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Residence Permit Applications and Appeals

Long-Term Residence Permit: The 8-Year Requirement, Application Documents, Rights, Rejection and Cancellation

Representative image about the long-term residence permit application, showing a residence card, passport, application documents and a Migration Management processing area
Author: Published: Updated: About 27 min read

Institutional legal review and control: Güneş & Güneş Law Firm

Published by: Güneş & Güneş Law Firm

Summary

A long-term residence permit is a residence status that may be granted for an unlimited period, by the governorates with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior, to foreign nationals who have resided in Türkiye lawfully and uninterruptedly for at least eight years, have not received social assistance in the last three years, have sufficient and regular income and valid health insurance, and pose no obstacle in terms of public order or public security. This permit is not citizenship and does not by itself give a right to work. The calculation of the eight-year period, the counting of student residence at half, whether stays abroad interrupt residence, and the different treatment of work permit and work permit exemption periods are the most critical legal and technical points of the application.

What is a long-term residence permit?

A long-term residence permit is a type of residence permit regulated in Articles 42 to 45 of the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK), which may be granted for an unlimited period to foreign nationals who meet certain conditions. The permit is issued by the governorates upon the approval of the Ministry of the Interior.

This status has three basic features:

  • It is not limited by a specific end date.
  • It allows the foreign national to benefit from many of the rights granted to Turkish citizens, apart from the exceptions listed in the Law.
  • It is neither citizenship nor a work permit; it is assessed separately from those two institutions.

Unlimited residence, citizenship and a work permit are not the same thing

A long-term residence permit is a strong residence status that gives the right to stay in Türkiye for an unlimited period; however, it does not make the person a Turkish citizen, does not confer the right to vote or stand for election, and does not give the right to enter public service.

Moreover, a residence permit, whatever its type, does not by itself give the right to work in Türkiye. For a foreign national holding a long-term residence permit to work, he or she must hold a work permit or a work permit exemption under the International Labour Force Law No. 6735. Holding a long-term residence permit gives the possibility of applying for an unlimited work permit; meeting the conditions does not mean that an unlimited work permit will necessarily be granted.

Who can apply for a long-term residence permit?

The basic rule is that a foreign national who has stayed in Türkiye on a residence permit uninterruptedly for at least eight years can apply. In addition, Article 42 of the Law provides a special route for foreign nationals who comply with the conditions determined by the Migration Policies Board.

Application through eight years of residence

The applicant must have completed, in the eight-year period counted back from the date of application, the residence periods accepted by the Law. This period is not merely the time physically spent in Türkiye; lawful residence status and the interruption rules are examined together.

Application under special conditions determined by the Ministry

Article 42 of Law No. 6458 provides an application route, separate from eight years of residence, for foreign nationals who comply with the conditions determined by the Migration Policies Board. Article 43/2 provides that, for foreign nationals whom it is considered appropriate to grant a long-term residence permit because they meet the conditions determined by the Ministry, the other conditions in Article 43/1 are not sought, except the condition of not posing a threat in terms of public order or public security. This exception is not a general and automatic right but a special route dependent on the relevant administrative policy and a specific assessment.

Who cannot transition to a long-term residence permit?

The Law provides that foreign nationals in the following statuses cannot transition to a long-term residence permit:

  • Refugees,
  • Conditional refugees,
  • Holders of subsidiary protection status,
  • Holders of a humanitarian residence permit,
  • Foreign nationals under temporary protection.

Periods spent in Türkiye under these statuses do not directly become part of the general eight-year route for transition to a long-term residence permit.

What are the conditions for a long-term residence permit?

Under Article 43 of Law No. 6458, the following conditions are sought together in applications based on the eight-year residence requirement:

  • Having stayed in Türkiye on a residence permit for at least eight years without interruption,
  • Not having received social assistance in the last three years,
  • Having a sufficient and regular source of income to support oneself and, if any, one's family,
  • Having valid health insurance,
  • Not posing a threat in terms of public order or public security.

