Turkey: Requirements for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship, including whether Iranians are treated differently from foreigners of other origins in this regard
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 December 2002 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TUR40678.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Requirements for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship, including whether Iranians are treated differently from foreigners of other origins in this regard, 2 December 2002, TUR40678.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e2923.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on the requirements for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship, including whether Iranians are treated differently from foreigners of other origins in this regard, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information may be of interest.
According to the Web Site of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Turkish citizenship is regulated by the Turkish Citizenship Law, No. 403 of 11 February 1964 (UN 2001). This law was amended in February 1981 (ibid. 2002). More recently, in March 2002 the Turkish Parliamentary Interior Commission approved a new draft law that "will make it harder for foreigners to become Turkish citizens" (Turkish Daily News 29 Mar. 2002). The law "[introduces] new conditions for becoming a Turkish citizen after marrying a Turk" such as requiring that a foreigner be married to a Turk for at least three years before qualifying for a Turkish citizenship (ibid.).
According to an open letter written by Turkish emigrants from Bulgaria to Turkey's Interior Minister, a "number" of Bulgarian Turks who had emigrated to Turkey have been waiting for their Turkish citizenship since 1992 (BTA 9 Feb. 2001). Their letter reveals the situation of emigrants living in Turkey (ibid.). In it, they say that their diplomas are not recognized and that "they are unable to practice prestigious professions such as medicine, engineering and teaching; their children, having successfully passed the examinations, cannot continue their studies at secondary schools because they are not Turkish citizens, etc." (ibid.). The article that reported on the letter, also stated that "[t]hose who arrived in Turkey on tourist visas or illegally since 1996 also face a great problem: They are treated as illegal migrants or are forced to hide, and they have neither temporary residence permits nor social security" (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). 9 February 2001. "Immigrants from Bulgaria Complain to Interior Minister." (BBC Summary 13 Feb. 2001/NEXIS)
Turkish Daily News [Ankara, in English]. 29 March 2002. "New Draft to Make it Harder to Become Turkish Citizen." (Global News Wire-Asia Africa Intelligence Wire/NEXIS)
United Nations (UN). 2002. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Country of Origin and Legal Information. "Turkish Citizenship Law, No. 403."
_____. 2001. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Country of Origin and Legal Information. "Law No. 2383 Regarding Adding Two Temporary Articles and Amending Some Articles of the Turkish Citizenship Law, No. 403, Dated 11 February 1964." Additional Sources Consulted
The Embassy of Turkey did not respond to a letter requesting information within time constraints.
World News Connection
Internet sites, including:
Citizenship Foundation European Union Accession Monitoring Program (EUMAP) International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. Human Rights in the OSCE Region: The Balkans, the Caucasus, Europe, Central Asia and North America Turkish Press Turkey Update United States Committee for Refugees Annual Country Reports: Turkey 2002 Search engine:
Google
