Residence Permit Types in Turkey: Which One Matches Your Purpose of Stay?

Turkey has six types of residence permit: short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian, and the residence permit for victims of human trafficking. The purpose of stay determines which permit applies: a short-term permit for tourism, home ownership, setting up a business or investment; a family permit for the spouse and children of a Turkish citizen or of a foreign national holding a permit in Turkey; and a student permit for higher education, while eight years of uninterrupted permitted residence, if the other statutory conditions are also met, opens the way to apply for the indefinite long-term permit. Under the Law, a short-term permit may be granted for at most two years at a time and a family permit for at most three years; a foreign national whose purpose of stay changes may apply for a permit matching the new purpose without leaving Turkey.

What Is a Residence Permit and Who Must Obtain One?

A residence permit (ikamet izni) is a permit that allows a foreign national to stay in Turkey for a specific purpose. The permit is tied to the purpose of stay and is issued separately for each foreign national (Article 23 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, “Law No. 6458”). The obligation to obtain a permit is set out in Article 19 of the Law:

Article 19 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) Foreign nationals who will stay in Turkey longer than the period granted by their visa or visa exemption, or longer than 90 days, must obtain a residence permit. A residence permit becomes invalid if it is not used within six months.”

A foreign national who comes to Turkey with or without a visa for up to 90 days does not need a residence permit for the duration of the visa or visa exemption. The following are also exempt (Article 20 of Law No. 6458): persons within the scope of Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 (the “Citizenship Law”) (Blue Card holders), holders of a stateless person identity document, diplomatic and consular officers serving in Turkey, and persons exempted by international agreements. Except for stateless persons and international protection status holders, time spent under an exemption is not added to the total of residence permit periods (Article 20(4) of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, the “Implementing Regulation”).

A residence permit and a work permit are separate permits. A valid work permit and a work permit exemption confirmation document (çalışma izni muafiyet teyit belgesi) count as a residence permit (Article 27 of Law No. 6458). However, work permits issued to international protection applicants, conditional refugees and foreigners under temporary protection do not replace residence permits (statement of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security). The end of the work permit ends the residence right attached to it; a separate residence permit obtained on another ground and still valid is not affected. A foreign national who does not extend the work permit or obtain a residence permit matching their new situation is deemed to have violated the residence rules attached to the work permit (Article 25(3) of the Implementing Regulation). The reverse does not apply: as the document list of the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) also states, a residence permit does not give the right to work in Turkey; subject to special status and exemption rules, a foreign national who will work must obtain a separate work permit.

For time-limited residence permits, the applicant’s passport must be valid for 60 days longer than the requested permit period, and the permit is issued to end 60 days before the passport expires (Article 21(2) and Article 23 of Law No. 6458). This formula cannot be applied as it stands to the indefinite long-term permit; for the long-term permit the administration requires a valid passport. A residence permit for victims of human trafficking does not require an ordinary passport (Article 45(4) of the Implementing Regulation).

Which Residence Permit Matches Which Purpose of Stay?

Article 30 of the Law lists six types of residence permit. The table below shows the route from purpose to permit, together with the maximum period set in the Law. The table reflects the statutory text in force as of 31 October 2026.

The periods in the table are the statutory upper limits. Article 27 of the Implementing Regulation still states at most one year at a time for short-term and humanitarian permits and at most two years for family permits. This is because the Regulation was published on 17 March 2016, and the two- and three-year periods in the Law came later, with Law No. 6735 of 28 July 2016; the phrase “for periods set by the Ministry” in the humanitarian permit was also added by Law No. 7196 of 6 December 2019. The residence permit types page of the Presidency of Migration Management follows the periods in the Law. The administration determines the period to be granted by taking into account the foreign national’s request and justification (Article 28(1) of the Implementing Regulation).

The Implementing Regulation treats requests that fall outside the short-term purposes listed in the Law as requests for tourism (Article 28(10) of the Implementing Regulation).

Who Can Obtain a Short-Term Residence Permit and for How Long?

A short-term residence permit (kısa dönem ikamet izni) is granted to a foreign national who will stay in Turkey for one of the purposes listed in Article 31 of the Law. Its duration is set out in paragraph 2 of the same article:

Article 31 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(2) Except for subparagraphs (j) and (k) of the first paragraph, a short-term residence permit may be granted for periods of at most two years at a time.”

