What Is a Residence Permit (Oturma İzni) in Türkiye and How Is It Obtained?

Are a residence permit, an oturum izni and an oturma izni the same thing?

The technical term in Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK) is residence permit (ikamet izni). "Oturum izni" and "oturma izni" are used in everyday speech for this permit; they are not separate types of application. The official procedure that a person looking for an oturma izni will therefore apply for is also a residence permit application. The legal framework centres on Law No. 6458 and its implementing regulation. The old Law No. 5683 should not be used as though it were the basic law in force for current applications. [1, Art. 3, 19, 124] [2]

The difference between a residence permit and a residence certificate

A residence certificate (ikametgâh or yerleşim yeri belgesi) shows a person's registered address. A residence permit, on the other hand, is the legal basis for a foreign national's stay in Türkiye. Registering an address, signing a lease or buying a home does not in itself mean that a residence permit is granted. A requirement in the application to submit a document showing the address does not make these two acts substitutes for each other. [1, Art. 19, 32, 35] [5]

The permit and the permit card must also be distinguished. The card is the document of the permit granted; reissuing a lost card is not the same act as granting residence for the first time. Soylu's analysis also explains how important the distinction between the decision on the permit and the document showing that decision is in determining the nature of termination acts. [17, p. 41]

What rights does a residence permit provide?

The permit provides lawful stay within its own type and duration. Not every type creates the same rights; the conditions for student, family and long-term permits differ. A residence permit does not in general replace a work permit. Turkish citizenship is likewise subject separately to the routes of acquisition in Law No. 5901. Obtaining a residence permit does not mean that a person automatically becomes a citizen after a certain period. [1, Art. 30–49] [9, Art. 6, 12] [19, Art. 10–16]

Who is required to obtain a residence permit in Türkiye?

How do the visa period and the 90-day rule apply?

A foreign national who will stay in Türkiye longer than the period allowed by the visa or the visa exemption, or longer than 90 days, must obtain a residence permit unless covered by an exemption. The period of stay a visa provides cannot exceed 90 days in any 180 days. This upper limit does not give every foreign national an unconditional 90-day right of stay. The person's own period is calculated on the basis of their nationality, visa, exemption and previous entries and exits. [1, Art. 11, 19]

Waiting until the last day to prepare the application can enlarge problems with appointments and missing documents. The entry record in the passport, the e-visa or consular visa, previous permits and the current application record should be assessed together. Leaving the border and re-entering in order to make a residence permit application does not of itself renew a visa right that has been used up. [1, Art. 7, 11, 19–22]

Those exempt from a residence permit

Article 20 of the Law regulates groups such as those within the period of a visa or visa exemption, holders of a stateless person's identity document, certain diplomatic and consular officials, those exempted under relevant agreements, and those covered by Article 28 of Law No. 5901. The law also provides that a work permit or a work permit exemption certificate is treated as a residence permit. The type of the document, its period of validity and any special status must be checked together. [1, Art. 20, 27] [9, Art. 12]

This equivalence is not applied without limit to every status. There is a special provision that a work permit granted to international protection applicants, conditional refugees and foreign nationals under temporary protection does not replace a residence permit. [9, Art. 17/4]

International protection and temporary protection documents are not the same status as an ordinary residence permit card. The effect of the relevant identity document on stay is determined by its own provisions. It should not be assumed that time spent in protection status can automatically be added to all residence or citizenship calculations. [1, Art. 42/2, 76, 83, 91]

Types of residence permit: which residence permit should be applied for?

The Law provides for six types of residence permit. The tourist residence permit and the residence permit based on home ownership are different grounds for the short-term permit; they are not separate seventh or eighth types of permit. The right choice depends not on the heading that gives the longest period but on the person's real purpose of stay. [1, Art. 30–31]

The periods in the table are not an automatically acquired right or a standard period given to everyone. The statutory conditions of the type of permit, the passport and the application documents are assessed separately. [1, Art. 31–49]

Short-term residence permit

A short-term permit may be requested for scientific research, ownership of immovable property in Türkiye, commercial connections or setting up a business, in-service training, student exchange, tourism, treatment, requests by judicial or administrative authorities, Turkish language courses and other reasons listed in the Law. The reason relied on must be explained with documents, and the permit must be used for that purpose. The general period is at most two years each time. For the special groups in Article 31/1-j and k of the Law, a permit of up to five years is provided; this exception cannot be generalised to all investors or property owners. [1, Art. 31–33]

Tourist residence permit

In a tourist application, the travel plan, where and how long the person will stay, accommodation and financial means are examined. Submitting a lease and health insurance does not show that the application will necessarily be accepted. If the tourism purpose cannot be explained, or the person actually stays for a different purpose, there is a risk of rejection or non-extension. Explanations consistent with the current list of documents and the period requested should be prepared. [1, Art. 31/1-e, 32–33] [3] [5]

Residence permit by buying a home

In a short-term application based on ownership of immovable property, the residential character of the property, its use for residence, and the ownership and valuation documents matter. The Law gives the Ministry authority to determine the nature and value of the property. The current e-İkamet document list asks for a document showing a Turkish lira value equivalent to at least USD 200,000 at the date of acquisition. This figure is not a common condition for all types of residence permit or a general threshold written into the Law itself. [1, Art. 31/1-b, 31/6] [5]

For homes acquired earlier, the date of acquisition and the administrative regulation to be applied should be examined separately. Obtaining a title deed does not replace a residence permit or a citizenship decision; these three acts depend on different conditions. Shared ownership and applications by family members should likewise not be interpreted as an independent and unlimited right to a permit for everyone. [3] [5] [19]

Commercial activity, a Turkish course and application after graduation

In an application based on a commercial connection, an invitation from the person or company to be met and an explanation of the activity may be required. Being a company partner does not in itself give a right to work. In an application to learn Turkish, enrolment in and attendance at an authorised course matter; a permit for this purpose can be given at most twice. If a person who has completed higher education in Türkiye applies within six months of graduation, a once-only permit of at most one year may be issued for the relevant purpose. [1, Art. 31/1-c, h, i, 31/3–4] [3] [9]

Graduation may end the basis of a student permit; the Regulation provides for an application suited to the new purpose of stay within 10 days from that date. The six-month application window for graduates does not in itself give a right to remain without a permit for six months. For details of the tourism, title deed and commercial connection grounds, see the short-term residence permit guide. [2, Art. 37/3] [1, Art. 31/1-i, 31/4]

Family residence permit

Turkish citizens, those covered by Article 28 of Law No. 5901, residence permit holders, refugees and holders of subsidiary protection status may be sponsors under the statutory conditions. A family permit may be granted to the foreign spouse, to the minor foreign child of the sponsor or of the spouse, and to a dependent foreign child. Not every family relationship falls within this scope; merely asserting kinship is not sufficient for a mother, father or adult sibling. [1, Art. 34–35]

Conditions for the sponsor and the family member

The sponsor's total monthly income must not be less than the minimum wage, and must be at least one third of the minimum wage for each family member. Health insurance covering all family members, suitable housing, no conviction in the last five years for an offence against the family order, an address registration and, as a rule, a residence requirement of at least one year are examined. The statutory exception to the one-year residence requirement applies to holders of a residence or work permit for scientific research, those covered by Article 28 of Law No. 5901, and foreign nationals married to a Turkish citizen. The spouses having reached the age of 18, living together or intending to live together, and the marriage not having been entered into solely to obtain a permit are also assessed. [1, Art. 35]

For children, custody, where necessary the consent of the other parent abroad, and dependency documents are prepared. A family permit can be issued for at most three years each time; if the sponsor's permit is shorter, this period cannot be exceeded. The family permit provides an opportunity for primary and secondary education up to the age of 18 without a separate student permit. [1, Art. 34]

Divorce, death and investigation of the marriage

When a marriage to a Turkish citizen ends, a foreign national who has stayed at least three years on a family permit may transition to a short-term permit. The three-year requirement is not sought where domestic-violence victimisation is established by a court decision. There are also special transition provisions for the death of the sponsor and for a child who has stayed at least three years on a family permit and reached adulthood. A change in the family relationship should not be left without any action on the assumption that the same permit will continue. [1, Art. 34/5–7]

In its decision of 30 September 2021, E.2016/522, K.2021/4454, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State (Danıştay Onuncu Dairesi) examined the non-extension of a family permit and upheld an annulment on the ground that the assessment of a marriage of convenience must rest on concrete information, documents and sufficient investigation. The decision does not mean that every separate address registration is unimportant. The reality of the shared life and the reason for a different address should be explained with documents specific to the file. [12]

Student residence permit

Foreign nationals studying for an associate degree, bachelor's, master's or doctorate in Türkiye are assessed under the student permit. Those staying on a family permit may continue primary and secondary education up to the age of 18 without obtaining a separate student permit. In a student application for children without a family permit, the conditions of care, expenses and the consent of the parent or legal representative are examined. Higher-education studentship and attending a language course are not the same application. The current procedure for the work-permit exemption in medical and dental specialty training must also be examined separately. [1, Art. 38–41] [3] [4]

The period of a student permit is not one year in every case; the level of education, the length of study and the special statutory provision are taken as the basis. A change of university, department or province, a freeze of enrolment, graduation and disenrolment may affect the basis of the permit. Although a student's spouse and children may have the possibility of a family permit, a student permit does not automatically give the parents a right to stay. [1, Art. 38–40] [2, Art. 35–39]

The student's insurance and right to work

If a foreign student applies for general health insurance within three months from the date of first enrolment, the relevant route to health coverage is considered. If no application is made in time or the student falls outside the scope, appropriate private insurance may be needed. University enrolment should not be regarded as a right not to provide health insurance in every circumstance. [3]

The right of associate and bachelor's students to work begins after the first year and depends on a work permit. For postgraduate students too, the necessary work permit regime applies separately. Holding a student residence card does not remove the sanctions for unauthorised work. [1, Art. 41] [9, Art. 19]

If work is to begin, the work permit application process for foreign nationals in Türkiye should be followed, assessing studentship and the employer's situation together.

Long-term residence permit

A long-term permit may as a rule be granted indefinitely to foreign nationals who have stayed in Türkiye on a residence permit for at least eight years without interruption and meet the other conditions. The following are examined together: not having received social assistance in the last three years, sufficient and regular income, valid health insurance and not posing a threat to public order or public security. The special route in the Law relating to conditions determined by the Ministry, and the statuses it excludes from its scope, are assessed separately. [1, Art. 42–43]

The eight-year period and how permit types are counted

The general rule of calculation is that half of the time spent on a student residence permit and all of the time spent on other residence permits count; there are special provisions that time spent on a humanitarian permit and periods of work permit exemption are not counted. The limitation on transitioning to a long-term permit for the protection and humanitarian statuses specified in Article 42/2 of the Law is also taken into account. [1, Art. 28, 42–43] [2, Art. 44/4] [9, Art. 13/6]

Article 28 of the Law regulates, in terms of interruption, a stay abroad exceeding a total of six months in a year or a total of one year in the last five years, apart from exceptions relating to compulsory public service, education and health reasons. The actual entry-exit and permit records are examined together with the details of the eight-year calculation in Article 40 of the Regulation. It is not sufficient that eight years have passed since an old card was issued. This calculation should not be confused with a stay abroad that may lead to cancellation after a long-term permit has been obtained. [1, Art. 28, 43, 45] [2, Art. 40–43]

A long-term permit is not citizenship. Exceptions in respect of military service, the right to vote and stand for election, entering public service and import of vehicles free of duty, and special statutory provisions, are reserved. Under which permit or exemption the right to work will be exercised is also examined together with the international labour force legislation. [1, Art. 44] [9]

The calculation of uninterrupted stay, income and grounds for cancellation are also explained in the long-term residence permit guide.

Humanitarian residence permit

A humanitarian permit may come into question where the best interests of the child, the impossibility of removal for certain reasons, an exit not being regarded as reasonable or possible, and other exceptional situations specified in the Law are involved. This permit is not an automatic alternative for everyone who cannot satisfy the normal application conditions. The current Law provides for the permit to be granted within periods set by the Ministry and with the necessary approval; the one-year limit in older texts should not be repeated as though it were the current general rule. [1, Art. 46–47]

In the Constitutional Court's Nodıra Mustafayeva decision (App. No: 2020/6545, 7 March 2024), the rejection of the humanitarian permit request of an applicant whose family residence permit had not been renewed was assessed in light of its concrete effects on family life, and it was decided that the right to respect for family life had not been violated. The existence of a child or family tie matters, but it does not on its own make the grant of a humanitarian permit mandatory in every file. The humanitarian reason requested, the current status of stay and the concrete effect on family life must be explained together. [14]

Utar's academic analysis discusses the exceptional function of the humanitarian permit in the migration regime and how it is distinguished from other statuses. This assessment is useful for explaining that the right of stay provided by a humanitarian residence permit is not the same as international protection status and access to other rights; for the periods to be applied, the current provision of the Law is taken as the basis. [18, p. 385–390]

Residence permit for victims of human trafficking

A foreign national who is a victim of human trafficking, or in respect of whom there is strong suspicion that they may be, is granted a 30-day permit so that they can recover from the effects of what they have experienced and decide whether to cooperate with the competent authorities. The conditions required for other permits are not required for this permit. Extensions of at most six months each may be made for reasons of security, health or special circumstances; the total period cannot exceed three years. The protection of the victim and possible grounds for cancellation should be assessed under the special provisions. [1, Art. 48–49]

How is a residence permit obtained? Application steps

Application from within Türkiye and the e-İkamet system

Article 21 of the Law, which regulates consular applications, the cases in which application from within Türkiye is possible and the current procedure are assessed together. In applications handled from within Türkiye, the official channel is the e-İkamet system. The system offers first application, extension and transition procedures separately. Intermediary pages encountered on the internet should not be confused with the official application portal. Which visa and application route a person abroad will follow is determined separately. [1, Art. 21–22, provisional Art. 1] [4]

The basic sequence of the application is as follows:

1. Calculate your lawful period of stay. Check the visa, exemption, previous permits and entry and exit dates.
2. Determine the type of permit suited to your real purpose of stay. Make the choice between first application, extension or transition accordingly.
3. Complete the e-İkamet form with accurate information. Compare passport, identity, address and contact details with the documents.
4. Obtain the application form and the current document list for your type. Keep the accrual and payment records for the necessary fee and document charge.
5. Follow the appointment or submission route indicated by the system. Prepare the original documents, translations and powers of representation as required.
6. Follow up on missing documents, notifications and the result. If the permit is granted, check the period, type and personal information when the card is delivered.

These steps do not remove procedures specific to the type of application. Current routes may exist, such as submission of documents for students through university units, or optional submission of the file to a notary in the province of application. Submission of the file through these channels does not mean that the authority to decide on the residence permit has passed to the notary or the university. The application-specific form and official instruction are taken as the basis. [4–7]

Who attends the appointment, and can a lawyer apply?

The application may be made through the foreign national, their legal representative or their lawyer; the administration's authority to require the foreign national to be present in person is reserved. The scope of the power of representation, the child's legal representative, the sponsor's attendance in a family permit and identity verification procedures are examined separately. Following the process with a lawyer does not mean that any necessary personal interview or biometric procedure is waived in every case. [2, Art. 21/4] [5]

How long does a residence permit application take to be decided?

Applications are in principle to be concluded within 90 days at the latest; this period starts from the date on which the information and documents are fully delivered to the competent authority. If the review is prolonged, the foreign national is informed. If missing or supplementary information and documents notified during the application are not submitted within 30 days of the notification, the application is removed from the docket (işlemden kaldırma). The period for completing missing documents is not the same as the period for assessing the application. [1, Art. 21/5] [2, Art. 22/1–2]

The passing of 90 days does not mean that the application is automatically accepted or that the permit comes into existence automatically. If the result is delayed, the administration should be approached with the application and document records; where necessary, the application and litigation routes in the face of the administration's failure to respond should be examined separately. [10, Art. 10]

What documents are required for a residence permit?

