Turkish Citizenship by Investment: FAQ
Official Valuation, Gedaş Değerleme Reports, and Buyer Protection
For Turkish citizenship by property investment, the official property value is not set by the seller, the agent, or a private appraiser—it is measured by a government-recognised expert appraisal report. In practice, only reports issued through the authorised Turkish valuation framework—delivered by Gedaş Değerleme—are used to confirm whether a property meets the current USD 400,000 investment requirement.
At Maximos Real Estate, all properties we present for citizenship-oriented buyers are supported by this official expert report process. This reduces valuation fraud, fake eligibility claims, and the risk of paying for property that later fails the citizenship file.
Practical process note: most buyers complete purchase, banking, and citizenship filing remotely through a lawyer, receive investor-related residence permission and family travel support during review, visit Turkey for about two days for fingerprints, and collect the passport and ID at a Turkish embassy after approval.
Official Expert Report on Every Property
To protect foreign buyers from scam and fraud, all properties we offer for Turkish citizenship investment are supported by an official expert appraisal report. These reports are prepared under the Turkish government valuation system by Gedaş Değerleme—not by the seller, not by the marketing agency, and not by an unlicensed private valuer.
Only Gedaş Değerleme can deliver the expert appraisal report that measures the registered value of the property and confirms whether it meets the legal investment threshold for citizenship eligibility. If a report is missing, outdated, or issued outside this channel, the citizenship property file may be rejected regardless of what was promised in a brochure or listing.
This FAQ answers the most common questions foreign buyers ask about official valuation, eligibility, and fraud prevention before they buy. For the full procedure, see the citizenship process guide; for fees, see citizenship costs; to compare residency, see citizenship vs residency.
Why the Official Expert Report Matters
Citizenship eligibility is assessed against the official appraised value recorded for the property—not the contract price, not the developer’s list price, and not an informal “market estimate” from a sales office.
- The report is part of the evidence authorities review with TAPU and payment records.
- A property marketed at $400,000 can still fail if the Gedaş Değerleme appraisal comes in lower.
- Buyers who skip official valuation often discover the problem only after funds are transferred.
Treating the expert report as optional is one of the most expensive mistakes in citizenship-by-investment purchases.
What Is Gedaş Değerleme?
Gedaş Değerleme is the Turkish government expert valuation company used in the official property appraisal process relevant to registry and citizenship compliance. Its report documents the measured value of the asset in the format expected for legal and administrative review.
Foreign buyers do not need to understand every technical step of Turkish valuation law, but they should understand this rule clearly:
Only Gedaş Değerleme can deliver the expert appraisal report that determines whether the property value fits citizenship requirements. Other documents—private letters, agency valuations, or developer certificates—do not replace it.
How This Helps Avoid Scam and Fraud
International buyers are sometimes shown inflated prices, unofficial “valuation summaries,” or promises that citizenship is guaranteed with a deposit. Common red flags include:
- Pressure to pay before an official Gedaş Değerleme report exists
- Valuation figures that exist only in marketing PDFs, not in the legal file
- Sellers who refuse to align contract price, TAPU value, and official appraisal
- Claims that any local appraiser’s letter is “enough” for citizenship
- Listings labelled “citizenship eligible” without registry-backed evidence
Requiring the Gedaş Değerleme expert report on all properties is a practical anti-fraud standard: you see the measured value before you treat the asset as a citizenship vehicle.
How the Report Fits the Investment Threshold
Under current rules, qualifying investment is typically at least USD 400,000 based on official valuation. The Gedaş Değerleme report is the reference point for that test—not your invoice total alone.
When reviewing citizenship-eligible properties, confirm:
- The report is current and matches the property you are buying
- The appraised value meets or exceeds the program minimum
- The TAPU transfer will be registered in your name with consistent documentation
- Payment records are traceable and align with the file
Maximos Policy for Citizenship Buyers
For buyers using our citizenship-oriented shortlist:
- All properties are supported by the official expert report process through Gedaş Değerleme.
- We do not rely on seller-only valuation claims for citizenship eligibility.
- We coordinate purchase, TAPU, and documentation awareness—but independent legal counsel remains essential for your file.
This policy is designed to give foreign buyers the same measurable standard Turkish authorities expect, before money is committed—not after.
Remote Process: Lawyer-Led Filing and Minimal Time in Turkey
A point many foreign buyers miss: you do not need to live in Turkey or make repeated trips to complete citizenship by property investment. With a properly structured file and an experienced lawyer, most of the process is handled remotely.
