Turkish CBI Application: Full Document Checklist for Vietnamese Investors

The Turkish CBI application is the set of legal documents that investors must prepare in full to apply for citizenship under the investment programme of Türkiye. According to actual statistics, document errors are the number one cause of delays and rejections — accounting for approximately 60-70% of cases encountering issues during the assessment process.

The application is divided into four main groups: investor identity documents, family member documents, investment proof documents, and source-of-funds proof documents. Especially for Vietnamese investors, 2026 is a pivotal year for document legalisation procedures — the Hague Apostille Convention will officially take effect in Vietnam from 11/09/2026, fundamentally changing how documents are prepared before submission to Türkiye Citizenship by Investment programme.

This article provides a detailed guide to the entire document list, translation standards, selection of appropriate legalisation procedures, and common errors to avoid.

Overview of the Turkish CBI application structure

Before delving into each document group, investors need to grasp the overall structure to plan their preparation effectively. The Turkish CBI application consists of four main groups:

The	Purpose	Number of basic documents
A	Main investor identity documents	8-10 types
B	Family member documents (spouse + children)	5-7 types/person
C	Investment proof documents (by option)	3-7 types
D	Proof of source of funds and AML documentation	4–6 types

The total number of documents for a family of four (spouses and two children) typically ranges from 35 to 50 types.

All Vietnamese documents must be notarially translated into Turkish (or English) and consularly legalised (before 11/09/2026) or Apostilled (from 11/09/2026). Documents in other foreign languages must undergo the same process.

Group A — Main investor identity documents

This group of documents verifies the identity, legal status, and background of the primary investor applying for citizenship.

1. Vietnamese passport:

• Original and one copy of all used pages
• Minimum 6 months of remaining validity from the intended date of submission
• Must be scanned and stored electronically for the e-İkamet system to process

2. Citizenship application form (Form VAT-4):

• Official form from the Republic of Türkiye General Directorate of Civil Registration and Nationality (NVİ)
• Completed in Turkish or via a sworn translator
• Signed during the in-person submission, not signed in advance

3. Vietnamese birth certificate:

• Original or certified copy
• Must contain full parental information and the correct place of birth
• If an old birth certificate lacks information: a civil status extract must be obtained from the People’s Committee where the birth was originally registered

4. Vietnamese judicial record card No. 2:

• Issued by the Department of Justice of the province/city of residence
• Valid for no more than 6 months from the date of issue
• Must be No. 2 (full personal information) — not No. 1

5. Turkish judicial record:

• Obtained directly from a Turkish court (e-Devlet) or via a local lawyer
• Applies to investors who already hold a Turkish residence permit
• Valid for no more than 6 months

6. Judicial records from countries of residence for over 6 months in the last 10 years:

• Applies if the investor has lived abroad (for study, work, or residency)
• A separate set for each country, consularly legalised or Apostilled

7. 4–10 biometric photos:

• Taken within the last 6 months, white background, ICAO compliant
• 5×6 cm size according to Turkish standards
• Some steps (residence permit, passport, ID card) require different quantities of photos

8. Photos of Turkish visa or entry stamps:

• Proof that the investor has entered Türkiye legally
• Required for the short-term residence permit application

9. Private health insurance in Türkiye:

• Valid for at least 1 year within Turkish territory
• Minimum coverage level as stipulated by the Directorate General of Migration Management
• Cost of US$200–400 per year depending on the package

10. Turkish residential address registration certificate:

• Obtained at the Population Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) after entry
• Requires a rental agreement or property ownership certificate in Türkiye

Group B — Family member documents

The investor’s spouse and children under 18 are included in the same application without additional investment. Disabled children over 18 living with the investor are also included with appropriate disability certification.

Spouse’s documentation:

• Passport (original and copy of all used pages)
• Vietnamese marriage certificate (original or certified copy)
• Birth certificate
• Vietnamese Criminal Record Certificate No. 2 (≤6 months old)
• 4–10 biometric photos
• Separate citizenship application (Form VAT-4 for the spouse)

Specifically for marriage records: if the marriage certificate was issued before 2010 or lacks certain information according to international standards, a new marriage registration extract must be obtained from the People’s Committee of the commune/ward/town where the marriage was originally registered.

