Visa regime, residence permit and citizenship in Turkey

Yes. For most countries, the 90-day rule applies within 180 days.

Important

• the limit is cumulative
• Visa Runs do not reset the validity period
• A Turkish residence permit is required for a stay of 4–12 months in a row

Below are the typical visa-free stay regimes (2026)

Russia: 60 + 30 / 180

Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Europe, USA, Canada: 90/180

Belarus, Azerbaijan: 30 + 30 + 30 / 180

Armenia: up to 180 consecutive days

Turkmenistan: Visa (with rare exceptions)

Yes, it is possible. The closed status of the mahalle (neighborhood) does not prohibit foreigners from purchasing real estate. The restriction applies specifically to initial residence permits.

No, a primary residence permit is usually not issued for an address in a restricted area. This is precisely the purpose of the restriction.

Typically, foreigners who already have a valid residence permit at this address apply for an extension, but the final decision remains with the Göç İdaresi and depends on the specific situation and the package of documents.

Yes, the mere presence of a gated community in Mersin does not prohibit purchases under Turkish citizenship. However, the property and the transaction must meet the requirements of the Turkish citizenship by investment program: a cadastral value of USD 400,000 and a three-year prohibition on sale.

Before purchasing, it is better to check the address through Göç İdaresi, e-ikamet and YİMER 157, because for the buyer, not only the area but also the specific mahalle is important.

Because a beautiful seaside apartment may be suitable for vacations, rentals, or investment, but it may not be suitable for your initial residence permit application. Checking the address before the transaction helps avoid mistakes and unnecessary expenses.

No. Purchasing real estate in Turkey does not automatically grant a residence permit. An apartment may be the basis for an application, but the final decision is made by the Turkish Immigration Service ( Göç İdaresi). Property owners are most often issued a short-term residence permit ( KISA DÖNEM).

Property owners apply for a short-term residence permit —known in Turkish as a Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni, or KISA DÖNEM. This permit is issued based on ownership of residential property in Turkey.

• stay legally in Turkey during the validity period of the ikamet;
• reside at the registered address;
• leave Turkey and return back during the period of validity of the residence permit;
• register a Turkish residential address;
• take advantage of many everyday opportunities: banking services, utility contracts, health insurance, schools and other services;
• buy and register a car and other vehicles in your name
• apply for visas for other countries through consulates in Turkey
• extend the residence permit while maintaining the basis and documents.

However, a residence permit does not grant the right to work in Turkey. For official employment, a work visa (Çalışma İzni) is required.

No. A residence permit does not grant the right to officially work in Turkey. To find employment, a foreigner needs a separate work permit— a Çalışma İzni (work permit).

To apply for a short-term residence permit for real estate - KISA DÖNEM (B), the property must meet several conditions.

The property must be:

• residential;
• registered in the name of the applicant;
• habitable;
• used by a foreigner specifically for living, and not for rent and income generation;
• the cost of ONE residential property is not less than 200,000 US dollars in Turkish lira equivalent on the date of purchase
• be in an open area

Even if the applicant has several apartments, applications for a residence permit are submitted for one apartment at a time, with the value in the TAPU (cadastral value) being indicated as no less than $200,000 in lira at the exchange rate on the day the TAPU was issued.

This means that it is possible to buy an apartment in Turkey for less than $200,000, but such a purchase should not be considered as a basis for a residence permit based on real estate.

It's possible to buy an apartment in Turkey for less than $200,000, but such property shouldn't be considered as a basis for a real estate-based residence permit. To apply for a real estate-based residence permit, the property must meet price and other requirements.

However, Ukrainian citizens can obtain a tourist residence permit based on real estate in an open area of ​​any value. Citizens of other countries can also apply for a tourist residence permit. The final decision is made by the Turkish Immigration Service.

To obtain a residence permit based on real estate, the property must be used by the foreigner for residential purposes. If the apartment is purchased solely for rental purposes and income generation, it is not a valid basis for this type of residence permit.

Closed districts are neighborhoods and mahallas where new registration of foreigners is restricted. This is not a ban on purchasing real estate, but rather a restriction on registering an address and applying for a new residence permit at that address. Renewal of an existing residence permit in a closed district is permitted without hindrance.

If a residence permit has already been obtained and the area becomes closed later, this does not automatically affect the renewal. However, if an apartment was purchased in an open area, the residence permit has not yet been issued, and then the area becomes closed, the property may no longer be eligible for the initial application.

