Turkish Citizenship by Birth: Legal Guide
The birth of a child is one of the most important events in a family’s life. However, in cases involving international marriages or residence abroad, parents face a crucial question regarding the newborn’s citizenship status. Turkish citizenship law has its own specific features and requires a clear understanding of legal mechanisms and procedural nuances. In this guide, we provide a detailed explanation of how a child can obtain Turkish citizenship by birth, based on the provisions of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 and its practical application.
Citizenship by Birth: What It Is and When It Applies
Turkish citizenship by birth is acquired automatically at the moment of birth, without any additional actions, provided that the statutory conditions are met. Two fundamental doctrines of international law apply. The first is jus sanguinis (right of blood), under which citizenship is determined by the nationality of the parents. The second is jus soli (right of soil), whereby citizenship is defined by the place of birth.
It is important to distinguish between the legal basis for citizenship and the actual possession of documentary proof. To exercise citizenship rights in practice, the child must be officially registered in Turkey’s civil registration system.
Citizenship by Blood
The principle of jus sanguinis is the primary legal mechanism for transferring Turkish citizenship from parents to children. It ensures continuity of nationality regardless of the child’s place of birth.
Both Parents Are Turkish Citizens
When both parents hold Turkish citizenship, the legal situation is straightforward. The newborn acquires Turkish citizenship immediately at birth. Even if the child is born in a country that applies the jus soli principle, Turkish citizenship is retained.
For families permanently residing outside Turkey, the birth must be registered with the Turkish consulate within 60 days. For children born in Turkey, the registration period is 30 days.
Child Born Out of Wedlock
Turkish law distinguishes between children born within marriage and those born out of wedlock solely for the purpose of establishing biological paternity. The maternal relationship is confirmed by the fact of childbirth itself.
If the mother is a Turkish citizen, a child born out of wedlock automatically acquires Turkish citizenship at birth. The citizenship status of the biological father is legally irrelevant. Transmission of citizenship through the maternal line is unconditional.
The situation is more complex when the father is a Turkish citizen, the mother is a foreign national, and the child is born out of an official marriage. In such cases, paternity must be legally established in a proper manner.
Restoration of Citizenship Through Parents
A special category of cases concerns children whose parents lost Turkish citizenship or whose births were not registered in a timely manner.
Children who lost Turkish citizenship as a result of their parents’ decisions have the right to restore it within three years after reaching the age of 18. Proof of blood relation to a parent who held Turkish citizenship is required. For individuals living abroad who have reached the age of 18, documents must be provided confirming that at the time of birth, either the mother or the father was a Turkish citizen.
Citizenship by Place of Birth
Citizenship by birth under the jus soli principle is applied in Turkey in a limited manner and serves humanitarian purposes — namely, the prevention of statelessness among minors.
Turkey Does Not Grant Citizenship Solely Based on Birth in the Country
The mere fact of being born within the territory of the Republic of Turkey does not constitute a legal basis for acquiring citizenship. Turkey is not a country that applies an unconditional jus soli principle.
If both parents are foreign nationals, a child born in Turkey does not acquire Turkish citizenship. The newborn inherits the citizenship of the parents, and a residence permit must be obtained for the child within a preferential period of up to six months.
When a Child Born in Turkey Is Recognized as a Turkish Citizen
The first situation applies to children born under Turkish jurisdiction whose parents are stateless persons, or where the laws of the parents’ country do not allow the transmission of citizenship to children born abroad.
The second situation concerns foundlings. Children found within Turkish territory are considered to have been born in Turkey unless proven otherwise.
Registration of Citizenship
The right to citizenship and the ability to exercise it are not the same. To formalize documents and gain access to rights associated with citizenship, an official registration procedure must be completed.
Registration at the Consulate
To register Turkish citizenship for a child when the parents reside outside Turkey, the first step is to apply to a Turkish consulate. The application must be submitted within 60 days from the date of birth. The application may be filed in person by one or both parents, or through a representative acting under a notarized power of attorney.
The consulate completes a special form, which is then forwarded to the MERNIS system in Turkey. The child is subsequently entered into the parents’ family register and assigned a Turkish identification number. After registration, the consulate may issue a Turkish passport for the child.
It is important to note that missing the statutory deadline does not deprive the child of the right to citizenship, but it does create additional administrative complications.
List of Required Documents
The set of documents depends on the specific circumstances, but the basic package includes:
- A full birth certificate issued by the competent authority of the country of birth.
