Turkish residence permit

The law sets out six types: (1) Short-term residence permit, the most common path, covering property ownership, business, medical treatment, language courses and, within current limits, tourism; valid up to 2 years and renewable. (2) Family residence permit for the spouse and children under 18 of a primary card holder. (3) Student residence permit for foreigners enrolled at a Turkish university. (4) Long-term residence permit after 8 years of continuous legal residence. (5) Humanitarian residence permit in special circumstances. (6) Residence permit for victims of human trafficking. A valid work permit also counts as a residence permit, so no separate permit is needed. We advise on the right type based on your specific situation.

For property bought on or after 16 October 2023, the minimum is USD 200,000 nationwide, measured on the sale price in the title deed converted at the Central Bank of Turkey's selling rate on the deed date; valuation reports are not accepted for these deeds. Purchases made between 26 April 2022 and 15 October 2023 keep the earlier thresholds of USD 75,000 in metropolitan cities and USD 50,000 elsewhere. The property must be registered as residential (not commercial), and family members are not covered automatically unless they are co-owners. Check the exact address in the e-ikamet system before you sign, as some neighbourhoods have been closed to new foreign registrations. Note: the CBI threshold is much higher (USD 400,000+) and is a different program, do not confuse the two.

Since 2022 the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) has closed some neighbourhoods (mahalle) to new foreign residence registrations; the rule applied neighbourhood by neighbourhood, not to whole districts. Most closures were reported lifted around June 2026, but restrictions can be reinstated locally. Before you sign any purchase or lease, we check your exact address in the e-ikamet system.

In 2026 the standard Istanbul timeline is: appointment booking 1 to 3 weeks after e-ikamet submission, then 4 to 8 weeks from appointment to physical card. Total: typically 6 to 12 weeks from start to having the card in hand. The legal maximum review period is 90 days. We prepare the e-ikamet application with you and coordinate its submission right after your arrival in Turkey, aiming for the earliest available appointment.

Yes. Your spouse, your children under 18 and dependent adult children can apply for a family residence permit, each with their own card, issued for up to 3 years at a time and never beyond the expiry of your own permit. As the sponsor you normally need at least 1 year of prior residence on a permit, monthly income of at least the minimum wage (and at least one third of it per family member), health insurance and a registered address. Apostilled marriage certificate and apostilled birth certificates for children are required. We prepare the family applications with you in parallel with your main file and coordinate their submission, so the household is processed together.

You have the right to file an administrative appeal before the Turkish Administrative Court within 60 days of the rejection notification. Common rejection grounds include an address in a neighbourhood closed to new foreign registrations, insufficient income proof, non-compliant insurance, or incomplete documentation. We coordinate the appeal with an independent Turkish lawyer whom you engage directly; the lawyer acts for you, not for Turchina, and files the appeal under your power of attorney with the full supporting evidence we have assembled. Many foreign nationals lose this right by missing the 60-day window; do not delay if you receive a rejection.