Further update: lawyers are now saying:
(1) Applicants must appear in Turkey in person for fingerprinting both at the time of residency application AND again at time of citizenship application.
(2) Dependents must also appear in person for fingerprinting both at the time of residency application AND again at time of citizenship application, though the in-person appearance of dependence need not be at the same time as the principal applicant, and can be done after the principal applicant’s application has already been processed and approved (as the right to add dependents is already vested).
All these newly added hurdles may indicate negative attitudes toward the CBI program in the political sphere with the program on the path to eventual abolishment or unaffordability. If you are seriously considering this program, would advise proceeding ASAP.
July 16 Update: Primary applicant completed residency fingerprinting in mid-May, received residence card mid-June. Spouse completed residency fingerprinting early July, now awaiting spouse’s residence card before citizenship application can be filed.
The thing it is taking Portugal more than 2.5 years and counting to do (issue residence card), Turkey did in one month.
July 27 Update: Spouse’s residence card issued, now preparing citizenship application.
Aug 9 Update: Flew to Istanbul for the citizenship application submission only for the “computer system” to be “down” the entire day I was there. Time and money wasted, must return again. Would advise anyone doing this to allow multiple days in case of “computer system outages”.
Aug 19 Update: Flew to Istanbul again, completed citizenship application as computer system was working this time. Received reference number, can check online system for updates. Expected processing time until citizenship issuance is 6-9 months.
Can you shed a bit more light - what do you mean he “tried all options”?
Did you go with the RE path or bank deposit or smth else? And what seems to be the blocker?
I suspect your case is stalled because someone in Ankara believed you had a missing document whether it’s true or not does not matter, but that’s what you need to clear up between Istanbul and Ankara. Who is your lawyer?
Current update:
My application in the online system has experienced various status updates, with the current status of “the evaluation of your application is continuing” staying consistent since around a month ago. 5-month mark reached now, expecting final result in Feb-May.
Under the current system, which is new as of last year, receiving citizenship in less than 9 months from investment no longer appears realistic as Turkey is striving to improve [the appearance of] its due diligence.
Even so, it still appears likely that I will receive my Turkish passport before my Portugal residence card, despite making my investment in Turkey more than two full years after Portugal.
Citizenship award notification received today! Eight months and a few days since application, and 14 months since investment.
Passport requires an application to Turkish embassy / consulate, which I will be making soon, then waiting for centralized passport production which may take 6-8 more weeks.
While the passport may not come before my Portugal residence card (still waiting), the citizenship declaration did, despite a 2+ year head start for Portugal.
Congrats!
Once you get your kimlik in hand, also get your e-devlet password at the PTT and you’ll be all set.
And later on check your SGK status to make sure you are not enrolled automatically and not accumulating any debt unknowingly (unless you actually want to be enrolled and pay your SGK contributions).
