Union of Turkish Bar Associations takes citizenship via investment to court

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has filed an appeal with the country's top administrative court over the government's regulation that grants foreigners citizenship in exchange for buying a property. If a foreigner buys a real estate worth $400,000 in Turkey, they can get a Turkish passport.

Duvar English

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) on June 13 filed an application with the Council of State, Turkey's highest administrative court, demanding that it annual a regulation that allows foreigners to obtain Turkish citizenship through investment. 

The Turkish government on May 13 increased the lower limit for granting citizenship via real estate purchases from $250,000 to $400,000 amid a soar in housing prices. The change came into force on June 13.

The TBB applied to the Council of State for the stay of execution and annulment of the regulation amendment on the grounds that it lacks legal basis.

In a statement, the TBB said that the regulation is unconstitutional and violates the “principle of citizenship" as indicated in the Turkish Citizenship Law.

“As long as these provisions remain in effect, giving citizenship in return for money will result in irreparable loss of rights for our nation,” the statement said.

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