Republic of Türkiye · residence general · Leads to settlement

Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit

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Source check: all 10 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Indefinite residence permit for foreigners who have lived continuously in Türkiye for at least eight years on valid residence permits.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyIndefinite, subject to the conditions of the permit.
Processing time
Indicative: assessed by the Presidency of Migration Management; confirm current timeframes via e-ikamet.
Government fees
Indicative: residence-permit and card fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official fee page.
Typical duration
Indefinite, subject to the conditions of the permit.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit for Republic of Türkiye is an unsponsored Turkey immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Türkiye government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/turkey/long-term-residence#answer

What is the Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit in Republic of Türkiye?

Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit is an unsponsored Turkey route. Indicative government fees are Indicative: residence-permit and card fees apply; confirm current amounts on the official fee page; indicative processing time is Indicative: assessed by the Presidency of Migration Management; confirm current timeframes via e-ikamet; typical duration is Indefinite, subject to the conditions of the permit. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Presidency of Migration Management (Türkiye) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

The long-term residence permit is granted by the Presidency of Migration Management to foreigners who have resided continuously in Türkiye for at least eight years on valid residence permits. It is issued indefinitely and grants near-equal rights to Turkish citizens, except for voting, military service, public employment and certain other reserved areas. Applicants must not have received social assistance in the preceding period, must have sufficient and stable income, valid health insurance, and not pose a threat to public order or security.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm eight years of residence

    Verify you have eight years of continuous lawful residence on valid permits and meet the income and insurance conditions.

  2. Apply via e-ikamet

    Lodge the long-term residence permit application online through the Presidency of Migration Management e-ikamet system.

  3. Attend appointment and submit documents

    Provide residence history, income evidence, health insurance and the passport.

  4. Receive the indefinite permit

    On approval, hold the long-term residence permit indefinitely, subject to its conditions.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit.

    Presidency of Migration Management (Türkiye) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How long must I live in Turkey for long-term residence?+

You must have resided continuously in Türkiye for at least eight years on valid residence permits, alongside income, health-insurance and public-order conditions. Confirm the current requirements on the official Presidency of Migration Management page.

What rights does long-term residence grant?+

The long-term residence permit grants near-equal rights to Turkish citizens, except for voting, military service, public employment and certain other areas reserved to citizens. It is issued indefinitely subject to its conditions.

Can my years on a work or short-term permit count toward Turkey's long-term residence permit?+

Yes. Long-term residence requires at least eight years of continuous residence on valid residence permits, and the route is suitable for residents converting from short-term, family or work permits. You also need stable income, valid health insurance, no reliance on social assistance, and no public-order concerns.

What can break the eight-year clock for Turkey's long-term residence permit?+

Breaks in continuous residence that interrupt the eight-year qualifying period are a listed blocker, as is relying on social assistance or lacking sufficient stable income. Refugee, conditional refugee, subsidiary or temporary protection status is also excluded from this permit.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Turkey

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Presidency of Migration Management (Türkiye)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology