Complete 2026 guide to Turkish citizenship for Saudi investors: $400K property route, Saudi dual citizenship rules (Prime Minister permission), money transfer from the Kingdom, documents, costs and risks.
Turkish citizenship for Saudi investors is available through the USD 400,000 real estate route — but one condition is almost never mentioned in marketing material: under Saudi nationality law, a Saudi who takes up a foreign citizenship without prior permission from the Prime Minister risks losing Saudi citizenship. That single fact changes how Saudi investors should approach the programme. This guide covers the 2026 rules, the Saudi-side constraint, money transfer, documents, costs, and who this route genuinely suits.
Can Saudi Citizens Get Turkish Citizenship by Investment in 2026?
The short answer is yes: Turkey places no restriction on Saudi nationals. The citizenship-by-investment programme requires a real estate purchase of at least USD 400,000 (or USD 500,000 in bank deposits, government bonds, fund shares, or fixed capital), registered in your name with a no-sale annotation for three years. Spouse and dependent children under 18 are included.
| Route | Minimum Investment | Holding Period |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate purchase | $400,000 | 3 years |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Government bonds | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Real estate / venture fund shares | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Fixed capital investment | $500,000 | 3 years |
| Job creation | 50 employees | 3 years |
The Investment Office of the Presidency of Türkiye confirms the USD 400,000 threshold and the three-year resale restriction, attested by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Processing typically takes 3–8 months. For the full framework, see our Turkish Citizenship by Investment 2026: The $400,000 Guide.
Turkish Citizenship for Saudi Investors: The Dual Citizenship Catch
Under the Saudi Arabian Citizenship System (Royal Decree No. M/2 of 1954), Saudis are generally not permitted to acquire any foreign citizenship without the permission of the Prime Minister. Article 13 lists taking up a foreign citizenship without that permission among the grounds on which Saudi citizenship can be revoked. Where dual nationality is detected, Saudi authorities may also give the citizen a warning period to renounce the other nationality.
What this means in practice:
- If your goal is a Turkish passport, you need formal Saudi permission first. Approval is discretionary, handled through the Ministry of Interior and the Prime Minister's office — and it can take a long time.
- Applying without permission does not stop your Turkish file, but it puts your Saudi nationality at risk.
- Treat any advisor who says "no Saudi paperwork is needed" as a red flag.
This is exactly why most Saudi buyers use Turkish property for residence, rental income, and lifestyle — not for citizenship.
Why Saudi Investors Buy Turkish Property Anyway
The market context is strong. TÜİK recorded 21,534 homes sold to foreigners in 2025, and June 2026 sales rose 20.1% year-on-year to 2,015 units; Russian nationals led with 381 purchases, followed by Ukraine and Iran. Gulf buyers as a group are now estimated to account for roughly one-third of foreign purchases by area, up from about 15% in the first half of 2025. Istanbul (7,989 foreign sales in 2025) and Antalya (7,118) remain the top destinations.
For Saudi families the draw is practical: a summer base with a renewable residence permit, rental income, healthcare and international schools, and price levels far below Gulf capitals.
The residence permit route (no citizenship)
If citizenship is not your goal, you do not need the $400,000 route at all. Buying property worth at least USD 200,000 — the threshold that has applied nationwide since 16 October 2023 — qualifies you for a renewable short-term residence permit under Law No. 6458. Most Saudi buyers use exactly this route, and it leaves the citizenship option open for later. Our residence permit guide explains the process.
Step-by-Step: The $400K Route for Saudi Applicants
- Resolve the Saudi side first. If you intend to become a Turkish citizen, start the permission process in the Kingdom before you sign anything.
- Choose the property. Clean title deed, valid occupancy permit (iskan) or condominium title (kat mülkiyeti), a GEDAŞ-issued valuation report, and confirmation that the property has not already been used for another citizenship application.
- Transfer the money through the banking system and keep every receipt.
- Complete the title deed (tapu) transfer. The three-year no-sale annotation is added automatically for citizenship files.
- Prepare documents — apostilled in Saudi Arabia, then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.
- Apply for the short-term residence permit as the intermediate step, then submit the citizenship application with your investment certificate.
