Can a Syrian Own Property in Turkey and Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

2026-11-02

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Can a Syrian Own Property in Turkey and Obtain Turkish Citizenship?

Attempts by Syrians to acquire property in Turkey topped the list of safe options for Syrians wishing to purchase real estate in the region, especially after the recent events in Syria. But is a Syrian allowed to buy a house in Turkey?

Syrians had to conduct continuous research to find the best alternative that suits their desires, and many of them found that Turkey is distinguished by its moderate climate, high economic growth, and cultural diversity, making it their preferred destination for housing and investment purposes.

Is a Syrian allowed to own property in Turkey?
How Syrians can own property in Turkey
Ownership under a Turkish citizen's name with a mortgage notation
Syrians' property ownership in Turkey after obtaining Turkish citizenship
- Can a Syrian obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate ownership?

Is a Syrian allowed to own property in Turkey?

In 2012, the Turkish Parliament issued a decision granting foreigners the right to own property in Turkey, but in practice, there were instructions preventing holders of certain nationalities from direct ownership, and Syrians were unfortunately among them!
This was due to reasons related to the principle of reciprocity between countries.

Despite this, the demand for buying property in Turkey among Syrians increased, and fortunately, some methods were found that allow Syrians to own property in Turkey; one example is establishing a commercial company and registering the owned property under the company's name as a legal entity in the eyes of Turkish law. Studies confirm that companies established by Syrians in Turkey over the last seven years have exceeded 10,000 companies, averaging 4 new companies daily, according to the Economic Policy Research Foundation.

How Syrians can own property in Turkey

Property ownership under a commercial company name

The option of establishing a company in Turkey gives Syrians the possibility of ownership through easy steps. When a Syrian citizen establishes a company in Turkey under a license issued by the Turkish government, the company gains a legal entity status that allows it to own properties in Turkey in its name. The property’s price and size must correspond to the company's capital and size. This method is the most legitimate way to overcome Syrians' obstacles to property ownership in Turkey.

It is worth noting the significant impact Syrians have had on the Turkish economy, demonstrated by the capital invested in the markets through companies owned by Syrian investors, officially licensed by the Turkish state, with the total exceeding 23 million dollars in 2018.

Syrian citizens can establish a company without the need for a Turkish partner, thus the company gets Turkish legal entity status enabling it to own property and conduct commercial, industrial, or agricultural activities without restrictions, which enhances investment in Turkey for Syrians.

Establishing a company for property ownership purposes does not require much time or effort; it can be completed in just a few hours over only two days. After that, the Syrian investor obtains a tax number and commercial registry, followed by opening a bank account in the company's name.

What documents are required to establish a company in Turkey?

The first step is to submit a company establishment application, followed by a set of documents prepared through law offices and specialized services, as follows:

Company establishment application.
Power of attorney for the lawyer to follow up procedures.
Founding announcement statement.
Company articles of association.
Two copies of the passport and personal ID, translated and officially certified.
Signature declaration from the company owner.
Certified copies of other foreign documents, if any.
Bank receipts.
Commercial chamber registration statement.
Undertaking: usually requested from the foreign partner (who does not hold Turkish citizenship).
Tax assignment document.
Purchasing the property and registering it under the company’s name, representing the optimal legal solution for Syrians’ property ownership in Turkey.

Our real estate and legal consultants at Imtilak Real Estate Company can assist in preparing and submitting all these documents and more for our Syrian clients wishing to buy properties in all Turkish cities such as Istanbul and Trabzon, offering options suitable for all requirements and budgets.

Fees and costs for establishing a company in Turkey for Syrians

The costs required to establish a company in Turkey include fees for document processing, according to the official conditions for setting up a company in Turkey for Syrians and others. These are distributed among translation and government certification fees, lawyer or legal consultant fees. After establishment, there are residence permit issuance fees, where the company owner receives a one-year residence permit renewable annually.

The company owner must also pay specific ongoing fees throughout the company’s operation to maintain its licensed existence, including accountant fees who represent the company before the Turkish government. The financial consultant acts as the direct liaison between the company and the Turkish government, providing ongoing legal and financial advice, including bookkeeping of all incoming and outgoing company accounts, reviewing, regulating, and submitting them periodically to the relevant government authorities.

Another important expense is the strict adherence to paying taxes imposed on companies on time, such as quarterly taxes, rent taxes, and profit taxes.

Ownership under a Turkish citizen's name with a mortgage notation

Partnership with a Turkish citizen is one of the prominent methods for Syrians to own property in Turkey, complying with Turkish laws. Procedures can be applied to guarantee the rights of all parties, such as placing a mortgage notation on the property in favor of the Syrian partner.

The real challenge in this solution is for the Syrian partner to find a trustworthy Turkish partner, and it is necessary to sign a partnership contract clearly stating the rights of each party. In fact, many Syrian residents in Turkey have succeeded in owning property through this method, thus providing a second legitimate way for Syrians to buy houses in Turkey.

Syrians' property ownership in Turkey after obtaining Turkish citizenship

To date, a Syrian cannot register property directly under his name in Turkey, based on the principle of reciprocity practiced between the two countries. However, the pathway remains open for Syrians to obtain Turkish citizenship through investment, then own property as Turkish citizens.

Turkey has enabled obtaining its citizenship through investment since 2017, then reduced the required amount in September 2018 and amended it again by Presidential Decree No. 5554 published in the Official Gazette on May 13, 2022. Currently, anyone who meets one of the following conditions is eligible to apply for Turkish citizenship:

Purchasing property worth at least 400,000 USD, with a restriction on selling it for three years (however, this method does not include Syrians as they cannot register property directly in their name).
Fixed investment of no less than 500,000 USD.
Depositing 500,000 USD in Turkish banks without withdrawal for three years.
Purchasing government bonds worth 500,000 USD and holding them for three years.
Purchasing shares in real estate investment funds or venture capital funds worth 500,000 USD and holding them for three years.
Providing employment opportunities for at least 50 Turkish citizens.

Accordingly, Syrian investors can pursue any of the above paths except the property purchase path. If they obtain Turkish citizenship through these means, they have the right to buy property as any Turkish citizen. Due to the varying legal situations among Syrians, especially those under temporary protection, it is recommended to consult a legal specialist to study the case before starting investment.

Applications for citizenship through investment are submitted to the Population and Citizenship Directorate of the governorate where the investor resides. The Directorate General for Population and Citizenship examines the application, and the citizenship grant decision is issued by the Presidency. Thus, a Syrian investor gains the right to direct property ownership in Turkey only after obtaining Turkish citizenship, not before.

Can a Syrian obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate ownership?

Because it is difficult for a Syrian investor to own property directly under his name in Turkey, some believed that establishing a company and then buying property registered under that company would allow a Syrian to apply for Turkish citizenship under the mentioned law!

After Imtilak Real Estate team researched and consulted specialists, it was found that a Syrian investor cannot obtain Turkish citizenship by purchasing property under a company's name regardless of the property's value. So, what is the solution?

An alternative solution is for the Syrian investor to deposit 500,000 USD in a bank and apply for Turkish citizenship.

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