Turkish Citizenship for Nigerian Investors: Complete 2026 Guide

Yes, Nigerians can apply for Turkish citizenship by investment. The rules are the same as for any other nationality. Buy property worth at least $400,000 and keep it for three years, or keep $500,000 in a Turkish bank for three years. Your spouse and children under 18 can be included, and once the investment is in place a file typically takes 3–6 months. This guide explains both routes in plain English, the first check every Nigerian buyer should make, and how to handle documents and payments from Lagos or Abuja.

Two Routes for Nigerian Investors

Most investors use one of these two routes. Both lead to the same citizenship, for you and your family.

There are other routes, such as government bonds or investment funds, but property and bank deposits are the ones most families choose. Our guide to Turkish citizenship covers all of them.

The First Check: Can a Nigerian Passport Holder Buy Property?

Türkiye lets citizens of 185 countries buy property, under a 2012 government decision. The list itself is not published. The land registry (TKGM) confirms each nationality case by case, and says so on its official Your Key Türkiye portal.

Property websites disagree about Nigeria: some say Nigerians can buy, others say they cannot. Don't rely on either. Before you pay a deposit or send any money, ask for written confirmation that a Nigerian passport holder can buy in their own name. We check this with the land registry as the very first step for every Nigerian client.

If buying in your own name is not possible, the bank deposit route does not involve property at all, so it remains open.

The $400,000 Property Route

What counts toward $400,000

The figure that counts is not the advertised price. Three things have to match:

• The valuation report: a licensed valuation company must value the property at $400,000 or more.
• The title deed: the price on the deed must reflect the amount you paid.
• The bank records: your payments to the seller must go through a Turkish bank and match the price on the deed.

You can combine several properties, as long as each one qualifies. The property must not have been used for anyone's citizenship before, and the seller has to meet the rules too. Our guide to the seller eligibility trap explains why this matters. Tip: aim a little above $400,000, so one low valuation doesn't leave your file short.

The valuation report

Since 28 September 2026, the citizenship valuation report can come from any authorised valuation company. The company must be licensed by Türkiye's Capital Markets Board (SPK), be a member of the valuation association (TDUB) and be registered in the land registry's system. You request it through Web Tapu, where you choose a company or one is assigned automatically. Before that date, only one company, GEDAŞ, could prepare these reports.

The report is valid for 12 months. Our valuation checklist shows what to check before you sign.

The three-year rule

When the property is transferred, a no-sale note is recorded on your title deed. The three years start on the day the note is recorded, not when you receive your passport. Selling before then puts your citizenship at risk. After three years, you can sell and keep your citizenship. See our guide to selling after citizenship.

Step by Step from Nigeria

1. Free pre-check. We confirm you can buy property, then review your budget, your family and your documents.
2. Tax number and bank account. You need a Turkish tax number and a Turkish bank account. A representative can arrange both with a power of attorney.
3. Choose the property and check it. A lawyer checks the title deed for mortgages, seizures and restrictions, and confirms the property qualifies for citizenship.
4. Valuation report. It is requested through Web Tapu and must confirm $400,000 or more.
5. Payment. Your money is converted at a Turkish bank, which issues a foreign exchange certificate (döviz alım belgesi). The land registry asks for this certificate.
6. Title deed transfer. The sale is signed at the land registry, and the three-year no-sale note is added.
7. Certificate of conformity and residence permit. The authorities issue a certificate confirming that the investment meets the rules, and you get a residence permit based on the investment.
8. Citizenship application. The file is submitted and reviewed. Once the investment is in place, files typically take 3–6 months.

Our guide to the citizenship application stages explains what happens at each stage.

Can You Do It Without Leaving Lagos or Abuja?

Most of it, yes. With a power of attorney, a representative can get your tax number, open your bank account and sign at the land registry for you. You can sign the power of attorney at a Turkish mission in Nigeria. Our guide to buying property remotely explains how.

Plan at least one trip to Türkiye for the residence permit and citizenship application, where fingerprints and signatures are taken. Nigerian ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Türkiye; diplomatic passport holders are exempt for stays of up to 90 days. Check the current rules with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Turkish mission before you book.

Documents Nigerian Applicants Need

• A valid passport for you and each family member.
• Birth certificates for everyone in the file.
• Your marriage certificate, and divorce or custody papers if they apply.
• A police character certificate from the Nigeria Police Force for each adult (18+).
• Photos, and the property and payment documents from the purchase.

Nigeria is not part of the apostille system, so documents for Türkiye are legalised instead. This usually means authentication by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then legalisation by a Turkish mission. In Türkiye, each document then needs a sworn Turkish translation.

The most common delay is a name that is spelled differently on two documents, for example on a birth certificate and a passport. Fix these before you start. Our full document list covers the rest.

Who in Your Family Is Included

Your spouse and your children under 18 can be included in the same application. A child's age counts on the day the application is registered, so a child who is about to turn 18 should be included as early as possible. See our guide for children turning 18 during the application. Adult children and parents need their own investment.

Costs to Budget For

• Title deed fee: 4% of the declared price. By law it is split 2% and 2%, but who pays is often negotiated.
• Valuation report for citizenship.
• Legal, translation and notary fees, including the power of attorney.
• Residence permit and application fees.
• Agent's fee, if you use an agent.

Our property purchase costs guide breaks these down.

Common Mistakes Nigerian Buyers Make

• Paying a deposit before checking that they can buy property in their own name.
• Trusting a "citizenship-ready" label instead of the valuation report.
• Buying a property that was already used for someone's citizenship.
• Starting the file with names spelled differently on different documents.
• Planning to sell within three years.

Our guide to mistakes foreign buyers make covers more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my Nigerian passport?

Türkiye does not ask investors to give up their other nationality. Nigeria generally allows citizens by birth to hold a second nationality, while citizens by registration or naturalisation face limits. Check your own position with a Nigerian lawyer.

Do I have to live in Türkiye?

No. There is no requirement to live in Türkiye before or after you get citizenship. You only need to come for the application steps.

Can I rent out the property?

Yes. You can live in it or rent it out during the three years. You just can't sell it.

Thinking About Turkish Citizenship?

Tell us about your budget and your family. We'll confirm that you can buy, recommend the right route and check every document before you pay anything.

Book a free consultation. We'll check your case →

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules as of November 2026 and can change.