Documentation for children under 18:

• Passport or travel document (for children)
• Birth certificate with full names of both parents
• 4–10 biometric photos
• Consent letter from the parent not included in the application (if applicable) — must be notarised and legalised

Documentation for disabled children over 18 (if applicable):

• Passport
• Disability certificate issued by a Vietnamese medical authority, legalised
• Proof of economic dependency and cohabitation with the investor

Children born after the investor receives citizenship will automatically hold Turkish citizenship under the principle of jus sanguinis — no separate application is required. However, they must be registered in the Turkish civil registry at a Turkish Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam.

Group C — Investment proof documents

This group varies according to each investment option within the four choices of the programme.

US$400,000 real estate option:

• Title deed (TAPU) with a 3-year restriction note “satılmayacağına dair şerh”
• SPK valuation report confirming a value of ≥ US$400,000 (20-35 pages)
• Notarised sale and purchase agreement
• DAB (Döviz Alım Belgesi) certificate from the Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye
• Proof of transfer via the Secure Payment System (GÖS) — mandatory from 01/07/2026
• Certificate of conformity for investment from the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change

Details of the real estate investment process in the article the US$400,000 Turkish CBI real estate option.

US$500,000 government bond option:

• Securities account statement confirming ownership of bonds ≥ US$500,000
• Commitment to a 3-year block on the custody account
• DAB certificate
• Certificate of conformity from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye

Details in the article Türkiye CBI US$500,000 government bond option.

US$500,000 bank deposit option:

• Deposit account statement confirming a balance of ≥ US$500,000
• Commitment letter from the bank pledging a 3-year block
• DAB certificate
• Certificate of conformity from the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK)

Details in the article Türkiye CBI US$500,000 bank account option.

50-employee job creation option:

• Trade Registry Certificate of the business
• SGK Workplace Employee List confirming 50 Turkish citizens are employed full-time
• GİB Tax Compliance Letter
• Financial statements for the last 1-2 years
• Sample employment contracts and payroll for 50 employees
• Corporate bank statements for the last 6 months
• Certificate of conformity from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Türkiye

Details in the article Türkiye CBI 50-employee job creation option.

Group D — Source-of-funds proof documents (AML)

This category of documentation is increasingly stringent within the framework of AML and due diligence in 2026. The rejection rate for applications due to AML reasons fluctuates between 10-15% for investors from certain high-financial-risk markets.

Core AML documentation includes:

• Bank statements for the last 6-12 months: to prove the accumulation of funds to the investment level
• Personal income tax returns for the last 2-3 years: with income sufficient to explain the source of investment capital
• Employment contract or business registration certificate: to explain the primary source of income
• Certificates of existing asset ownership: property title deeds, savings books, securities account statements — to prove total assets are consistent with the investment level
• Asset sale agreement or proof of legal borrowing: if investment capital is derived from the sale of assets or loans
• Source of Funds Declaration: standard template signed by the investor

Important note: Turkish banks and appraisal agencies prioritise funds that are traceable through the banking system. Cash, gold, or assets transferred via unofficial channels are difficult to recognise. Investors must transfer all capital through a Vietnamese bank licensed to perform international transfers.

Vietnamese document legalisation process

This is the most important and complex part of the Türkiye CBI application for Vietnamese investors. 2026 is a transition period between two systems.

Before 11/09/2026: 3-step consular legalisation

All Vietnamese public documents must undergo a 3-step process before submission in Türkiye:

1. Step 1 — Notarisation of copies at the local Department of Justice: apply at the District People’s Committee or a private Notary Office. Fee: 5,000-10,000 VND/notarised copy
2. Step 2 — Legalisation at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam: submit at the headquarters of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam in Hanoi or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representative Office in Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang. Fee: 30,000-50,000 VND/document, processing time: 5 working days
3. Step 3 — Certification at the Embassy of Türkiye in Hanoi: only performed after receiving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalisation stamp. Fee: approximately US$30-50/document, time: 3-5 working days

Total time for one document is approximately 2-3 weeks. Total cost for a family of four is approximately US$800-1,500, excluding translation.

