Foreigners who intend to stay in Türkiye beyond the period allowed by their visa, who need a visa exemption, or who intend to stay more than ninety days must obtain a residence permit. The governing legislation is the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458.
The important rule for company people first
A work permit issued under Law No. 6735 substitutes for a residence permit. A foreign director, manager or employee who holds a Turkish work permit does not need a separate residence permit. See the work permit guide.
Residence permits matter for the people around that: a shareholder who does not work in Türkiye, family members, and anyone whose presence is not employment-based.
Permit types
Short-term residence permit
Issued for up to two years at a time. Grounds include scientific research, ownership of immovable property, establishing business connections or commercial activity, in-service training, student exchange, tourism, medical treatment, judicial or administrative requirements, language courses and investment.
The "business connections or commercial activity" ground is the usual route for a foreign shareholder or director who is not employed by the Turkish entity.
A residence permit is invalidated if it is not used within six months of issue.
Documents typically required: application form, original and copy of the passport or travel document, biometric photographs, proof of sufficient and sustainable financial resources for the stay, the title deed where the application is property-based, an invitation letter or documents from the person or business to be contacted where the application is business-based, and valid medical insurance.
Medical insurance may be satisfied by proof of access to health services under a bilateral social security agreement, a provision document from SGK, evidence of application to SGK for general health insurance coverage, or private health insurance.
Property-based applications
Family residence permit
Issued for up to three years at a time, and never for longer than the sponsor's own permit. Available to the foreign spouse, minor children and dependent children of a Turkish citizen or of a permit holder.
The sponsor must show health insurance, monthly income of not less than the minimum wage plus one third of the minimum wage per family member, and — where the sponsor is a foreigner — at least one year's residence in Türkiye.
For a foreign executive relocating with a family, this one-year sponsor residence requirement is the constraint that most often surprises people. Plan the family's route at the same time as the employee's, not afterwards.
Long-term residence permit
Issued indefinitely, with no extension application required. Requires:
- Eight years' continuous residence in Türkiye on a residence permit — time on a student permit counts at 50%
- No social assistance received from public institutions in the preceding three years
- Stable and sufficient income
- Valid health insurance
- No public order or security objection
Other types
Student, humanitarian and victim-of-human-trafficking permits complete the statutory list.
Digital nomad visa
Introduced in 2024 for remote workers employed by or contracting with non-Turkish companies. Published requirements include a passport valid at least six months from arrival, a university degree or certificate, proof of digital nomad employment or a self-employment agreement with non-Turkish companies, a biometric photograph and a stated monthly income threshold. Pre-application runs through the official digital nomad platform.
Two practical points worth checking before you commit
Address registration restrictions. From 2022 the migration authority closed certain neighbourhoods — those where the concentration of foreign residents exceeded a threshold — to new residence registrations and address changes, particularly in Istanbul and Antalya. There have been widely reported changes to these restrictions during 2026, but we have not been able to confirm them against an official announcement. If your staff are relocating to a specific district, confirm its current status before they sign a lease.
Timing against the work permit. Where a work permit application is made from inside Türkiye, it requires an existing residence permit with at least six months remaining. Where it is made from abroad, no prior residence permit is needed. Which route you take changes the sequence and the elapsed time considerably.
Citizenship by investment
Foreigners meeting thresholds set by Presidential Decision — covering fixed capital investment, property acquisition subject to a resale restriction, job creation, bank deposits, government bonds, or real estate and venture capital investment fund shares — may acquire Turkish citizenship by Presidential decision. Turquoise Card holders are also eligible.
The thresholds have been revised more than once since the regime was introduced, and the property threshold in particular has moved. Do not rely on a figure published in an older guide, here or anywhere else — confirm the current amount before structuring anything around it.