Turkish Immigration Law by Turkish Legal Office
Turkish Legal Office provides top quality legal services and consultancy in Turkish Immigration Law. Our law firm consists of Immigration Lawyers that are fluent in English, Dutch, German and (of course) Turkish.
Immigration Lawyers at Turkish Legal Office have extensive knowledge and experience in many aspects of Turkish immigration law, including, but not limited to, short term and long term residence permit applications, extensions of residence permits, lawsuits for objections to residence permit denials and applications for Turkish Citizenship by Investment through purchasing property (real estate). Want to know more about purchasing property in Turkey and Turkish real estate law in general? Press or click here.
The complexity and frequent changes of Turkish Immigration laws and regulations make it essential for all legal transactions to be carried out with due diligence and legal expertise. Our Turkish Immigration Lawyers, Attorneys & Consultants have represented many clients in all areas of immigration law to ensure that there are no loss of rights and the best possible result for any given situation could be achieved.
With the international backgrounds of our team, including Turkish, German and Dutch legal practitioners, we are sure to understand your culture, business and legal system, resulting in optimal, easy to understand, communication and effective exchanging of important information. When it is in English, German or Dutch, we at Turkish Legal Office are fully capable of communicating with you promptly, clearly, and concisely in your language when desired.
On any occasion, whether in one of these earlier mentioned languages or just simply in English for our international clients, we are ready to help you with everything we got, so you, together with Turkish Legal Office, can make well informed, timely decisions. Read what you needed to read? Are you already convinced of our capabilities to serve you as one of our beloved clients? Plan a meeting here or contact Betul Aksoy (Our most experienced and energetic Turkish Immigration Lawyer) by calling or sending a WhatsApp at +90 505 417 41 08. You could also send her a mail at betul@turkishlegaloffice.com
For your convenience, here is an easy way to book a free online consultation, without leaving this page.
Want to read more about Turkish Immigration Law and what we have to offer? Let’s continue!
For reference, here is a list of services that we at Turkish Legal Office provide in Turkish Immigration Law
| Services |
|---|
| Preparing the necessary documents and applying for a Turkish Residence Permit for the foreigner and, upon request, for their spouse and children. |
| Preparing the necessary documents and applying for Turkish Citizenship for the foreigner and, upon request, for their spouse and children. |
| Extending Turkish residence permits for foreigners currently living in Turkey. |
| Filing lawsuits to object to denials of residence permits. |
If you have any questions regarding Turkish Residence Permits or other aspects of Turkish immigration law, please feel free to contact us today for a free consultation. Now, let’s dive a bit deeper into Turkish Residence Permits and what you need to do to receive one.
Turkish Residence Permits
When do you need a Residence Permit as a foreigner in Turkey?
According to Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, tourists are not allowed to stay in Turkey for longer than 90 days within any 180 day period. Therefore, they must apply for a residence permit to extend their duration of stay and reside in Turkey legally.
For which type of residence permits do you need to apply?
When it comes to the types of residence permits available in Turkey, there are two main categories: short term and long term.
Application for a short term residence permit in Turkey
The short-term residence permit is the most common type of permit among all other residence permits. According to Law No. 6458, every foreigner who wishes to apply for a short term residence permit must have a valid reason for staying in Turkey for longer than the visa period.
The most commonly used reasons for a short term residence permit include tourism and real estate investments in Turkey. Want to know more about how you could receive a Turkish Citizenship by investing in real estate or purchasing a property? Go to Turkish Real Estate Law.
Continuing with short term residence permits, in 2022, new amendments were made to Article No. 31-1(e) of Law No. 6458. As a result of this amendment, foreigners in Turkey can obtain a short term residence permit for themselves or their spouse and children when they purchase a property in Turkey that is worth at least:
- $75,000 or more if it is located in one of the 30 metropolitan cities in Turkey, including Antalya.
- $50,000 or more if it is located in one of the remaining 51 smaller cities in Turkey.
It should be noted that with this new amendment, it is no longer possible to apply for a Touristic Residence Permit based on a rental agreement.
Short Term Residence Permit for the spouse and children
According to Article 31j of Law No. 6458 and Article 11b of Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, a foreigner who wishes to invest in real estate in Turkey can apply for a short term residence permit. Additionally, based on Article 34 of Law No. 6458, a family residence permit may be granted to the spouse and minor children of the foreign investor in Turkey.
However, it should be noted that the duration of the family residence permit cannot exceed the duration of the short term residence permit obtained by the foreign national on the grounds of a real estate investment in Turkey. Furthermore, if the family members hold a valid work permit in Turkey, they do not need to obtain a family residence permit or any other residence permit, as per Article 27 of Law No. 6458.
Once you have found your desired property, we will assist you in the process of purchasing it. Already know what you need to know? Contact our expert in Immigration Law now!