To obtain the permit, the foreign national must submit information and documents showing the purpose of stay, have accommodation that meets general health and safety standards, submit a criminal record certificate if requested, and give their address in Turkey; persons banned from entering Turkey and persons regarded as inadmissible passengers cannot obtain the permit (Article 32 of Law No. 6458). The Implementing Regulation as a rule requires valid health insurance covering the requested permit period (Article 22(13) of the Implementing Regulation). There are exceptions for persons covered by general health insurance, persons benefiting from a bilateral social security agreement, patients whose treatment costs are covered by a public institution, students who apply for general health insurance within three months of first registration, and cases where private health insurance cannot be obtained (Article 22(13) to (17); Article 35(8) of the Implementing Regulation). The foreign national’s own statement is the basis for assessing financial means; if the statement is not found convincing, financial means sufficient to cover monthly expenses equal to the net minimum wage are required (Article 22(6) of the Implementing Regulation). For tourism applications, the e-ikamet document list additionally requires, for an individual application, regular income of at least one and a half times the net minimum wage, and for an application with family members, income of at least the minimum wage for each family member, documented for the last three months. This administrative criterion does not replace the statement rule in the Regulation and cannot be generalized to other short-term purposes or to the family permit. Before applying, the applicant should check whether the address of stay is open to the relevant application type and whether any provincial restrictions apply.

If one of the conditions ceases to exist or if the permit is used for a purpose other than the one for which it was granted, the permit is not granted, is canceled if already granted, and is not extended when it expires (Article 33 of Law No. 6458). As regards stays abroad, after the amendment made by Law No. 6735 the Law does not set a fixed number of days; it leaves the procedure and principles to the Regulation (Article 33(2)). Article 29 of the Implementing Regulation still lists a stay abroad of more than 120 days in total within the last year as a ground for cancellation. The 120-day threshold is therefore not a statutory rule but a criterion remaining in the Regulation and applied by the administration; cancellation occurs not automatically but by an administrative decision.

a) Tourism and Other Purposes

Article 31(1) of the Law lists purposes such as tourism, scientific research, setting up a business, on-the-job training, exchange programs, medical treatment, Turkish language courses and education through public agencies. A permit for medical treatment is granted provided that the foreign national does not have a disease regarded as a threat to public health.

For tourism applications, the foreign national’s statement of their travel plan (where, when and for how long they will stay in the country) is assessed; the administration may request documents showing the travel plan or the purpose of stay (Article 28(7) of the Implementing Regulation).

b) Permit Based on Home Ownership

A foreign national who owns real property in Turkey may apply for a short-term permit; however, the property must be a home and must be used as such. Family members who hold shared or joint ownership (paylı or elbirliğiyle mülkiyet) of the home may also apply under this subparagraph; for family members who are not owners, the home may serve only as a basis for assessing financial means (Article 28(3) of the Implementing Regulation).

The value requirement is found not in the Law but in the administration’s document list. Under paragraph 6, added to Article 31 by Law No. 7533 of 21 November 2024, the nature and value of the property on which a short-term permit is based are determined by the Ministry (of Interior). According to the current document list of the Presidency of Migration Management, the value of the home on the date of acquisition must be at least the Turkish lira (TRY) equivalent of USD 200,000, and the home cannot be used for rental or similar income-generating purposes. For a home acquired by inheritance or gift, a current valuation report is required; for extension applications, a title deed continuation certificate (tapu devam belgesi), showing that the home is still registered in the applicant’s name, is required.

This permit is separate from residence and citizenship by investment: the home-ownership permit is granted for at most two years at a time and does not lead to exceptional citizenship. The route in Article 12(1)(b) of the Citizenship Law is open to holders of an investment-based permit and to Turquoise Card holders, together with their spouses and children. Buying the property and the land registry procedures are the subject of our article on foreigners buying real property in Turkey.

c) Investors and TRNC Citizens

A short-term permit may be granted to a foreign national who does not work in Turkey but will make an investment within the scope and amount determined by the President, to their spouse, and to their own or their spouse’s minor or dependent child (Article 31(1)(j) of Law No. 6458). Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), by contrast, apply under subparagraph (k) of the same provision without any investment requirement. In both categories the permit may be granted for periods of at most five years at a time (Article 31(5)). The document list of the Presidency of Migration Management requires a certificate of conformity (uygunluk belgesi) from investors; for TRNC citizens an identity document is sufficient.

The scope and amount of the investment are determined by the President in Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law (the “Citizenship Regulation”). The 10th Chamber of the Council of State (Danıştay Onuncu Dairesi) stated this in its decision of 5 February 2026, Case No. 2024/405, Decision No. 2026/361 (E. 2024/405, K. 2026/361; “E.” is the case number and “K.” the decision number): “The conditions and rules concerning the scope and amount of the investment have been determined by the President in Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law” (unofficial translation). Acting as the court of first instance, the Chamber unanimously dismissed this action, which had been brought against the revocation of citizenship acquired by investment; an appeal against the decision is shown in the text of the decision as lying to the Plenary Session of the Administrative Law Chambers of the Council of State (Danıştay İdari Dava Daireleri Kurulu); the current finalization status has not been separately verified.