The lack of any one of these conditions may lead to rejection of the application. The administration may request additional information and documents rather than being content with the statements in the application file.

How is the eight-year uninterrupted residence period calculated?

The calculation of the eight-year period is the most important area, and the one in which most mistakes are made, in long-term residence applications. The calculation is made counting back from the date of application, and the interruption rules in Article 28 of Law No. 6458 are applied.

Which periods are counted in full?

Lawful residence permits other than the student residence permit are, as a rule, counted in full. Because a valid work permit also counts as a residence permit under Article 27 of the Law, periods spent on a lawful work permit may be taken into account in the residence calculation.

Why is the student residence permit counted at half?

Half of the period spent on a student residence permit is calculated, while the whole of the period spent on other types of residence permit is calculated.

For example, a person who has been in Türkiye for eight years solely on a student residence permit is treated as having four years in the long-term residence calculation. For a person with four years of student residence and six years on another valid residence permit, the calculation may be two years plus six years, that is, eight years.

How are work permit periods treated?

Because valid work permits take the place of a residence permit, they may be used as a basis in the eight-year calculation. However, the records must be examined day by day in terms of the start and end dates of the work permits, any cancellation periods, and gaps between permits.

Do work permit exemption periods count?

According to the current administrative explanation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, although a work permit exemption gives a right to reside for as long as it is valid, periods spent under the exemption are not taken into account in calculating lawful work permit or residence permit periods. For this reason, a work permit and a work permit exemption should not be treated as the same.

Do visa or visa exemption periods count?

A visa or visa exemption is not a residence permit. What counts in the eight-year calculation for a long-term residence permit are periods on a residence permit in accordance with the Law, or on a valid work permit that takes the place of a residence permit.

Do periods without a residence permit count?

Periods spent without a permit, when a residence permit was required, are not taken into account in the calculation. Gaps between residence permit applications, application documents, application certificates and decision dates must be examined together.

What happens if a family residence permit is cancelled because of a sham marriage?

If a family residence permit is cancelled because of a sham marriage, the periods spent on that permit are not taken into account in the total residence period. This consequence arises not merely from the end of the marriage but from the cancellation of the permit because of a sham marriage.

When do stays abroad interrupt eight years of residence?

In calculating the eight-year period before the application, except for compulsory public service, education and health reasons, being outside Türkiye for:

  • more than six months in total within one year,
  • more than one year in total within the last five years

is counted as an interruption of residence. When an interruption occurs, the residence periods before the date of interruption are not taken into account in the eight-year calculation.

Distinguishing total periods from uninterrupted periods

In the Article 28 calculation before the application, "total" periods of stay abroad are what matter. Article 45, which applies to cancellation after the permit has been granted, is based on being outside Türkiye for more than one uninterrupted year, subject to certain exceptions.

These two rules should not be confused.

Stage of reviewRule appliedLegal consequence
Before applying for the long-term permitA stay abroad of more than 6 months in total within one year or more than 1 year in total within the last 5 yearsEarlier residence periods are not counted and the eight-year calculation is interrupted
After the permit is grantedA stay outside Türkiye of more than 1 uninterrupted year, other than for health, education and compulsory public serviceCancellation of the long-term residence permit may come into question

How should the entry-exit calculation be prepared?

Before applying, one should not rely solely on the total period shown on the e-Devlet screen; passports, old passports, the entry-exit record, and residence and work permits should be entered on the same timeline. Duplicate records, date differences at border gates, same-day entries and exits, and the application certificates for application periods must also be checked separately.

How is the sufficient and regular income requirement assessed?

The applicant must have sufficient and regular income to support himself or herself and, if any, his or her family.

In the current document list of the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi), it is required that total income not be less than the minimum wage and that it cover expenses at the rate of one third of the minimum wage for each family member, including the applicant. Undertakings given by third persons about income are not accepted.

