Short-Term Residence Permit
A short-term residence permit may be granted on the basis of one of the purposes of stay set out in a limited way in Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection. The applicant is expected to submit the information and documents that support the purpose of stay, to declare the address at which he or she will stay in Türkiye, and to meet the other conditions for the type of application.
Main purposes that can support a short-term residence permit
- Scientific research
- Owning real estate in Türkiye that is of residential character
- Establishing a business connection or setting up a business
- Taking part in an in-service training program
- Education within the scope of agreements to which Türkiye is a party or student exchange programs
- Staying for tourism
- Receiving medical treatment
- Staying in Türkiye on the basis of a request or decision of judicial or administrative authorities
- Transition to a short-term permit after the conditions of a family residence permit are lost
- Attending a Turkish language course
- Taking part in education, research, an internship or a course through public institutions
- Applying within the time limit after completing higher education in Türkiye
- Making an investment in the scope and amount specified in the law
- Being a citizen of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
In short-term permits, the entire period requested need not be granted. The duration of the permit is determined by taking into account the passport, health insurance, purpose of stay, education or treatment program, the use of the real estate and the administration’s assessment of the file.
Short-term residence permit for tourism
In tourism applications, where, for how long and under what plan the foreign national will stay in Türkiye is assessed. If considered necessary, a travel plan, accommodation, financial means, entry and exit history and additional documents explaining the purpose of stay may be requested.
A residence permit having been obtained for tourism in earlier periods does not mean that a new application or an extension request will be accepted automatically. The current conditions of the application and the real purpose of stay may be reviewed again in every permit period.
Residence permit for foreign nationals who own real estate in Türkiye
A foreign national who owns real estate in Türkiye may apply for a short-term residence permit. However, the real estate must be of residential character and must be used by the applicant for this purpose. The consistency of the title deed record, the address, the municipal and address-numbering (numarataj) information and the actual use may be reviewed.
In these applications, the following in particular:
- The accuracy of the owner and real estate information in the title deed
- The residential character of the real estate
- The consistency of the independent unit, the open address and the address numbering
- The actual use of the real estate for residence purposes
- The suitability of the address for registration
- The ownership status of the applicant and family members
- The current administrative practice for the relevant region or address
- Differences among title deed, appraisal, municipal and other records
should be assessed.
Acquiring real estate is not an automatic result of a residence permit. In addition, acquiring real estate for residence purposes and a real estate investment made for Turkish citizenship by investment are not the same legal transaction.
Residence for business ties, setting up a business and investment
Foreign nationals who will establish a business connection or set up a business in Türkiye may be asked for documents showing the relationship to be established, the person or company to be contacted and the purpose of stay. Establishing a company or becoming a partner in a company does not by itself give a foreign national the right to work. If actual work will be performed, a work permit or a work permit exemption must be assessed separately.
Special short-term residence provisions may apply to persons whom the relevant institutions determine to meet the investment conditions set out in the law, and to certain family members. The company, tax, real estate, citizenship and work permit consequences of the investment should be planned separately from one another.
What Do We Review in the Application?
Before choosing the permit type, we assess whether the plan of stay is genuine and consistent with the documents. A title deed, a tourism plan or a company partnership does not by itself produce a permit outcome. If the basis of the application is changing, the need for a transition is reviewed together with the expiry of the current permit.
- We check the title deed, address numbering, address and actual residential use together.
- For business ties, we review the invitation, the business plan and the company records; we separate the permit conditions for actual work.
- For treatment, we include the program, payment and, if needed, the need for an accompanying person in the document plan.
- For course, research, internship and post-graduation applications, we determine the appropriate basis and the timeline.
The current practice of the authority is verified separately as to the date of acquisition and value of the real estate and whether the address is open to registration. Acquiring housing for residence and citizenship by investment are not the same transaction.
Information Needed for the First Consultation
Prepare your passport, your current permit and your application records; if there is a decision, all of its pages and the notification record. If a permit expiry, a trip or an application deadline is approaching, mention it in your first message. The file-specific document list and the method of representation are settled in the consultation.