Under Article 20 of the Citizenship Regulation, the types of investment are: a fixed capital investment of at least USD 500,000; the purchase of real property worth at least USD 400,000 that is subject to condominium ownership or a construction servitude, or is land with a building on it, with an annotation in the land register that it will not be sold for three years, or a notarized promise of sale (satış vaadi) of real property of the same value, subject to prepayment of the price and annotation in the land register that it will not be transferred or disposed of for three years; employment of at least 50 people; or, subject to holding them for three years, at least USD 500,000 in deposits, government debt instruments, participation shares in a real estate investment fund or a venture capital investment fund, or a private pension investment. For the real property, deposit, debt instrument, fund and private pension options, the foreign currency must be sold before the transaction to a bank operating in Turkey, and that bank in turn sells it to the Central Bank (paragraph 10 of the same article). The Turkish lira obtained from the sale is held for three years, according to the type of investment, in a Turkish lira deposit account, in Turkish lira government debt instruments, or in the designated funds in the private pension system. For the real property option, an annotation that the property will not be sold for three years is placed in the land register. A foreign national who obtains a residence permit by this route may acquire Turkish citizenship exceptionally by Presidential decision under Article 12 of the Citizenship Law. Details are in our article on Turkish citizenship by investment.

d) Graduates of Higher Education in Turkey and Turkish Language Courses

A foreign national who completes higher education in Turkey may be granted a short-term permit once only, for at most one year, if they apply within six months of the graduation date (Article 31(1)(i) and Article 31(4) of Law No. 6458). This application may be made from within Turkey to the provincial governor’s office (valilik) (Article 22 of Law No. 6458). The six-month period is the application window for this special short-term permit; it does not by itself give a right to stay for six months. The end of the existing student permit is a separate matter: under Article 37 of the Implementing Regulation, the permit of a graduating student ends on the date of graduation, and the ten-day transition application period following the end of the ground starts on that date (Article 26(1) of the Implementing Regulation). It is safer to rely on the graduation date rather than the expiry date printed on the card. To avoid losing the right, the new application should be made within ten days of graduation.

A permit for a Turkish language course may be granted at most twice to a foreign national who has enrolled in a course licensed by the Ministry of National Education; if the course is shorter than one year, the permit period cannot exceed the length of the course (Article 31(3) of Law No. 6458; Article 28(13) of the Implementing Regulation).

Who Can Obtain a Family Residence Permit?

A family residence permit (aile ikamet izni) is granted to the foreign spouse and children of a person living in Turkey (the sponsor, destekleyici) so that they can stay with that person:

Article 34 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) A family residence permit may be granted, for periods not exceeding three years at a time, to the following persons of Turkish citizens, of persons within the scope of Article 28 of Law No. 5901, or of foreign nationals holding one of the residence permits, refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries: a) their foreign spouse; b) their own or their spouse’s minor foreign child; c) their own or their spouse’s dependent foreign child. However, the duration of the family residence permit may in no case exceed the duration of the sponsor’s residence permit.”

The words “two years” in the article were changed to “three years” by Law No. 6735; Article 27 of the Implementing Regulation, however, still states two years.

The sponsor must meet the following conditions (Article 35 of Law No. 6458):

• a monthly income of not less than one third of the minimum wage per family member, with a total income of not less than the minimum wage;
• accommodation suited to the size of the family, and health insurance covering all family members;
• no conviction for offenses against the family order within the five years preceding the application date;
• residence in Turkey on a residence permit for at least one year, and registration in the address-based registration system.

The one-year residence requirement does not apply to foreign nationals married to Turkish citizens, to holders of a work permit or of a residence permit for scientific research, or to Blue Card holders. Each of the spouses applying for the permit must be at least 18 years old, and the marriage must not have been contracted for the purpose of obtaining a family residence permit. If there is reasonable suspicion, the governor’s office investigates whether the marriage was contracted solely to obtain the permit; permits obtained through a marriage of convenience and later canceled are not taken into account when residence periods are added up (Article 37 of Law No. 6458).

In a polygamous marriage, a family permit is granted to only one spouse; children from the other spouses may also be granted a permit. The consent of a parent living abroad who shares custody is required. A family permit gives the right to attend primary and secondary education until the age of 18 without obtaining a student permit (Article 34 of Law No. 6458). Article 33 of the Implementing Regulation lists a stay abroad of more than 180 days in total within the last year as a ground for canceling the family permit; the Law, by contrast, does not set a fixed number of days on this point and leaves the procedure to the Regulation (Article 36(2) of Law No. 6458). Cancellation is made by an administrative decision.

Marriage to a Turkish citizen is the most common basis for a family residence permit; a citizenship application based on the same marriage is covered in our article on Turkish citizenship by marriage.

Who Can Obtain a Student Residence Permit?

A student residence permit (öğrenci ikamet izni) is granted to a foreign national who will pursue an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree at a higher education institution in Turkey. A primary or secondary school student whose care and expenses are covered may also be granted a permit, with the consent of a parent or legal representative, for periods of one year at a time throughout their studies (Article 38 of Law No. 6458). In higher education, the permit may be issued to cover the entire study program; for a student who cannot graduate within the normal period, the permit is extended one year at a time, without exceeding the maximum period of study (Article 37 of the Implementing Regulation).