What does regular income mean?

It may not be considered sufficient for the income merely to be in the bank account on the day of application. The administration examines the continuity and verifiability of the source of income. Salary, pension, rental income, company earnings, bank deposit income or other lawful income can be documented.

What period should income documents cover?

Current payroll, bank account movements, tax documents, lease agreements, land registry records or company documents may be used. Depending on the characteristics of the file, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management may request additional documents.

The requirement of not having received social assistance in the last three years

The applicant must not have received social assistance in the three years before the application. The current document list requires this to be shown with an e-signed, signed and stamped document obtained from the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations within the governorate or district governorship.

Social assistance and social security payments that a person earns in return for contributions are not the same thing. A pension or rights provided under insurance should not be characterised as "social assistance" in every case.

The valid health insurance requirement

The applicant must have valid health insurance. Whichever of the following documents is appropriate may be used:

  • An SGK document showing that health services in Türkiye are used under a bilateral social security agreement,
  • A provision document obtained from the SGK,
  • A document showing an application to the SGK to become a general health insurance holder,
  • A valid private health insurance policy.

In the general application explanations for the long-term residence permit, it is stated that at least one year of health insurance and a passport or passport-equivalent document valid for at least six months are required.

The public order and public security assessment

The applicant must not pose a threat in terms of public order or public security. This assessment is not limited to whether there is a final conviction; however, abstract assessments that cannot be verified and are unrelated to the file are open to legal review.

A criminal record certificate from both Türkiye and the applicant's country is requested in the application file. The requirements for an apostille, consular authentication and a notarised Turkish translation of a document obtained from a foreign country may vary by country.

How is a long-term residence permit application made?

The application for transition to a long-term residence permit is made through the e-İkamet system. The application is examined by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where the foreign national's place of residence is located; the final permit is issued by the governorate with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior.

Why is it important that this is a "transition" application?

The long-term residence permit is a transition from an existing and valid residence status in Türkiye to the long-term status. It is important to select the correct application type in the e-İkamet system and to start the procedures before the current permit expires.

Who can make the application?

The application can be made:

  • By the foreign national in person,
  • By the legal representative,
  • Through an attorney with a special power of attorney.

However, the administration may require the applicant to be present in person.

Is a fee paid for the appointment?

Residence permit appointments obtained through the e-İkamet system are free of charge. One should be careful about third parties who ask for a fee, claiming to provide an official appointment.

What are the current application documents?

The current long-term residence permit document list of the Presidency of Migration Management includes the following documents:

  • Residence Permit Application Form,
  • Photocopies of the identity, photograph and, if any, visa pages of the passport or passport-equivalent document; the original at the appointment,
  • Two biometric photographs with a white background, taken within the last six months and compliant with ICAO standards,
  • Receipt showing payment of the residence permit document fee,
  • Current residence certificate,
  • Electricity, water, natural gas or landline telephone bill, or a new subscription contract,
  • Valid health insurance,
  • Criminal record certificates from the applicant's own country and from Türkiye,
  • Document showing sufficient and regular income,
  • Document showing that no social assistance has been received in the last three years,
  • National Electronic Notification System (UETS) address document to be obtained from the central PTT branches.

The current document list requires two photographs, not four

Older articles may say four biometric photographs. The current official long-term residence permit document list requires two biometric photographs.

Why are the address documents in two stages?

In addition to the current residence certificate, a subscription or bill supporting the applicant's actual address is also requested. For those staying with a third person, a current bill or subscription document issued in the name of the person giving the notarised undertaking can be submitted.

The UETS requirement

The current document list includes the UETS address document, to be obtained from the central PTT branches, among the application papers. Setting up the electronic notification address correctly is important for following the result of the application and subsequent administrative procedures.

Apostille and translation of foreign documents

For documents obtained from abroad, the following must be checked:

  • Whether the country that issued the document is a party to the Apostille Convention,
  • The apostille certificate,
  • Consular or foreign ministry authentication,
  • A notarised Turkish translation.

