Why Kalkan is drawing buyers from Russia and China

Kalkan is a small town on Türkiye's south-west coast, between Fethiye and Kaş. The white houses of the old town step down to the harbour, while villas on the hillsides look out over one of the loveliest bays in the Mediterranean. There are no high-rise hotels or noisy resort strips here, and that is exactly why Kalkan is increasingly chosen by people looking for more than a holiday: a second home.

Why Türkiye

According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Russian citizens have in recent years been among the largest groups of foreign home buyers in Türkiye, and Antalya province, which includes Kalkan, is one of the most popular regions. The reasons are easy to see: direct flights, visa-free entry for Russian citizens for up to 60 days, a banking system that works, and the option of a residence permit or citizenship through property investment. The citizenship route described below is open to buyers of many nationalities, including those from China.

Citizenship through property purchase

Turkish law allows a foreign national to obtain citizenship by buying property worth at least US$400,000. The main conditions at present:

• the value is confirmed by a valuation report from an SPK-licensed valuer;
• an annotation is added to the title deed (TAPU) committing you not to sell the property for three years;
• payment goes through a Turkish bank and is evidenced by a foreign-currency sale certificate;
• your spouse and children under 18 can be included in the application;
• there is no requirement to live in Türkiye.

Many villas in Kalkan are priced above this threshold, so a single purchase can be a family home by the sea, a source of rental income and the basis for a citizenship application, all at once.

Dual citizenship

Türkiye allows dual citizenship, and so does Russia. Under Russian law, however, anyone who acquires a second citizenship must notify the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs within the set deadline (usually 60 days). China is different: it does not recognise dual nationality, and under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China a Chinese citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality. Check the current requirements with a lawyer before you apply.

What a Turkish passport offers

A Turkish passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 100 countries. Türkiye is also an E-2 treaty country, so its citizens can apply for the US E-2 investor visa, which may be of interest to business owners.

If you don't need citizenship

For a residence permit based on buying property, the threshold in Antalya province is lower: from US$200,000. Some neighbourhoods are closed to residence permits for foreigners, though, so the address needs checking before you commit.

Why Kalkan in particular

• A small, quiet town that has kept its character, with no mass development.
• Sea views from almost every house, and a short trip to the beach clubs and the bay.
• Steady demand for short-term villa rentals in season.
• Dalaman airport is about 1.5–2 hours' drive away; Antalya about 3 hours.

How we help

We are a small agency based in Kalkan. We know every property in our collection personally, work with trusted lawyers and valuers, and can guide you from the first viewing through to receiving the TAPU. If you wish, we can then look after the house and let it through Book Kalkan.

This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Citizenship and residence permit requirements can change, so please consult a licensed Turkish lawyer before buying.

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