Learn about the types of residence permits in Turkey and the procedures for accepting and rejecting residence there

Residence permits in Turkey are granted to foreigners through the General Directorate of Immigration Management of the Turkish Ministry of the Interior, and by obtaining a residence permit in Turkey.

Residences in Turkey are granted by the government to foreign citizens who wish to extend their stay in the country for more than 90 days, as they have to obtain legal residence from one of the types of residence in Turkey to legalize their presence in Turkey.

What are the Types of Residence Permits in Turkey?

There are many types of residence permits in Turkey and they are issued by the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior after completing the required papers and submitting them for the legality of staying in the country, as follows:

1- Tourist Residence Permit

Tourist residence in Turkey is granted to foreigners who wish to spend more time than the period specified for them in the visa with which they entered Turkey, and it is a short-term residence of one year or two years in some cases.

Those wishing to obtain a tourist residence in Turkey must fulfill certain conditions, which are to enter the Turkish territory legally, and then obtain an appointment at the Immigration Department to submit the necessary papers, which are:

1. Residential rental contract or title deed certified by a notary public.
2. A valid passport translated into Turkish and certified by a notary public.
3. Submit 4 personal photos.
4. Health insurance.
5. Tax number.

However, tourist residency is not renewable again according to the new residency law in Turkey, which excludes citizens of some countries from preventing renewal due to the conditions of war and disasters that these countries have been experiencing for many years, such as: Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan.

As for the state of Palestine, the conditions that came in the recent refusal statement on residents in Turkey were bypassed, but without announcing the exception in the media.

2- Student Residence

Turkish universities grant affiliated foreign students the right to apply for a student residence permit, which gives them various privileges in the country, such as various discounts between transportation card, health insurance and visiting tourist places.

This residency can be obtained by following the same procedures and submitting the same papers mentioned in the tourist residency, in addition to proof of enrollment in one of the Turkish universities in which the study is taking place.

3- Real Estate Residence

Foreigners who own real estate in Turkey for the purpose of housing only and not investing can obtain real estate residence permits in Turkey, but it is granted to the owner only and he cannot give it to his family as his wife and children under the age of 18.

To obtain this residence, the Immigration Department requires the presentation of the title deed "Tabu", the earthquake insurance document, and the tax number, not to mention the passport, which must be valid for a period of no less than 6 months.

4- Family Residence

It is a residence granted to all members of the same family, provided that there is a grantor within the family, and this grantor is either a Turkish person who grants residence to his wife and children who are not granted citizenship, or a person who has a work permit in Turkey, so the family residence is granted to his wife and children.

5- Humanitarian Residence Permit

The Turkish government has allocated this type of residency to individuals fleeing war conditions in their country or suffering persecution or restrictions, in order to give them the right to protection and to live a normal, dignified life.

Those wishing to obtain it can apply to the Immigration Department to obtain a humanitarian residence permit, which is issued one month after the application and has a duration of two years.

Residence Permit by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor

Work Residence Permit

The Turkish government grants work permits to foreign nationals who work in licensed companies with a legal license from the state, in order to preserve their rights and legalize their presence inside the country.

The work residence law in Turkey requires the employment of five Turkish citizens for every one foreign citizen, and then all members of the employer’s family, the wife and children, are entitled to obtain a family residence for a period that matches the period of his residence.

How to Extend Residence in Turkey?

You can extend your stay in Turkey in accordance with the legal procedures through many ways, which we mention as follows:

• Possessing the status of a businessman and establishing a company that grants a work permit, and if the residence permit lasts for 5 years, you can obtain Turkish citizenship.
• Registering at a Turkish university and obtaining a student residence permit.
• Residence for the purpose of treatment in one of the Turkish hospitals and to obtain the so-called medical residence.
• Buying a property in Turkey, and you will get a real estate residence that is renewed every year.
• Marriage to a Turkish citizen grants the right to obtain family residence, which enables you to obtain Turkish citizenship after 3 years of residence.

What Should You Do if Your Residence is Rejected in Turkey?

Some may wonder about the solutions that should be resorted to if their residence in Turkey is refused, especially since it is not possible to apply again until after 6 months have passed since the date of the old application, and this crisis can be overcome through the following:

• Changing the reason for obtaining the residence permit, such as changing it to a student residence instead of a tourist residence.
• Buying a shop or real estate in Turkey, and then changing the type of residence to real estate.

In the event that all other solutions are exhausted, the decision to leave the country and return to it must be resorted to after 6 months have passed by the time the ban is lifted from the foreigner to return with a new application.

It is worth noting the importance of knowing accurate information about the legal procedures applicable in all the mentioned types of residence permit, in order to obtain a comfortable legal status within the country, and Deyaar Group can help you in this matter.

Edited by: Deyaar Group^©

Sources: New Turk Post, Turk Press, Turkey Now, Directorate General of Migration Management