Foreigners who wish to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage must meet certain conditions and submit all required documents completely. This process involves a detailed application and examination to prove that the marriage is genuine and that the applicant does not pose a security risk to Turkey.
1. Application Requirements
The basic conditions that foreigners applying for Turkish citizenship through marriage must meet are as follows:
At Least Three Years of Marriage: Foreign nationals married to a Turkish citizen must be in a marriage that has lasted for at least three years and is still ongoing. The marital union must be for the purpose of a genuine family unit, not solely for citizenship. Otherwise, if sham marriages or unions made for fraudulent purposes are detected, the application will be rejected.
Family Unity and Marital Union: It is important for spouses to maintain their marital union and continue family life. Behaviors that disrupt the marital union or are not welcomed by society (e.g., illegal activities) may lead to a negative outcome for the application.
Suitability for Public Security: The foreign applicant must not pose any threat to public security and social order. In particular, applications from individuals involved in activities such as terrorism, espionage, or organized crime will not be accepted. Detailed investigations conducted for national security and public order are an important part of the application process.
2. Required Documents
The following documents must be submitted completely for the application to be evaluated:
Application Form: This form, known as VAT-6 form, initiates the official application process.
Passport or Statelessness Certificate: These documents, proving the applicant’s identity information, must be submitted with the application.
Marriage Certificate and Civil Registry Record: A photocopy of the civil registry record and marriage certificate belonging to the Turkish citizen spouse is required.
Criminal Record: The absence of a criminal record for the applicant increases the likelihood of the application being accepted.
Residence Permit and Biometric Photograph: For those residing in Turkey, a residence permit and biometric photographs taken within the last six months are required(
3. Making an Appointment and Document Review
Applications are made to the Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs in Turkey, and to consulates abroad. Required documents are submitted after making an appointment.
Document Review: It is important for the documents to be complete for the application to be accepted. In case of missing documents, the application will not be processed.
4. Interview Stage
The foreign national applying for Turkish citizenship through marriage and their Turkish citizen spouse are subjected to an interview by a commission formed at the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs during the application process. The primary purpose of this interview is to assess whether the marriage is genuine and if a real family unit has been established. The interview stage is one of the most critical and comprehensive evaluation steps of the application.
The commission asks questions to gather information about the applicant couple’s lifestyles, shared decisions, daily routines, and the marriage process. During this process, it is thoroughly examined whether the marriage solely serves the purpose of acquiring citizenship. Following the interview, an opinion is formed after evaluating the consistency and sincerity of the couple’s answers. At this stage, if the commission provides a positive opinion, the application is sent to the Ministry of Interior, and the final decision is made by the Ministry.
5. Security and Public Order Criteria
It must be documented that the applicant does not pose a threat to national security or public order for Turkey. In this context, the applicant should not have any connection to illegal activities such as terrorist activities, human trafficking, or espionage. Individuals involved in such activities cannot apply for citizenship.
During the evaluation process of applications made by foreigners applying for Turkish citizenship through marriage, it is carefully examined whether the applicant currently has an ongoing trial or investigation. According to Articles 28 and 29 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law, applications from individuals whose trials are ongoing or who are under investigation at the time of application may not be accepted. This situation is important for determining whether the applicant poses a risk to public order and national security.
During the application process, the applicant’s criminal record and ongoing investigations are examined by the General Directorate of Security and the National Intelligence Organization. If the person is on trial for any crime, or has connections to crimes that could threaten public order, such as terrorist activities or human trafficking, the application process is directly affected by this situation. In such a case, the report prepared by the Provincial Directorate of Security is forwarded to the Ministry of Interior, and a final decision is made regarding the application. Particularly, individuals associated with crimes threatening national security lose their right to apply for citizenship(
During these examinations, the applicant’s personal background, criminal records, and judicial process are reviewed in detail. If the applicant can provide additional information or documents to support these examinations, they may be added to their file for evaluation of their situation. However, an ongoing trial or criminal investigation may result in the rejection of the application and prevent the applicant from acquiring Turkish citizenship. Therefore, it is important that any existing judicial status is resolved before applying.
6. Annulment Lawsuit Against the Rejection of a Turkish Citizenship Application Through Marriage
Individuals applying for Turkish citizenship through marriage may face rejection decisions during their application processes for various reasons. These reasons for rejection include not meeting the stipulated conditions during the application, incomplete or erroneous required documents, failure to rectify deficiencies within the given period, or a negative outcome of the interview process. When a rejection decision is made, this decision is officially notified to the applicant or their representative.
The applicant has various legal rights against the rejection decision. Firstly, an objection can be filed with the competent authority within 60 days from the notification of the rejection decision, for the purpose of reassessment of the decision. During the objection process, an application is made with a petition, objecting to the reasons for the rejection decision and requesting its re-examination.
There is also the right to directly file an annulment lawsuit against the rejection decision. In this case, an application can be made to the administrative court to request the annulment of the decision. In an annulment lawsuit, it is argued that the reasons for rejection are not in accordance with the law and that the applicant should be entitled to Turkish citizenship. In both cases, petitions must be prepared meticulously, and the grounds for objection must be clearly stated.
Conclusion and Evaluation
For those wishing to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage, providing accurate and complete information during the application process is critically important. Especially security criteria are subject to a detailed examination to determine whether applicants pose a risk to national security or public order. For the application to be successful, applicants must meet all conditions, and obtaining legal support in this process will be beneficial.
Keywords: Citizenship by marriage, foreigner, Turkish citizenship, lawyer, Tuzla, Istanbul
IMPORTANT REMINDER: The process of acquiring Turkish citizenship through marriage is a sensitive process that involves specific legal conditions and details. Therefore, those who wish to acquire Turkish citizenship through marriage should carry out this process with the assistance of an expert consultant in the field, which will ensure a smoother application process and prevent possible loss of rights.