For reference, here is a list of services that we at Turkish Legal Office offer in relation to Turkish Immigration and Turkish Real Estate Law in regards to investing in real estate or purchasing a property in Turkey.
| Preparing and reviewing real estate sale agreements. |
| Representing the foreign national in negotiations regarding the purchase price of the real estate. |
| Conducting an examination at the Land Registry Office to ensure that the property in question meets the legal conditions for purchase and that the title deed does not have any outstanding fines or debts. |
| Conducting an investigation at the municipality where the property is located to ensure that the relevant property has a habitation certificate and all other necessary licenses. |
| Providing a Due Diligence Report on the property in question. |
| Requesting an annotation on the title deed that the property cannot be sold for three years. |
| Collecting all the necessary documents required by the Land Registry Office for the transfer of ownership of the property. |
| Assisting or acting on behalf of the foreign national in the transfer of ownership of the property at the Land Registry Office. |
| Assisting the foreign national in transferring the gas, water, and electricity accounts from the previous owner. |
| Applying for a short-term residence permit on the grounds of real estate investment. |
According to article 32 of Law No. 6458, a foreigner is required to submit the following documents when applying for a residence permit through the e-residence system.
| A copy of their passport or ID |
| An application form for a residence permit |
| 2 passport style photos |
| A financial declaration (as outlined in the application form, additional supporting documents may be requested by the authorities) |
| An official document showing the ownership of the foreign residence |
| Valid medical insurance |
We at Turkish Legal Office, have attorneys that are registered as sworn translators at the Notary, so you will not have to pay an additional fee to get the documents translated.
Do you have any general questions about how we, at Turkisk Legal Office, could help you in any way? Here is an easy way to contact us via our form.
Let’s now continue with applications in regards to extending your residence permit in Turkey.
Application for Extension of Residence Permits in Turkey
For obtaining extensions, foreigners must submit the following documents to the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management by mail within five business days of submitting an application through the e-residence system. Applications for an extension of the residence permit may be made 60 days prior to its expiration, but under no circumstances should this be done after the expiration date.
| Residence permit application form |
| Notarised copy of passport or equivalent travel document |
| Four biometric photographs |
| A copy of the previous residence permit document |
| Proof of financial sufficiency and regular means of subsistence for the duration of the stay |
| A title deed proving the applicant’s ownership (required for foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey) |
| Valid medical insurance |
We at Turkish Legal Office, have done this for many clients and could do it for you for free, as an addition to other services or for a small fee when not combined with anything else. Contact us today to learn more about how our experienced lawyers and business consultants could help you!
Let’s now explain a bit more about common reasons for a (short term) residence permit to be denied.
Reasons for refusal, non-renewal or cancellation of a short term residence permit
Under the following cases, a short term residence permit shall not be granted, shall be cancelled, if it has already been issued or shall not be renewed.
| If one or more of the conditions provided for a short term residence permit are not met or no longer apply. |
| If the residence permit is used for a purpose other than what it was intended for. |
| If there is a current removal decision or an entry ban to Turkey. |
| If there is a violation regarding the period spent outside of Turkey. |
Consequences of not applying for a residence permit (Visa Overstay)
The Government of the Republic of Turkey has entered into many mutual visa exemption agreements. For example, in the case of the Netherlands, ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa requirements for up to 90 days within a 180 day period. Exceeding this period may result in fines for visa overstay. In cases of exceeding the legal duration of stay, foreigners may be subject to deportation according to Article 54 of Law No. 6458.
Specifically, Article 54(e) states that if the visa exemption period is exceeded by more than 10 days, the person may be subject to deportation. Additionally, according to Article 54(i), individuals without a work permit in Turkey may also be subject to deportation. Those who are subject to deportation may not enter Turkey for a period determined by the Immigration Administration Directorate. However, a prohibition to enter Turkey or deportation due to visa overstay may not be applied in every case.
Turkish Legal Office, with its lawyers and attorneys in Turkish Immigration Law, can provide legal support in all areas of Turkish Immigration Law, including legal action for annulment of deportation decisions. Let us know how we can help you!
Finally, let’s shortly explain a bit about long term residence permits.
Application to a Long Term Residence Permit in Turkey
A long term residence permit shall be issued by the governorates upon approval of the Ministry to foreigners who have continuously resided in Turkey for at least eight years on a residence permit.
Required documents are as follows.
| Copy of passport or ID |
| Application form for residence permit |
| Two photographs |
| Document showing that the applicant has not received any social aid from the government in the last 3 years |
| Financial declaration (see application form, supporting documents may be requested by the authority regarding sufficient and sustainable financial resources) |
| Valid medical insurance |
Are you eligible to receive a long term residence permit? We’re ready to help you go through this process with ease and maximising your chances of success!
As you have noticed by now, there are several ways to receive a short term or long term residence permit, next to acquiring a Turkish Citizenship. Are you thinking about visiting Turkey for a long(er) time period? Perhaps looking to settle in Turkey or would already like to guarantee your place for later? Turkish Legal Office is here to help you in any way possible with our experienced lawyers and attorneys in Turkish Immigration Law. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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