Journal of Southeast European and Black Sea, 2023 (SSCI)
This study investigates the motives of those who want to acquire Turkish citizenship through investment. We conducted in-depth interviews with 45 people consisting of new citizens and intermediaries who assist foreigners in housing sales and citizenship applications in eight different provinces. Our study reveals that people from countries geographically close to Türkiye and global investors show significant interest in the citizenship program, which enables them to become Turkish citizens through investment. Importantly, we found that the tendency for investment is influenced by Türkiye’s bilateral relations with investors’ countries of origin, the relatively lower monetary barrier for investment encourages the migration of low-capital groups in search of a better life, and citizenship by investment facilitates capital transfer between countries.