Is it possible to obtain Turkish citizenship by purchasing land in 2026?

Buying land in Turkey can be an attractive investment: land is purchased for the construction of a villa, a residential complex, a commercial property, or simply with the expectation of increased value.

However, if the purpose of the purchase is to obtain Turkish citizenship by investment , an important restriction applies:

It is not possible to simply buy a vacant plot of land worth at least $400,000 and obtain citizenship on this basis.

The rules changed on December 12, 2023 , and this requirement remains in effect in 2026.

Briefly about the main thing

To obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate investment, properties worth at least US$400,000 that meet the program requirements are eligible.

If the land in question is an arsa -designated plot, it must have a legally established structure on it. Empty land without a structure is not suitable for obtaining citizenship by investment. Agricultural land and undeveloped plots for which a project development is required are also not suitable for obtaining citizenship through real estate purchase.

What has changed since December 12, 2023?

Before the changes, the legislation allowed a wider range of real estate to be used for the investment program.

As of December 12, 2023, the wording was clarified.

To obtain citizenship through the purchase of real estate, the property must fall into one of the prescribed categories: have a registered kat mülkiyeti or kat irtifakı , or, if the property is registered as arsa , there must be a building on the land.

Which land is NOT suitable for citizenship?

Let's look at some simple examples.

An empty plot of land for the construction of a villa worth $500,000.

❌ It is not suitable for obtaining citizenship based solely on the purchase of land.

Despite the price exceeding the required $400,000, there is no building on the site that meets the requirements.

Agricultural land (tarla) worth $600,000.

❌ Also not suitable.

The current TKGM guidelines explicitly exclude agricultural land from the acquisition of properties for citizenship through real estate investment.

A $450,000 arsa plot of land with a legally registered house on it.

✅ Potentially eligible if the building itself and all real estate meet the other program requirements.

This means that not only the price of the land is of decisive importance, but also the legal status of the property and the building located on it .

What if you buy land and then build a house?

Here is where a common question arises:

"I'll buy land for $400,000, build a villa on it, and then get citizenship."

The purchase of an undeveloped plot of land itself does not provide grounds for investment citizenship .

Therefore, if the ultimate goal is a Turkish passport, such an investment scheme must be calculated in advance, rather than assuming that any land worth more than $400,000 will automatically qualify for the program.

For someone simply looking to build their own villa in Turkey, land can be an excellent investment. But that's a different investment strategy.

Is it possible to obtain citizenship by purchasing a villa with land?

Yes, and here it is important not to confuse the purchase of land with the purchase of finished real estate located on your own plot of land .

For example, you purchase a villa with a garden and a plot of land.

If the property is properly registered, the building is legally registered, the necessary documentation is available, and the property meets the other requirements of the investment program, such a property can be used to obtain citizenship.

Therefore, the phrase “land is not suitable for citizenship” is also not entirely correct.

It would be more correct to say:

An empty plot of land without a building that meets the requirements is not suitable for obtaining Turkish citizenship through the purchase of real estate.

Why is it especially important to check the TAPU before purchasing a plot of land?

With land, legal due diligence is even more important than when buying a regular apartment.

In the TAPU, it is necessary to look at the nitelik – the purpose and characteristics of the property.

For example:

• Arsa - a plot of land for development;
• Tarla is agricultural land;
• registered building;
• kat irtifakı;
• kat mülkiyeti.

In addition, it is necessary to check the urban development status, the presence of a legal building, ISKAN, cadastral data, and the property's compliance with the investment program requirements.

Therefore, buying a plot of land first and then asking the question, "Can I now obtain citizenship using it?" is the wrong sequence.

The minimum price remains $400,000.

The presence of a building on the site does not cancel out the other requirements of the program.

To obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate, the investment must meet a minimum of US$400,000 , and the property cannot be sold for three years.

In addition, the property value, the officially stated price, bank payments and other conditions of the investment procedure are checked.

That is the scheme:

"Have a plot of land + costs $400,000 = have citizenship"

doesn't work.

All program requirements must be met simultaneously .

What New Level Group recommends

If your main goal is to obtain Turkish citizenship , we recommend first defining an investment strategy and only then choosing real estate.

If you want to purchase land for construction, consider land as a separate investment.

If you need a Turkish passport, we initially select real estate that meets the requirements of the citizenship program.

If you want to combine both options, for example, purchase a villa on your own land, first check the property's legal status and its suitability for investment citizenship.

This is much safer than buying real estate and then trying to adapt it to the program's requirements after the transaction.