Turkish Citizenship Act is Now in Force

On June 12 2009, the new Turkish Citizenship Act, No. 5901, was published in the official gazette and is now in force. The new act brought about some important changes in the law regarding the acquisition and loss of citizenship, notably, a condition to renounce an individual’s original citizenship, if the former country does not allow dual citizenship. The act also provides that if a foreigner wishes to use the expedited method of acquiring Turkish citizenship, they shouldn’t be designated a threat to national security or public order. The same requirement applies in cases of adoption of a minor by a Turkish citizen. Expatriation is not regarded as a reason for the loss of Turkish citizenship. The conditions for loss of citizenship are more limited when compared to the previous act. The reasons for loss of citizenship relating to military service are no longer found in the new law. In addition, the fact that a Turkish citizen has dual citizenship and a weak connection to Turkey does not give rise to the risk of loss of citizenship. The new act also abolishes the requirement of getting permission for individuals who would like to acquire a foreign citizenship, while maintaining their Turkish citizenship.

Turkish Citizenship Act is Now in Force tiryakioglu.info Sun, Jul 26, 2009