The same method is not applied automatically to all countries.

Additional documents in applications on behalf of a child

In applications made on behalf of a child, depending on the nature of the case, additional documents such as a birth certificate, a custody decision, the other parent's consent, a death or absence certificate, and the consent of the legal representative abroad may be requested.

Application fee and document fee

In a long-term residence permit application, the current official document list requests a receipt showing that the residence permit document fee has been paid. Although holders of a long-term residence permit are exempt from the residence permit duty, the card/document fee and any official expenses that may arise in the specific file should be checked separately.

Because fees and payment channels may change from time to time, the Presidency of Migration Management's official payment screen on the date of application should be followed.

How long does the application take to conclude?

Residence permit applications are concluded within ninety days at the latest from the full submission of the required information and documents. This period matters not from the day the e-İkamet form is filled in online but from the date on which the application can be taken into assessment in complete form.

If documents are missing, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management may give up to thirty days for the deficiency to be completed. If the deficiency is not completed within the period given, the application may be cancelled.

What does the application certificate provide?

The residence permit application certificate given to a foreign national whose application has been received provides a lawful stay of ninety days from the date of application. This certificate is not a right to work, and the relevant conditions for exiting and entering the country must be checked separately.

Rights granted by a long-term residence permit

Holders of a long-term residence permit benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens, without prejudice to the provisions of special laws, with acquired rights relating to social security preserved, and provided that they are subject to the relevant legislation in the exercise of those rights.

Excepted rights

A holder of a long-term residence permit:

  • Is not subject to the obligation to perform military service,
  • Does not have the right to vote or stand for election,
  • Cannot benefit from the right to enter public service,
  • Does not have the right to import a vehicle on an exempt basis.

The President may restrict the rights of a long-term residence permit holder in part or in full.

Benefiting from social security and public services

The exercise of rights is subject to the conditions of the relevant special legislation. The provision on "benefiting from the rights granted to Turkish citizens" does not mean that all rights specific to citizenship are acquired unconditionally.

The correct distinction on the right to work

A long-term residence permit is not a work permit on its own. However, a holder of a long-term residence permit:

  • Can apply for an unlimited work permit,
  • May be among the groups exempted from certain employment, financial adequacy and wage criteria in the current work permit assessment criteria,
  • Can exercise the right to work only with a valid work permit or an exemption document.

Must a holder of a long-term residence permit report a change of address?

If a change of address occurs during the residence period, notification must be made, with the necessary documents, to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management and the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship within twenty working days.

Even though the permit is unlimited, the relevant notification obligations continue for changes in address, passport, marital status and identity details.

In what cases is a long-term residence permit cancelled?

Under Article 45 of Law No. 6458, a long-term residence permit is cancelled in cases where:

  • The foreign national poses a serious threat in terms of public order or public security,
  • The foreign national is outside Türkiye for more than one uninterrupted year for a reason other than health, education and compulsory public service in his or her own country.

The cancellation act is issued by the governorate.

Interruption before the application and cancellation after the permit are not the same

A stay abroad of a total of six months within one year or a total of one year within the last five years before the application may interrupt the calculation of the eight-year period. After the permit has been granted, however, the rule for cancellation is, apart from exceptions, a stay abroad of more than one uninterrupted year.

Can a cancelled long-term residence permit be obtained again?

A foreign national whose permit has been cancelled because of staying abroad for more than one uninterrupted year may apply again for a long-term residence permit.

In this reapplication, the eight-year uninterrupted residence requirement is not sought again. In the assessment, matters such as:

  • The purpose of settling in Türkiye,
  • Immovable property and other assets,
  • Relatives in Türkiye,
  • Social, economic and cultural ties,
  • Whether he or she has an active business in Türkiye

are taken into account. These applications are assessed as a priority and concluded within one month at the latest.