Article 38 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(3) A student residence permit does not give the student’s mother, father or other relatives any right to obtain a residence permit.”

A student may act as sponsor only in the family permit applications of their spouse and children (Article 35(6) of the Implementing Regulation). Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students may work provided that they obtain a work permit; for associate and bachelor’s students, the right to work begins after the first year (Article 41 of Law No. 6458). A student permit is not granted on the basis of special student status, open education or distance learning (Article 35 of the Implementing Regulation).

Only half of the time spent on a student permit counts toward the long-term permit. For citizenship, a permit held for study is not in itself valid residence; however, if the foreign national later becomes linked to a valid ground of residence, the earlier periods of study may also be taken into account; a tourist permit is outside this possibility (Article 71(1)(ç) and (d) of the Citizenship Regulation; see the separate heading below).

What Is a Long-Term Residence Permit and What Are the Conditions?

A long-term residence permit (uzun dönem ikamet izni) is an indefinite permit granted by the governor’s office, with the approval of the Ministry, to a foreign national who has stayed in Turkey continuously for at least eight years on a residence permit or who meets the conditions set by the Ministry (Article 42 of Law No. 6458). The conditions are set out in Article 43 of the Law:

Article 43 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) The following conditions apply to the transition to a long-term residence permit: a) having stayed in Turkey continuously for at least eight years on a residence permit; b) not having received social assistance in the last three years; c) having a sufficient and regular source of income to support themselves and, if any, their family; ç) having valid health insurance; d) not posing a threat to public order or public security.”

For a foreign national found eligible because they meet the conditions set by the Ministry, the conditions other than the public order condition are not required (paragraph 2 of the same article). Refugees, conditional refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries, humanitarian residence permit holders and persons under temporary protection cannot transfer to a long-term permit (Article 42(2) of Law No. 6458).

A long-term permit holder enjoys the rights granted to Turkish citizens, subject to the provisions of special laws, except for military service, the right to vote and stand for election, entry into public service, and duty-free import of vehicles (Article 44 of Law No. 6458). The permit is canceled if the holder poses a serious threat to public order or public security, or stays outside Turkey continuously for more than one year for a reason other than health, education or compulsory public service in their own country (Article 45 of Law No. 6458). A person whose permit was canceled because of the stay abroad may reapply; in that application, the eight-year continuous residence condition is not required again, and the application is concluded within one month at the latest (Article 43 of the Implementing Regulation).

Humanitarian Residence Permit and Residence Permit for Victims of Human Trafficking

a) Humanitarian Residence Permit

A humanitarian residence permit (insani ikamet izni) is granted in exceptional situations that make it compulsory or necessary for a foreign national who does not meet the conditions of the other permits to stay in Turkey:

Article 46 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) In the following cases, a humanitarian residence permit may be granted, and such permits may be extended, by governor’s offices with the approval of the Directorate General, without seeking the conditions for the other residence permits and limited to periods set by the Ministry: a) where the best interests of the child are concerned; b) where, despite a deportation order or an entry ban having been issued against them, foreign nationals cannot be made to leave Turkey, or their departure from Turkey is not considered reasonable or possible; … f) in extraordinary circumstances.”

The omitted subparagraphs cover cases such as persons who have sought judicial remedies against deportation proceedings. The authority referred to in the Law as the “Directorate General” is today the Presidency of Migration Management. Article 27 of the Implementing Regulation still defines the humanitarian permit as a permit of at most one year at a time; the words “for periods of at most one year each” in the Law, by contrast, were replaced by “for periods set by the Ministry” by Law No. 7196.

A foreign national granted a humanitarian permit must register in the address-based registration system within 20 working days at the latest from the date the permit is issued (Article 46(2) of Law No. 6458). If the conditions of the permit cease to exist, the permit is canceled with the approval of the Ministry and is not extended (Article 47 of Law No. 6458). During the permit period, a humanitarian permit holder may apply for any other permit, except the long-term permit, whose conditions they meet; however, time spent on a humanitarian permit is not taken into account when residence permit periods are added up (Article 44 of the Implementing Regulation).

b) Residence Permit for Victims of Human Trafficking

A foreign national who is a victim of human trafficking, or about whom there is strong suspicion that they may be one, is granted a 30-day residence permit by the governor’s office so that they can recover from the effects of their experience and decide whether to cooperate with the authorities; the conditions of the other permits are not required (Article 48 of Law No. 6458). The permit may be extended for periods of at most six months each, provided the total period does not exceed three years, on grounds of the victim’s safety, health or special situation (Article 49 of Law No. 6458; Article 45(5) of the Implementing Regulation). If it is established that a foreign national considered a victim has re-established contact with the perpetrators of the offense of their own accord, the permit is canceled; however, the permit is not canceled if this conduct occurred against their will because of coercion, intimidation, violence or threats (Article 46(2) of the Implementing Regulation). An application for this permit may be made from within Turkey to the governor’s office.

