Foreign Investor Guide
Reference: Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Investment office www.invest.gov.tr
RESIDENCE PERMIT
FOREIGN INVESTMENT GUIDE
- BUILDING A BUSINESS
- WORK PERMIT
- RESIDENCE PERMIT
- REAL ESTATE AND CITIZENSHIP ACQUISITION
- COST OF DOING BUSINESS
- INVESTMENT AREAS
- TAX GUIDE
- LEGAL GUIDE
- RESIDENCE PERMIT
Foreigners who will stay in Turkey longer than the visa or visa exemption period or more than ninety days are required to obtain a residence permit.
- Short Term Residence Permit for Foreigners
In order to obtain a short-term residence permit, foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey and foreigners who will establish a business connection or business in Turkey must submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Immigration after the application made through the e-residence system. As a rule, short-term residence permits are issued for a maximum of two years. A residence permit expires if it is not used within six months.
- First Application
- Residence permit application form
- Original and a copy of the passport or travel document
- Four biometric photographs
- Statement of sufficient and regular financial means for the duration of the stay
- Official document showing that the residence belongs to the applicant *
- Invitation letter or similar documents to be obtained from persons or companies to be contacted **
- Valid health insurance (one of the following is considered sufficient):
- Document showing the use of health services in Turkey within the scope of bilateral social security agreements
- Provision document from the Social Security Institution
- Document regarding the application made to the Social Security Institution to be covered by the general health insurance
- Private health insurance
- Application for Extension
Residence permit extension applications are made to the Governorates from sixty days before the expiry of the residence permit and in any case before the residence permit expires.
In order to apply for an extension, foreigners are required to apply for a residence permit extension through the e-residence system. The completed application and required documents must be sent by mail within five working days to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Bursa, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Mersin, Muğla, Samsun, Şanlıurfa and Tekirdağ.
- Residence permit application form
- Notarized copy of passport or travel document
- Four biometric photographs
- Submission of the previous residence permit document
- Statement of sufficient and regular financial means during the stay
- Official document showing that the residence belongs to the applicant *
- Invitation letter or similar documents to be obtained from persons or companies to be contacted **
- Valid health insurance (one of the following is considered sufficient):
- Document on benefiting from health services in Turkey within the scope of bilateral social security agreements
- Provision document from the Social Security Institution
- Private health insurance covering the extension period
* Required for foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey.
** Required for foreigners who will establish a business connection or business in Turkey.
- Long Term Residence Permit for Foreigners
In order to obtain a long-term residence permit, foreigners who have stayed in Turkey for at least eight years with an uninterrupted residence permit are required to submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Immigration Administration:
- Application
- Residence permit application form
- Original and copy of the passport or travel document
- Photocopy of the previous residence permit document
- Four biometric photographs
- Document showing that the applicant has not received any social aid from public institutions and organizations in the last three years.
- Statement of sufficient and regular financial means for the duration of the stay
- Criminal record record
- Valid health insurance (one of the following is considered sufficient):
- Document showing the use of health services in Turkey within the scope of bilateral social security agreements
- Provision document from the Social Security Institution
- Document regarding the application made to the Social Security Institution to be covered by the general health insurance
- Private health insurance for at least one year
* Since long-term residence permits are issued indefinitely, there are no applications for extension.