The Turkish citizenship eligibility test checks the core requirements of the Turkish Citizenship Law (No. 5901) through a few questions and shows how ready you are for citizenship by the general route, by marriage or by investment. Based on your answers, you see the application routes open to you, your readiness score and the steps you need to take for any missing requirements, all on a single screen.
What is the citizenship eligibility test for?
The test is a preliminary assessment that lets you see, before you apply, which citizenship route suits you and which requirement is still missing. The result is not an official decision; however, it helps you avoid applying unprepared to the Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (the civil registry office) and receiving a negative answer at the end of an assessment that can take months.
How is Turkish citizenship eligibility assessed?
Each question in the test corresponds to a requirement of one or more application routes. The tool compares your answers against the criteria below and makes a separate assessment for each route:
| Question | Requirement | Route |
|---|---|---|
| Age | Being of legal age and having the capacity to discern | General route |
| Uninterrupted work permit | 5 years on an uninterrupted work permit, counting back from the application date; time on a residence permit does not count, and a gap between two permits resets the count | General route |
| Time abroad | Not exceeding 12 months in total over the 5 years; a single absence longer than 6 months causes problems | General route |
| Length of marriage | Being married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years and living in family unity | Marriage |
| Investment | Real estate of at least 400,000 USD, or 500,000 USD in capital, deposits, government debt instruments or REIT/VCIF shares, or employment for 50 people | Investment |
| Turkish level | Being able to speak Turkish at a sufficient level | General route |
| Regular income | Having an income or a profession sufficient to support yourself | General route |
| Criminal record / public order | No obstacle in terms of national security and public order | All routes |
The results screen includes a readiness score for each route. The score shows to what extent you meet that route's requirements: if all requirements are met, the route is marked "eligible"; if any are missing, it is marked "not yet", with a note on how to close the gap. Since a public order obstacle is decisive for every route, your answer to this question directly affects the result.
Sample test results
| Profile | Test result | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| In Turkey for 5 years 4 months on an uninterrupted work permit, 7 months abroad in total over 5 years, intermediate Turkish, regular income, clean criminal record | General route: eligible | Prepare the documents and get ready for the Turkish language and integration assessment |
| Married to a Turkish citizen for 2 years 4 months, living together | Marriage route: not yet (in about 8 months) | Keep the family residence permit valid and document life together |
| Newly arrived in Turkey, invested 420,000 USD in a home with condominium title | Investment route: eligible | Obtain the certificate of conformity and have a 3-year no-sale annotation placed on the title deed (TAPU) |
| In Turkey for 6 years on a work permit, but 15 months abroad in total over the last 5 years | General route: not yet | Calculate the date on which time abroad will fall to 12 months |
The fourth profile illustrates the most common mistake: although the total time spent in Turkey seems sufficient, time abroad within the 5-year window exceeds 12 months, so the general route is not yet open. To find the right application date, the residence duration calculator counts your days abroad one by one.
Marriage alone does not confer citizenship; the marriage must actually continue, the couple must live in family unity and there must be no activity incompatible with that unity. In the investment route, undeveloped land and fields are not accepted, and a certificate of conformity must be obtained from the relevant authority for the investment.
In the general route, it is important that your work permit continues without interruption up to the application date; delaying an extension can create a gap that resets the 5 years. The assessment period varies from person to person, and no definite timeframe can be given.
Next steps based on your result
If your Turkish citizenship eligibility test shows that you are eligible for the general route, you can find details on the requirements, documents and interview process on our Turkish citizenship page. If your period is not yet complete, the most important task is to file your work permit extension applications on time; you can plan the extension budget with the residence permit fee calculator.
For those considering real estate or other investment options, our citizenship by investment service covers the certificate of conformity and the title deed process. To see the whole journey from residence permit to citizenship step by step, read our roadmap from residence permit to Turkish citizenship. The website of the General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship Affairs is also an official source of information on where to apply and how the process works.
Why Fast Danışmanlık?
Since 2010 we have advised on citizenship applications across the Marmara Region, especially in Istanbul, Bursa and Kocaeli, and throughout Turkey (officially Türkiye) through an online process. We identify the most suitable route for you, prepare your documents in full and aim to maximize your chance of approval with a complete file.
Test results are for information only; the final assessment is made by the competent authority at the time of application, and application costs are determined by the official tariff. The information applies to 2026 and is updated when the legislation changes.
Frequently asked questions
To apply by the general route, you need 5 years on an uninterrupted work permit counting back from the application date; living in Turkey on a residence permit does not count toward this period. The total time spent abroad during this period must not exceed 12 months.
Marriage does not confer citizenship automatically. You must be married to a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years, live in family unity, and the marriage must actually continue; our marriage in Turkey for foreigners service also covers this process.
You need to buy real estate worth at least 400,000 USD and have a 3-year no-sale annotation placed on the title deed, or make a fixed capital investment, bank deposit, or purchase of government debt instruments or REIT/VCIF shares of at least 500,000 USD. Creating employment for at least 50 people is also an option.
In the general route, you must not stay abroad for more than 12 months in total during the 5-year period. A single absence of more than 6 months can also cause problems in terms of continuity.
In Turkey, applications are made to the Provincial Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship; abroad, they are made to consulates. The assessment period varies from person to person.
No, the test is only a preliminary assessment, and the final decision is made by the competent authority. However, checking the requirements in advance and preparing a complete file maximizes your chance of approval.