Turkish residence permit: which type do you need?
Short answer: A foreigner who will stay in Türkiye longer than their visa or visa exemption allows, or longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit (Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, Article 19). The law provides six types: short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian, and victim of human trafficking residence permits. A valid work permit also counts as a residence permit. Applications are made online and completed at the provincial migration directorate, and renewal must be applied for within the last sixty days before the permit expires.
Who needs a residence permit?
Under Article 19 of Law No. 6458, foreigners who will stay longer than the period granted by their visa or visa exemption, or longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit. A permit that is not used within six months of issue loses its validity. Certain persons are exempt, for example those who stay up to ninety days with a visa or visa exemption, for the duration of that visa. A valid work permit, and a work permit exemption confirmation, are treated as residence permits (Article 27).
The six types of residence permit
- Short-term residence permit
- Family residence permit
- Student residence permit
- Long-term residence permit
- Humanitarian residence permit
- Residence permit for victims of human trafficking
The type depends on the purpose of your stay. Using a permit for a purpose other than the one for which it was granted is itself a ground for cancellation.
Short-term residence permit, including through property
Article 31 lists the grounds for a short-term permit. The most common are owning real estate in Türkiye, establishing business connections or a business, tourism, medical treatment, Turkish language courses, applying within six months after graduating from a Turkish university, and investment in the scope and amount set by the President. A short-term permit is granted for up to two years at a time; permits based on investment and those for citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus may be granted for up to five years.
The applicant must also have accommodation meeting general health and safety standards, provide an address in Türkiye and, if requested, submit a criminal record certificate from their country (Article 32). In practice valid health insurance and sufficient means are also required. Since 2024, Article 31(6) leaves the type and value of property that can support a permit to the Ministry of Interior. In current practice, applications based on property purchased after October 2023 require a residential property worth at least 200,000 US dollars; check the current threshold before buying. For the purchase rules, see can foreigners buy property in Türkiye?
Family, student and long-term permits
- Family residence permit (Article 34): for the foreign spouse, minor children and dependent children of Turkish citizens, residence permit holders and certain protection status holders, for up to three years at a time.
- Student residence permit (Article 38): for foreigners studying for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree at a Turkish higher education institution.
- Long-term residence permit (Article 42): an indefinite permit for foreigners who have resided in Türkiye with residence permits for at least eight years without interruption, or who meet conditions set by the Ministry. Humanitarian permit holders and persons under international or temporary protection cannot switch to it.
Renewal, absence and cancellation
Renewal applications can be made from sixty days before expiry and in all cases before the permit expires (Article 24). Applicants receive a document allowing them to stay until a decision is made, even if their permit expires in the meantime. A short-term permit is refused, cancelled or not renewed if its conditions are no longer met, if it is used for another purpose, or if there is a valid removal or entry ban decision (Article 33). Long periods spent outside Türkiye can also lead to cancellation under the implementing regulation.
If your application is refused
A refusal or cancellation can be challenged before the administrative court. Since the 2024 amendment, such cases are deemed ready for decision once the administration has filed its defence or the time to do so has passed, and a hearing is at the court’s discretion (Article 31(7)). Time limits run from notification, so act promptly; staying after a refusal without another legal basis can lead to fines, removal and an entry ban.
Common mistakes
- Applying for renewal after the permit has expired.
- Giving an address in a neighbourhood closed to new foreign residence registrations.
- Assuming a tourist permit allows you to work: work requires a work permit.
- Letting health insurance lapse during the permit period.
- Ignoring a cancellation notice instead of challenging it in time.
For help with applications, renewals and refusals, see our international clients and administrative law pages. If you are considering citizenship, read Turkish citizenship by investment.
Sources
- Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, Articles 19, 20, 24, 27, 30–34, 38 and 42 (Article 31(6) and (7) added by Law No. 7533, 2024)
- Presidency of Migration Management practice on the property value threshold since 16 October 2023 (reported by Harbiye Hukuk, updated 1 July 2026, and Hukukçular Evi)
Prepared by: Att. Kaan Kaplan · Last updated: 6 November 2026. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter.