Residence Permit Applications in Turkey: Procedures and Requirements

Residence permit applications can be submitted within ten days following the expiration of a residence permit, visa, or visa exemption period. Applicants must have a passport or a travel document that is valid for at least 60 days longer than the requested residence permit duration.

The authorities are responsible for notifying applicants about any missing documents or information. If the required documents are not provided within 30 days, the application may be considered void. The maximum processing time for residence permit applications is 90 days.

Applicants seeking to extend their residence permits must apply to the provincial migration offices at least 60 days before their current permit expires but before it actually does. Applicants receive a document confirming their extension application, which is not subject to a fee and grants the legal right to stay in Turkey until the extension process is completed.

As of October 1, 2024, changes have been made to the evaluation criteria for work permits. Foreigners who have resided legally in Turkey for at least three years in the past five years are exempt from employment and financial criteria. Salary requirements have also been updated, setting the minimum wage at 5 times for senior managers and 4 times for engineers.

Foreigners whose work permits have been canceled or expired must apply for a new residence permit within ten days of the permit’s expiration date. Additionally, applicants must provide proof of payment for related fees and stay within the requested permit duration to carry out entry and exit processes.

• Foreigners reentering Turkey within 15 days of their departure are exempt from visa requirements. If they return after 15 days, regular visa regulations apply. The 90-day rule within 180 days remains applicable in this context.
• Time spent in prisons or detention centers does not count as a violation of the residence permit duration.
• Foreigners entering Turkey with a work permit must register with the address registration system within 20 working days from the date of entry.

If a foreigner interrupts their stay in Turkey for more than six months within a year or for more than one year within five years, the residence permit will be considered interrupted. However, this does not affect the total duration of previously granted permits. Applications will be rejected if a single interruption exceeds six months within the eight-year period.

Refugees, conditional refugees, secondary protection status holders, those with humanitarian residence permits, and temporary protection holders are not eligible for long-term residence permits.

The validity period of residence permits begins either at the end of the visa or visa exemption period, or from the application date, if specified. In the case of extensions, the new permit is issued starting from the end date of the previous permit.

Changes in address, marital status, or name must be reported within 20 working days. Foreigners moving their residence to a different city must apply for a new residence permit within 20 working days at the provincial migration office in their new location.

In cases of loss, theft, wear and tear, or incorrect issuance of the residence permit card, a new card is issued. In the case of loss, theft, or wear, the card replacement fee is fully charged, while the residence permit fee is charged at half the rate.