How to obtain and apply for a residence permit or permanent residence in Turkey if you want to immigrate:
1. Determine the purpose of your move.
2. Study the requirements for obtaining a residence permit (RP) or permanent residence (PR).
3. Gather the necessary documents.
4. Submit an application to the Turkish migration service.
5. Wait for your application to be processed and a decision to be made.

Ways to obtain residence permit and permanent residence in Turkey

Immigration to Turkey is a rather complicated process. However, there are several ways to stay in this country:

Work or study

When coming to the country for work or study, you don't have to worry about the residence permit (ikamet) – this issue should be handled by the employer, who applies to the Migration Service office in Turkey, or the institution that admits you for training.

Do not confuse the residence permit with the work permit – these are different documents. The work permit is issued by the employer separately and it can be indefinite. A work permit in Turkey can be obtained at the request of a local employer. For residents of the former USSR countries, the work permit is issued for 1 year and then extended for 2 years.

Buying real estate in Turkey

When buying real estate, immigration to Turkey can have great prospects, the residence permit for real estate provides most of the civil rights. This type of residence permit does not automatically give the right to work for hire – you need to obtain an employment permit additionally. But you can open your own business in Turkey without restrictions or receive passive income, for example, from renting out real estate. After five years of living in Turkey with a residence permit, you can submit a package of documents for citizenship by naturalization (you will have to pass a Turkish language exam).

The certificate of ownership of an apartment or house (TAPU) is the most common way to acquire a residence permit. At the place of real estate ownership, you must apply to the Security Directorate for a residence permit, which will have to be renewed every two years.

According to the new rules that came into force on September 19, 2018, when buying real estate worth $250,000 or more, any foreigner has the right to request citizenship of the country.

Marriage

Shorter deadlines for obtaining Turkish citizenship are set for those foreigners who have married a citizen of Turkey. After registering the marriage, you must apply for the desire to obtain local citizenship, and already after 3 years you can become a full-fledged citizen of Turkey. Even after divorcing, a person does not lose Turkish citizenship. Do not enter into a fictitious marriage – the police monitor newlyweds and interview neighbors about cohabitation.

Business

You can also open your own business in the country, which will also be the basis for requesting a residence permit.

By investing $500,000 in production or business in Turkey, or by creating 50 jobs, or if a foreigner deposits $500,000 in a Turkish bank, in such cases any foreigner has the right to apply for citizenship.

To retain citizenship, assets in Turkey must remain in the foreigner's ownership for at least three years.

In the Republic of Turkey, dual citizenship is permitted, which means that upon obtaining allegiance, there is no need to provide papers on termination or renunciation of one's previous citizenship.

For citizens of Belarus who acquired Turkish citizenship after August 17, 2002 (inclusive), in accordance with the current Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Citizenship of the Republic of Belarus", the acquisition of foreign citizenship by Belarusian citizens does not entail the loss of Belarusian citizenship.

Family reunification.

If your close relative is legally residing in Turkey or has citizenship, you can obtain a residence permit.

Residence permit

Issued to refugees and victims of human trafficking.

Tourist residence permit.

If you plan to stay in the country for more than 3 months within a year, you must apply for a tourist residence permit. Renting an apartment in Turkey gives you the right to request an ikamet for 1 year. After this period, you must decide whether you will tie your fate to the Republic of Turkey – find a job or purchase real estate. Since January 1, 2020, Belarusians have not been able to extend their tourist residence permit.

In addition to the above reasons, you can obtain a residence permit if you:

• are an adult accompanying a minor child for studies;
• need long-term medical care;
• adopt a citizen of Turkey.

The only official source of information on the conditions for obtaining a residence permit is the website of the migration service of the Republic of Turkey.

Rights granted by a residence permit (ikamet) in Turkey

• receive treatment in local hospitals with insurance.
• buy a car or other vehicle, get local driver's license.
• apply for loans and mortgages on the same terms as Turkish citizens.
• enroll a child in a public school.
• become a tax resident of Turkey and pay taxes on an equal footing with local residents.