With a Turkish passport, you don't need a visa to go to 110 countries, including South Korea and Singapore. A person who invests can also get a C-2 Schengen visa for five years and a ten-year tourist visa to the US.
The article goes over the full list of countries where Turkish passport holders don't need a visa and looks at all the ways people can get a Turkish passport.
How Turkish citizens enter other countries without visas
Turkish people can go to some countries without a visa. In other countries, they get a visa when they arrive or get an electronic visa (eTA) before they go.
Visa-free entry means that you can go to a country without first getting a visa. Turkey has agreements with 72 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa that let people visit without a visa.
Visa on arrival means that an investor doesn't have to apply for a visa before coming to the country. Instead, he can get one when he gets there. People can only get a visa at the airport if they are traveling as tourists. To get it, a traveler has to show proof of money, a return flight ticket, and a reservation at a hotel.
The electronic visa that an investor gets online 3–5 days before a trip is called an ETA, which stands for Electronic Travel Authorization. Most of the time, there is a fee to send in an eTA.
Which countries are visa-free for Turkish citizens
Turkish people can go to 110 countries without a visa:
- 72 countries don't require visas,
- 35 give them when you arrive,
- and only 3 require you to get an electronic one in advance.
The list of countries that don't need visas and the rules for entering can change, so check the consulate's website before the trip.
List of countries which are visa-free for Turkish citizens
| No. | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albania | Visa-free |
| 2 | Azerbaijan | Visa-free |
| 3 | Belarus | Visa-free |
| 4 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Visa-free |
| 5 | Georgia | Visa-free |
| 6 | Kosovo | Visa-free |
| 7 | Moldova | Visa-free |
| 8 | Montenegro | Visa-free |
| 9 | North Macedonia | Visa-free |
| 10 | Serbia | Visa-free |
| 11 | Ukraine | Visa-free |
Americas
| No. | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | Visa-free |
| 2 | Belize | Visa-free |
| 3 | Boliva | Visa-free |
| 4 | Brazil | Visa-free |
| 5 | Chile | Visa-free |
| 6 | Colombia | Visa-free |
| 7 | Costa Rica | Visa-free |
| 8 | Ecuador | Visa-free |
| 9 | El Salvador | Visa-free |
| 10 | Guatemala | Visa-free |
| 11 | Honduras | Visa-free |
| 12 | Mexico | eTA |
| 13 | Nicaragua | Visa-free |
| 14 | Panama | Visa-free |
| 15 | Paraguay | Visa-free |
| 16 | Peru | Visa-free |
| 17 | Uruguay | Visa-free |
| 18 | Venezuela | Visa-free |
Asia
| No | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangladesh | Visa on arrival |
| 2 | Brunei | Visa-free |
| 3 | Cambodia | Visa on arrival |
| 4 | Hong Kong | Visa-free |
| 5 | Indonesia | Visa-free |
| 6 | Kazakhstan | Visa-free |
| 7 | Kyrgyzstan | Visa-free |
| 8 | Laos | Visa on arrival |
| 9 | Macao | Visa-free |
| 10 | Malaysia | Visa-free |
| 11 | The Maldives | Visa on arrival |
| 12 | Mongolia | Visa-free |
| 13 | Nepal | Visa on arrival |
| 14 | Pakistan | eTA |
| 15 | The Philippines | Visa-free |
| 16 | Singapore | Visa-free |
| 17 | South Korea | Visa-free |
| 18 | Sri Lanka | eTA |
| 19 | Taiwan | Visa on arrival |
| 20 | Tajikistan | Visa on arrival |
| 21 | Thailand | Visa-free |
| 22 | Timor-Leste | Visa on arrival |
| 23 | Uzbekistan | Visa-free |
Africa
| No. | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Botswana | Visa-free |
| 2 | Burundi | Visa on arrival |
| 3 | Cape Verde Islands | Visa on arrival |
| 4 | Comoros | Visa on arrival |
| 5 | Eswatini | Visa-free |
| 6 | Gabon | Visa on arrival |
| 7 | The Gambia | Visa-free |
| 8 | Guinea-Bissau | Visa on arrival |
| 9 | Madagascar | Visa on arrival |
| 10 | Mauritania | Visa on arrival |
| 11 | Mauritius | Visa-free |
| 12 | Morocco | Visa-free |
| 13 | Mozambique | Visa on arrival |
| 14 | Nambia | Visa on arrival |
| 15 | Rwanda | Visa on arrival |
| 16 | Sao Tome and Principe | Visa-free |
| 17 | Senegal | Visa-free |
| 18 | Seychelles | Visa on arrival |
| 19 | Sierra Leone | Visa on arrival |
| 20 | Somalia | Visa on arrival |
| 21 | South Africa | Visa-free |
| 22 | Sudan | Visa on arrival |
| 23 | Tanzania | Visa on arrival |
| 24 | Togo | Visa on arrival |
| 25 | Tunisia | Visa-free |
| 26 | Uganda | Visa on arrival |
| 27 | Zambia | Visa on arrival |
| 28 | Zimbabwe | Visa on arrival |
Caribbean
| No. | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antigua and Barbuda | Visa-free |
| 2 | The Bahamas | Visa-free |
| 3 | Barbados | Visa on arrival |
| 4 | The British Virgin Islands | Visa-free |
| 5 | Dominica | Visa-free |
| 6 | The Dominican Republic | Visa-free |
| 7 | Haiti | Visa-free |
| 8 | Jamaica | Visa on arrival |
| 9 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Visa-free |
| 10 | Saint Lucia | Visa-free |
| 11 | St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Visa on arrival |
| 12 | Trinidad and Tobago | Visa-free |
Middle East
| No | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armenia | Visa on arrival |
| 2 | Bahrain | Visa on arrival |
| 3 | Iran | Visa-free |
| 4 | Jordan | Visa-free |
| 5 | Kuwait | Visa on arrival |
| 6 | Lebanon | Visa on arrival |
| 7 | Oman | Visa-free |
| 8 | Qatar | Visa-free |
Oceania
| No | Country | Conditions of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Cook Islands | Visa-free |
| 2 | Fiji | Visa-free |
| 3 | The Marshall Islands | Visa on arrival |
| 4 | Micronesia | Visa-free |
| 5 | Niue | Visa-free |
| 6 | Palau | Visa on arrival |
| 7 | Samoa | Visa on arrival |
| 8 | Tongo | Visa on arrival |
| 9 | Tuvalu | Visa on arrival |
| 10 | Vanuatu | Visa-free |
Benefits of a Turkish passport
In addition to being able to enter 110 countries without a visa, a Turkish passport allows investors with a C-2 visa to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days, move to the US, or provide a "safe haven" for themselves and their families.