- Identification documents of both parents — a Turkish identity card or a valid passport.
- Parents’ marriage certificate, if the parents are legally married.
- An extract from the family register of the Turkish citizen parent.
- An application form completed by the parents.
- Biometric photographs of the child.
- A medical birth certificate.
For children born out of wedlock to a Turkish father, an additional document confirming paternity is required. In cases of late registration after the child has reached the age of 18, further evidence of blood relationship may be requested.
All foreign documents must be legalized. Consular officers have the right to request additional documentation.
Hidden Pitfalls in Obtaining Turkish Citizenship
Practical application of the law reveals a number of common situations that require special attention and professional legal support.
Status of a Child When Both Parents Are Foreigners but the Birth Took Place in Turkey
As noted above, the mere fact of being born in Turkey does not constitute grounds for citizenship if both parents are foreign nationals and are able to pass their citizenship to the child. The child acquires the citizenship of the parents.
However, the newborn is granted a preferential stay period of up to six months without the need to obtain a separate short-term or long-term residence permit.
Potential Difficulties in Consular Registration Abroad
Consular registration of children born abroad may involve several specific challenges.
The first issue concerns discrepancies in the transliteration of first and last names. The Turkish alphabet contains specific characters that may not exist in Latin or Cyrillic scripts. Consulates require strict consistency of personal data across all documents.
The second difficulty relates to differences in civil registration systems among countries. Turkish authorities require a full birth certificate indicating both parents, rather than an abbreviated version.
The third issue involves children born through surrogacy or assisted reproductive technologies. Turkish law does not recognize surrogacy, which creates legal conflicts when registering such children.
The fourth challenge arises when a parent holds multiple citizenships. Consulates request information on all citizenships held and require full disclosure.
The fifth issue is late registration. Applications submitted several years after the child’s birth are subject to more thorough scrutiny by consular authorities.
How to Obtain an ID and Passport After Citizenship Registration
After successful registration in the MERNIS system and inclusion in the family register, the next step is obtaining identity documents.
The Turkish identity card (kimlik) is issued to all Turkish citizens. Children under the age of 15 receive an ID card without a photograph; from the age of 15, a biometric photograph is required.
For children residing abroad, the kimlik can be obtained through the consulate. Processing typically takes from two weeks to one month, depending on the workload of the consulate and the system.
A Turkish biometric passport for minors is issued upon presentation of a kimlik or proof of registration in MERNIS. Different passport types apply to children under two years old, under seven years old, and over seven years old, with varying validity periods and photo requirements.
The passport application procedure requires the child’s personal presence at the consulate for data verification and, if necessary, biometric photo capture. The presence of both parents is mandatory, or one parent with notarized consent from the other.
For children residing in Turkey, the procedure is simplified. After registration, applications for both the kimlik and passport can be submitted immediately.
FAQ
A child is born abroad and one parent is a Turkish citizen — how is the status confirmed?
You must apply to the Turkish consulate with the required set of documents. After data verification, the child is entered into the MERNIS system and an identity card is issued.
How can Turkish citizenship be obtained if the father is Turkish?
If the parents are officially married, the child automatically acquires Turkish citizenship. For children born out of wedlock, legal establishment of paternity is required — either through voluntary recognition or a court decision.
If a child is born in Turkey, will citizenship be granted?
No. Territorial birth alone does not create a legal basis for citizenship. Turkey applies the jus sanguinis principle. Exceptions apply to foundlings and children of stateless persons.
If a child is born in Turkey to foreign nationals, what citizenship will the child have?
The child acquires the parents’ citizenship in accordance with their national law. Automatic issuance of a Turkish passport is not provided for.
Questions of children’s citizenship require not only knowledge of the law but also an understanding of how it is applied in practice. Each family situation is unique, and universal solutions are not always applicable.
Tuncay & Barcin Law Office in Alanya provides legal support in matters of citizenship and family law. Comprehensive legal assistance in obtaining Turkish citizenship at every stage — from consultation to childbirth and final document issuance — ensures full protection of your rights.
We offer comprehensive support:
- Pre-birth consultations with analysis of the family’s specific circumstances.
- Review and preparation of all required documents.
- Representation before consulates, civil registry authorities, and courts.
- Handling cases of any level of complexity.
- Ongoing legal support for the family after citizenship is obtained.
We guarantee confidentiality, an individual approach, and full protection of your interests at every stage.
