According to Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, marriage to a Turkish citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. A foreigner only has the right to apply after three years of official marriage, provided that the spouses continue to be married, lead family life together and do not pose a threat to national security and public order.
What happens when spouses divorce??
If citizenship has already been obtained, divorce in itself is not grounds for deprivation of citizenship. Turkish passport is retained even if the marriage has subsequently broken up. The law does not provide for automatic revocation of citizenship only because of the termination of family relations.
However, there is an important exception.
The risk arises only if the state authorities prove that the marriage was fictitious and was concluded solely for the purpose of obtaining citizenship.
If the divorce occurred before the citizenship was granted!
The situation here is different.
In order to apply for citizenship through marriage, it is necessary that at the time of application the marriage continues to operate. If the spouses officially divorced before the submission of documents, this basis can no longer be used, even if they have lived together for many years.
At the same time, the law provides for one important exception: if after submitting the application, the spouse - a citizen of Turkey - died, the examination of the application can be continued without requiring the preservation of family life.
Each situation is individual. The decision may be influenced by the terms of marriage, the stage of registration of documents, the results of inspection of state bodies and other legal circumstances.
Mercury Investment Group specialists accompany clients on issues of residence permit, citizenship of Turkey and legal registration of documents, helping to pass all stages officially, safely and in full compliance with the current legislation of Turkey.