Heading to the Schengen area. Turkish passport holders can get a Schengen C-2 visa for up to 5 years. This visa is nonimmigrant, so an investor can't live or work in the Schengen area with it, but they can use it for travel and business trips.
Start a business in the United States and move there with your family. If an investor opens or buys a business in the United States, he or she can get an E-2 business visa. The law doesn't say what the minimum investment is, but most investors put at least $100,000 into their US business.
An investor can't get a Green Card or become an American citizen with an E-2 visa: The E-2 visa is good for five years and can be renewed. An investor can change his visa to an immigrant type visa in order to get a green card. For example, if they invest $800,000, they can apply for an EB-2 visa. EB-2 is different from E-2 in that it gives people a chance to get a Green Card and US citizenship.
Turks can get B-1/B-2 visas that are good for ten years. These visas let Turks travel and do business in the US. They fill out an application and do well in the interview in Istanbul or Ankara.
"Safe haven". Investors who have a Turkish passport can go to Turkey whenever they want. This is important in case of a political crisis, an epidemic, or a threat to the safety of family members.
How to get a Turkish passport by investment
Investors can become citizens of Turkey if they put at least $400,000 into the country's economy:
- Buying a house that costs $400,000 or more.
- Business investments of at least $500,000.
- Making a deposit at a bank—$500,000 or more.
- Buying shares in an investment fund for more than $500,000.
- Buying government bonds: at least $500,000.
- Hire 50 Turkish people
The purchase of real estate. Investors buy an apartment or business building, a piece of land, or a share in a real estate project. The investor can sell the item and get his money back after three years. Most people who sign up for the program choose this option. After a few years, the price of a house could go up by up to 25% or even double.
Invest in a Turkish company's capital stock as a business move. The investor can do this or start his own business. If the company opens, it must make at least 50 jobs. An investor can sell the business after three years.
When an investor opens a deposit, he can save money in any currency that Turkish banks will accept. In 2022, the average rate on deposits in lira is 12.5%, while the average rate on deposits in euros and dollars is 2-3%. As with the other options, an investor can take money out of their account after three years.
By buying units in an investment fund, an investor can make money without doing anything. Investors can get their money back after three years.
After buying government bonds, an investor must hold on to their assets for three years before they can be sold.
To get Turkish citizenship through the investment program, an investor must buy real estate, submit personal, real estate, and other documents, and pass a government check called "Due Diligence."
Obtaining Turkey citizenship takes 6—8 months
- About a day is needed for the preliminary due diligence check.
- From 2 to 4 weeks are needed to prepare documents.
- It takes from 2 to 4 weeks to buy a house and get the paperwork ready.
- Five to six weeks are needed to prepare documents for real estate.
- From 3 to 4 months for a government check on "due diligence."
- From 2 to 5 days to get a passport.
An investor in another country receives at a Turkish embassy or consulate
Frequently asked questions
Looking for more info? Here are some things we're commonly asked
How many countries can people with a Turkish passport go to without a visa?
People with a Turkish passport can go to 110 countries without a visa:
- 72 don't need visas,
- 35 get them when they arrive,
- and 3 need electronic ones in advance.
Can Turkish citizens travel to the USA without a visa?
For travel and business trips to the US, Turkish people need a B-1 or B-2 visa. They fill out an application and do well in the interview in Istanbul or Ankara.
How to get a Turkish passport through an investment program?
Investors can become citizens of Turkey if they put at least $400,000 into the Turkish economy:
- Buying a house that costs $400,000 or more.
- Business investments of at least $500,000.
- Making a deposit at a bank—$500,000 or more.
- Buying shares in an investment fund for more than $500,000.
- Buying government bonds: at least $500,000.
- Hire 50 Turkish people
Can Turkish citizens travel to the Schengen area without a visa?
A C-2 Schengen visa is available for five years to people with a Turkish passport. This visa is nonimmigrant, so an investor can't live or work in the Schengen area with it, but he can use it for travel and business trips.
How long does obtaining a Turkish citizenship by investment program take?
The purchase of real estate is the most popular option in the Turkish citizenship by investment program. The registration process usually takes 6 to 8 months:
About a day is needed for the preliminary due diligence check.
- From 2 to 4 weeks are needed to prepare documents.
- It takes from 2 to 4 weeks to buy a house and get the paperwork ready.
- Five to six weeks are needed to prepare documents for real estate.
- From 3 to 4 months for a government check on "due diligence."
- From 2 to 5 days to get a passport.
Member discussion