The list of documents varies according to the type of permit, whether the application is a first application or an extension, age, nationality, family situation and purpose of stay. It is therefore not correct to give a single, unchanging list applicable to all foreign nationals. The current list generated in the application form should be taken as the basis. [5]

The current short-term, family and long-term lists ask for two biometric photographs; the statement of four photographs on older pages is not an unchanging rule for all applications. The document arrangements for a student application must be checked separately. [5]

Passport, translation and foreign-country documents

For a fixed-term residence permit, a passport or a document replacing a passport with validity 60 days longer than the period requested is as a rule required. The document conditions for indefinite permits and special statuses are checked under their own regulations. For foreign documents, the need for an apostille, consular certification, an exemption under an international agreement and a Turkish translation is determined by the country in which the document was issued and its nature. The same chain of certification is not applied to all documents. Differences in name and birth details should be explained before the application; the original of the document and its translation should be compared. [1, Art. 21/2, 23] [5]

There is no common Turkish-language requirement for all residence permits; the language or admission condition of a school is assessed separately. A health board report and a criminal record certificate are likewise not requested in the same way in every file. In the short term, a request by the administration, the special conditions of the family permit or matters concerning public health can change the need for documents. The application-specific list is decisive. [1, Art. 32/1-ç, 35, 38–43] [2, Art. 22/5] [5]

The difference between a missing document and a false statement

Failure to submit an existing document and a document or statement contrary to the truth are different problems. For a deficiency, the period given and the notification should be followed up; which document was delivered and when should be recorded. A false address, education that does not in fact exist or unexplainable financial records can produce other legal consequences in addition to rejection of the permit. A contradiction in the file is removed not by increasing the number of documents but by explaining its source. [1, Art. 21, 32–33, 36, 40, 54] [2, Art. 22]

Health insurance, income and address requirements

Is health insurance the same in every application?

The scope and duration of valid health coverage must be suitable for the permit requested. A private policy, an SGK document, coverage arising from a bilateral social security agreement and the assumption of expenses by a public institution are not proved by the same document. There are special provisions for routes such as student, family, treatment and humanitarian permits. [1, Art. 35, 43, 46] [3] [5]

If an insurance exception depending on age or type of permit is to be relied on, it should be confirmed whether it applies to the specific application. Particularly in family and long-term files, the statutory health coverage requirement and the current document list should be examined together. It is not enough that a policy has merely been prepared; its start, end and scope of cover are checked. [2, Art. 22/13–17] [5]

How much income is required for a residence permit?

The financial means requirement varies according to the type of permit. In a family residence permit, the criteria of total income and income per family member are regulated directly in the Law. In the tourism section of the current short-term document list, evidence of financial means of at least 1.5 times the net minimum wage per month, and at least one net minimum wage per person in applications with family, is requested. This administrative document criterion cannot be presented as a common statutory condition of all types of permit. [1, Art. 35] [5]

The source of income, its regularity, which period it covers and its consistency with the bank or employment records submitted matter. An unexplained amount credited to an account at the time of application may not by itself show that the costs of the entire period of stay are covered. The sponsor's income in a family permit and the short-term applicant's own financial means are explained separately. [3] [5]

No common requirement should be derived for every foreign national to open a bank account in Türkiye or necessarily to earn income from Türkiye. Sufficient and regular means must be shown with documents the type of permit accepts. A pension, rental income, bank records or other income documents may be part of a file explaining the real source and regularity. [5]

Address registration and closed neighbourhoods

The actual use of the home, the address declaration and the registered information should be consistent with each other. Documents on the lease, title deed, accommodation or the person with whom one stays are prepared according to the type of application. For extension and transition, a current residence certificate and the relevant bill or subscription record may be requested. [5]

If the person will stay with a third party, the current list may ask for a notarised undertaking from the landlord, the spouse's undertaking if married, and the relevant address documents. An undertaking does not make lawful an address where the person does not actually live. After the permit is obtained, the first address registration, the accuracy of the information on the card and later notifications of change should also be followed. [2, Art. 22, 23] [5]

There may be restrictions on foreign nationals' registration and residence procedures for certain settlements. A definitive conclusion for all types of application and for 2026 cannot be drawn from the heading of an old neighbourhood list. Whether the application is a first application, extension or transition, the current address, any exception and the practice in the particular province should be examined together. Before renting or buying, the suitability of the address for the permit applied for should be investigated. [2, Art. 21/15] [7]

How much are the residence permit fee and card charge?

The 2026 residence permit document charge has been announced as TRY 964. This amount is the card or document charge; it is not the same item as the residence fee (harç). The fee is determined separately according to nationality, length of stay, reciprocity and any exemptions that may apply. It should not be assumed that the card charge is also waived in every case of fee exemption. [8]

Insurance, translation, notary, certification of documents and, if chosen, legal services are separate expenses. The residence fee and a lawyer's fee should not be confused, and a figure should not be given as though there were a single official total for all costs of the application. The accrual and receipt must be matched with the right person and application. It also cannot be accepted that every payment will be refunded automatically in the event of rejection; the relevant payment item and the condition for refund are examined separately. [5] [8]

When is a residence permit extension application made?

The 60-day application window for extension

An extension application may begin 60 days before the permit expires and must be made before the permit period ends. The 60 days here are not an additional period of stay that can be used after the permit ends. A procedure started in the system but not completed in time cannot be regarded as safely made either. The application number, the completed form and the submission records should be kept. [1, Art. 24] [4]

In an extension, the continuation of the current purpose of stay and the maintenance of the conditions are examined. That the same documents were accepted last year does not secure automatic acceptance of the new application. Instead of a general statement such as "post it within five days", the appointment and document submission method stated in the person's current application form should be followed. [4–7]

In which residence permit applications is a UETS document required?

According to the announcement of the Presidency of Migration Management, from 15 April 2024 a document showing National Electronic Notification System (UETS) account details is added to the file in extension and transition applications. The current explanation states that a UETS document of their own is not sought for those under 18. This announcement should not be read as a text that imposes the same requirement unconditionally on all first applications. [6]

A UETS account is not merely an application document; the account and electronic notifications should be monitored regularly. Electronic notification is deemed made at the end of the fifth day following the date on which it reaches the electronic address. The failure of an SMS to arrive or a late reading of the message does not of itself change this legal date calculation. [11, Art. 7/a]

For notification, the application certificate and travel conditions, the residence application tracking and UETS guide can also be consulted.

