Dual citizenship: what to do on the Türkiye side

A Turkish citizen who becomes a U.S. citizen does not lose Turkish citizenship. Türkiye does not require prior permission for this, but it requires you to make a notification so that the new citizenship can be entered in your civil registry. This page explains multiple-citizenship notification step by step, the required documents, consequences such as military service and elections, the permission to renounce Turkish citizenship for those who wish to do so, and the Blue Card. The addresses of Turkish missions in the U.S. are at the end of the page.

• U.S. law does not require its citizens to choose between U.S. citizenship and another citizenship.
• Dual citizens owe allegiance to both countries and must comply with the laws of both countries. Either country may apply its own laws.
• U.S. citizens, including dual citizens, must use a U.S. passport when entering and leaving the United States.
• The country of your other citizenship may also require you to use its own passport when entering and leaving.
• U.S. consular assistance may be limited in the country of a dual citizen’s other citizenship.
• For which passport to use when children travel, see 8.4 Dual-citizen child.

• Under the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, the requirement to obtain prior permission to acquire the citizenship of another country was abolished. The former application to “retain Turkish citizenship” is no longer made.
• Acquiring the citizenship of another country does not cause you to lose Turkish citizenship.
• However, you must notify the competent authority of your new citizenship (Law Art. 44; Regulation Art. 81).
• Upon notification, the civil registry office compares the name, surname, date of birth, and sex information in your civil registry with your U.S. document. If the information matches, the statement “has multiple citizenships” is added to your record.
• If the information does not match, the request is rejected. If your name changed in the U.S., also bring the document showing this; your foreign name and surname will also be entered in your record.
• If you do not make the notification: civil-status events that you carry out as a U.S. citizen (such as marriage or birth) will not be entered into your civil registry in Türkiye.

1. Find the mission responsible for you. If you live in the U.S., you apply to the Embassy or consulate general responsible for the state where you reside (list below).
2. Make an appointment: through konsolosluk.gov.tr. For the appointment system, see 11.2 Consular appointment (konsolosluk.gov.tr) and e-Government.
3. Prepare the documents:
   • VAT-12 Multiple Citizenship Notification Form (PDF);
   • 2 biometric photographs measuring 50x60 mm with a white background;
   • national identity card or a copy;
   • a notarized Turkish translation of the duly certified document containing your identity information and showing the date on which you acquired U.S. citizenship;
   • if you acquired a foreign name or surname when obtaining citizenship, a notarized Turkish translation of the certified document showing this.
4. Complete the form correctly: electronically, in capital letters; if you have more than one name, do not abbreviate. Incomplete, illegible, or unsigned forms will not be processed.
5. Apply in person. The application is made in person or through a special power of attorney issued for this purpose. Applications by mail are not accepted.
6. Your children: You, as the parent, make the notification for your children under 18. VAT-12 has space for up to 3 children; use a second form for more children.
7. The mission sends your file to the civil registry office where you are registered; the statement is entered into your civil registry there.
8. Ask your mission before the appointment which U.S. document (certificate of citizenship or U.S. passport) and which form of certification it accepts. For apostille and translation, see 11.4 Power of attorney, notarial procedures, apostille.

• Identity card and passport: Since your Turkish citizenship continues, you continue to handle Turkish identity-card and passport procedures at the missions. See 11.1 Turkish missions in the U.S. and their jurisdictions.
• Military service: Multiple citizenship does not eliminate the military-service obligation.
  • Military service performed in the U.S. is not counted in Türkiye. Türkiye has a bilateral agreement on this matter only with Tunisia and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
  • Multiple citizens may apply for military service by paying in foreign currency without a work requirement: they must have actually lived abroad for at least 3 years (1,095 days), excluding periods spent in Türkiye, complete the Ministry of National Defense’s distance education, and pay the foreign-currency amount prescribed by law in advance.
  • For citizens of the country to which they apply, military service is deferred once upon application until December 31 of the year in which they turn 35.
  • For details, see 11.5 Military service.
• Elections in Türkiye: For voting from abroad as a Turkish citizen, see 11.7 Voting from abroad.
• If you lose U.S. citizenship: You also report this using form VAT-13; the multiple-citizenship statement in your record is invalidated.

• Requirements (Law Art. 25):
  • to be an adult and have the capacity to make distinctions;
  • to have acquired the citizenship of a foreign state or have credible indications that you will acquire it;
  • not to be wanted for a crime or military service;
  • not to be subject to financial or criminal restrictions.
• Documents: VAT-9 form; 2 biometric photographs measuring 50x60 mm; a certified copy of the document showing that you acquired foreign citizenship.
• Application: in person at the mission or through a special power of attorney; applications by mail are not accepted.
• Duration: According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the process may take 3–6 months. Men may complete the renunciation process after completing their military-service registration.
• Result: Your Turkish citizenship ends when you receive the renunciation certificate against signature. Your civil-registry record is closed, and from that date you are treated as a foreigner.
• Family: Your spouse’s citizenship is not affected. Your children renounce citizenship together with you only upon your request and with the other parent’s consent (or by court decision if there is no consent). Renunciation is not permitted if the child would become stateless.
• Return: An application for readmission to Turkish citizenship may always be made. Those who renounced without completing military service become liable for military service when they regain citizenship.

