Abstract:

Turkish law has a positive perspective towards foreigners who reacquire Turkish citizenship after having it lost. According to the Turkish Citizenship Act No. 5901, the reacquisition of Turkish citizenship is possible either by decision of the competent authority or by exercise of the right of option. Pursuant to the first one, a person who meet the identification criteria in the Turkish Citizenship Act can acquire Turkish citizenship upon his/her request through the decision of the competent authority. In this way, a former citizen who meet the relevant conditions may acquire citizenship more easily compared to the way of the acquisition of citizenship in general. In the second way, the mere request of the person determined in the Turkish Citizenship Act is sufficient for the acquisition of Turkish citizenship. Reacquisition of Turkish citizenship by the decision of the competent authority is regulated under articles 13, 14 and 43 of the Turkish Citizenship Act. Articles 13 and 43 set forth the individuals who may acquire Turkish citizenship without the requirement of residence whereas article 14 designates the persons who may acquire the citizenship with the requirement of residence. Under each provision, groups of persons who may acquire the citizenship through this way, the competent authority and the conditions of acquisition are provided separately. In this article, explanations will be made about these provisions of the Turkish Citizenship Act, problems will be identified and evaluations will be made within the framework of the basic principles of citizenship law. 

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