Russian Tech Founder Obtains Turkey Citizenship — International Banking Restored via Property Investment
How a Moscow-based SaaS founder used Turkish citizenship to rebuild international financial infrastructure
$495,000
14 weeks
110 countries
Russian
Client Background
Nationality
Russian (Moscow)
Profile
SaaS technology company founder — primarily EU and US customers
Family Size
Married couple + 1 child (aged 7)
Net Worth
$5.2M (held in crypto, USD, and pre-2022 offshore accounts)
Primary Goal
Second citizenship to restore international banking and payment processing access
Secondary Goal
Travel mobility — Russian passport access severely curtailed post-2022
The Challenge
Post-2022 sanctions had effectively shut the client out of international banking. His SaaS company's Stripe account had been suspended, EU bank accounts closed, and US payment processing blocked. His Russian passport made opening alternative accounts nearly impossible. His technology business was generating $180,000/month in recurring revenue — which he couldn't reliably collect. He needed a second citizenship to legally and legitimately establish a new financial identity in a non-sanctioned jurisdiction. Turkey was the most accessible programme given his financial profile.
Programme Recommended
Turkey Citizenship by Investment — Real Estate ($400,000 minimum)
Why This Programme
- Turkey is the most accessible citizenship programme for Russian nationals — no additional restrictions
- $400,000 property threshold achievable in Istanbul prime market — strong capital appreciation
- Turkish citizenship enables opening EU, UK, and UAE bank accounts as a Turkish national
- Turkish passport: visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 110 countries
- Turkey is not part of EU sanctions — neutral jurisdiction
- Processing: 3–4 months with straightforward documentation
Investment Made
Timeline from Enquiry to Approval
Week 1
Property identified — due diligence and valuation report ordered
Week 3
Property purchased — TAPU (title deed) issued
Week 4
Citizenship application submitted — General Directorate of Land Registry
Week 7
Background checks and residency permit issued (mandatory step)
Week 11
Presidential decree approving citizenship issued
Week 14
Turkish citizenship certificates and passports issued — family of 3
Key Benefit Achieved
Turkish citizenship restored international financial access: UAE bank account opened within 2 weeks, UK EMI account established, Stripe account relaunched under Turkish business entity.
Outcomes
Turkish citizenship for family of three — passports issued in 14 weeks
Turkish-entity Stripe account approved within 3 weeks of citizenship
UAE (RAK) offshore company established — full international banking access restored
UK EMI account (Wise Business) opened — EU payment processing operational
SaaS revenue now fully collectible — $180K MRR preserved
Turkish passport: visa-free access to 110 countries including Japan, South Korea, Singapore
"My business was dying because I couldn't receive payments. The Turkish citizenship solved everything — it took 14 weeks from buying an apartment to holding a Turkish passport. Within a month of that I had bank accounts, Stripe working again, and my company back to full operation. The Istanbul apartment is also a genuine investment — it's already appreciated. Turkey gave me my business back."— SaaS founder, Moscow — Turkey Citizenship by Investment client, May 2026