The Conditions of Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Adoption According to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law Numbered 5901 and the Evaluation of the Application for Acquisition of Citizenship by the Adopter or Guardian’s on behalf of the Adoptee

Özlem Burdurlu Ahlat

Article Details

The Conditions of Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Adoption According to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law Numbered 5901 and the Evaluation of the Application for Acquisition of Citizenship by the Adopter or Guardian’s on behalf of the Adoptee

Authors:

Özlem Burdurlu Ahlat

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Yasa Çatışmaları

Journal:

Public and Private International Law Bulletin Vol.45 Issue 1, pp.64-88

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358024

pISSN:

2651-5377

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law numbered 5901 adopts a simplified procedure for a foreigner adopted by a Turkish citizen to acquire Turkish citizenship. The idea of ensuring unity of citizenship in the family and supporting the adopted minor to have the same nationality as the adopter constitutes the background of this provision. According to Article 17, minors adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire Turkish citizenship, provided that they do not have any circumstances that may constitute an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. Articles 32 and 33 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law discuss in detail the conditions and application procedure for acquiring Turkish citizenship through adoption. The Regulation stipulates that the application file must include a form petition stating the adopters request. Whether the requirement of the adopters will within the scope of the Regulation constitutes a contradiction in terms of the principle of legality, and whether the adoptee can acquire Turkish citizenship according to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law in cases where the adopters will is not revealed or cannot be revealed due to nonvoluntary reasons such as death, will be evaluated. In addition, the theoretical background of the exercise of the right to apply for naturalisation, which is a right closely linked to the person, by the parent or guardian for the adopted minor will be evaluated and the approach of the Turkish Citizenship Law regarding the representation of the minor during the application for naturalisation will be examined.

 Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law numbered 5901 adopts a simplified procedure for a foreigner adopted by a Turkish citizen to acquire Turkish citizenship. The idea of ensuring unity of citizenship in the family and supporting the adopted minor to have the same nationality as the adopter constitutes the background of this provision. According to Article 17, minors adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire Turkish citizenship, provided that they do not have any circumstances that may constitute an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. Articles 32 and 33 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law discuss in detail the conditions and application procedure for acquiring Turkish citizenship through adoption. The Regulation stipulates that the application file must include a form petition stating the adopters request. Whether the requirement of the adopters will within the scope of the Regulation constitutes a contradiction in terms of the principle of legality, and whether the adoptee can acquire Turkish citizenship according to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law in cases where the adopters will is not revealed or cannot be revealed due to nonvoluntary reasons such as death, will be evaluated. In addition, the theoretical background of the exercise of the right to apply for naturalisation, which is a right closely linked to the person, by the parent or guardian for the adopted minor will be evaluated and the approach of the Turkish Citizenship Law regarding the representation of the minor during the application for naturalisation will be examined.

 Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law numbered 5901 adopts a simplified procedure for a foreigner adopted by a Turkish citizen to acquire Turkish citizenship. The idea of ensuring unity of citizenship in the family and supporting the adopted minor to have the same nationality as the adopter constitutes the background of this provision. According to Article 17, minors adopted by a Turkish citizen may acquire Turkish citizenship, provided that they do not have any circumstances that may constitute an obstacle in terms of national security and public order. Articles 32 and 33 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law discuss in detail the conditions and application procedure for acquiring Turkish citizenship through adoption. The Regulation stipulates that the application file must include a form petition stating the adopters request. Whether the requirement of the adopters will within the scope of the Regulation constitutes a contradiction in terms of the principle of legality, and whether the adoptee can acquire Turkish citizenship according to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law in cases where the adopters will is not revealed or cannot be revealed due to nonvoluntary reasons such as death, will be evaluated. In addition, the theoretical background of the exercise of the right to apply for naturalisation, which is a right closely linked to the person, by the parent or guardian for the adopted minor will be evaluated and the approach of the Turkish Citizenship Law regarding the representation of the minor during the application for naturalisation will be examined.

 Bir Türk vatandaşı tarafından evlat edinilen yabancının Türk vatandaşlığını kazanabilmesi için 5901 sayılı Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu TVKnun 17. maddesinde kolaylaştırılmış bir usul benimsenmiştir. Ailede vatandaşlık birliğinin sağlanması ve evlat edinilen küçüğün, evlat edinen ile aynı ülkenin vatandaşlığını haiz olmasının desteklenmesi düşüncesi, bu hükmün arka planını oluşturmaktadır. 17. maddeye göre Türk vatandaşı tarafından evlat edinilen ergin olmayan kişi, milli güvenlik ve kamu düzeni bakımından engel oluşturabilecek bir hâli bulunmaması koşuluyla Türk vatandaşlığını kazanabilecektir. Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanununun Uygulanmasına İlişkin Yönetmelik TVK Uyg Yönin 32. ve 33. maddeleri evlat edinilme yoluyla Türk vatandaşlığının kazanılmasının şartlarını ve başvuru usulünü ayrıntılı biçimde ele almaktadır. Bu Yönetmelikte başvuru sırasında evlat edinenin isteğini belirten form dilekçenin de başvuru dosyasında yer alması gerektiği belirtilmiştir. Yönetmelik kapsamında evlat edinenin isteğinin aranmasının kanunilik esası açısından bir çelişki teşkil edip etmediği başta olmak üzere, evlat edinenin iradesinin ortaya koyulmadığı veya ölümü gibi irade dışı sebeplerle ortaya koyulamadığı hâllerde evlat edinilenin TVKnın 17. maddesine göre Türk vatandaşlığını kazanıp kazanamayacağı değerlendirilecektir. İlaveten, kişiye sıkı sıkıya bağlı bir hak olan vatandaşlığa başvurma hakkının evlat edinilen küçük için veli ya da vasi tarafından kullanılmasının teorik arka planı değerlendirilecek olup, TVKnın bu kişilerin küçük için vatandaşlığa başvurmasının küçüğü temsiline ilişkin yaklaşımı incelenecektir.

Article Details

The Conditions of Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship through Adoption According to Article 17 of the Turkish Citizenship Law Numbered 5901 and the Evaluation of the Application for Acquisition of Citizenship by the Adopter or Guardian’s on behalf of the Adoptee

Authors:

Özlem Burdurlu Ahlat

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Yasa Çatışmaları

Journal:

Public and Private International Law Bulletin Vol.45 Issue 1, pp.64-88

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358024

pISSN:

2651-5377

Adoption

Adoptee

Adopter

Citizenship

Turkish Citizenship LawEvlat Edinme

Evlat Edinilen

Evlat Edinen

Vatandaşlık

Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Özlem Burdurlu Ahlat

Publisher: Istanbul University

Main Topics: Yasa Çatışmaları

Journal: Public and Private International Law Bulletin Vol.45 Issue 1, pp.64-88

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001358024

pISSN: 2651-5377

Issues

Authors:

Özlem Burdurlu Ahlat

Publisher:

Istanbul University

Main Topics:

Yasa Çatışmaları

Journal:

Public and Private International Law Bulletin Vol.45 Issue 1, pp.64-88

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001358024

pISSN:

2651-5377