Turkey for Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia Passport Holders: 2026 Guide

Turkey applies the same residence and citizenship rules to every foreign national. What changes with your passport is how you enter the country, how your documents are certified for Turkish offices and, above all, what your home jurisdiction does if you take a second nationality. This guide compares the six passports that Chinese-speaking clients most often hold. It reflects the rules as of October 2026; entry rules in particular change, so confirm them with the official sources named below before you travel or apply.

At a glance

Entering Turkey with your passport

Whatever your passport, Turkish law requires it to be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your permitted stay. Airlines and the Chinese Embassy in Türkiye recommend at least six months.

• Hong Kong SAR passport: visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism and business visits, according to the Hong Kong Immigration Department's list of visa-free destinations.
• Macau SAR passport: visa-free for up to 30 days, according to the Macao Government's yearbook. For a longer stay, apply for a visa or a residence permit.
• Taiwan passport: an e-Visa is required, issued online through the official portal evisa.gov.tr, for stays of up to 30 days. Check the entry type and any fee on the portal when you apply, and use only the official site.
• Singapore passport: visa-free for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Malaysian passport: visa-free for up to 90 days, according to the Embassy of Malaysia in Ankara.
• Mainland China ordinary passport: visa-free since 2 January 2026 for tourism and transit, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, under a presidential decree published in Turkey's Official Gazette on 31 December 2025. Work, study and other purposes still need the appropriate visa.

Visa-free entry is for visits. Working in Turkey needs a work permit, and staying beyond the visa-free period needs a residence permit, whatever passport you hold.

Residence permits: the same rules for every nationality

Residence permits are issued by the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (No. 6458). The categories, documents and fees are the same for all six passports: short-term residence (including for property owners, subject to minimum property values and to districts closed to new foreign residents), family residence, student residence and, after eight years of continuous legal residence, long-term residence.

If you plan to buy property, confirm with the land registry that your nationality may acquire property in Turkey before you sign anything or pay a deposit.

Citizenship by investment: who can apply

Turkish citizenship by investment is open to foreign nationals on the same terms whatever their passport: a property purchase of at least USD 400,000 held for three years, or one of the USD 500,000 financial routes, with the spouse and children under 18 included in the application. The whole process typically takes 8 to 12 months.

For most Chinese-speaking families the decisive question is not Turkey's rules but the rules at home. Turkey allows dual nationality; most of the places in this guide do not.

Before you apply: dual nationality rules at home

Hong Kong

Under the 1996 Explanations of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on the Nationality Law in the Hong Kong SAR, a Hong Kong resident of Chinese descent who acquires a foreign nationality is still treated as a Chinese national in Hong Kong and mainland China, unless they apply to the Immigration Department to declare a change of nationality and the application is approved. Until then, a Turkish passport can be used as a travel document but gives no right to Turkish consular protection in Hong Kong or the mainland. After an approved change, the person can no longer hold an HKSAR passport, and their right of abode may be affected. Check your own position with the Immigration Department before you apply.

Macau

The 1998 Explanations for the Macao SAR follow the same principle. A change of nationality is declared to the Identification Services Bureau (DSI).

Taiwan

Under Taiwan's rules, acquiring a foreign nationality does not automatically end a person's existing status there; it is lost only on an application approved by the authorities in Taiwan. Holders of most public offices may not hold another nationality.

Singapore

Singapore does not allow dual citizenship for adults. A citizen who voluntarily acquires another citizenship may be deprived of Singapore citizenship under the Constitution. Men with outstanding National Service obligations face further restrictions and should take advice before acting.

Malaysia

Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship. Under Article 24 of the Federal Constitution, the government may deprive a citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship.

Mainland China

Under Article 9 of the Nationality Law, a Chinese national who has settled abroad and voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality, and the household registration and resident identity card are then cancelled. Our article on what China's non-recognition of dual nationality means for your family covers the practical effects.

These are general summaries, not advice on your situation. For a decision, speak to an independent lawyer in your home jurisdiction; we can introduce one.

Getting your documents accepted in Turkey

Turkish offices accept foreign documents once they are certified in the issuing place and translated into Turkish.

• Apostille: documents from mainland China (since 7 November 2023), Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore (since 16 September 2021) are apostilled by the competent authority where they were issued.
• Consular legalisation: Malaysia and Taiwan are not covered by the Apostille Convention. Documents are notarised, authenticated by the foreign ministry (Wisma Putra in Malaysia, the Bureau of Consular Affairs in Taiwan) and then legalised by the Turkish mission (the Embassy of Türkiye in Kuala Lumpur, the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei). Confirm the exact route with the mission before you start.
• Translation: in Turkey, a sworn translator translates the document and a notary certifies the translation.

Our China–Turkey cross-border coordination service organises this sequence so documents are not returned.

Tax treaties

Turkey has double taxation agreements with mainland China, Singapore and Malaysia. A Hong Kong–Türkiye agreement entered into force on 30 January 2026 and applies from 2027 (from 1 January 2027 for Turkish tax and from the 2027/28 year of assessment for Hong Kong tax). A treaty does not decide where you are tax resident; for your own position, speak to an independent tax adviser.

Getting there

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop to Istanbul from Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and several mainland Chinese cities, with flight times of roughly 10 to 13 hours.

How we help

Turchina Group is a general advisory brand, not a law firm. We explain the Turkish side in Chinese, plan the order of steps for each family member, organise documents (apostille or legalisation and sworn translation) and connect you with independent licensed professionals in Turkey and at home whom you engage directly. Book a free consultation in Mandarin or English.

Frequently asked questions

Can Hong Kong permanent residents apply for Turkish citizenship by investment?

Yes. Turkey applies the same investment routes and thresholds to Hong Kong passport holders as to other foreign nationals. Before applying, check the Hong Kong side: a Hong Kong resident of Chinese descent remains a Chinese national in Hong Kong unless the Immigration Department approves a declaration of change of nationality.

Do mainland Chinese passport holders need a visa for Turkey?

Not for tourism or transit. Since 2 January 2026, ordinary passports of the People's Republic of China are visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for those purposes. Work, study and other purposes still need the appropriate visa.

How long can Macau passport holders stay in Turkey without a visa?

Up to 30 days. For a longer stay, apply for a visa or a residence permit.

Do Taiwan passport holders need a visa for Turkey?

Yes, an e-Visa issued through the official portal evisa.gov.tr, for stays of up to 30 days. Check the entry type and fee on the portal when you apply.

Can a Singaporean become a Turkish citizen and keep Singapore citizenship?

Generally no. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship for adults, and a citizen who voluntarily acquires another citizenship may be deprived of Singapore citizenship.

Do Malaysian documents need an apostille for use in Turkey?

Malaysia is not covered by the Apostille Convention, so Malaysian documents go through notarisation, authentication by Wisma Putra and legalisation by the Embassy of Türkiye in Kuala Lumpur, then sworn translation in Turkey.

Disclaimer: This article is general information as of October 2026 and does not constitute legal, tax, immigration or investment advice. Entry, nationality and tax rules change; confirm the current rules with the official sources and an independent licensed professional before acting.