Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
The cancellation of a Turkish citizenship decision is a serious legal process that often happens for national security or administrative reasons. Under the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, the government may cancel citizenship if they decide that the legal requirements were not met when it was first granted. This situation affects many foreign citizens and their families.
Once you gain Turkish citizenship, it is a right that is usually protected. However, for citizenships gained through special routes—especially by presidential decree—the government may review the file later. If they find that the legal conditions were not fully met, they can withdraw the decision. This is known as a ‘Cancellation of Citizenship’ and is officially notified to you by the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
According to the relevant articles of Law No. 5901, the cancellation of citizenship is generally based on two main reasons:
This is most common in cases of citizenship granted through special routes (exceptional citizenship). If the government discovers that a person provided false information, hid important facts, or did not meet the legal requirements during their application, the decision can be canceled.
Although the cancellation (revocation) of Turkish citizenship is an administrative decision, it has serious consequences that deeply affect a person’s life, legal status, and family. These effects are especially significant for those who gained citizenship through special routes (exceptional citizenship).
After you are officially notified of the decision to cancel your citizenship, you have 60 days to file an annulment lawsuit. The court will examine the reasons for cancellation, the administration’s discretion, and the specific facts of your case to decide if the decision is lawful.
The authorized court for challenging a citizenship cancellation is the Ankara Administrative Court. It is very important to file the case in the correct court. Filing in the wrong court may result in your case being sent elsewhere, which causes unnecessary delays and extra costs.
The duration depends on the complexity of your case, the administration’s response time, and the court’s workload. Generally, these cases take between 4 and 18 months to conclude.
Note: You may also request a “stay of execution” (yürütmeyi durdurma) during the process. If the court accepts this, the cancellation decision is temporarily suspended, which is critical for your right to stay, reside, and work in Turkey.
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