Moving to Turkey for permanent residence

Immigration to Turkey is an option for those who are looking for new prospects in life and work. People move here on the basis of employment contracts, purchase of real estate, investment of capital in the economy, study, with the aim of family reunification. According to statistics from 2024, more than 1.04 million expats with residence permits live here.

After tightening the migration policy of the past years, the authorities are now gradually relaxing the requirements for foreigners and opening up new opportunities. The changes have affected qualified professionals who contribute to the economy, culture, and education. Now they can stay in the territory without permission for 3 years instead of 6 months, and journalists can work for the entire period. Technology experts and startups quickly receive a long-term Turkiye Tech Visa through a simplified program. Regardless of the purpose of immigration, it is necessary to know the specifics of visa programs and be aware of frequently changing laws.

Reasons for moving to Turkey

Permanent residence allows you to legally live and work in the country for a long time. But in order to obtain permanent residence, applicants first receive a residence permit. The only exceptions are participants in the citizenship by investment commercial project. The cards equalize relocants in legal and social rights with Turks, and for various reasons they are repeatedly extended.

Employment

To regulate the rights of foreigners and international protection, the country has established Law No. 6458. In October 2024, the next updates on the issuance of work certificates to expats were adopted. They touched upon employment, salary levels, and criteria for the financial adequacy of companies. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection issues temporary, permanent and independent permits to foreigners through the E-Permit system.

• The temporary type is issued by employers after agreeing on job responsibilities and salaries with specialists. After a year of work, the contract is allowed to be extended for 2 years. After 3 years, they are extended again for the same period after signing a contract with any Turkish company, provided that the type of activity is maintained. Spouses and dependent children who have been legally residing in the country for 5 years can apply for a permit.
• Perpetual (Süresiz Çalışma Izni) are equivalent to permanent residence. They are issued to relocants with an 8-year continuous stay in the country without taking into account the duration of their studies or after 6 years of work.
• Independents (Bağımsız Çalışma Izni) apply for expats with 5 years of legalization experience in the territory. The condition for obtaining is an activity aimed at the economic development of the country.

Training

According to Statista, 301,695 young people from different countries received Turkish diplomas in 2022-2023 alone. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education (MEB), in 2024-2025, educational institutions plan to accept more than 1 million people. To integrate international students into the educational environment, the authorities annually adapt existing curricula. Diplomas are recognized in Europe, and 10 institutions are included in the QS ranking of the most famous universities in the world.

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Turkey is regulated by Articles 38 and 41 of Law No. 6458. The certificate is issued immediately after moving to the country for a year without the right to work with a further extension for the period of study. If you change universities or move, it is automatically canceled.

Family

This type of residence permit is issued to foreigners on the basis of a marriage certificate with a citizen of the country. After 3 years of living in any country, a husband or wife applies for a Turkish passport. The country of the marriage does not matter. It is undesirable to get divorced during the naturalization period. After filing a claim by a resident, the court may recognize the union as unreal and deprive the foreigner of the right to obtain a passport. Persons residing in the country with a family residence permit are given birth certificates after the divorce or death of their spouses until the children reach adulthood.

Investment

A quick way to obtain citizenship in six months is to invest $500,000 in the Turkish economy. Suitable for investing:

• purchase of government bonds;
• pension and venture fund units;
• opening deposits in local banks;
• company registration with the creation of 50 jobs.

After 3 years, securities, shares in funds, enterprises are allowed to be sold. An alternative investment option is to purchase any type of property worth $400,000 or land up to 30 hectares for a period of 5 years. Most foreign citizens first apply for a residence permit through the purchase of villas, apartments, and commercial real estate. In 2024, the authorities increased the amount of the investment to $200,000. After an expert assessment, foreigners were issued tokens according to TAPU, a document on the right to property.

Family reunion

Temporary residences for a period of 36 months with a possible extension are issued on the basis of Articles 34 and 37 of Law No. 6458. This type is claimed by foreigners whose family members are residents or citizens of the Republic of Turkey. Spouses and family members of foreigners with refugee status, parents, and minor heirs from first marriages also apply for reunification. According to the legislation, the receiving party, in addition to the standard package, is required to provide a financial report proving financial viability, documents confirming kinship.

Transition from residence permit to permanent residence

The laws of the country allow you to become permanent residents after 3-8 years of residence according to the plan. The time of receipt depends on the method of legalization. Holders of Turquoise cards apply for permanent residence after 3 years, investors immediately become citizens, bypassing the naturalization stage.

