Türkiye · Policy analysis
Turkish citizenship deposits: conversion, the three-year hold and withdrawal
The US$500,000 threshold is the start of a citizenship deposit arrangement in Türkiye. The prescribed currency conversion, lira holding period and eventual release of funds need to be understood before money is transferred.
Read the threshold alongside the currency rules
The official investment guide requires at least US$500,000, or equivalent foreign currency, deposited with a bank operating in Türkiye and held for at least three years without withdrawal, as attested by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, or BRSA.[1] A threshold expressed in dollars does not establish that the money remains in a dollar account.
The instructions currently listed by the central bank require foreign currency for the relevant citizenship transactions to be sold through a bank to the CBRT. For the deposit route, the resulting lira is held in a lira deposit for three years. The conversion and the deposit must be with the same bank.[2]
Prepare for the bank’s own checks
The CBRT instructions require banks to check compliance with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing standards.[2] Obtain the handling bank’s current account-opening and payment requirements. Identity, tax status and the origin and movement of funds should be explained accurately; requirements should not be assumed identical across banks.
For a dividend-funded deposit, organise the distribution decision, relevant financial records and receipt of the money. For an asset sale, reconcile the contract with the proceeds received. The practical aim is to explain how the funds arose, who owns them and how they reach the proposed account. A balance screenshot alone does not tell that story.
Keep evidence of the conversion and holding arrangement
The CBRT instructions state that, once its currency purchase process is complete, the sale cannot be withdrawn or cancelled. The bank must explain this beforehand and provide the documents relevant to the citizenship currency transaction.[2] That explanation matters before an applicant makes a financial commitment.
| Item | What the record should clarify |
|---|---|
| Receipt and conversion | Transferred funds, exchange rate, resulting lira amount and transaction evidence |
| Three-year commitment | The restricted account and amount, start and end dates, and written confirmation |
| Return and charges | Interest or profit arrangements, renewals, fees and applicable taxes |
| Release of funds | Required documents, removal of restrictions, conversion and outward transfer |
This is a way to organise the bank’s explanations, rather than an additional official application form. Keep the answers with the account agreement, conversion evidence and conformity documents so the obligations can be checked later.
Investment confirmation is followed by a citizenship process
NVI sets out the sequence: satisfy an investment condition and obtain the relevant certificate of conformity, obtain the prescribed short-term residence permit, then apply for citizenship through the relevant provincial authority. BRSA is responsible for confirmation of the deposit investment.[3]
Receipt of funds, conformity of the investment and citizenship approval are separate stages. Establish the holding dates from the applicant’s own bank and conformity records. Do not substitute a citizenship approval date or passport issue date for the documented start, or assume that receiving a passport ends an outstanding holding commitment.
Check both release and deposit maturity
As the holding period approaches its end, request written confirmation of when the restriction can be lifted and when the current deposit matures. BRSA’s general banking guidance notes that early withdrawal from a term account can mean losing interest or profit.[5] The citizenship commitment and the bank product therefore need separate checks.
If the intention is to convert and remit the funds abroad, also establish the exchange terms, fees, receiving account and documentary requirements. A lira balance or nominal return is not the same as the eventual amount available in dollars.
Any claim of currency protection needs current product terms. The CBRT ended new and renewed accounts under the relevant KKM arrangements from 23 August 2025, with YUVAM treated separately in the announcement.[4] That exception does not establish that every citizenship applicant qualifies for YUVAM, or turn earlier marketing into a present guarantee of dollar principal or returns.
Official sources
1. Investment Office of Türkiye: qualifying deposits and citizenship
2. CBRT: citizenship-related foreign-exchange sale instructions, Articles 4 and 6–9
3. NVI: investment citizenship procedure and certificate of conformity
4. CBRT Press Release 2025-45: termination of new and renewed KKM accounts
5. BRSA: general deposit maturity and early-withdrawal guidance
General information. Check the applicable rules, documentary requirements and fees for the individual application.