Turkish residence permit

Types of Turkish residence

A Turkish work permit replaces a residence permit, so those hired by a Turkish employer need no separate residence permit. Language courses can be a basis no more than twice.

How much Turkish residence costs in 2026

• residence card - 964 lira, about $20, for all nationalities;
• permit fee - at a rate depending on nationality and permit term; the system calculates the exact amount when you apply;
• health insurance for the whole term, unless covered by Turkish social security;
• notarised passport translation and a notarised lease;
• for the property route - a home from $200,000 and a licensed valuer's report;
• our support, if you hand preparation and filing to us.

For a family, cards, fees and insurance are paid for each member; a manager will calculate the total in the chat. Dollar amounts use the rate of 6 October 2026, about 49 lira per dollar, rounded up.

Turkish residence through property

A short-term permit based on home ownership is granted if the property was bought on or after 16 October 2023 and is worth at least $200,000 at the Central Bank of Turkey rate on the title registration date. The threshold is the same in all cities. Value is confirmed by a licensed valuer's report, the property must be residential, and the district must be open to new permits. Those who bought earlier renew under the previous thresholds. For the purchase and taxes, see property in Turkey.

Tourist residence in 2026

A short-term tourism permit formally exists, but in 2026 the migration service renews it reluctantly and often refuses when tourism is the only purpose. Renewal requires statements for the last 6 months showing regular income from abroad, a confirmed travel plan within the country and an active address registration in an open district. If you plan to live in Turkey long term, choose another basis from the start: property, study, family or work.

Address and closed districts: check in advance

The address in your application must be registered in the national address system and lie in a district open to new foreigner registrations. If the district is closed, no permit is issued for that address even if the documents are in order. So before signing a lease or purchase we check the district against the migration service's current list and the address number in the address system. This matters especially for buyers: you can buy a home in a closed district but cannot get residence on it.

Documents for Turkish residence

• the form completed on the migration portal;
• passport and its notarised Turkish translation;
• photos;
• a notarised lease or proof of ownership;
• address registration in the national address system;
• health insurance for the whole permit term;
• statements proving sufficient and regular funds;
• documents for the basis: a valuer's report for property, an enrolment letter for students, marriage and birth certificates for family;
• receipts for the card and fee.

Documents from other countries are translated into Turkish and certified, and foreign-issued ones need an apostille.

Health insurance

Insurance is required for the whole permit term and must cover treatment in Turkey. A private policy from a Turkish insurer works, or state social security cover if you are registered in it, for example through work. Buy insurance before filing the form, and on renewal buy a new policy for the next term. The policy term affects the permit term: a short policy means a short permit.

How and when to apply

The first application is filed while your stay is lawful: Russian citizens enter Turkey visa-free for up to 60 days per trip and no more than 90 days in 180. First you fill in the online form and get an appointment, then visit the provincial migration directorate with the documents. The card is posted to the address in the application. Renewal is filed online no earlier than 60 days before the permit expires and before it lapses.

Who is refused

• an address in a district closed to new permits for foreigners;
• tourism as the only purpose on renewal without confirmed travel and income;
• a home valued below $200,000 or bought irregularly, for the property route;
• no insurance or insufficient funds for the whole term;
• breaches on previous entries, overstays, an entry ban;
• an incomplete file, a wrong translation or an unregistered address.

Student and language course residence

Students at Turkish universities get a student residence permit for the length of their studies, based on an enrolment letter from the university. Turkish language courses give a short-term permit, but no more than twice, so for a long stay they are combined with another basis. School-age children get a permit on family grounds together with their parents.

Family

The spouse and minor children of a permit holder get a family permit for up to three years per issue, but not beyond the main holder's permit. You need apostilled and translated marriage and birth certificates, insurance for each and proof of income to support the family. Children can attend Turkish state and private schools.

If you are refused

A refusal decision states the reason and the period within which you must leave the country if you have no other lawful basis. A refusal can be appealed in an administrative court, but it is often faster to fix the cause: move to an address in an open district, get insurance for the whole term, add statements or choose another basis and apply again. Do not stay in Turkey beyond the permitted period: overstaying leads to a fine and an entry ban.

Long-term residence and citizenship

• Long-term residence is granted after 8 years of continuous lawful residence and is indefinite.
• Citizenship by naturalisation - after 5 years of continuous residence with a permit, with Turkish language skills and other conditions.
• Citizenship by investment - for buying property from $400,000 with a commitment not to sell for 3 years, or other investments.

See Turkish citizenship. What a passport through property costs a family is covered in how much Turkish citizenship costs, and how to choose a home in buying a flat in Turkey.

Taxes

You become a Turkish tax resident by living in the country more than six months in a calendar year, and then worldwide income is taxed. Income tax rates are progressive, from 15% to 40%. Home owners pay an annual property tax, and rental income is declared once a year, in March of the following year. See taxes in Turkey.

Risks and what may change

• Closed districts. Over a thousand districts are closed to new foreigner registrations, including popular areas of Alanya, Antalya and Izmir, and the list is revised.
• Tourist renewals are often refused in 2026.
• The property threshold rose from $75,000 to $200,000 and may change again.
• The card arrives by post at the address in the application: an address error means reissuing it.
• The lira. Lira fees rise every year, and dollar thresholds are converted at the rate on the transaction date.

Alternatives

• Turkish citizenship by investment - a passport instead of annual renewals.
• Cyprus residence - living on foreign income inside the EU.
• Montenegro residence - by the sea, through business or property.
• Georgia digital nomad visa - for remote work.

What changed and what we rely on

Since 16 October 2023 property residence requires a home from $200,000 in all cities. From 1 January 2026 the residence card costs 964 lira. In 2026 the migration service tightened tourist permit renewals, and the number of districts closed to foreigners exceeded a thousand. Sources: Turkey's Presidency of Migration Management, the Law on Foreigners and International Protection and its regulation; checked on 6 October 2026.

What Turkish residence gives

How to get Turkish residence: step by step

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