Foreigners who intend to extend their stay in Türkiye beyond the time limit specified in their visa, those who require a visa exemption or intend to stay for more than ninety days (90) must obtain a residence permit.
- Short-Term Residence Permit for Foreigners
For short-term residence permits, foreigners who own real estate in Türkiye or intend to establish a business or make business connections in Türkiye must submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) once an application is submitted through the e-residence system. (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr)
Short-term residence permits are issued for a maximum of two years (2) as a principle. However, foreigners who intend to invest in Türkiye in amounts and scopes attested by the Council of Ministers, along with their spouse and children, may be granted a five-year short-term residence permit. Furthermore, these investors may apply for acquisition of Turkish citizenship or a long-term residence permit.
- Initial Application
According to Turkish legislation, to initiate the initial application for residency Permit, Natural Person Foreigners shall prepare and submit the following documents to the related Immigration Authority:
- Residence permit application form
- Copy of passport or equivalent travel document
- Four biometric photographs
- Proof of financial sufficiency and regular means of subsistence for the duration of the stay
- Documents/receipts for the payment of residence permit fee and card fee
- Title deed proving the applicant’s ownership (required for foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey)
- Valid health insurance
Legal Person Foreigners who intend to apply for a short residence permit by establishing a business or making business connections in Turkey shall submit the following additional documents:
- Letter of invitation from the person or company(ies) to be contacted
- Notarized company activity certificate Notarized tax registration certificate
- Notarized trade registry gazette
- Notarized signature circular
Foreigners who intend to apply for a short residence permit by investing in amounts and scopes attested by the Council of Ministers must meet any of the following criteria:
- Making a minimum fixed capital investment of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency, as attested by the Ministry of Industry and Technology
- Acquiring a property worth a minimum of USD 400,000 or equivalent foreign currency with a title deed restriction on its resale for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change
- Creating jobs for at least 50 people, as attested by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security
- Depositing a minimum of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency in banks operating in Türkiye with the condition that it is not withdrawn for at least three years, as attested by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency
- Buying government bonds worth a minimum of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency with the condition that they are not sold for at least three years, as attested by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance
- Buying real estate investment fund shares or venture capital investment fund shares worth a minimum of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency with the condition that they are not sold for at least three years, as attested by the Capital Markets Board of Türkiye
- Depositing a minimum contribution of USD 500,000 or equivalent foreign currency in funds determined by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency with the condition that it remains in the private pension system for at least three years, as attested by the Insurance and Private Pension Regulation and Supervision Agency.
- Application for Extension
For obtaining extensions, foreigners shall submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) by mail within five business days once an application is submitted through the e-residence system. (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr). Applications for extension of the residence permit may be made sixty days prior to its expiration, but under no circumstances shall this be done after the expiry date.
- Residence permit application form
- Notarized copy of passport or equivalent travel document
- Four biometric photographs
- Submission of the previous residence permit document
- Proof of financial sufficiency and regular means of subsistence for the duration of the stay
- Title deed proving the applicant’s ownership (required for foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey)
- Letter of invitation from the person or company(ies) to be contacted (required for foreigners who intend to establish business or make business connections in Turkey)
- Valid medical insurance
- Long-Term Residence Permit for Foreigners
For long-term residence permits, foreigners who have continuously resided in Türkiye for at least eight years must submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü). Long-term residence permits are issued indefinitely; therefore, no extension application is required.
- Application
Natural Person Foreigners shall prepare and submit the following documents to the related Immigration Authority:
- Residence permit application form
- Original and copy of passport or equivalent travel document
- Copy of the previous residence permit document
- Four biometric photographs
- Proof that the applicant has not received any social aid from governmental institutions and organizations in the last three years
- Proof of financial sufficiency and regular means of subsistence for the duration of the stay
- Police record document
- Valid medical insurance
Author:
Atty. Mustafa Kemal Balta, LL.M.
Managing Partner