Can an application be made after the residence permit has ended?

For a permit that has expired, the ordinary extension window may have been missed. It cannot be said "you have 10 more days" without examining the reason for the delay, the current status of stay, any other legal basis and any applicable exceptions. Exceeding the permit period can lead to separate assessments regarding fees, administrative fines, an entry ban or deportation; each of these depends on its own conditions. [1, Art. 9, 24, 54, 102] [2]

Transitions between residence permits and changes in circumstances

What is done when the purpose of stay changes?

If the ground on which the permit was granted ends or a different ground arises, a residence permit suited to the new purpose can be requested. The regulation provision on applying for the appropriate permit within 10 days from the end of the reason for the permit should not be confused with the period of the ordinary extension. Graduation, the end of a marriage or the start of a new education process may require different applications. [1, Art. 29] [2, Art. 26]

A request for a new permit does not mean that you automatically satisfy all the conditions of the new type. The special transition provisions between family, student and short-term permits apply together with the general application rules. A later expiry date on the old card is not of itself a sufficient guarantee if the reason for the permit has ceased. [1, Art. 29, 34, 40] [2, Art. 26]

Change of address, passport and province

Relevant changes in address, marital status and passport details must be notified within 20 business days. There is also a separate 20-business-day rule on a new residence permit application where a person moves to another province. A notification and a new application are not the same act; the appropriate route is determined by the type of change and the new place of residence. [2, Art. 23/2–3] [7]

A change of university or province of study may also affect a student permit. Registering an address in the new province does not mean that the old permit file is automatically carried over in every case. The act done, the delivery of documents and the date of notification should be protected with separate records. [2, Art. 35–39]

Can one stay in Türkiye and travel abroad while the application is pending?

The application form and the application certificate are different

The printout of the e-İkamet form is not a residence permit card. The possibility of staying that a properly made application and application certificate provide is assessed according to the type of application and the relevant provision. In an extension application in particular, there is a provision allowing a person to remain until a decision on the application is made even if the current permit ends. [1, Art. 24/2] [2, Art. 21]

The period of validity on the application certificate should be assessed together with the provision on stay relating to the application. The review exceeding 90 days should not be read as a rule that automatically cuts off, on day 90 in every case, the right of stay that the Law grants until the application is concluded. If the review is prolonged, the document and the current application status should be confirmed with the provincial directorate. A delay in the result does not mean the permit is deemed granted. [1, Art. 24] [2, Art. 21/9-ç]

Leaving the country before the application is concluded

Provided that it is within the period of the residence permit requested, multiple exits may be made with an application certificate approved by the provincial migration administration and the receipts showing that the fee has been paid; each return must be within 15 days. For persons for whom exemption from the fee is shown on the document, the payment document condition is assessed accordingly. The application form, the appointment printout and the approved application certificate should not be used in place of one another. If the return exceeds 15 days or the necessary documents are lacking, the general entry and visa rules may come into question. [2, Art. 21/9-ç,d] [7]

Before travel, the passport, type of application, current permit, proof of fee exemption if any, and the entry conditions that will apply on the date of return should be checked together. Having applied online is not a guarantee of entry at every border gate. [1, Art. 7–11] [7]

Rejection, cancellation and non-extension of a residence permit

Why do the type and reasoning of the decision matter?

Rejection of a first application, cancellation of a permit already granted and non-extension of a permit about to expire are different acts. The inability to explain the purpose of stay, loss of conditions, use of the permit outside its purpose or the other grounds for rejection of the relevant type require different documents and defence. There are separate provisions in the Law for short-term, family and student permits. Soylu's work also offers a framework explaining that the concepts of termination should not be reduced to the single expression "cancellation". [1, Art. 25, 33, 36, 40, 45, 47, 49] [17, p. 49, 54–55]

The notified decision, the reasoning and the notification document should be obtained together. Matters the Law requires to be taken into account, such as family ties in Türkiye, length of residence, the situation in the country of origin and the best interests of the child, are explained with concrete documents. A screen that merely shows the result of the application may not show the entire reasoning of the act or the notification procedure. [1, Art. 25]

Do previous permits create an acquired right to extension?

In the Constitutional Court's Hans Jürgen Peter Louven decision (App. No: 2020/21147, 24 October 2024), the complaint concerning the right to respect for family life arising from the non-extension of a tourist residence permit was found admissible, and on the merits it was decided unanimously that this right had not been violated. The decision cannot be interpreted as meaning that previous permits create a right to indefinite extension. On the other hand, for each rejection act the effects on family life, the reasons put forward and the administration's assessment are examined separately. [15]

In the Constitutional Court's Betoul Faıkoglu decision (App. No: 2020/37084, 11 December 2024), the complaint concerning a long-term permit request was found manifestly ill-founded and inadmissible. It is important that allegations of dependence on the family and of effects on education are made concrete. No obligation of ordinary renewal for an indefinite long-term permit can be drawn from the facts of the decision. [16]

Within what period are an objection and an annulment action filed?

