An official response to a parliamentary inquiry has reignited debate over Turkey’s controversial citizenship policies, revealing that foreign nationals with serious criminal allegations and international alerts have nonetheless been granted Turkish nationality in recent years.

The written reply, signed by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and dated December 12, 2025, outlines the formal vetting procedures applied to foreign applicants under the administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the letter, applicants are subject to security screenings and archival checks, including reviews of records from INTERPOL and Europol, as well as assessments conducted by Turkey’s intelligence service, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).

On paper, the process appears stringent. The ministry states that individuals flagged through international police channels or who receive negative intelligence assessments are to be denied citizenship. Yet the same letter acknowledges that tens of thousands of foreigners have been granted nationality through exceptional procedures in recent years – raising serious questions about how thoroughly these safeguards are applied in practice.

Investment pathways and exceptional citizenship

Between 2018 and 2024, a total of 46,431 foreign nationals acquired Turkish citizenship through “exceptional” investment-based schemes, according to the ministerial response. These programs, promoted aggressively to attract foreign capital, allow applicants to obtain nationality by purchasing property, depositing funds in Turkish banks or making other qualifying investments.

Critics have long argued that oversight of these schemes is weak and that due diligence often fails to scrutinize the origins of funds. While Turkish authorities emphasize compliance with domestic regulations, foreign law enforcement agencies have repeatedly expressed concern that the program may enable money laundering or provide safe haven to individuals under criminal investigation elsewhere.

The parliamentary letter underscores a structural gap: In the absence of formal INTERPOL Red Notices or Europol alerts, other........

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