Residence permit

For a legal long-term stay in Turkey, you must obtain a residence permit. On a tourist visa, it is permissible to stay in the country for no more than 60 days in a row and no more than 90 days in a total of six months. If you plan to stay in Turkey longer, for example to take a holiday or to consider immigration, you will need to obtain a residence permit (Ikamet).

A residence permit in Turkey gives foreigners the right to:

• receive treatment in Turkish hospitals under insurance,
• obtain a local driver's license and purchase a car,
• place your child in a public school.

However, it is important to understand that a residence permit does not provide the right to work; this requires a work visa or citizenship.

Currently, the residence permit in Turkey that foreign citizens can obtain is short-term and is issued for a period of 6 months to 2 years.

Grounds for obtaining a residence permit:

Tourism: If you plan to stay in Turkey as a tourist for longer than three months, you can apply for a residence permit, but for this you need to rent housing.

Family reunification: If your close relative is legally residing in Turkey or is a Turkish citizen.

Studying at a higher educational institution: A student residence permit allows you to stay in the country for up to one year, with the possibility of extension until completion of your studies.

Business and acquisition of real estate: opening a business in Turkey, investing in a deposit in a Turkish bank, as well as purchasing real estate are grounds for obtaining a residence permit.

The most popular types of residence permits are:

Tourist residence permit

This type of residence permit is issued on the basis of a rental agreement. Today, the Turkish authorities issue an initial tourist residence permit for 6 months, with the possibility of extension for the same period.

For real estate purchase

When purchasing real estate, a residence permit is issued for a period of 6 months to two years, depending on the cadastral value of the purchased property. But on the basis of such a residence permit, a foreigner, having lived in Turkey for 5 years, can apply for Turkish citizenship.