The general time limit for filing suit against a rejection, cancellation or non-extension act concerning a residence permit is 60 days starting from the day following written notification. If an administrative objection complying with the conditions of İYUK Art. 11 is made within the time limit for suit, the running period may be suspended. After an express rejection or 30 days without a reply, the remaining period continues, taking into account the days consumed before the application; a fresh 60 days is not given to everyone. Merely requesting information or sending any message to CİMER does not produce the same effect. [10, Art. 7–8, 11]

The competent judicial authority is the administrative court; territorial jurisdiction is as a rule determined by the seat of the administrative authority that issued the act. In its decision of 18 September 2025, E.2025/3482, K.2025/3928, the 10th Chamber of the Council of State found Konya, where the issuing authority was located, to have jurisdiction over the implied rejection of a short-term application based on a Turkish course. It appears that a student act in a separate province and the application that is the subject of the case should not be confused. This decision is not a judgment on the merits ordering that a residence permit be granted. [10, Art. 32] [13]

Special procedure in short-term rejection and cancellation cases

Article 31/7 of the Law contains special procedural rules for the rejection of a short-term residence application or the cancellation of a short-term permit. The file is deemed complete when the administration's defence is submitted or the time for the defence expires; where notification cannot be made to the address given by the claimant, the period for removal from the docket is two months, and holding a hearing is at the court's discretion. This provision does not reduce the general 60-day period for filing a residence case to the seven days applicable in deportation cases. [1, Art. 31/7] [10, Art. 7, 26]

Does filing a case give a right to stay in Türkiye?

Filing an annulment action does not of itself stay the execution of the act. For a stay of execution, a manifest unlawfulness and damage that would be difficult or impossible to remedy are assessed together. The effect of any interim protection that may be granted on the specific act is determined separately; a case registration does not directly replace a residence or work permit. [10, Art. 27]

In the event of rejection of a residence request or non-extension of an expired permit, the Regulation provides for the issue of a document allowing a stay in Türkiye of only up to 10 days. This period is not the same as the 60-day time limit for filing suit. The notified decision, any other continuing basis for lawful stay and the period of the document issued should be examined together. The failure to leave within 10 days after an extension request is rejected is also important with regard to the deportation provisions. The administration's postponement of enforcement of the decision for reasons such as family ties and the child's interests, and the issue of a monthly document, are likewise a separate assessment; they are not automatically granted to everyone who files a case. [1, Art. 25, 54/1-j] [2, Art. 22/11, 18]

If a deportation decision has also been given separately, the special seven-day time limit for suit in Article 53 of Law No. 6458 and the special provisions on the implementation of the deportation act are examined for that act. The 60-day period for a residence rejection cannot be carried over to the deportation decision. The notification and route of recourse of each decision are followed separately. [1, Art. 53] [10]

The court decision and implementation afterwards

Obtaining an annulment decision does not in every case mean that the permit card is directly issued for the period requested. The administration is obliged to act in accordance with the operative part and reasoning of the court. The general rule is that the decision is complied with without delay after its notification to the administration and in any case within 30 days. If there is a new act or a new rejection, its notification and time limit for application must also be monitored. [10, Art. 2, 28]

For an administrative court decision, the 30-day period for an appeal on the merits (istinaf) applies as a rule; for an appeal on points of law (temyiz), whether the decision is open to it and the relevant period are examined separately. Temyiz is not open for every regional administrative court decision. İYUK Art. 46/2, added in 2026, regulates the route of temyiz where, in certain cases, a regional administrative court overturns the first-instance decision and decides anew; sub-paragraph (d) of the same paragraph excludes cases arising from Law No. 6458 from this new route. Even so, the scope of Art. 46/1, the nature of the decision and the transitional provisions to be applied are examined separately. Litigation costs and the representation fee are separate from the fee and card charge of the administrative application. [10, Art. 31, 45–46]

For the rejection notification, the time limit for suit and file preparation, the guide on rejection of a residence permit application can also be consulted.

Reapplication after rejection and conditional entry

In a new application within six months after rejection or cancellation, a new ground for requesting a residence permit is required to be submitted. This provision should not be described as an absolute six-month ban on applying for everyone, or as a condition that one must necessarily move to a different statutory type of permit. The Regulation also contains exceptions for certain cancellations resulting from a stay abroad. Making a new application does not of itself renew the time limit for suit against the earlier rejection decision. [2, Art. 21/10–12] [10, Art. 7, 11]

The official YİMER explanations include situations in which a person allowed entry at the border gate under certain conditions must make an appointment through e-İkamet within 10 days. Conditional entry does not mean that anyone can enter Türkiye by paying a fine. The entry ban, the border gate assessment and the conditions notified to the person should be examined separately; nor can these 10 days be put in place of the ordinary extension period. [1, Art. 7–11, 54] [7]

Critical time limits for application and follow-up

This table does not replace a time-limit calculation made on the basis of the specific notification and records. The distinction between business days and calendar days, the last day falling on a holiday, electronic notification and special provisions are assessed separately for each act. [1, Art. 21, 24, 53] [2, Art. 21–23, 26] [10, Art. 7–8, 11] [11, Art. 7/a]

Common mistakes in a residence permit application

Completing the documents without explaining the purpose of stay

Submitting a passport, insurance and lease is only the formal part of the file. The reason for the permit request, the period requested and the person's real life should be consistent with each other. If there is a contradiction between a tourist application and actually working, or between the appearance of being a student and a different purpose of stay, merely increasing the number of papers does not provide a solution. [1, Art. 31–33, 38–40]

Looking only at the card's date and not notifying changes

The end of studentship, divorce, a change in the sponsor's situation or moving to another province may require action before the card's expiry date. The existing card does not show that the basis will remain unchanged forever. The type of permit, address and family information should be followed together. [1, Art. 29, 34–40] [2, Art. 23, 26]

Thinking that the same event automatically affects all permits

A residence permit, a work permit, a citizenship application, an entry ban and a deportation decision may touch one another, but they are not the same act. Applying for one does not of itself suspend the period in another. Dependent or independent permits of family members should also be examined with a separate record for each person. [1] [9] [19]

Related articles: Short-Term Residence: Tourism, Title Deed and Commercial Connection; Family and Student Residence Permit: Application and Transition; Long-Term Residence Permit: The 8-Year Requirement, Application Documents, Rights, Rejection and Cancellation Process; Residence Permit Application, Extension and Required Documents; Rejection of a Residence Permit and Routes of Recourse in Subsequent Migration Procedures; UETS, Notification and Application Tracking in Residence Procedures; Work Permits for Foreign Nationals in Türkiye: 2026 Application Conditions, Required Documents, Employer Obligations and Current Practice; Humanitarian Residence Permit and Lawful Stay in a Deportation File.