Requirements for registration of permanent residence:

• no criminal record, fines or tax debts;
• proof of continuous residence in the territory;
• medical insurance policy;
• basic knowledge of the language;
• financial stability.

The last point implies income above the national minimum wage. In January 2025, after the next salary indexation, the amount was 608.44 euros. Applicants submit a package of documents for permanent residence to the migration service 6 months before the end of the IAMET. Visa experts recommend submitting a dossier on prolongation of a residence permit in parallel to insure against refusal.

The reasons for rejecting the petition are listed in Articles 33, 36 and 40 of Law No. 6458. Basic:

• financial insolvency;
• incomplete file;
• mismatch of purpose;
• questionable criminal/tax reputation.

Applicants can appeal the refusal in court with the help of a migration lawyer.

Obtaining permanent residence step by step

Registration of a permanent residence consists of successive stages and begins with obtaining a residence permit. Steps:

1. Choosing a base. Applicants collect dossiers according to their chosen type. To do this, the documents are first translated into Turkish at an accredited bureau and notarized.
2. Submission of the application. At the next stage, applicants register on the e-ikamet portal, fill out a questionnaire with personal information. After completing the specified actions in the personal account, the candidates are assigned an interview date.
3. Visit to the migration office. On the specified date, candidates with original documents and receipts for payment of duties at the Tax Office’s cash desk come to the GOC at the place of registration and submit the dossier for review. Adults and children over the age of 8 undergo biometrics on site.
4. Within 2 months, the authorities report the result or immediately unsubscribe that the card has been sent to the address. You can track the application status on the website by the number assigned by the system in the upper-right corner of the questionnaire.

The application for permanent resident status after 3 or 8 years of residence follows the same algorithm, but the list of documents changes. Contents of the dossier:

• copies of passport pages;
• a scan of the resident card with a notary’s seal;
• a certificate from the place of residence;
• tax number;
• a copy of the TAPU if there is real estate;
• documents for family members;
• A2 language certificate;
• bank statement or salary statement.

The package is considered for up to 3 months. Obtaining permanent residence eliminates the need to repeatedly collect documents for prolongation of a residence permit and pay for the service in the future.

Expenses

Immigration involves considerable expenses. You need to pay a decent amount for paperwork, without paying for the services of migration agents and a realtor. Main articles:

• apostilled transfer – $100;
• notarized bank statement transfer – 505 ₺;
• state duty – $25;
• health insurance – from $60 for applicants under 60 years of age;
• photos – $2.5;
• card payment – 810 ₺;
• registration of imported phones – 45,600 ₺;
• opening an account in VakıfBank and Ziraat Bank without a residence permit card and deposit – 4,500-5,500 ₺.

Cost and standard of living

The local economy is going through an extremely difficult time. The uncontrolled rise in prices for food, machinery, basic necessities, and recreation reduces the standard of living of Turks. The country has increased many times:

• fines;
• import taxes;
• gas and electricity prices;
• rent and real estate;
• legal, medical and services;
• training on a commercial basis.

The economy has been suffering from critically high key interest rates for the past 2 years. For the first time since February 2023, in December 2024, the bank reduced from 50% to 47.5%, then to 45%, but prices in stores continue to rise. Based on data from the Institute of Statistics, the authorities claim that the economy has grown by 3.2%.

Salaries, pensions, and social benefits are raised twice a year in the country. Doctors, lawyers, law enforcement officers, and programmers receive the highest salaries. The problem is that the minimum wage is equal to or lower than the cost of renting housing in megacities, and food costs are rising monthly. According to statistics, 57% of Turks owe credit card payments to banks, and 47% delay mortgage payments.

The best cities to move to

The Turkish Interior Ministry annually updates statistics on the choice of cities by foreigners. Istanbul holds a leading position in terms of the number of immigrants (4.66%). In 2024, 1.1 million legally lived in the territory. foreigners, including 350,000 Syrians. There are many public and private schools, cultural institutions, and jobs in the metropolis.

Izmir is in second place. It is located in the west of the country on the shores of the Aegean Sea. The city attracts with its pleasant climate, European culture, and convenient location. 150,000 relocants live here. There are many student campuses, research institutes, clinics, and cultural facilities in the metropolis. Foreigners are more likely to choose resort cities for recreation and remote work: Antalya (6.7%), Alanya (5.5%), Mersin (4.5%).