Property Valuation for Turkish Citizenship Has Changed: What the 28 September 2026 Update Means for Investors
The system for valuing property for Turkish citizenship changed significantly on 28 September 2026: valuation reports used in citizenship-by-property applications are no longer limited to GEDAŞ, and appraisal companies licensed by the SPK (Capital Markets Board of Turkey) that meet the official conditions can now issue them.
The General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) officially announced the update on 29 September 2026. The TTB certificate has not been abolished; it can now be used for 12 months instead of 6. The USD 400,000 real estate investment requirement for citizenship remains unchanged.
Watch the change explained on video (in Arabic)
In this video we explain how the property valuation system for citizenship has evolved from 2018 to 2026, and what the new system means in practice for foreign investors.
What changed on 28 September 2026?
Circular No. 2024/2 was updated on 28 September 2026, introducing an important change to how property valuation reports for Turkish citizenship applications are prepared.
- Previous system (from 4 March 2024): valuation reports for citizenship purposes were issued only through GEDAŞ.
- New system (from 28 September 2026): SPK-licensed appraisal companies that meet the criteria set in the system, in line with international standards, can prepare these reports.
The current circular defines an eligible appraisal company as one that is:
- licensed by the SPK (Capital Markets Board of Turkey),
- an active member of TDUB (Association of Appraisers of Turkey),
- and included in TADEBİS (the Real Estate Appraisal Information System).
This means that a foreign investor buying property for citizenship is no longer tied to a single appraisal company.
Who is GEDAŞ?
GEDAŞ is a specialised property appraisal company — not a document and not a government office. Founded in 1994, it values homes, land, commercial property, projects and other types of real estate assets.
TOKİ (the Housing Development Administration, a Turkish government body working on large housing and urban development projects) is among GEDAŞ’s shareholders. From 2024 to 2026 it had a special role in preparing valuation reports used in citizenship applications.
What is the TTB certificate?
TTB stands for the Turkish Tutar Tespit Belgesi — the certificate determining the amount accepted for acquiring Turkish citizenship through property ownership. It sets the property value that will count for citizenship purposes.
The TTB is different from the valuation report:
- Valuation report: assesses the property and determines its value according to the accepted standards.
- TTB certificate: sets the value that will be accepted from this transaction for citizenship purposes.
The TTB was not abolished in the new update. Under the current system it is prepared electronically from the data of a report by an eligible appraisal company, then sent through TADEBİS to TAKBİS (the Land Registry and Cadastre Information System) and Web Tapu.
The period between the TTB being issued and the submission of the title deed transaction including the citizenship request is now 12 months instead of 6.
How does the new system help investors?
- More choice: valuation is no longer tied to GEDAŞ alone; it is open to SPK-licensed appraisal companies that meet the official conditions.
- More time: the TTB can now be used for 12 months instead of 6, giving investors more room to organise the title deed procedures, bank transfers, the Foreign Currency Purchase Certificate (DAB), powers of attorney and documents from abroad.
It is important to be clear, however, that the new system does not necessarily make valuation cheaper or faster. The direct benefit is more eligible appraisers and more time to manage the transaction. The USD 400,000 requirement for citizenship through property remains.
Frequently asked questions about property valuation for Turkish citizenship
Has the TTB certificate been abolished?
No. The TTB certificate is still used in citizenship-by-property applications.
How long is the TTB certificate valid?
The period between issuing the TTB and submitting the transaction including the citizenship request is now 12 months.
Are GEDAŞ and the TTB the same thing?
No. GEDAŞ is a property appraisal company, while the TTB sets the amount accepted for citizenship purposes and belongs to the Land Registry.
Who can prepare a property valuation report for citizenship now?
Property appraisal companies licensed by the SPK (Capital Markets Board of Turkey) that meet the conditions set in the system.
Has the USD 400,000 requirement been removed?
No. The USD 400,000 real estate investment requirement still applies.
What happens if the TTB expires during the transaction?
If the required transaction was submitted while the certificate was valid, its later expiry does not automatically cancel the transaction submitted within the period.
In summary: what does the 28 September 2026 update mean for foreign investors?
The update marks a new stage in property valuation for Turkish citizenship: more flexibility in choosing an eligible appraiser, and more time to organise the transaction.
Even so, when buying property for citizenship it is not enough to look at the sale price alone: you also need to check the valuation report, the value accepted in the TTB, the official price on the title deed, the payment method and the legal status of the property.
Do you have a citizenship file, or are you thinking of buying property for citizenship?
The consultants of Gate Istanbul Real Estate have supported investors since 2012 at every step: from choosing the property to valuation and, for those who wish, Turkish citizenship through real estate investment.
