Residence permit in Turkey

Types of residence permit in Turkey

The Law of the Republic of Turkey No. 6458 "On Foreigners and International Protection" of November 11, 2013 provides for several types of residence permits. The most popular is the so-called tourist (based on the purchase or rental of real estate). There is also a residence permit on the basis of real estate ownership, which gives the right to subsequent naturalization. It is necessary to pay attention to the difference between these two options for legal residence in Turkey.

The first type of residence permit has the right to issue any foreigner on the basis of ownership of real estate on the territory of the state or long-term lease of an apartment or house. At the same time, the cost of the purchased object can be any. A tourist residence permit is issued for a period of 6 months with a further possibility of extension (but not obtaining citizenship).

The requirements for a residence permit of the second type were previously quite soft, but since April 26, 2022 they have significantly tightened. So, in accordance with the new rules, a residence permit for the purpose of subsequent naturalization is issued only when buying an apartment or house worth from $75,000 in large cities and from $50,000 in small settlements (if the amount of investment is less, then the applicant will receive only a tourist residence permit for a period of 6 months to 2 years at the discretion of the migration service). The main difference between this residence permit and a tourist one is the opportunity to become a citizen of the country in 5 years. Read more read about the ways to obtain Turkish citizenship through real estate investments in our material. 

Representatives of local agencies note that recently, immigration services have been much stricter to applicants for a residence permit, both for tourist and for granting the right to obtain citizenship. Sources of income can be requested, and if something seems doubtful, the possibility of refusal is not excluded.  

Advantages of a Turkish residence permit

The right to obtain a residence permit is granted not only to the owner, but also to his wife or husband, retired parents and children under 18. 

Foreigners who have a residence permit in Turkey can stay in the country for a longer time than is provided for by the visa regime. They do not have to count the days from the moment of arrival in the country, so as not to miss the departure date and not accidentally end up in the status of "illegal". Citizens of other States have the right to reside permanently in Turkey during the entire period of validity of the residence permit.

Having a residence permit in Turkey, foreigners can purchase their own car in the country (or import it from the country of permanent residence), open a bank account without any problems, connect the Internet and a permanent mobile connection.

Also, the presence of a residence permit in Turkey allows children of citizens of other countries to study free of charge in Turkish public schools.

The list of documents, general requirements, the process of obtaining a residence permit in Turkey is much easier and faster than in most European countries.

Tips from Turkish realtors to foreign buyers

In January 2022, there were changes in Turkey related to the procedure of registration of real estate for foreigners, both for ordinary purchases and for obtaining citizenship of the country.Now all foreign buyers of Turkish real estate when applying for a certificate of ownership (tapu) must provide a special certificate, which in Turkish is called döviz alım belgesi.

This document confirms the fact that a foreign citizen has sold currency to a Turkish bank for the amount of the cadastral value of the property, which will subsequently be indicated in the tapu. That is, a foreigner, when submitting documents for registration, must provide a certificate that he, his proxy, or the seller on his behalf, "sold" the currency (usually euros or dollars), that is, transferred their funds to Turkish lira in the amount of the cadastral amount that will be indicated at it is in the ownership document «tapu». Now, without this certificate, the documents will not be able to be accepted for registration.

Turkish realtors advise all foreigners to have funds to buy in foreign currency, and also not to withdraw the amount in Turkish lira from bank cards to purchase property precisely because this certificate will be needed later. Experts emphasize that the document is needed only for the official cost, which is indicated in the tapu, and not for the entire price for the object.

The process of obtaining a residence permit in Turkey is relatively simple, especially in comparison with the procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Europe and abroad. But for a clear coordination of this process, it is strongly recommended to seek the help of experts. Not knowing the Turkish language, foreigners sometimes make seemingly insignificant mistakes in obtaining a residence permit, which can subsequently be corrected a lot of time and money.

List of required documents

In order to obtain a residence permit in Turkey, it is necessary to prepare a number of documents:

- international passport

It is important that the passport has a validity period not less than the period for which the application for a residence permit is carried out.

- medical insurance

Required for applicants under the age of 65. This document can be issued at the offices of insurance companies in Turkey. The cost of insurance depends on the age of the insured and ranges from 250 to 1000 Turkish liras.

- taxpayer number in Turkey

To open an account in a Turkish bank, a foreigner will need a local TIN. It must be received in advance from the tax service or online, which will take only a few minutes. Both opening a bank account and obtaining a tax number does not require any payments.

- biometric photos

Two to four shots may be required. The cost of four biometric photos is about 30 Turkish lira.

- proof of ownership of real estate or lease agreement

Confirmation of the fact of ownership is issued in the Tapu and Cadastre Department. To issue this document, you must pay a small fee. You will also need the presence of a sworn translator, whose services are paid separately. The lease agreement is drawn up independently with the owner of the property or with the help of a real estate agency. This document must be notarized. Depending on the number of residents in the rented facility, the cost of notary services varies from 150 to 500 Turkish lira.

- completed application

An official application for a residence permit must be filled out according to the accepted form, printed out and signed by the applicant. It is necessary to fill out the application online, on the official website of the Migration Service of Turkey (https://eikamet.goc.gov.tr ), where the interface is available to users in Russian. It is necessary to be attentive and honest when submitting an application: all data provided may be subject to verification.

- marriage certificate

If documents are submitted for the whole family, then you will definitely need a marriage certificate. It must be with an apostille, translated into Turkish and notarized. Also, one of the homeowners on the basis of which a residence permit is issued may need a certificate of non-conviction, which must also have an apostille, be translated into Turkish and notarized.

- consent to the child's stay in Turkey

In the event that a residence permit for children living with him in Turkey is issued by one of the parents, he must obtain consent in advance. Not knowing the Turkish language, foreigners sometimes make seemingly insignificant mistakes in obtaining a residence permit. Their correction subsequently takes a lot of time and money. for the removal of the child and his stay in the country from the second parent. If the consent is issued outside Turkey, an apostille must be affixed to the original consent. The document can be issued on the territory of Turkey. This is done in the notary's office in the presence of both parents. The cost will be about 500 Turkish lira.

After collecting all the necessary documents and filling out an online application, the foreigner can only wait for the interview date at the migration service. This can take from one to two and a half months. An important detail: after applying for a residence permit in the online system, a foreigner already receives a certificate that allows him to stay in Turkey and not leave the country. On the day of the interview, the applicant must be ready to pay the state fee and the cost of the residence permit.

So, for Russian citizens, an annual visa and the cost of the residence permit card itself is about $ 40. After successfully passing the interview and submitting the dossier with the applicant's documents, the residence permit card is obtained for a maximum of 90 days, but in practice the waiting period for a residence permit is no more than a month. The card will be sent by the postal service to the address in Turkey specified in the online application.when filling out the application form, it is necessary to correctly specify all contact details, including the phone number to which notifications about the status of the application will be sent. In particular, the foreigner will receive a notification about the date of delivery of the finished residence permit to the specified address.

Extension of residence permit

The first Turkish residence permit is issued to a foreigner for a period of one to two years. With a subsequent extension, you can get a residence permit for a maximum of two years. The process of extending a residence permit is somewhat different from its initial receipt. It should be borne in mind that it is best to start collecting documents and submitting them in advance, at least 60 days before the expiration of the first type

residence permit. The foreigner will still have to fill out an electronic form and collect all the documents. After 8 years of continuous residence permit in Turkey, a foreigner can apply for an indefinite residence permit, which is also very convenient for those to whom Turkey has become home.

Thank you for your help in preparing the material:

Inna Danilova, CEO of the company Inest Homes

Ksenia Baldzhi, Director of the company's sales department Liga Real Estate