who have done their military service in his own country and those who have completed the age of 22.

3. Citizenship of Children:

Another issue is the citizenship status of the children of the person who acquired Turkey citizenship by marriage. The children of the person who acquires Turkey citizenship by marriage will be born as Turkish citizens anyway.

If the person who acquires Turkish citizenship has another child, the children who are in custody will acquire Turkish citizenship if the other spouse gives consent.

Conclusion

Acquiring Turkey citizenship by marriage has been a preferred method for many years. Marriage and family are very important issues regarding public order. For this reason, the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage is subject to strict conditions. For the same reason, authorities are trying to prevent the acquisition of citizenship by making fake marriages, and inspections are carried out.

As we explained in detail above, people who want to acquire Turkey citizenship by marriage can obtain the necessary documents and application. Since the procedure is detailed, it is necessary to follow the procedures carefully.

Topo Law Firm has been following the citizenship process for its domestic and foreign clients since 2015. If you want to get detailed information about this subject from our lawyers who are experts in their fields, do not forget to contact us.

FAQ About Turkey Citizenship by Marriage

1. How do I get Turkish citizenship by marriage?

If the necessary conditions are met and the necessary documents are submitted, Turkish citizenship can be acquired through marriage.

2. Can a foreigner marry a Turkish girl?

Of course, in Turkish legislation, there is no prohibition on the marriage of people of different nationalities.

3. How long does it take Turkish citizenship by marriage?

Acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage results in approximately 6 or 7 months after the documents are submitted to the Ministry of Interior. However, it can be decided in a shorter time, and if there are deficiencies in the documents, the process may take up to one or two years until the deficiencies are completed.

4. Does the name and surname change in the acquisition of Turkey citizenship by marriage?

In the acquisition of Turkish citizenship by marriage, the previous name and surname may continue to be used, if they are written in accordance with the Turkish spelling rules.