What your lawyer can arrange without you relocating
- Property purchase coordination — due diligence, contract review, and purchase steps aligned with citizenship rules (often with power of attorney for registry steps)
- Opening a Turkish bank account — required for traceable payments and many file structures
- Citizenship application preparation and submission — dossier assembly, online or administrative filing channels as applicable, and follow-up with authorities
- Document translations, tax ID, and file corrections — handled in Turkey on your behalf
You still choose the property and approve major decisions. The lawyer executes the legal workflow—not a marketing agent acting alone.
Investor residence permit and family travel during the application
While the citizenship application is under review, applicants are typically placed on an investor-related residence track that supports legal stay in Turkey during processing. In practice this means:
- The main applicant receives residence status suited to the investment citizenship file (often discussed as an investor residence permit in the industry)
- Eligible family members included in the same citizenship application (spouse and dependent children under 18, subject to current rules) generally receive linked residence permission and multi-entry travel facilitation for Turkey while the file is active
This is not the final citizenship outcome—it is interim legal stay and entry support while authorities review the nationality file. Exact permit names and stamp rules change; your lawyer confirms the current investor-residence category for your case.
Only two days in Turkey: biometric fingerprints
The main in-person requirement for the applicant is short: approximately two days in Turkey to register biometric fingerprints in the national system. That fingerprint appointment is the critical physical step tied to identity records for citizenship processing.
Outside that visit, ongoing presence in Turkey is not generally required for purchase coordination (when using power of attorney), file submission, or waiting during authority review.
Passport and ID: collect at the Turkish embassy abroad
After approval, Turkish citizenship documents are normally collected from the Turkish embassy or consulate in your country of residence—for example the Turkish passport and Turkish national ID card (kimlik).
- You do not usually need to return to Turkey solely to pick up the passport
- Embassy appointments, additional photos, and local collection timelines vary by consulate
- Family members included in the approval follow the consular process applicable to each person
Plan embassy logistics with your lawyer once the approval letter stage is reached.
Immigration practice evolves. Residence categories, visa stamps, fingerprint scheduling, and consular collection rules must be confirmed with qualified Turkish legal counsel at the time of your application—not inferred from old forum posts or sales brochures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every property need a Gedaş Değerleme report for citizenship?
For citizenship by investment, an official expert appraisal in the authorised format is required. At Maximos, all properties we present for this route are supported by the Gedaş Değerleme report process so buyers are not left to discover valuation gaps later.
Can I use a private appraiser instead?
No. For this purpose, only the official expert appraisal delivered through Gedaş Değerleme measures the property value for citizenship eligibility. Private or agency valuations are not a substitute.
What if the listing price is above $400,000 but the report is lower?
The official report governs the investment test. You should renegotiate, choose another asset, or adjust strategy before you transfer large sums—not after TAPU.
Is a citizenship badge on a listing enough proof?
A badge or label is a guide only. Eligibility depends on official valuation, clean title, compliant property type, and a complete citizenship file. Always review the underlying Gedaş Değerleme report and legal status.
When is the report prepared?
Timing follows the purchase and registry workflow. The important point for buyers is that the report must exist and support the file before citizenship eligibility is treated as confirmed—verbal promises are not sufficient.
Does the report replace a lawyer?
No. The report answers the valuation question; a lawyer answers title, contract, and file-structure questions. See our property lawyer in Turkey guide for legal support alongside valuation.
Where do I see citizenship-eligible properties with this standard?
Browse citizenship-eligible properties and request the official report summary for any shortlist before you reserve or pay a deposit.
Can the whole citizenship process be done online through a lawyer?
Most of it, yes. Lawyers routinely coordinate property purchase steps, bank account opening, and citizenship application filing on your behalf. You are not expected to relocate to Turkey for months of processing.
How many days must I be present in Turkey?
For many applicants, the critical in-person step is short: approximately two days in Turkey for biometric fingerprint registration. Other stages are often handled with power of attorney and remote legal coordination.
What residence rights do I have during the application?
While the citizenship file is under review, the main applicant is typically placed on an investor-related residence basis. Eligible family members in the same application generally receive linked residence permission and multi-entry travel facilitation for Turkey until a decision is issued.
Where do I collect the Turkish passport?
After approval, the Turkish passport and national ID are usually collected from the Turkish embassy or consulate in your country—you generally do not need to return to Turkey only to pick up documents.
View Citizenship-Eligible Properties
Review listings supported by official Gedaş Değerleme expert reports and the current USD 400,000 threshold framework.