It should not be assumed that the same facilitated reapplication route applies to permits cancelled because of posing a serious threat in terms of public order or public security.

For what reasons can an application be rejected?

The main grounds for rejection are the following:

  • The eight-year period not being completed or having been interrupted,
  • All student residence periods being wrongly counted,
  • Work permit exemption periods being added to the residence calculation,
  • Social assistance having been received in the last three years,
  • Sufficient and regular income not being documented,
  • Valid health insurance not being held,
  • A negative assessment in terms of public order or public security,
  • Missing documents not being completed within the period given,
  • Submission of a forged or misleading document or statement,
  • The applicant being in one of the statuses that cannot transition to a long-term permit.

The rejection of a long-term residence permit application or the cancellation of the permit is a final and enforceable administrative act. The date of notification of the decision is critical as the start of the time limit for filing suit.

Time limit for an annulment action

Unless a special period is prescribed, an annulment action may be filed before the administrative court within sixty days from the day following the proper notification of the rejection or cancellation act.

Administrative application under Article 11 of the Administrative Procedure Law (İYUK)

Within the time limit for filing suit, an application may be made to the superior authority, or if there is no superior authority, to the authority that issued the act, for the act to be withdrawn, revoked or amended, or for a new act to be made.

This application suspends the running time limit for filing suit. If no reply is given within thirty days, the request is deemed rejected; after the rejection or implied rejection, the remaining time limit for filing suit starts running again.

An administrative application is not mandatory. Because it may create a risk of losing time in a specific file, the dates of notification, application and reply must be calculated day by day.

Competent court

As a rule, the administrative court at the seat of the governorate or Provincial Directorate of Migration Management that issued the act is competent. If there is more than one administrative court in a province, the rules on the division of work apply separately.

Does filing suit automatically stop the act?

No. Filing an annulment action does not by itself stop the execution of the rejection or cancellation act. A stay of execution may be requested if the conditions that the act is manifestly unlawful and that its implementation would cause damage that is difficult or impossible to remedy are both present.

If a deportation decision has also been issued separately

If a deportation decision has been issued separately from the rejection or cancellation of the residence permit, the special seven-day time limit for suit in Article 53 of the YUKK applies to that act. The general sixty-day period in the residence permit suit does not replace the special period for the deportation decision.

Which evidence is important in rejection and cancellation suits?

For the eight-year residence calculation

  • All old and new passports,
  • Entry-exit records,
  • Residence permit cards and decisions,
  • Work permits,
  • Residence application certificates,
  • Records explaining the gaps between permits,
  • Documents showing stays abroad for education and health reasons.

For the income and social assistance requirement

  • Payroll and work permit,
  • Bank account movements,
  • Tax and company records,
  • Rental income documents,
  • Pension records,
  • Letter from the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation.

In terms of public order and security

  • Criminal record certificates,
  • Acquittal, non-prosecution or dismissal decisions,
  • The bases of restriction and administrative records,
  • Specific information and documents underlying the administration's assessment.

What do Council of State decisions show in long-term residence disputes?

The calculation of stays abroad must be done correctly

In the decision of the Council of State, 10th Chamber, dated 10.06.2021, Merits No. 2016/13651, Decision No. 2021/3225, in a dispute in which a long-term residence permit application was rejected because of stays abroad, the assessment that the rejection act made without examining the other conditions was not lawful, since it was established that the applicant had not violated the interruption limit in the Law, is significant.

This decision shows that a rejection act must rest not merely on a general statement of "excessive stay abroad" but on the correct period and the correct total calculation.

The real reason for the application and all conditions must be examined

The Council of State 10th Chamber's settled approach in residence permit disputes requires the administration to examine the application in terms of the conditions of the correct permit type and not to issue a rejection decision on the basis of an incomplete investigation. In a long-term residence file, just as the eight-year period is not sufficient on its own, a single wrongly calculated element should not be used as a reason for not examining the other conditions at all.