How Do You Apply for and Extend a Permit?

a) Where and by Whom Is the Application Made?

Under the Law, the rule is that the application is made to the consulate in the country of which the foreign national is a citizen or in which they are legally present (Article 21 of Law No. 6458). Exceptionally, the application may also be made from within Turkey to the governor’s office in the following cases (Article 22 of Law No. 6458):

• cases where, by decision or request of judicial or administrative authorities, it is not reasonable or possible for the foreign national to leave Turkey;
• long-term, student, humanitarian and human trafficking victim permits;
• transfer from a family permit to a short-term permit, and applications for a child born in Turkey;
• applications for a permit matching the new purpose of stay by a foreign national whose current permit’s grounds have ended or changed;
• transfer to a short-term permit by persons who have completed higher education in Turkey.

In practice, applications by foreign nationals legally present in Turkey are made to the provincial directorates of migration management (il göç idaresi müdürlüğü) by appointment obtained through the e-ikamet system; the Presidency of Migration Management announces that the appointment is free of charge. The Implementing Regulation also provides that applications that may be made from within Turkey are made to the governor’s office and that applications may be received electronically (Article 19 of the Implementing Regulation).

As a rule, the foreign national must apply in person; the application may also be made through a legal representative or a lawyer holding a power of attorney (Article 21(4) of the Implementing Regulation). Applications are concluded within 90 days at the latest (Article 21 of Law No. 6458); the period starts on the date the information and documents are submitted in full. Missing documents are notified to the foreign national, and if they are not completed within 30 days of the notification, the application is removed from processing (Article 22 of the Implementing Regulation). A foreign national who came with a permit obtained from a consulate must register in the address-based registration system within 20 working days at the latest from entry, and a foreign national who obtained the permit within Turkey within 20 working days at the latest from delivery of the permit document (Article 22(12) of the Implementing Regulation).

Fees and card costs vary by permit type and duration; the amounts are outside the scope of this article and should be checked in the current announcement of the Presidency of Migration Management before applying.

b) When Should an Extension Be Requested?

Article 24 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(2) Extension applications are made to governor’s offices from 60 days before the expiry of the residence permit and, in any case, before the residence permit expires. Those who apply to extend their residence permit are given a document not subject to fees. These foreign nationals may reside in Turkey with this document until a decision is made on them, even if their residence permit has expired. (3) Extended residence permits start from the expiry date of the legal permit period.”

An extension application may be made at the earliest 60 days before the permit expires and must be made at the latest before the permit period ends. The residence permit application document (ikamet izni müracaat belgesi) given to applicants entitles them to stay in Turkey until the application is decided (Article 21(9) of the Implementing Regulation).

c) What Happens If the Period Is Exceeded or You Stay Abroad Too Long?

The Implementing Regulation provides that applications are also accepted from persons who have exceeded their residence permit, visa or visa exemption period by up to ten days (Article 21(2) of the Implementing Regulation). This is a facility that allows the application to be received; it does not make the overstay lawful. A deportation order (sınır dışı etme kararı) is issued against a foreign national who violates the residence permit period by more than ten days without an acceptable reason, and against a foreign national who exceeds the visa or visa exemption period by more than ten days; these are two separate grounds (Article 54 of Law No. 6458). The non-refoulement guarantee in Article 4 and the prohibition on removal in Article 55 of Law No. 6458 are reserved. A foreign national deported from Turkey is subject to an entry ban; as a rule, the ban lasts at most five years (Article 9 of Law No. 6458).

If a foreign national who has exceeded the period by more than ten days applies to the governor’s office to leave before a deportation order is issued and pays the fees and fines arising from the violation, no entry ban decision may be taken under Article 9(4) of Law No. 6458, as amended by Law No. 7196; the Law sets no one-year upper limit, but the violation periods determined by the Ministry must not be exceeded. Article 8(2) of the Implementing Regulation still refers to a one-year upper limit; that provision is not consistent with the Law. For a foreign national who comes to the border gate of their own accord before a deportation order is issued and pays the fees and fines, the authority may decide not to impose an entry ban on grounds of a visa or residence violation (subparagraph (c) of the same paragraph).

