Residence Permits in Türkiye: A Guide for Foreign Nationals

For foreign nationals who want to work, study, live with family, own property or spend an extended period in Türkiye as tourists, legal status is determined by the residence permit. Often called "oturum" or "ikamet" in Turkish, the permit is governed by the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 ("YUKK") and its Implementing Regulation. This guide explains, on the basis of official Turkish sources, when a permit is required, which types exist, how to apply and what to do if a permit is refused. It describes Turkish law only.

Who needs a residence permit?

Under Article 19 of Law No. 6458, foreign nationals who will stay in Türkiye longer than their visa or visa exemption allows, or longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit. A permit issued abroad expires if it is not used within six months.

Some foreigners are exempt, including those entering with a visa or visa exemption for up to ninety days (for that period), diplomatic and consular officers, persons exempted by international agreements and persons covered by Article 28 of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (Article 20). A valid work permit also counts as a residence permit, so work permit holders do not need a separate one (Article 27).

Types of residence permit

Turkish law provides six types (Article 30): short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian, and residence permits for victims of human trafficking. Each has its own conditions and duration; applying for the wrong type is one of the most common reasons for refusal.

Short-term residence permit

A short-term permit may be granted for scientific research, owning property in Türkiye, establishing business connections, in-service training, tourism, medical treatment, Turkish language courses, and to graduates of Turkish universities who apply within six months of graduation (Article 31). Applicants must document their purpose, have accommodation meeting general health and safety standards and provide their address (Article 32).

On duration, the Law and the Regulation differ: the Law allows a short-term permit for up to two years at a time, while Article 28 of the Implementing Regulation provides for up to one year at a time. The Presidency of Migration Management states that the duration is at the administration's discretion. Qualifying investors and citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may receive permits of up to five years at a time.

Family residence permit

The foreign spouse and the minor or dependent foreign children of Turkish citizens, residence permit holders and refugees may receive a family residence permit for up to three years at a time, never exceeding the sponsor's own permit (Article 34). The sponsor must have a monthly income of at least one third of the minimum wage per family member and in total no less than the minimum wage, health insurance covering the whole family, suitable accommodation and an address registration, no conviction for offences against the family in the last five years, and, as a rule, at least one year of residence in Türkiye (Article 35). The one-year requirement does not apply to sponsors holding a work permit or a research residence permit, those covered by Article 28 of Law No. 5901, or sponsors married to Turkish citizens.

Student residence permit

Foreign nationals enrolled in associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral programmes in Türkiye receive a student residence permit (Article 38). It gives no residence right to the student's parents or relatives. According to the Presidency of Migration Management, students at Turkish schools and universities are exempt from the residence permit fee.

Humanitarian and trafficking-victim permits

A humanitarian residence permit may be granted without the usual conditions in the cases listed in the Law, such as the best interests of a child, foreigners who cannot be removed, or extraordinary circumstances (Article 46). Time spent on a humanitarian permit does not count towards total residence periods (Regulation, Article 44).

Residence through property ownership

Owning property in Türkiye is one of the grounds for a short-term permit. Under the Regulation, the property must be a residence used for living; family members who co-own the residence may also apply on this basis (Regulation, Article 28(3)). Since 2024, Article 31(6) of the Law — added by Law No. 7533 — provides that the type and value of qualifying property are set by the Ministry of Interior.

According to reports in the Turkish press and practice, residences acquired on or after 16 October 2023 must be worth at least the equivalent of USD 200,000 in all provinces. Because this threshold is not set out in a published law or regulation and may be changed by the Ministry, verify the current requirement with the Presidency of Migration Management before buying. See our Real Estate Law in Türkiye page for property acquisition.

How to apply, step by step

Under the Law, applications are in principle filed with the Turkish consulate in the applicant's country of citizenship or legal residence (Article 21); in the cases listed in Article 22 they may be filed with the provincial governorship in Türkiye. Applications in Türkiye are started through the e-İkamet system of the Presidency of Migration Management.