Notification, family ties and length of residence are important

Under Article 25 of Law No. 6458, in rejection, non-extension or cancellation decisions issued from within Türkiye, matters such as the foreign national's family ties in Türkiye, length of residence, situation in the country of origin and the best interests of the child may be taken into account. These principles are important for constructing the reasoning of the act in a concrete and proportionate way.

The difference between a long-term residence permit and an unlimited work permit

SubjectLong-term residence permitUnlimited work permit
Legal basisYUKK No. 6458International Labour Force Law No. 6735
Basic functionUnlimited residence in TürkiyeUnlimited right to work in Türkiye
Competent authorityMinistry of the Interior / governorate / Presidency of Migration ManagementMinistry of Labour and Social Security
Right to workDoes not provide it by itselfProvides it
Application conditionAs a rule 8 years of uninterrupted residence and the Article 43 conditionsA long-term residence permit or at least 8 years on a lawful work permit gives the possibility of applying
Absolute rightNoNo
DocumentUnlimited residence statusUnlimited permit; the document is renewed periodically

Does a long-term residence permit lead to Turkish citizenship?

A long-term residence permit does not automatically confer Turkish citizenship and does not create an acquired right that a citizenship application will be accepted.

Under Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, an application for citizenship by the general route has different conditions, including five years of uninterrupted residence, and an assessment by the competent authority. The calculation of uninterrupted residence applied to citizenship is not the same as the eight-year calculation for the long-term residence permit.

Long-term residence status may be an important element in terms of settlement and lawful residence in Türkiye; however, the citizenship file is assessed separately, on its own conditions.

Checklist before applying

Residence timeline

  • List all residence and work permits counting back from the date of application.
  • Count only half of student residence periods.
  • Show work permit exemption periods separately.
  • Check the gaps between permits and the application certificates.
  • Calculate all entries and exits in the last eight years day by day.

Documents

  • Prepare complete copies of the passport and old passports.
  • Use two current biometric photographs.
  • Obtain the UETS document in advance.
  • Prepare criminal record certificates from both Türkiye and your country of nationality.
  • Verify the apostille, consular authentication and translation method by country.
  • Support the income and social assistance requirements with official documents.
  • Check the scope and duration of the health insurance.

Time limits and notification

  • Follow application, additional document and appointment notices through UETS and communication channels.
  • Record the date of the rejection or cancellation notification.
  • Do not confuse the different time limits for suit for the residence permit act and, if any, the deportation act.

Common mistakes

Adding up eight years by calendar calculation alone

A calendar calculation made without applying the type of lawful residence, the counting of the student permit at half and the rules on interruption by stays abroad can produce an incorrect result.

Treating a work permit and a work permit exemption as the same

A valid work permit takes the place of a residence permit; under current administrative practice, however, work permit exemption periods are not taken into account in the residence calculation.

Preparing four photographs

The current long-term residence permit document list requires two biometric photographs.

Thinking that long-term residence gives the right to work

A residence permit does not by itself give the right to work. A valid work permit or exemption is required.

Assuming that the application will conclude in one month

In initial or transition applications, the general statutory period for concluding the matter is at most ninety days from the submission of complete documents. The one-month period applies in a special situation, such as a reapplication for a long-term permit cancelled because of staying abroad for more than one uninterrupted year.

Assuming that there is a mandatory "30-day objection" against a rejection act

Against the rejection or cancellation of a long-term residence permit, the direct sixty-day annulment action route is generally open. An application under Article 11 of the İYUK is optional; if made, its effect on the time limit for suit must be calculated carefully.

Conclusion

A long-term residence permit is a strong, unlimited residence status for foreign nationals who have lived lawfully in Türkiye for a long time. However, the completion of eight years is not by itself sufficient for the permit to be granted. Stays abroad, the counting of student residence at half, the distinction between a work permit and a work permit exemption, the social assistance position over the last three years, income, health insurance and the public order review are assessed together.