A permit can also be canceled by an administrative decision because of time spent abroad. Article 21(11) of the Implementing Regulation lists as grounds for cancellation more than 120 days abroad in total within the last year for short-term permits, more than 180 days within the last year for family permits, and more than one year continuously for long-term permits, except for reasons such as compulsory public service, education and health. The Law does not set these periods as fixed rules; for short-term and family permits it leaves the procedure and principles to the Regulation (Article 33(2) and Article 36(2) of Law No. 6458), while for the long-term permit it directly makes a continuous stay abroad of more than one year a ground for cancellation (Article 45 of Law No. 6458). Cancellation of the permit on this ground and an interruption of residence in a long-term application are assessed separately; the interruption is determined under the period-by-period calculation in Article 40 of the Implementing Regulation. A foreign national whose permit is canceled for these reasons may reapply and is not required to present a new justification; if they are in Turkey, they may apply within ten days of service of the cancellation decision, in which case the fee is charged at twice the normal amount (Article 21(11) and (12) of the Implementing Regulation). A foreign national whose application is rejected, or whose permit is canceled, for other reasons is required to present a new justification if they reapply within six months (paragraph 10 of the same article).

How Do You Switch from One Residence Permit to Another?

A foreign national whose purpose of stay changes does not have to leave Turkey:

Article 29 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) Where the grounds on which the residence permit was granted cease to exist or different grounds arise, foreign nationals may request a residence permit matching the new purpose of stay.”

This application may be made from within Turkey to the governor’s office (Article 22 of Law No. 6458). Under the Implementing Regulation, a foreign national who will continue to stay in Turkey after the grounds for their permit have ended applies to the governor’s office, within ten days of the date the grounds ended, for a permit matching the new purpose of stay; the current permit is terminated as of the date the grounds ceased to exist (Article 26 of the Implementing Regulation). If a new ground arises in addition to the existing one, the foreign national may continue to stay on the current permit or request a new permit without waiting for the 60-day extension window.

If the sponsor dies, the Implementing Regulation allows the family permit to be used until the end of its term (Article 30(9) of the Implementing Regulation). If the conditions for a student permit arise for a family permit holder, the family permit continues and the foreign national also enjoys the rights of a student permit; the same rule applies to a work permit holder (Article 26 of the Implementing Regulation).

How Does Residence Count Toward Long-Term Residence and Citizenship?

For the eight-year long-term period, half of the time on student permits and all of the time on other permits is counted; time on a humanitarian permit is not counted. For citizenship through the general route, by contrast, five years of uninterrupted residence in Turkey, counted back from the application date, is required (Article 11 of the Citizenship Law), and the Citizenship Regulation does not treat permits obtained for certain purposes as valid residence.

The rule for the long-term permit is set out in Article 28 of the Law:

Article 28 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (unofficial translation):
“(1) In the application of this Law, stays outside Turkey exceeding six months in total in one year, or exceeding one year in total within the last five years, are regarded as an interruption of residence, except for compulsory public service, education and health reasons. In residence permit applications, or transfers to another residence permit, by persons whose residence has been interrupted, previous permit periods are not taken into account. (2) In calculating uninterrupted residence permit periods, half of student residence permits and all of other residence permits are counted.”

Under Article 40 of the Implementing Regulation, the request of a foreign national who, within the eight years, spent more than six months at a time or consecutively abroad or without a residence permit is rejected outright; the earlier permit periods of a person who has been deported are not counted. Work permit periods are included in the total period; if a work permit was obtained while a student, the student permit for the same period is not counted separately (Articles 25 and 38 of the Implementing Regulation). Periods spent under a work permit exemption are not taken into account in calculating statutory work permit or residence permit periods under Article 13(6) of Law No. 6735. Article 25(4) of the Implementing Regulation includes exemption periods in the total as well; however, because the later statutory provision prevails, exemption periods are as a rule not counted.

The standard for the citizenship period is different. Under Article 71 of the Citizenship Regulation, residence in Turkey “without a legal residence permit, or, although legal, with a residence permit that does not show an intention to settle in Turkey, obtained for purposes such as being an applicant for asylum (sığınma veya iltica), being an asylum seeker, education, tourism, accompanying a child in education, or medical treatment” (unofficial translation) is not accepted as valid residence for acquiring citizenship. However, Article 71(1)(d) provides that if a person present in Turkey on a permit obtained for purposes such as education, medical treatment or tourism later becomes linked to a ground accepted as valid, the earlier residence periods are also taken into account; a tourist permit is outside this provision. Periods of study and medical treatment therefore cannot be excluded categorically. Because the list is left open by the words “such as” (gibi), whether time spent on a short-term permit for home ownership, setting up a business or investment counts is assessed according to whether the foreign national has shown an intention to settle.

As regards time that may be spent abroad, the statutory limit to be applied is 12 months: Article 15 of the Citizenship Law provides that a person may be outside Turkey during the required residence period, provided the total does not exceed 12 months. Article 71 of the Citizenship Regulation, however, still sets this limit at six months in total and treats more than six months spent abroad as interrupting the residence period. The Regulation is not consistent with the Law and does not reduce the statutory limit to six months. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the administration may apply the six-month criterion in the Regulation; this inconsistency should be assessed in the individual file.