1. Complete the application form on e-İkamet and book an appointment.
2. Pay the residence permit fee and card fee calculated by e-İkamet before the appointment date.
3. Submit your documents to the provincial migration office on the appointment day; first-time applicants receive an application certificate.
4. If documents are missing, the office may give up to 30 days; incomplete files are closed.
5. A decision is due within 90 days of the date the complete file is submitted.
6. If approved, the residence permit card is sent to your address.

According to the Presidency of Migration Management, the application certificate and the approved fee receipt allow you to leave and re-enter Türkiye during the review, provided you return within 15 days each time.

Required documents

The document list depends on the permit type; e-İkamet shows the current list for each type. Almost every application requires:

• The application form from e-İkamet
• A passport valid at least 60 days beyond the requested permit period, with a copy (Article 21(2))
• Biometric photographs
• Valid health insurance
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the stay
• Proof of address and accommodation (lease agreement, title deed, etc.)
• Documents specific to the permit type (student certificate, marriage certificate, invitation letter, title deed, etc.)

Documents issued abroad must carry an apostille or consular legalisation and be accompanied by a sworn Turkish translation.

Renewal, change of address and other obligations

A renewal application must be filed within the sixty days before the permit expires and in any case before it expires. Applicants who file on time receive a fee-free document allowing them to stay in Türkiye until a decision is made, even after the permit's expiry date (Article 24).

• Changes of address, marital status or name in the passport must be reported within twenty working days (Regulation, Article 23(2)).
• Foreigners arriving with residence and work permits issued by a consulate must register their address within twenty working days of entry (Article 26(2)).
• A short-term permit may be cancelled if it is used for a purpose other than the one for which it was granted (Article 33).

Long-term (permanent) residence permit

Foreign nationals who have lived in Türkiye on residence permits for at least eight uninterrupted years, have not received social assistance in the last three years, have sufficient and regular income for themselves and their family, hold valid health insurance and pose no threat to public order or security may be granted an indefinite long-term residence permit with the Ministry's approval (Articles 42–43). Refugees, conditional refugees, subsidiary protection beneficiaries, humanitarian permit holders and persons under temporary protection cannot switch to a long-term permit (Article 42(2)).

Whether the eight years are uninterrupted is calculated under Article 40 of the Regulation: counting back from the application date, interruptions must not exceed 180 days in total in any one-year period or 365 days in total over the last five years; a single or consecutive absence or unregistered stay of more than six months leads to refusal. The Council of State (10th Chamber) has held that when refusing on grounds of interruption, the administration must examine the statutory conditions concretely (E. 2016/13651, K. 2021/3225, 10 June 2021).

If your application is refused: appeals

A refusal, non-renewal or cancellation is served on the foreign national, their legal representative or lawyer; in deciding, the administration must consider family ties, length of residence, the situation in the country of origin and the best interests of the child (Article 25). These decisions are administrative acts that can be challenged before the administrative court. The time limit is sixty days from service under Article 7 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577.

Article 31(7) of the Law, added by Law No. 7533, provides that in cases against refusal or cancellation of short-term permits the file is complete once the defence is filed or the time for it expires, and that holding a hearing is at the court's discretion. These cases can therefore move quickly, so the petition and evidence should be complete from the outset.

Common mistakes

• Leaving the renewal to the last day or applying after the permit has expired
• Applying for a permit type that does not match the purpose of stay
• A passport that is not valid 60 days beyond the requested period
• Not reporting a change of address within twenty working days
• For property-based applications, not using the residence for living or not checking the current value threshold
• Missing the sixty-day deadline to challenge a refusal

Residence procedures vary with family situation, purpose of stay and previous entry and exit records. If your permit was refused or cancelled, or you are unsure which type to apply for, see the scope of our services on the Immigration Law in Türkiye page.