As of 2026, in the application file, two biometric photographs, a current address and subscription document, criminal record certificates from both Türkiye and the foreign country, income and social assistance documents, and the UETS address are particularly important. The permit does not by itself give rise to a right to work or to citizenship.

In the event of rejection or cancellation, the date of notification, the authority that issued the act, the ground for rejection and, if any, a separate deportation decision must be examined immediately. The general sixty-day time limit for suit relating to the long-term residence permit and the special seven-day period for a deportation decision are entirely different from one another.

Frequently Asked Questions

For how many years is a long-term residence permit granted?

A long-term residence permit is granted for an unlimited period. However, the obligations to notify changes of address, identity, passport and so on continue; if grounds for cancellation arise, the permit may be terminated.

How many years must one live in Türkiye for a long-term residence permit?

As a rule, at least eight years of uninterrupted and lawful residence, counted back from the date of application, are required. Half of student residence and the whole of other valid residence permits are counted.

Does the student residence permit count toward the eight-year period?

Yes; however, only half of the period spent on a student residence permit is calculated.

Does a work permit period count in the long-term residence calculation?

Because a valid work permit takes the place of a residence permit, the period may be taken into account in the calculation. The start and end dates of the permits and, if any, the cancellation dates are checked separately.

Does a work permit exemption period count?

According to the current administrative explanation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, work permit exemption periods are not taken into account in calculating lawful work permit or residence permit periods.

Does staying abroad interrupt the eight-year period?

Except for compulsory public service, education and health reasons, a stay abroad of more than six months in total within one year or more than one year in total within the last five years interrupts the residence period, and the periods before the interruption are not counted.

Does a long-term residence permit give the right to work?

No. A work permit or a work permit exemption is also required in order to work. A holder of a long-term residence permit can apply for an unlimited work permit; meeting the application conditions does not guarantee that it will be granted.

Is it necessary to buy a home for a long-term residence permit?

No. Acquiring immovable property is not among the statutory conditions of the long-term residence permit. It may be a supporting document for income, address and ties to Türkiye; however, ownership is not required.

Does a long-term residence permit lead to citizenship?

No. Citizenship is a separate legal status and requires a separate application and a decision of the competent authority under the conditions in Law No. 5901.

Within how many days is the application concluded?

From the completion of the required information and documents, residence permit applications are concluded within ninety days at the latest. Up to thirty days may be given for missing documents.

Within how many days must suit be filed if the application is rejected?

Unless there is a special period, an annulment action may be filed before the administrative court within sixty days from the day following notification of the rejection act. If there is a separate deportation decision, the special seven-day period applies to that act.

Can one reapply if a long-term residence permit is cancelled?

Reapplication is possible if the permit was cancelled because of a stay abroad of more than one uninterrupted year for a reason other than health, education or compulsory public service. The eight-year requirement is not sought again and the application is concluded as a priority, within one month at the latest.

Sources

Legislation

  • Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, especially Art. 25, 27, 28 and 42-45.
  • Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.
  • International Labour Force Law No. 6735.
  • Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, especially Art. 7, 11, 27 and 32.
  • Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901.

Official practice sources

Selected court decisions

  • Council of State, 10th Chamber, Merits No. 2016/13651, Decision No. 2021/3225, 10.06.2021.
  • Council of State, 10th Chamber, Merits No. 2016/857, Decision No. 2021/4596, 06.10.2021.
  • Council of State, 10th Chamber, Merits No. 2021/6544, Decision No. 2021/5567, 16.11.2021.

AUTHOR

Av. Umut Güneş

Güneş & Güneş Law Firm

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To assess your legal situation, review the legal aspects of a planned transaction or identify the available remedies, you can share a short summary of the matter, your request and your preferred language.

It helps to mention any file or transaction details, decisions, notifications or notices with deadlines, and important dates you know of. The scope of services, required documents and fees are assessed separately.

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