Last updated: 26 October 2026 · Legal review: Av. Gökhan Vural, İzmir Bar Association (Reg. No. 15813)
A residence permit in Turkey is the document you need to stay in Türkiye for longer than 90 days in any 180-day period. It is issued by the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, and the type you apply for depends on why you are staying: tourism or property, family, study or long-term settlement.
Key Takeaways
- You need a residence permit to stay longer than 90 days in any 180 days; a visa or visa exemption cannot be extended.
- The main types are short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian and victim of human trafficking permits.
- Applications start online on e-ikamet and are completed at an in-person migration office appointment.
- Costs are the residence fee for your nationality, the 964 TL card fee and, for some first applications, a visa fee.
- Renewals must be filed before the permit expires, from 60 days before the expiry date.
What Is a Residence Permit in Turkey?
A residence permit is the legal basis for a foreigner to live in Türkiye beyond the 90 days that a visa or visa exemption allows. Once approved, it is issued as a plastic card (often called the TRC or ikamet card) that shows your foreigner identification number and the permit’s end date. A work permit counts as a residence permit while it is valid, so people working for a Turkish employer do not need a separate one; see our Turkey work permit guide.
Types of Residence Permit in Turkey
Law No. 6458 sets out six types. Choosing the wrong type is one of the most common reasons files are refused, so start here.
| Type | Who it is for | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term | Property owners, tourism, business, treatment, language courses and similar purposes | Article 31 |
| Family | Spouse, minor children and dependent children of a Turkish citizen or a foreign resident | Article 34 |
| Student | Students enrolled at a Turkish school or university | Article 38 |
| Long-term | Foreigners with at least eight years of uninterrupted legal residence | Article 42 |
| Humanitarian | Exceptional situations where no other permit fits | Article 46 |
| Victim of human trafficking | Victims cooperating with the authorities | Article 48 |
Most newcomers start with a short term residence permit in Turkey, which is granted for up to two years at a time. Families follow the family residence permit rules, students the student residence permit rules, and long-term residents the long-term residence permit rules.
Turkey Residence Permit Requirements and Documents
Every application needs the same core documents; each permit type then adds its own.
- A passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the permit period you request.
- Biometric photographs.
- Health insurance covering the whole permit period from its first day; see Turkish health insurance for what a policy must include.
- Proof of sufficient and regular income for your stay.
- Proof of address: a title deed or a notarised lease in your own name, in a neighbourhood open to foreign address registration.
- Purpose documents: title deed, marriage certificate, enrolment letter and so on.
Foreign documents generally need an apostille and a sworn Turkish translation. In our experience, address problems and insurance gaps cause more refusals than any other single issue.
How to Apply for a Turkish Residence Permit
- Apply online on e-ikamet. Fill in the form on the Presidency of Migration Management’s e-ikamet system before your visa or exemption runs out, and choose the correct permit type.
- Book and attend the appointment. Take the original documents to the provincial migration office on the date given. Your appointment document lets you stay legally until your application is decided.
- Pay the fees. Pay the residence fee and card fee to the tax office before the appointment.
- Complete any missing documents. If the office asks for more, you have 30 days to provide them.
- Receive the card. Approved cards are sent by PTT, usually within 14 to 30 days; read more on the Turkey TRC card.
How Much Does a Residence Permit in Turkey Cost?
There are three possible charges. The residence fee depends on your nationality; for most countries it is USD 25 for the first month plus USD 5 for each further month, paid in Turkish lira. Every applicant pays the card fee, which is 964 TL in 2026. If you entered visa-free and this is your first permit, the single-entry visa fee of 9,376.40 TL is added. Use the calculator in our Turkey residence permit cost guide for your own figure.
How Long Does a Residence Permit Take?
The law does not set a fixed deadline, and timing varies by province and season. A complete, correctly prepared file usually moves fastest; a request for missing documents adds up to 30 days. See Turkey residence permit processing time for what affects the wait.
Turkish Residency: Living in Turkey Long Term
Turkish residency is not one document but a path. Most people renew short-term or family permits for years; after eight years of uninterrupted legal residence they can apply for a long-term permit, and after five years of residence they may apply for citizenship under the general conditions. Buying property worth USD 200,000 can support a short-term permit, while USD 400,000 is the threshold for citizenship by investment; see can I get residency in Turkey if I buy a house and how to get Turkish citizenship.
Turkish Residence Permit Renewal
File the renewal on e-ikamet within the 60 days before your permit expires, and always before the expiry date. A late renewal is treated as a new application, which can mean leaving the country. Long absences also matter: spending more than 120 days abroad in a year can affect a short-term permit, and 180 days a family permit. Renewal costs the residence fee for the new period, the card fee again and a new insurance policy.
What If Your Residence Permit Is Refused?
A refusal can be challenged before the administrative court within 60 days, but filing a case does not by itself let you stay. You are normally expected to leave within 10 days, and overstaying creates a separate deportation risk. Read residence permit rejection in Turkey before you decide.
Residence Permit in Turkey: FAQ
Can I work with a residence permit?
No. A residence permit does not allow paid work; you need a work permit, which then counts as your residence permit.
Can I apply after my visa has expired?
Not from inside Türkiye. Once you overstay, you must leave and pay the Turkey overstay fine.
Does a residence permit give me citizenship?
Not automatically. Time on a residence permit can count towards later applications, but citizenship is a separate procedure.
How We Help With Residence Permits
We prepare and file applications, check the address and insurance before you apply, accompany clients to the migration office appointment, handle renewals and take refused files to court. See our Turkey residence permit lawyer services or contact the office on +90 533 301 52 23.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change; check the current position before applying.