Residence permit in Turkey: types, requirements and application

Who needs a residence permit in Turkey?

Under Article 19 of Law No. 6458, foreigners who will stay in Türkiye beyond the duration of their visa or visa exemption, or beyond 90 days, must obtain a residence permit. The application must be filed before the permitted stay ends. Staying on after that date is an overstay, which can lead to an administrative fine, a deportation decision and an entry ban.

• Work permit and Turquoise Card holders do not need a separate residence permit; under Article 27 of Law No. 6458 these documents count as residence permits.
• Persons under temporary or international protection are subject to their own rules and documents.
• Short visits within the visa or visa-exemption period do not require a residence permit.

Not sure how many days you have left? Use the 90/180-day calculator at the top of this page.

Six types of residence permit in Turkey

A residence permit in Turkey is granted according to the purpose of stay. Choosing the type that matches your real purpose is the most important step: applications filed under the wrong type are a frequent reason for refusal.

• Short-term residence permitUp to 2 yearsTourism, property ownership, business links, medical treatment, courses and similar purposes. Up to 5 years for qualifying investors and TRNC citizens. Law No. 6458, Art. 31–33.
• Family residence permitUp to 2 yearsForeign spouse and children of a Turkish citizen or of a foreigner holding a residence permit. Cannot exceed the sponsor's permit. Art. 34–37.
• Student residence permitLength of studyAssociate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral students at a Turkish higher education institution. Art. 38–41.
• Long-term residence permitIndefiniteForeigners with at least 8 years of uninterrupted residence on permits. Art. 42–45.
• Humanitarian residence permitUp to 1 yearGranted with the approval of the Presidency of Migration Management where other permits cannot be issued. Art. 46–47.
• Victim of human trafficking30 days, then 6 monthsRenewable in 6-month periods; the total cannot exceed 3 years. Art. 48–49.

Short-term residence permit in Turkey

Most foreigners who apply for a residence permit in Turkey do so under the short-term type. It is granted for at most two years at a time and can be renewed while the purpose of stay continues.

Who can get a short-term permit?

Under Article 31 of Law No. 6458, a short-term residence permit can be granted to foreigners who:

• come for scientific research;
• own residential property in Türkiye;
• will establish business links or set up a business;
• take part in in-service training programmes;
• come under agreements or student exchange programmes such as Erasmus, Mevlana or Farabi;
• will stay for tourism;
• will receive medical treatment, provided they do not carry a disease that threatens public health;
• must stay in Türkiye due to a judicial or administrative decision;
• lose the conditions of a family residence permit;
• attend Turkish language courses (at most twice);
• attend education, internships or courses through public institutions;
• have completed higher education in Türkiye and apply within six months of graduation (once only, for at most one year);
• invest within the scope and amount set by the President, together with their spouse and children (up to five years);
• are citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (up to five years).

General requirements

Under Article 32, the applicant must submit documents supporting the purpose of stay, must not be banned from entering Türkiye, must have accommodation meeting general health and safety standards, must provide a criminal record from their own country if requested, and must declare their address in Türkiye. Sufficient and regular financial means for the whole stay and valid health insurance are also required.

Residence permit in Turkey by buying property

A foreigner who owns a residential property in Türkiye can apply for a short-term residence permit in order to live in it. The property must be a home; a shop, office or plot of land does not qualify.

• Threshold: for homes bought on or after 16 October 2023, the sale price on the title deed must be at least the equivalent of USD 200,000. For these purchases the title deed price, not the valuation report, is taken as the basis.
• Older purchases: for homes bought before that date, the thresholds in force on the purchase date apply.
• Spouse and children: if they are registered on the title deed as co-owners, they can apply on the same basis. If they are not owners, they apply for a family residence permit.
• Use of the property: the applicant is expected to live in the home; a property that is rented out does not support the application.
• Closed neighbourhoods: the Presidency of Migration Management closes certain neighbourhoods to new residence and address registrations by foreigners. Check the neighbourhood's status before buying.

The property-based permit is different from citizenship: buying property worth at least USD 400,000 under the citizenship rules leads to an investor residence permit and then to a citizenship application. See Turkish citizenship by investment.

Family residence permit in Turkey

The family residence permit protects family unity. The foreign spouse, the minor or dependent foreign children of the sponsor, and the minor or dependent foreign children of the sponsor's spouse can apply if the sponsor is a Turkish citizen, a foreigner holding a residence permit, or a refugee or subsidiary protection holder. The permit is granted for at most two years at a time and cannot exceed the sponsor's own permit.

Under Article 35 of Law No. 6458, the sponsor (the person bringing the family to Türkiye) must:

• have a total monthly income of at least the minimum wage, and not less than one third of the minimum wage per family member;
• have accommodation suitable for the number of family members and valid health insurance covering the whole family;
• have no conviction for a crime against family order in the last five years;
• have resided in Türkiye on a residence permit for at least one year (not required for Turkish citizens and certain statuses);
• be registered in the address registration system.

Both spouses must be at least 18. A marriage concluded only to obtain a family residence permit leads to refusal or cancellation. Children who have held a family residence permit for at least three years and turn 18, and spouses in certain divorce or death cases, can switch to a short-term permit.

Student residence permit in Turkey

Foreigners studying for an associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree at a Turkish higher education institution receive a student residence permit for the duration of their studies. Children in primary and secondary education are, as a rule, covered by a family residence permit; with the consent of the parents or legal guardian, a student permit can also be granted.

• The student certificate issued by the school is the core document of the application.
• If the student status ends or the registration is cancelled, the permit is cancelled; the school notifies the migration office.
• A student residence permit does not give the right to work; students need a separate work permit.

Long-term residence permit in Turkey

Foreigners who have resided in Türkiye on residence permits for at least eight uninterrupted years can be granted an indefinite long-term residence permit by the governorship, with the approval of the Presidency of Migration Management. Under Article 43 of Law No. 6458, the applicant must:

• have resided in Türkiye on residence permits for at least eight uninterrupted years;
• not have received social assistance in the last three years;
• have sufficient and regular income to support themselves and their family;
• have valid health insurance;
• not pose a threat to public order or public security.

Refugees, conditional refugees, subsidiary and temporary protection holders, and holders of humanitarian or trafficking victim permits cannot switch to a long-term permit. Staying abroad for more than one uninterrupted year for reasons other than health, education or compulsory public service can lead to cancellation.

Humanitarian and trafficking victim permits

A humanitarian residence permit is granted for at most one year at a time, with the approval of the Presidency of Migration Management, to foreigners who do not meet the conditions of other permits but need to stay in Türkiye for reasons such as the best interests of a child, the impossibility of removal, ongoing judicial proceedings or extraordinary circumstances.

A residence permit for victims of human trafficking is first granted for 30 days as a recovery and reflection period. It can then be extended in six-month periods, but the total cannot exceed three years.

Fees, card cost and health insurance

The cost of a residence permit in Turkey consists of three items:

• Residence permit fee: set by the tariff of the Law on Fees, updated every year, and can vary by nationality on the basis of reciprocity. The current amount is calculated on e-ikamet during the application.
• Card fee: paid separately for each residence permit card.
• Health insurance: private health insurance or general health insurance valid for the whole permit period is required. It is not required for certain exchange-programme students or for medical treatment applicants who prove that they cover all treatment costs.

Because amounts change every year, no fixed figure is given here; the e-ikamet calculation on the date of application applies.

Obligations while holding a residence permit in Turkey

• Address registration: declare your address and register any change of address in the address registration system within the legal period.
• Time abroad: the Implementing Regulation limits how long a permit holder may spend outside Türkiye; long or frequent absences can lead to cancellation or non-renewal. Check your situation before extended trips.
• Purpose of stay: the permit may only be used for the purpose it was granted for. Working requires a separate work permit.
• Changes to report: changes in marital status, passport, address or the conditions of the permit should be reported and, where necessary, the permit updated.

Refusal, cancellation and appeal

Under Article 33 of Law No. 6458, a residence permit in Turkey is not granted, is cancelled if already granted, and is not renewed if expired where:

• one of the required conditions is not met or ceases to exist;
• the permit is used for a purpose other than the one it was granted for;
• there is a valid deportation decision or entry ban against the foreigner;
• the rules on time spent abroad are breached.

A foreigner whose renewal is refused must leave Türkiye within ten days; otherwise deportation proceedings can follow. An annulment action against the refusal can be filed at the administrative court within 60 days of notification, together with a request for a stay of execution. If a restriction code has been entered because of the refusal or an overstay, it may need to be removed separately.