Foreign investors at advantage to attain Turkish citizenship
Posted by meb at May 13th, 2008
Foreigners who invest in industrial plants in Turkey will be able to acquire Turkish citizenship in line with a draft bill that regulates citizenship criteria.
The bill that includes amendments regarding the revocation or acquisition of Turkish citizenship will be discussed in Parliament this week. According to the draft bill prepared on the basis of the Treaty of the European Union, foreigners who establish industrial plants in Turkey as well as those that provide significant contributions to the social, cultural, economical, scientific and technological life of the country will have the right to become Turkish citizens. The decision will be made in line with a proposal from the Interior Ministry and the confirmation of the Turkish cabinet.
Conscientious objection will no longer be accepted as legal ground for loss of Turkish citizenship, according to the bill.
The citizenship of male conscientious objectors who do not perform or refuse to perform military service will thus not be revoked.
Also marriage to a Turkish citizen will not provide an automatic right to apply for Turkish citizenship. Foreigners who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years and the marriage is still intact will have the right to apply for Turkish citizenship. In case of the death of the Turkish citizen after the application has been filed, the condition of being married won’t be required.
A foreigner who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship will have that right in line with the decision by the concerned authority on condition that he or she bears the conditions indicated in the laws. Having the necessary provisions will not entitle the foreigner an absolute right to Turkish citizenship. They will be required to reside in Turkey retrospectively for an uninterrupted period of five years right before the application, to confirm their determination to settle in Turkey through their actions, to not have a serious disease in terms of general health status, to be able to speak Turkish sufficiently as well as to possess an occupation or income to support himself and look after those whom they are obliged to care for.
source: Turkish Daily News
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