For citizenship by marriage, there is no requirement of residence in Turkey; a foreign national who has been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years and whose marriage continues may apply (Article 16 of the Citizenship Law). The exceptional citizenship route for a foreign national holding an investment-based short-term permit and for Turquoise Card holders is also separate (Article 12 of the Citizenship Law).

What Can Be Done If a Residence Permit Is Refused or Canceled?

Decisions refusing a request made from within Turkey, refusing to extend a permit, and canceling a permit are issued and served by the governor’s office; in these decisions, factors such as the foreign national’s family ties in Turkey, length of residence, situation in the country of origin and the best interests of the child are taken into account (Article 25 of Law No. 6458). Where such factors exist, implementation of the decision may be postponed; in that case, the foreign national is given a document entitling them to stay in Turkey for one month, which may be extended for one month at a time (Article 22(18) of the Implementing Regulation). The decision is served on the foreign national, their legal representative or their lawyer; the notice also states how to exercise the rights of objection.

A foreign national whose extension or first application is refused is given a fee-exempt document allowing them to stay in Turkey for only up to ten days (Article 22(11) of the Implementing Regulation); a deportation order is issued against a foreign national whose extension application is refused and who does not leave Turkey within ten days. These ten days are not a period for objection; they are only a period for staying in the country. Cancellation of a residence permit, by contrast, is a separate ground for deportation: a deportation order may be issued against a foreign national whose permit has been canceled without waiting ten days (Article 54 of Law No. 6458), and the ten-day document in the Regulation is provided only for non-extension and refusal; it does not cover cancellation. The non-refoulement guarantee in Article 4 and the prohibition on removal in Article 55 of Law No. 6458 are reserved here as well. A foreign national whose permit was canceled because of a stay abroad and who is in Turkey may reapply within ten days of service of the cancellation decision (Article 21(12) of the Implementing Regulation).

The remedy against the decision lies in the administrative courts. Because Law No. 6458 does not provide a separate time limit for actions against residence permit decisions, under Article 7 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 the action is filed with the administrative court within 60 days from the day following written notification. The action is filed against the governor’s office that took the decision, before the administrative court of the place where that governor’s office is located (Article 32 of Law No. 2577). In its decision of 3 February 2025, Case No. 2024/6796, Decision No. 2025/371, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State unanimously held that, because the act canceling a short-term permit and rejecting the application had been issued by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, venue lay with the Istanbul Administrative Court, in the place where the Istanbul Governor’s Office, the authority that issued the act, is located. For the long-term permit, too, the decision is issued by the governor’s office together with the Ministry’s approval. An application made from abroad to a consulate, however, is decided by the Presidency of Migration Management (Article 21 of Law No. 6458); for that refusal, the action is filed not against a governor’s office but against the Presidency of Migration Management, before the administrative court in Ankara under Article 32 of Law No. 2577, within 60 days of service. No decision specific to consular refusals has been found; in an action brought against the Presidency over the implied rejection of an application made to it for removal of an entry restriction code (tahdit kodu, a code recorded in the migration system that restricts entry; it is not the same as an entry ban decision), the 10th Chamber of the Council of State found that venue lay with the Ankara Administrative Court, the place where the Presidency that issued the act is located (decision of 30 October 2023, Case No. 2023/5351, Decision No. 2023/6093).

An application to the authority that issued the decision before filing an action is not mandatory; the application may be made, within the time limit for filing, to the superior authority or, where there is no superior authority, to the authority that made the decision (Article 11 of Law No. 2577). If made in time, it suspends the time limit that has begun to run. If no reply is given within 30 days, the request is deemed rejected; in that case the time limit for filing starts to run again, and the time that passed before the application is also counted, so a fresh 60 days does not begin and only the remaining period runs (Article 11(3)). It cannot be assumed that every request for reconsideration suspends the period; the application must be of this nature and made in time.

A complete failure to respond to an application can also be challenged in court: in its decision of 10 September 2024, Case No. 2024/4431, Decision No. 2024/2812, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State determined the court with venue under the same rule in an action brought against the Aksaray Governor’s Office over the implied rejection of a humanitarian residence permit application. For an application left unanswered, Article 10 of Law No. 2577 applies: if no reply is given within 30 days, the request is deemed rejected, and an action may be filed within the time limit for filing from the end of the 30 days. Whether the 90-day decision period in Law No. 6458 automatically postpones this 30-day period is disputed; the following calculation is therefore not a definitive rule but a prudent interpretation: if no reply is given within 30 days of the application, the request is deemed rejected and the 60-day time limit for filing runs from the date the 30 days end. If no action has been filed, an action may be filed within 60 days of service of a reply the administration gives later.