- Collect passports for you and your family, typically 3–8 months after submission.
Money Transfer and Banking from Saudi Arabia
The Saudi riyal is pegged at 3.75 SAR per USD, so the $400,000 threshold is roughly SAR 1.5 million. Unlike Russian or some other nationalities, Saudi investors face no sanctions issues: transfers from Saudi banks to Turkish banks work through normal SWIFT channels.
Three practical notes:
- Document the source of funds. Turkish banks apply standard KYC for large remittances — SWIFT receipts, salary statements, or asset-sale contracts are normally enough.
- Use your own accounts only. For a citizenship file the payment trail must be clean; cash or informal "helpers" can sink the application.
- Watch the lira. If the Turkish lira strengthens between payment and valuation, the appraised value can dip below the threshold.
Documents for Saudi Applicants
Good news here: Saudi Arabia joined the Hague Apostille Convention on 7 December 2022, so Saudi public documents now need an apostille instead of the old consular legalisation chain. Because Saudi passports and identity documents use the Arabic alphabet, notarised Turkish translations are required for the application.
- Valid passport (at least 6 months; notarised Turkish translation)
- Birth certificates for applicant, spouse, and children
- Marriage certificate, if applying with a spouse
- Criminal record certificate from Saudi authorities (apostilled)
- Biometric photos and health insurance
- Notarised power of attorney if you buy remotely
Costs Beyond the Property
| Cost Item | Estimated Amount |
|---|---|
| Property (minimum threshold) | $400,000+ |
| Title deed transfer tax | ~2–4% of value |
| SPK valuation report | $300–$800 |
| Translation and apostille | $500–$1,500 |
| Legal and advisory fees | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Government application fees | $100–$500 |
For a fuller breakdown of purchase-side costs, see our property purchase costs guide.
Risks and What to Verify
- The Saudi permission question is the #1 risk. Confirm it with Saudi counsel before committing to the citizenship route.
- The three-year holding period is enforced. Selling early is a ground for cancellation — Turkey revoked citizenship for thousands of investors linked to fraudulent schemes in 2025–2026. See our Citizenship Cancellation: 2026 Guide.
- Overpriced properties. Some developers inflate prices to hit the $400K threshold; independent comparables protect you, and the automatic GEDAŞ appraisal assignment makes fake valuation reports far harder.
- The property must be in the applicant's name for the full amount — shared ownership complicates citizenship files.
Who Should Consider This Route
The route best suits Saudi nationals who already hold a foreign residency or second nationality, mixed-nationality families where the non-Saudi spouse is the applicant, and investors who want a Gulf-adjacent base with rental income — provided they can obtain official permission and would actually use the Turkish passport.
If you cannot obtain permission and never plan to live in Turkey, the honest answer is the $200,000 residence permit route plus a rental strategy — both are legitimate, just different products.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Saudi citizens buy property in Turkey?
Yes. Saudi nationals can purchase real estate in most areas; military and security zones are restricted for all foreigners.
Will I lose my Saudi citizenship if I become Turkish?
Only if you acquire Turkish citizenship without Saudi permission. Under Article 13 of the Saudi Arabian Citizenship System, taking up a foreign nationality without permission is a ground for revocation. Seek Saudi permission first and confirm your position with Saudi counsel.
Can my wife and children be included?
Yes — spouse and dependent children under 18 are covered with no additional investment.
Start Your Turkish Citizenship Journey
The $400,000 property route is open to Saudi investors, and the market fundamentals are real. The difference from other nationalities is the Saudi-side permission requirement: handle that first, keep the payment trail clean, and choose genuine market-value property. Done properly, it is one of the most straightforward second-passport routes for Gulf investors in 2026.
SimplyTR works with Arabic-speaking advisors who understand Saudi files — from the permission question and apostilled documents to property selection and application submission. Book a free consultation and we will assess your eligibility and shortlist citizenship-qualifying properties for your budget.
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About SimplyTR
This article was reviewed by the SimplyTR team to help international buyers navigate Turkish real estate, investment, and relocation decisions with practical, up-to-date guidance.
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