• Who can obtain one: people who were Turkish citizens by birth and lost Turkish citizenship with permission to renounce, and their descendants through the third degree (children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren).
• Rights: You continue to enjoy the rights granted to Turkish citizens in the same manner; you may reside in Türkiye as if you were a Turkish citizen.
• Exceptions:
  • no right to vote or stand for election;
  • no right to import vehicles or household goods duty-free;
  • no military-service obligation;
  • cannot become a tenured civil servant; may work in the public sector as a worker, temporary employee, or contracted personnel;
  • acquired rights in social security are preserved. See 11.6 Social security.
• Application: submit a petition, 2 photographs, and your U.S. identity document or passport to the mission.
• Identity number: Your Turkish Republic identity number does not change; your record is transferred to the Blue Card Holders Registry.
• Notification obligation: You must notify the mission of births, marriages, divorces, and address changes.
• Practical information:
  • Blue Cards issued after April 12, 2013, are accepted as identity documents by notaries.
  • The card is not replaced because of a surname change; in transactions, show your marriage certificate together with the card.
  • For a power of attorney at consulates, a foreign passport alone is not sufficient; a Blue Card is also required.

• Embassy of Türkiye in Washington — Washington, D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland
  • Address: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
  • Telephone: +1 202 612 6700; emergency: +1 202 304 3889
  • Email: embassy.washingtondc@mfa.gov.tr · Web: vasington-be.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in New York — New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
  • Address: 821 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
  • Telephone: +1 212 351 7200; emergency: +1 646 204 0011
  • Email: consulate.newyork@mfa.gov.tr · Web: newyork-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in Chicago — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
  • Address: 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr. (NBC Tower), Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Telephone: +1 312 263 0644; emergency: +1 773 386 3213
  • Email: consulate.chicago@mfa.gov.tr · Web: sikago-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in Houston — Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas
  • Address: 5333 Westheimer Road, Suite 1050, Houston, TX 77056
  • Telephone: +1 346 439 6560; after-hours emergency: +1 832 774 1861
  • Email: consulate.houston@mfa.gov.tr · Web: houston-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in Los Angeles — Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Pacific islands
  • Address: 8500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
  • Telephone: +1 424 313 8800; emergency: +1 310 779 3288
  • Email: consulate.losangeles@mfa.gov.tr · Web: losangeles-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in Boston — Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut
  • Address: 31 Saint James Avenue, Suite 840, Boston, MA 02116
  • Telephone: +1 857 250 4700; emergency: +1 857 207 9284
  • Email: consulate.boston@mfa.gov.tr · Web: boston-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consulate General of Türkiye in Miami — Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Puerto Rico
  • Address: 80 SW 8th Street, Suite 2700, Miami, FL 33130
  • Telephone: +1 786 655 0315; emergency: +1 305 646 8208
  • Email: consulate.miami@mfa.gov.tr · Web: miami-bk.mfa.gov.tr
• Consular Call Center (24/7): From the U.S. +1 888 566 7656 · From Türkiye +90 312 292 29 29
• For honorary consulates and detailed jurisdictions, see 11.1 Turkish missions in the U.S. and their jurisdictions.

• Assuming that Turkish citizenship automatically ends when you become a U.S. citizen.
• Never making the multiple-citizenship notification, then discovering that a marriage or birth in the U.S. was not entered into the civil registry.
• Trying to send the application by mail.
• Failing to document that the name on the U.S. document differs from the name in the Turkish civil registry.
• Trying to leave the U.S. for Türkiye or return to the U.S. using only a Turkish passport.
• Thinking that multiple citizenship eliminates military service.
• Requesting permission to renounce without knowing the loss of rights caused by the Blue Card.

• Do I need permission from Türkiye to become a U.S. citizen? No. The prior-permission requirement was abolished by Law No. 5901. You only need to make a notification.
• Will I lose Turkish citizenship if I do not make the notification? No. However, civil-status events you carry out as a U.S. citizen will not be entered into your record in Türkiye.
• Can I make the notification by mail? No. It must be made in person or through a special power of attorney.
• Will my Turkish identity card and passport remain valid? Since your Turkish citizenship continues, you continue to apply to the missions for your Turkish documents.
• Which passport should I use to travel to Türkiye? A U.S. passport is mandatory when leaving the U.S. and returning to it. Türkiye may require its own document from its citizens; keep both documents valid.
• Can I buy a home and work in Türkiye with a Blue Card? Except for the exceptions in the Law, Blue Card holders enjoy the rights of Turkish citizens in the same manner.
• My child was born in the U.S. Is a notification also required for the child? You register the child’s birth with the Turkish civil registry. See 8.3 Registering a child in the Turkish civil registry and identity/passport procedures (consulate).

• VAT-12 Multiple Citizenship Notification Form (PDF) · Place of application and documents (PDF)
• VAT-13 Form for cancelling the multiple-citizenship statement (PDF)
• VAT-9 Permission to Renounce Turkish Citizenship Form (PDF) · Place of application and documents (PDF)
• NVI – Multiple citizenship · NVI – Blue Card
• Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901
• Consular appointment (konsolosluk.gov.tr) · Consular frequently asked questions
• U.S. Department of State – Dual citizenship
• Related: 4.4 Oath ceremony and afterward · 11.5 Military service · 8.4 Dual-citizen child