From 11/09/2026: 1-step Apostille

Vietnam submitted its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 31/12/2025 — the Convention officially enters into force in Vietnam from 11/09/2026. From this point, the process is streamlined to a single step:

• Apostille at the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam: Affix the Apostille directly to the original document or a certified copy. The estimated fee is equivalent to the previous Step 2 (30,000-50,000 VND), with a processing time of 3-5 days.

Documents bearing an Apostille are directly recognised in Türkiye and 124 other member countries of the Convention. No further certification at the Turkish Embassy is required — this is the core difference that saves both time and costs.

Practical comparison for a family of 4:

Factor	Consular legalisation (before 11/09/2026)	Apostille (from 11/09/2026)
Number of steps	3	1
Timeline	2-3 weeks	3-5 days
Estimated cost	800-1,500 USD	400-700 USD
Error rate	High (3 steps → 3 checks)	Low (1 check)

Practical recommendation: investors planning to submit applications after September 2026 should proactively delay the preparation of Vietnamese documents until after the Apostille milestone. This saves 30-40% in costs and 2-3 weeks in time.

Notarised translation process

Once legalised or Apostilled, documents must be translated into Turkish (preferred) or English.

Core requirements for translations:

• Translated by a licensed notary translation agency: not freelance translators or AI machine translation
• Notarised stamp from the Department of Justice: confirms the translator is sworn and the translation matches the original
• Apostille stamp on the translation (from 11/09/2026): some cases require an Apostille on both the original and the translation to avoid disputes

Important note on the order of execution: consular legalisation (or Apostille) must be performed before translation. Translating first and then legalising often leads to requirements to start over because Turkish appraisal authorities do not accept translations without the original document’s authentication stamp.

Some investors choose to translate in Türkiye via a local sworn translator (yeminli tercüman) instead of translating in Vietnam. This option has the advantage of being absolutely accepted by Turkish authorities, with competitive costs (50-100 USD/document). The disadvantage: it requires authorising a local lawyer to take the original documents to the translator — carrying the risk of losing documents during international transit.

5 common errors when preparing a Turkish CBI application

Analysis of cases rejected or requested for additional information during 2024-2025 reveals the 5 most common errors.

Error 1 — Judicial Record No. 1 instead of No. 2: The Vietnamese Department of Justice issues 2 types of judicial records. No. 1 is concise (listing only active convictions), while No. 2 is comprehensive (full history). Turkish authorities require No. 2. Investors who mistakenly apply for No. 1 will be asked to provide the correct one — extending the process by 2-3 weeks.

Error 2 — Passport expiring in less than 6 months: an unwritten rule but strictly applied. Passports expiring within 6 months from the date of application submission are often rejected. Investors must renew their passports before beginning document preparation.

Error 3 — Translating before legalisation: the correct order is consular legalisation (or Apostille) first, then translation. Doing it in reverse leads to having to redo the entire process — costing an extra 2-3 weeks and 50-70% of the fees.

Error 4 — Bank statements not sufficiently proving cash flow: investors provide 1-3 month statements (insufficient) or only stock investment accounts without savings accounts. The standard requirement is a statement for 6-12 months category of the of the main account showing accumulated cash flow.

Error 5 — Old marriage certificate extracts: marriage certificates issued before 2010 often lack information according to international standards (full names of both parents, exact place of birth). A new extract must be requested at the People’s Committee of the commune/ward where the original registration took place.

Conclusion and next steps

The Turkish CBI application process in 2026 has become clearer and more transparent thanks to tightened AML regulations and, in particular, the Apostille Convention taking effect from 11/09/2026 for Vietnamese applications. The total number of documents for a family of 4 ranges from 35-50 types, divided into 4 core groups: investor identity, family members, investment proof, and proof of source of funds.

Overall recommendation for Vietnamese investors: if the expected submission date falls after September 2026, proactively delay document preparation until after the Apostille milestone — saving 30-40% in legalisation costs and 2-3 weeks in time. For applications that must be submitted before this date, plan the 3-step consular legalisation early to avoid congestion in the final stages.

To understand the details of the 6-step implementation process, investors can refer to the article 6-step Turkish CBI process. The overall programme framework is presented at Turkish CBI overview 2026 and travel benefits after receiving the passport are analysed at Turkish passport and the US E-2 route.