Turkey has cancelled or withdrawn the citizenship of 6,134 people who obtained nationality through its citizenship‑by‑investment (CBI) programme, affecting both principal investors and their family members.
Scope of the cancellations
- Total cases: 6,134 people
- Principal investors: 1,413 (the remainder are spouses and children)
The cases fall into two distinct groups:
| Group | Principal investors | Reason for cancellation | Total people affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,150 | Collusive or irregular investment transactions identified by the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre, the Tax Inspection Board and the General Directorate of Security | 5,391 |
| 2 | 263 | Public‑order or national‑security concerns identified by Turkish police and the National Intelligence Organization after naturalisation | 743 |
The government did not allege investment fraud for the second group; their citizenship was withdrawn based on security‑related vetting findings.
Additional actions in 2026
- Since 11 February 2026, eligibility certificates for 443 investors have been cancelled, affecting 1,358 people (including family members).
- Seven further individuals were affected on security grounds during the same period.
Separate criminal investigation
A parallel criminal probe targets alleged abuse of the real‑estate route:
- Detention warrants issued for 90 suspects; 72 people detained across 16 provinces.
- Over 1,000 properties and other assets seized; several companies placed under court‑appointed administration.
- Justice Minister Akın Gürlek estimated that roughly TRY 2.5 billion expected from qualifying investments never entered Turkey.
- Proceedings have been opened concerning the citizenship status of 687 people linked to this investigation. (These 687 are not included in the 6,134 total.)
Why family members are counted
Turkish citizenship law extends the principal applicant’s decision to a spouse and children who obtained citizenship through the same application. When a principal’s citizenship is cancelled, the status of those family members is also revoked, which explains the disparity between the 1,413 investors and the 6,134 total persons affected.
Consequences of cancellation
- The individual reverts to foreign‑national status under Turkish law.
- Authorities may require disposal of Turkish assets within a prescribed timeframe.
- Cancellation can be based on false information, concealed facts, or an invalid underlying investment; withdrawal can occur if legal conditions are later found unsatisfied.
Status of the CBI programme
The enforcement actions do not suspend the programme. It continues to operate under the existing framework, including the real‑estate route that requires a minimum investment of US $400,000 and a three‑year holding period. The recent reviews underscore the need for:
- Accurate property valuations
- Properly documented financial transfers
- Complete and truthful application records
Turkey remains open to qualifying CBI applications while applying heightened scrutiny to both past and current transactions.
Source article: outboundinvestment.com