Documents for the property owner:

1. Residence permit application form from the e-İkamet system.
2. Passport and copies of pages with personal data, photo, visa or entry stamp.
3. Notarized translation of a passport
4. Biometric photographs - usually 2 pcs.
5. Medical insurance for the duration of the requested residence permit — SIGORTA. Adults aged 18 to 65 (children under 18 are not required; those over 65 are not insured).
6. Receipts for payment of the fee and the cost of the residence permit card.
7. A document confirming your residential address (last month's electricity or water bill)
8. A copy of the TAPU – title deed.
9. Address numbering document from the municipality — NUMARATAJ
10. Document confirming the validity of the TAPU — Tapu Devam Belgesi
11. UETS is a national electronic notification address, required for renewals and transitions to another type of residence permit, except for children under 18. "Ulusal Elektronik Tebligat Sistemi (UETS) adresi"is a document from the central offices of the PTT showing the UETS address.

Documents for the owner's family

Each family member submits a separate application and receives a separate residence permit card. The accompanying person system is no longer used: documents are processed separately for each foreigner. The family typically submits the application and arrives for the rendezvous at the same time.

Legal spouses and minor children are eligible for a residence permit.

An additional package of documents for each family member

1. e-İkamet form for each applicant
2. Passport of each family member
3. Notarized translation of each family member's passport
4. Biometric photographs (2 pcs.).
5. Medical insurance for each applicant, if required by age
6. Receipts for payment of fees and residence permit cards
7. Documents confirming family ties:
   • Marriage certificate with APOSTILLE + notarized translation of the document
   • Birth certificate of minor children with APOSTILLE + notarized translation of the document
8. For children - notarized consent of the second parent, if the second parent is not applying for a residence permit.
9. Documents on guardianship, divorce, or death of a parent with an APOSTILLE + notarized translation of the document, if the situation is non-standard.
10. Copies of the residence permit or application document of the parents, if they already have them.
11. Certificate of no criminal record with APOSTILLE + notarized translation of the document for adults.
12. Upon request: a bank statement showing the presence and movement of funds in a Turkish bank account.

For short-term residence permits based on real estate, the official list specifically states: if family members own shared or joint property, they must attach a document confirming their family relationship with the persons listed in the TAPU.

If the TAPU is registered to only one owner, the eligibility of a spouse and children to apply and the appropriate application type should be clarified before purchase. A family residence permit is regulated separately: it can be issued to the spouse and children of a foreigner who holds one of the residence permit types, but additional conditions apply to the sponsor regarding income, insurance, address, and length of residence.

Tapu Devam Belgesi (Tapu of the Real Estate) is a certificate confirming the validity of the TAPU. It demonstrates that the property is still registered to the applicant. This document is especially important when renewing a residence permit for real estate.

UETS (Ulusal Elektronik Tebligat Sistemi) is a national electronic notification address. It is required when renewing a temporary residence permit or switching to another type of temporary residence permit, except for children under 18. A document with a UETS address can be obtained from PTT central offices.

Yes, the family typically submits documents and attends the rendezvous together, but each foreigner must submit a separate application. The accompanying person system is no longer in use: each applicant receives a separate residence permit card.

First, the property is checked: address, district, TAPU, price, and compliance with requirements. Then, documents are prepared, an application is completed on the e-İkamet website, an appointment is made, the applicant appears in person at the immigration office, submits the documents to the inspector, pays the fees, and, after approval, receives a residence permit card for the address via PTT.

Yes. When applying for a temporary residence permit, the applicant and all family members, including children, must appear in person at the Migration Office. When applying for a temporary residence permit for the first time, biometric data must also be provided; re-imprinting is usually not required for renewals.

The cost of a residence permit consists of several parts:

• cost of the residence permit card;
• state fee for residence permit;
• health insurance;
• photos;
• notarized translations;
• apostilles (paid in the country of issue of the document or at the consulate of that country in Turkey)
• certificates from the municipality and bank statements
• Possible escort services.

In 2026, the official cost of a residence permit card is 964 TL. There is no exemption from this fee for citizenship applicants: all applicants must pay for the card.

The state fee is paid separately. For example, for Russian citizens, the residence permit fee is $7 for the first month and $1.50 for each subsequent month.

Important: The amounts in the table are in US dollars, but the final amount payable upon application is calculated by the e-İkamet. The official Göç İdaresi website states that applicants can view the fee amount and card price after completing their online application in the e-İkamet system.

The fee table is available at https://income-mersin.com/projects/question-and-answer/visa-regime-residence-permit-and-citizenship-in-turkey.html

By law, a residence permit application is processed within 90 days. In practice, the processing time depends on the workload of the immigration service, the completeness of the documents, the applicant's citizenship, and any additional checks. In practice, the time from the appointment to the card receipt can be approximately 1-3 weeks.

A residence permit extension must be submitted within the last 60 days before the card expires, but must be submitted before the current residence permit's expiration date. If the reason for the renewal has changed—for example, the apartment has been sold, the address is unsuitable, or the area is closed to new registrations—the extension may not be approved.