Residence permit in Turkey

Purchasing real estate and moving to Turkey is still a hot topic. On the Internet you can find a lot of materials about the process of obtaining a residence permit in the country, but this information is not always reliable and accurate. Purchasing real estate is a responsible step, and it is very important to discuss all the details directly with your personal manager. If the purpose of your purchase is to obtain a residence permit, you must inform your manager, who will be involved in the selection of real estate, about this, since not all options are suitable for this purpose.

To obtain a residence permit in Turkey, three main conditions must be met.

1. The property must be located in an open area.

2. The cadastral value of this property must be at least 200,000 $.

3. The property must be registered in the name of one person, while the rest of the owner's family (spouse, children and parents) also have the opportunity to obtain a residence permit.

At the moment, information about open and closed areas is as follows:

Open areas for obtaining a residence permit: Oba, Cikcilli, Alanya center, Gazipasa, Demirtas, Konakli, Payallar, Turkler, Okudcalar.

Closed areas: Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargicak and Avsallar. By purchasing real estate now in these areas, owners will not be able to obtain a residence permit.

Types of residence permits

Ikamet in Turkey, that is, a residence permit, provides the opportunity for long-term legal stay in the country on a legal basis. Depending on the purposes for which you are obtaining a residence permit, there are two main categories of residence permits.

Short-term (Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni) designed for tourists, property owners worth 200,000 $, businessmen, participants in student exchange programs, and reuniting families. This type of residence permit provides the opportunity for a long-term stay in Turkey - from 3 months to 3 years with the possibility of repeated extensions. Temporary resident status gives the right to purchase a car and obtain a driver's license, free education for children in municipal kindergartens and schools, as well as medical care under an insurance policy.

Long-term residence permit (Uzun Dönem İkamet İzni) provided to foreigners who have lived permanently in Turkey for 8 years on the basis of other types of residence permit. Continuous stay in the country must be for 5 years, while temporary absence must be no more than 180 days per year and no more than 365 days in 5 years.

The cost of obtaining a residence permit

The average cost of obtaining a residence permit in Turkey for one year ranges from 200 to 300 $. This amount includes the state fee and the cost of a health insurance policy for a year (and the cost of insurance increases with the age of the applicant). In addition, to this amount should be added the costs of translation and notarization of documents, photographs, as well as the cost of a SIM card.

Documents for obtaining a residence permit

1) A request for residence permit status is submitted in the form of an online application, which can then be printed from the official website of the Directorate General of Immigration. The application may be signed by the applicant or his legal representative.

2) Four 3x4 biometric photographs on a white background.

3) Original passport and its copy.

4) A copy of the certificate of ownership of real estate - TAPU. TAPU is issued at the Main Department of Land Registry and Cadastre.

5) When applying for a residence permit for children, it is required to provide a marriage certificate of parents and birth certificates of children, translated into Turkish and certified by an apostille. In case of divorce of parents, a divorce certificate translated into Turkish and certified with an apostille is attached.

6) When applying for a residence permit for persons under 18 years of age, it is necessary to provide the written consent of both parents or their legal representative, translated into Turkish and certified by a notary.

7) Medical insurance with a validity period similar to the validity period of the residence permit;

8) Providing an exact address of residence in Turkey (a plastic residence permit card - ikamet - will be delivered by mail to this address).

9) Medical certificate confirming the absence of diseases that threaten the health of the nation.

The process of obtaining a residence permit includes the following stages:

1. Registration of a SIM card from a Turkish mobile operator in your name (a contact number is required to submit an application).

2. Payment of the fee for obtaining a residence permit from the tax service.

3. Registration of a tax number in Turkey (issued free of charge) at the tax office (Vergi Dairesi). To do this, you need a copy of the first page of your passport.

The application is considered within 90 days, starting from the moment all necessary documents are submitted to the migration service.

Reasons for refusal of a residence permit:

– The validity of the passport is less than 4 months from the date of entry into the country.

– A foreigner is a carrier of diseases that pose a threat to the health of the nation.

– Violation of the visa/immigration regime of Turkey;

– No payment of fines for late stay in the country under a residence permit.

Long-term residence permit

A long-term residence permit is actually permanent residence. This type of residence permit provides a foreigner with the rights and obligations of Turkish citizens. Permanent and continuous residence in Turkey on the basis of this type of residence permit can subsequently serve as the basis for obtaining citizenship.

Documents for obtaining a long-term residence permit

1) The request for a long-term residence permit is submitted in the form of an online application, after which it is printed from the website of the Directorate General of Immigration Affairs and signed by the applicant or his legal representative.

2) Original and copy of passport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months.

3) Copies of all pages of the passport that contain marks and information about entry and exit for the last 8 years.

4) Four 3x4 biometric photographs taken within the last 6 months.

5) Copies of previously received residence permits. If available, originals must be presented.

6) Certificate of absence of social assistance during the last three years. The certificate can be certified by an electronic or regular signature, as well as the seal of the General Directorate for Immigration Issues. It is formalized in the Social Mutual Assistance and Support Funds under governorates and district administrations.

7) A document confirming the presence of constant and sufficient income during the period of residence, having an electronic or regular signature, certified by a notary.

8) Certificate of no criminal record. It is formalized in the authorized bodies of the home country and in the justice authorities of Turkey.

9) A document confirming registration in the Address Registration System, issued in the regional or district civil registry offices, certified by an electronic or regular signature, as well as a seal.

10) Medical insurance covering the entire period of stay in Turkey, in accordance with the residence permit.

Rights of foreign citizens with permanent residence

Foreigners with permanent residence status in Turkey acquire the rights of citizens of the Republic, with the exception of the obligation of military service, the right to vote and participate in voting, the right to work in government institutions and the import of vehicles.

The legislative framework on residence permit issues is constantly changing.

For those who purchase real estate for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit, it is important to note that the changes apply to transactions made after the changes come into force. For example, the law establishing a property value requirement of 200,000 $ came into force on October 16, 2023.

Those who purchased property before this date under the previous rules, based on the assessed value of the property at 75,000 $, are eligible to receive a residence permit in accordance with the previous conditions. With subsequent changes in the requirements for the value of real estate, obtaining a residence permit will be available only under the new conditions.

If you want to be guaranteed to obtain a residence permit, before you start selecting real estate and proceeding with registration, it is recommended that you carefully read the latest changes in legislation and check everything with your personal manager.

The Main Directorate of the Migration Service states that cases of false documents being provided by unscrupulous intermediaries have recently become more frequent, and strongly recommends that you personally apply for a residence permit.

However, given all the complexities of bureaucracy and constant changes in legislation, independently collecting and providing the necessary documents and certificates can be quite labor-intensive. Therefore, the best solution is to seek help from a trusted agency with positive recommendations.