Conclusion

The first step in obtaining a residence permit in Türkiye is to determine together the person's lawful period of stay and real purpose of stay. Once the type of permit has been chosen correctly, the current document list, application channel, income, health coverage and address conditions are checked. Extension and transition periods are not the same; following up on missing documents and notifications after the application is also a continuation of the preparation.

A residence permit, an oturum izni and an oturma izni may describe the same institution; however, a permit card, an address registration, a work permit and citizenship do not produce the same legal result. The soundness of the file depends on getting these distinctions right and on following each act, from application to implementation of the decision, within its own time limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an oturma izni different from an ikamet izni?

No. In this guide, oturma izni and oturum izni mean the residence permit in the Law. The term used in the official application is ikamet izni (residence permit). [1, Art. 19–30]

Related explanation: Are a residence permit, an oturum izni and an oturma izni the same thing?.

Does a residence certificate give a foreign national a right to stay?

No. A residence certificate (yerleşim yeri belgesi) shows the address registration; it does not replace a residence permit. Stay in Türkiye must also have a separate valid legal basis. [1, Art. 19–20] [5]

Related explanation: The difference between a residence permit and a residence certificate.

Does everyone who comes to Türkiye have a right to stay 90 days?

No. Depending on the person's nationality and visa, a shorter period may apply. The limit of 90 days in every 180 days is not a new period granted unconditionally to everyone. [1, Art. 11, 19]

Related explanation: How do the visa period and the 90-day rule apply?.

Where does one apply for a residence permit?

For applications handled from within Türkiye, the official e-İkamet system is used. First application, extension and transition are separate procedures; the route of entry and application of a person abroad is assessed separately. [1, Art. 21–22] [4]

Related explanation: Application from within Türkiye and the e-İkamet system.

Is filling in a form on the internet enough to obtain a residence permit?

No. The form must be completed, the required documents submitted and the appointment or submission procedure notified must be followed. An application record is not an acceptance decision or a permit card. [4–5]

Related explanation: How is a residence permit obtained? Application steps.

How many months must a passport be valid for a residence permit?

There is no single fixed number of months. For a fixed-term residence permit the passport must as a rule be valid for at least 60 days longer than the permit period requested. The document conditions for indefinite permits and special statuses are checked separately. [1, Art. 21/2, 23] [5]

Related explanation: Passport, translation and foreign-country documents.

How many photographs are requested in a residence permit application?

The current short-term, family and long-term document lists include two biometric photographs. The current list specific to the type of permit should be checked; the old four-photograph information should not be carried over to all applications. [5]

Related explanation: What documents are required for a residence permit?.

Does everyone with a lease get a tourist residence permit?

No. A lease is one of the documents explaining accommodation. The tourism purpose, financial means, the other conditions and the administration's concrete assessment are also important. [1, Art. 31–33] [5]

Related explanation: Tourist residence permit.

Does buying a home guarantee a residence permit in Türkiye?

No. The nature and value of the home, ownership and use conditions and the other application conditions are examined. A title deed does not replace a residence permit or a citizenship decision. [1, Art. 31–33] [5]

Related explanation: Residence permit by buying a home.

Does the USD 200,000 requirement apply to all residence permits?

No. This value in the current document list relates to the short-term application based on ownership of immovable property. It is not a common condition for the other types of permit; earlier acquisitions are assessed separately. [1, Art. 31/6] [5]

Related explanation: Residence permit by buying a home.

To whom is a family residence permit granted?

It may be granted to the foreign spouse of the sponsor specified in the Law, to the minor foreign child of the sponsor or of the spouse, and to a dependent foreign child. Not all relatives are within the same scope. [1, Art. 34]

Related explanation: Family residence permit.

Does marriage to a Turkish citizen directly provide a permit?

No. An application must be made and the relevant conditions for the family permit examined. Marriage also does not of itself confer Turkish citizenship. [1, Art. 34–37] [19, Art. 16]

Related explanation: Conditions for the sponsor and the family member.

Is a student residence permit always granted for one year?

No. The level and length of study and the special statutory provision are taken as the basis. The conditions for primary and secondary education and higher-education studentship are not assessed in the same way. [1, Art. 38–40]

Related explanation: Student residence permit.

Can one work with a student residence permit?

The necessary work permit must be obtained. The right of associate and bachelor's students to work begins after the first year. A student card does not of itself give a right to work without a permit. [1, Art. 41] [9, Art. 19]

Related explanation: The student's insurance and right to work.

Can everyone who has stayed in Türkiye for eight years obtain an indefinite residence permit?

No. For a long-term permit, the calculation of uninterrupted lawful residence, status, income, social assistance, insurance and security conditions are examined together. Half of student periods and the special exceptions are taken into account. [1, Art. 28, 42–45]

Related explanation: Long-term residence permit.

Is the 2026 residence permit charge only TRY 964?

No. TRY 964 is the 2026 document charge. The residence fee and, if applicable, insurance, translation, notary or representation costs are separate items. [8]

Related explanation: How much are the residence permit fee and card charge?.

When is a residence permit extension application made?

It may begin 60 days before the permit ends and must be completed before the permit ends. The period after the permit ends is not added to the ordinary extension window. [1, Art. 24] [4]

Related explanation: The 60-day application window for extension.

Is UETS needed when extending a residence permit?

