How Does A Child Born To A Foreign Mother Become A Turkish Citizen

The question of which country the children of foreign nationals of Turkish citizens will become citizens of is a concern for families.

To answer the question of which country the child will be a citizen of, the child's paternity status must first be examined.

In Turkish law, while the lineage between the mother and the child is established at birth, the establishment of the lineage with the father is subject to the existence of certain conditions.

The citizenship of the child is determined according to Article 7 of the Turkish Citizenship Law.

According to this;

1. Regardless of whether the child is born in the country or abroad, the child born within the marriage of Turkish parents is a Turkish citizen.
2. The child born to a Turkish mother outside of marriage is a Turkish citizen, even if the father is a foreigner.
3. In order for children born outside of marriage, where the mother is a foreigner and the father is a Turkish citizen, to become Turkish citizens, lineage must be established with the father.

The law distinguishes between children born within the union of marriage and those born outside the union of marriage.

As can be seen, the law distinguishes between two different issues: Whether the child is born within the union of marriage and which of the parents is a Turkish citizen.

What needs to be understood from here:

• A child born to a Turkish mother acquires Turkish citizenship under all circumstances. It does not matter whether the child is born in the country or abroad, within or outside the marriage union, and the nationality of the child's father.

  Since the child born to a Turkish mother is related to the mother at birth, the child becomes a Turkish citizen in all cases.

• The situation of children born to Turkish fathers and foreign mothers is important depending on the circumstances.

  If the child is born in marriage, the child of a Turkish father and a foreign mother acquires Turkish citizenship.

  The acquisition of Turkish citizenship by a child born outside of marriage to a Turkish father and a foreign mother depends on the establishment of lineage with the father.

  Establishing the family bond between father and child;

• The father knows the child,
• It is possible if the mother or the child files a paternity suit against the father.

  If lineage is established between the child and the Turkish father, the child can become a Turkish citizen.

  However, even if the child is born outside the marriage union, in the event that the Turkish father and the foreign mother marry later, if the child has not previously had a lineage with another father, lineage is established between the child and the Turkish father with the marriage and the child acquires Turkish citizenship.

In cases where the father is a Turkish citizen and the mother is a foreign national, great problems arise regarding the citizenship of children born within the marriage.

All the situations mentioned above are applicable in cases where the child is not related to another father through lineage.

As a result, the issue of which country the children born to foreign nationals will be linked to by citizenship varies from case to case. In some cases, the child's rights may even be lost.