Filing an action does not automatically stay the act; a stay of execution (yürütmenin durdurulması) may be requested if damage that is difficult or impossible to remedy and manifest unlawfulness are both present (Article 27 of Law No. 2577). A deportation order issued after cancellation of the permit, however, is a separate act: an application against that order is made to the administrative court within seven days of service, and during the time limit for filing or until the proceedings are concluded, the foreign national is not deported, subject to their consent (Article 53 of Law No. 6458); the non-refoulement guarantee in Article 4 and the prohibition on removal in Article 55 of Law No. 6458 are reserved. Details are in our article on challenging a deportation order. In actions filed after 30 November 2024 against the refusal or cancellation of a short-term permit, the file becomes complete when the defense is submitted or the period for submitting the defense expires, and whether to hold a hearing is at the court’s discretion (Article 31(7) and provisional Article 3 of Law No. 6458).

An appeal to the Regional Administrative Court (istinaf) against the administrative court’s decision may be lodged within 30 days of service (Article 45 of Law No. 2577). The Regional Administrative Court’s decision in these cases is final. In an action concerning the refusal of a short-term permit application for tourism, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State, by its decision of 16 September 2025, Case No. 2025/2942, Decision No. 2025/3858, unanimously rejected the request for appeal to the Council of State (temyiz) on the following ground: “since the case at hand is not among the cases listed in Article 46 of Law No. 2577, there is no legal possibility of reviewing on appeal the decision of the Istanbul Regional Administrative Court rejecting the appeal application” (unofficial translation). The Chamber reached the same conclusion in a file in which a deportation order and the cancellation of a residence permit were challenged together (decision of 20 February 2024, Case No. 2024/441, Decision No. 2024/257). These decisions were issued before Law No. 7589 of 16 July 2026. The second paragraph added to Article 46 of Law No. 2577 by that Law opened an appeal to the Council of State against decisions of regional administrative courts that set aside a first-instance decision and render a new decision, but expressly excluded cases arising from the application of Law No. 6458.

In its decision of 24 October 2024, Application No. 2020/21147, the Constitutional Court (Anayasa Mahkemesi) treated the non-extension of the residence permit of a foreign national who had lived in Turkey with their family since 1994 as an interference with the right to respect for family life, and set out the following principle: “an individual who demonstrates a de facto, genuine family tie based on closeness with the country in which they request a residence permit must be given an effective opportunity to challenge the discretion of public authorities not to grant a residence permit” (unofficial translation). On the facts, however, it unanimously held that the right had not been violated, on the grounds that there was no deportation order, the applicant’s daughter was an adult, and a balance had been struck between public order and family life. This is a single decision; it shows that family ties must be weighed, but a refusal may stand if that weighing has been carried out and there is a public order ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreign national who came as a tourist obtain a residence permit in Turkey? In practice, yes. Under the Law, the rule is to apply to the consulate; in practice, however, applications by foreign nationals legally present in Turkey are made to the provincial directorate of migration management by appointment through e-ikamet. The application must be made before the visa or visa exemption period expires. A tourism permit is not among the in-country application cases listed in Article 22 of Law No. 6458; acceptance of the application does not mean the permit will be granted, and the application may be rejected if the purpose of stay is not documented.

Does a residence permit give the right to work? No. Subject to special status and exemption rules, a separate work permit must be obtained in order to work. A valid work permit counts as a residence permit; when it ends, the residence right attached to the work permit ends, while a valid residence permit obtained on another ground continues.

Is a short-term residence permit granted for one year or two? Under the Law, it may be granted for at most two years at a time; for investors and TRNC citizens, the period is up to five years. The Implementing Regulation still says one year; the administration determines the period according to the request and its justification.

Does buying a home in Turkey by itself give a residence permit? No. The home must be used as a home, must not be rented out, and must meet the value requirement in the document list of the Presidency of Migration Management (at least USD 200,000 as of the date of acquisition); the short-term permit conditions such as health insurance, accommodation and address also apply. Before buying real property or signing a lease, the applicant should check whether the address is open to the relevant application type and whether any provincial restrictions apply.

Do years spent as a student count toward long-term residence and citizenship? Half of them count toward long-term residence. For citizenship, a permit held for study is not in itself valid residence; however, if the foreign national later becomes linked to a valid ground of residence, the earlier periods of study may also be taken into account; a tourist permit is outside this possibility.

What happens to the residence permit of a foreign national married to a Turkish citizen if they divorce? The family permit loses its basis. A foreign national who has stayed at least three years on a family permit may be granted a short-term permit; if victimhood of domestic violence is established by a court decision, the three years are not required. An application for the new permit must be made within ten days of the date the grounds ended.

Can an extension application be made after the permit has expired? No, an extension application must be made before the permit expires. The ten-day tolerance in the Implementing Regulation allows the application to be received, but a violation exceeding ten days is a ground for a deportation order.

Within how many days must an action be filed if a residence permit is refused? The action is filed within 60 days of written notification, before the administrative court of the place where the governor’s office that took the decision is located; if an application made through a consulate is rejected, the action is brought against the Presidency of Migration Management in Ankara. If a deportation order has also been issued, the time limit against that order is seven days.