The official announcement provides for a UETS account document in extension and transition applications. A UETS document of their own is not sought for those under 18; the current application list should be followed separately. [6]

Related explanation: In which residence permit applications is a UETS document required?.

When moving to another province, is it enough only to change the address?

It is not enough in every case. When moving to another province, there is a provision on a new residence permit application within 20 business days; the notification and the new application procedures should be examined together. [2, Art. 23/3]

Related explanation: Change of address, passport and province.

Can one leave the country while waiting for the application?

With an approved application certificate, the necessary payment documents and the relevant conditions, there is a possibility of returning within 15 days. The same result should not be assumed on the basis of only the internet form or the appointment record. [2, Art. 21] [7]

Related explanation: Leaving the country before the application is concluded.

If a residence application is not concluded in 90 days, is it automatically accepted?

No. A delay does not of itself create a permit. The current status of the application and the application certificate should be confirmed and, where necessary, the legal routes relating to the failure to respond should be assessed. [1, Art. 21, 24] [10, Art. 10]

Related explanation: How long does a residence permit application take to be decided?.

If a residence permit is rejected, what is the time limit for filing suit?

The general period is 60 days starting from the day following written notification. If there is a separate deportation decision, its special seven-day period must be followed separately. [10, Art. 7–8] [1, Art. 53]

Related explanation: Within what period are an objection and an annulment action filed?.

Can one continue to stay in Türkiye after filing a case against the rejection decision?

Filing a case does not on its own grant a permit or stay the act. A stay of execution, the current basis of stay and any deportation act are assessed separately. [10, Art. 27] [1, Art. 53]

Related explanation: Does filing a case give a right to stay in Türkiye?.

Can no application be made at all for six months after rejection?

It cannot be described as such a general ban. The requirement of a new ground for the request in a new application within six months and the exceptions in the Regulation are examined together. The time limit for suit against the earlier rejection decision continues separately. [2, Art. 21/10–12]

Related explanation: Reapplication after rejection and conditional entry.

Does a residence permit confer citizenship?

No. Citizenship depends on separate statutory conditions and a decision of the competent authority. It cannot be assumed either that every type of permit and period of stay will count in the same way toward the residence calculation. [19, Art. 10–16]

Related explanation: What rights does a residence permit provide?.

Sources

1. Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu, YUKK). In particular Art. 7–11, 19–55, 76, 83, 91, 102, 124 and provisional Art. 1. Current official text.
2. Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanununun Uygulanmasına İlişkin Yönetmelik). 17 March 2016, Official Gazette No. 29656; in particular Art. 19–44. Current official text.
3. Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı). Types of Residence Permit (İkamet İzni Çeşitleri). Official explanations.
4. Presidency of Migration Management. e-İkamet; first application, extension, transition and result procedures. Official application system.
5. Presidency of Migration Management. Documents requested in e-İkamet applications; current lists by type of permit. Document selection and lists; short-term first application document list.
6. Presidency of Migration Management. Announcement on the National Electronic Notification System in Residence Permit Extension Applications (İkamet İzni Uzatma Başvurularında Ulusal Elektronik Tebligat Sistemi Hakkında Duyuru); 1 April 2024, practice starting 15 April 2024. Official announcement.
7. Presidency of Migration Management, Foreigners Communication Center (YİMER). Frequently Asked Questions; explanations on residence, application certificate, submission and conditional entry. Official FAQ.
8. Presidency of Migration Management. Document Charge and Fee Amounts (Belge Bedeli ve Harç Miktarı); explanations on the 2026 document charge and country groups. Official fee information.
9. International Labour Force Law No. 6735 (Uluslararası İşgücü Kanunu). In particular Art. 6, 12–13, 17 and 19. Current official text.
10. Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İdari Yargılama Usulü Kanunu, İYUK). In particular Art. 2, 7–11, 27–28, 31–32, 45–46. Current official text.
11. Law No. 7201 on Notification (Tebligat Kanunu). In particular Art. 7/a. Current official text.
12. Council of State, 10th Chamber (Danıştay Onuncu Dairesi). 30 September 2021, E.2016/522, K.2021/4454; rejection of a family residence permit extension request. Full text of the decision.
13. Council of State, 10th Chamber. 18 September 2025, E.2025/3482, K.2025/3928; dispute over jurisdiction in the implied rejection of a short-term application. Full text of the decision.
14. Constitutional Court, Nodıra Mustafayeva. App. No: 2020/6545, 7 March 2024; family life and humanitarian residence permit. Full text of the decision.
15. Constitutional Court, Hans Jürgen Peter Louven. App. No: 2020/21147, 24 October 2024; non-extension of a tourist residence permit. Full text of the decision.
16. Constitutional Court, Betoul Faıkoglu. App. No: 2020/37084, 11 December 2024; long-term residence permit request. Published full decision.
17. Alper Soylu. “İkamet İzninin Sona Erme Halleri: Geri Alma, Kaldırma, İptal ve Diğerleri” (Cases of Termination of a Residence Permit: Withdrawal, Revocation, Cancellation and Others). International Review of Migration and Refugee Studies, 5(1), 2026, pp. 39–70; in particular pp. 41, 49, 54–55. Access to the full text of the article.
18. Sibel Utar. “Türkiye’nin Uluslararası Göç Rejiminde İnsani İkamet İzninin İstisnai Niteliği ve Analizi” (The Exceptional Nature and Analysis of the Humanitarian Residence Permit in Türkiye's International Migration Regime). Dumlupınar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 83, 2025, pp. 379–392; in particular pp. 385–390. DOI: 10.51290/dpusbe.1595338. Access to the full text of the article.
19. Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901. In particular Art. 10–16 and 28. Current official text.