Immigration & Residence
Short-Term Residence Permit Turkey | 2026 Guide
Short-term residence permits in Turkey under Law 6458: who can apply, the grounds the law accepts, the income and insurance requirements, and when a permit ends.
If you are planning to live or invest in Turkey, obtaining a short-term residence permit in Turkey is likely your first legal step. Known locally as Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni, this permit allows foreign nationals to reside legally in Turkey for periods of up to two years. Whether you are relocating for business, purchasing property, or simply exploring life as an expat in Istanbul, understanding the current requirements is essential to a smooth application process.
Applications are handled by Turkey's Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) through the provincial governorates, under Law No. 6458 and its Implementing Regulation. In this guide, our Istanbul-based legal team breaks down the eligibility grounds, the financial-means and health-insurance conditions, the property route, and the rules on refusal and time spent abroad that first-time applicants need to know.
Key Takeaways: Short-Term Residence Permit in Turkey 2026
Where to apply: Applications from inside Türkiye go to the governorate and may be filed electronically (Implementing Regulation, Article 19/3–4). The documents required are published by the Presidency on its website (Article 21/1).
Financial means: Your declaration is the starting point; if it is not convincing, you may be asked to show monthly means at least equal to the net minimum wage for the year of application (Implementing Regulation, Article 22/6).
Property route: The property must be a dwelling used as such (Implementing Regulation, Article 28/3), and since Law No. 7533 the Ministry of Interior sets the qualifying nature and value (Article 31/6 of Law No. 6458).
Closed areas: The Presidency may regulate the provinces in which residence permits can be granted, on public-order or public-security grounds (Implementing Regulation, Article 21/15).
Tourism applications: Your declared travel plan is assessed, and documents showing the purpose of your stay may be requested (Implementing Regulation, Article 28/7).
Who Can Apply for a Short-Term Residence Permit in Turkey?
Under Article 31 of Turkish Law No. 6458, the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu), several categories of foreign nationals are eligible for a short-term residence permit. The most common grounds include property ownership, business activities, educational programs, and tourism.
Property Owners
Foreign nationals who own residential property registered in their name at the Land Registry (Tapu Müdürlüğü) may apply for a real estate-based short-term residence permit. Under Article 28/3 of the Implementing Regulation the property must be a dwelling (konut) and must actually be used as one; check its status on the title deed. Commercial properties such as offices or shops do not qualify, regardless of their value.
Business Purposes
Foreigners who will establish commercial connections or set up a business may apply under Article 31/1(c). Employment is different: it needs a work permit (Çalışma İzni) from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and a valid work permit itself counts as a residence permit (Article 27 of Law No. 6458).
Educational and Research Programs
Foreign nationals attending Turkish language courses, exchange programmes under international agreements, or scientific research may also qualify (Article 31/1(h), (d) and (a)). For Turkish language courses, the course provider must hold permission from the Ministry of National Education (Implementing Regulation, Article 28/13).
Short-Term Residence Permit Requirements in Turkey 2026
Income Documentation
The Implementing Regulation takes your own declaration as the starting point for deciding whether you have sufficient and regular means for the stay. If the declaration is not convincing, you may be asked for documents, and the test is monthly means at least equal to the net minimum wage for the year of application; for a family, at least one third of the minimum wage for each member, with a total not below the minimum wage (Article 22/6).
The documents required for each type of application, including renewals, are set by the Presidency of Migration Management and published on its website (Implementing Regulation, Article 21/1). Check the current list on the day you file rather than relying on older checklists.
Real Estate Valuation Threshold
Law No. 6458 does not fix a figure. Since Law No. 7533 of 21 November 2024, Article 31/6 leaves the nature and value of the property that qualifies for a short-term permit to the Ministry of Interior, so the threshold is set administratively and can change. Check the value that applies on the date you apply before you buy with a residence permit in mind; a figure quoted in an older guide may no longer be current.
Have questions about your residence permit application in Turkey? Contact Istanbul Attorneys to discuss your situation: +90 544 809 1942 | Whatsapp
Health Insurance
Valid health insurance covering the whole permit period you request is required, subject to limited exceptions (Implementing Regulation, Article 22/13). Cover under Turkish general health insurance counts. For applications made inside Türkiye, private policies from foreign insurance companies are accepted only if concluded in Türkiye. If you are not covered by general health insurance and ask for a permit of one year or more, a one-year private policy is required, renewed at the end of the year (Article 22/14).
Areas Closed to New Residence Permits
Under Article 21/15 of the Implementing Regulation, the Presidency of Migration Management may regulate the provinces in which residence permits can be granted, on public-order or public-security grounds. Owning property in an area covered by such an arrangement does not by itself secure a permit. Before purchasing property for residence purposes, we strongly advise checking with the provincial directorate of migration management whether the area (mahalle) is open to new residence permit applications.
Common questions about this topic
Who Can Apply for a Short-Term Residence Permit in Turkey?
Article 31/1 of Law No. 6458 lists the grounds. Among them are owning immovable property in Türkiye, establishing commercial connections or a business, tourism, Turkish language courses, exchange programmes under international agreements and scientific research.
Can I work in Turkey with a short-term residence permit?
No. A short-term residence permit does not grant the right to work. To be legally employed in Turkey, you need a separate work permit ( Çalışma İzni ) issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Only the reverse holds: under Article 27 of Law No. 6458, a valid work permit counts as a residence permit.
What happens if my residence permit application is rejected?
The refusal is notified to you, your legal representative or your lawyer, and the notification must explain how to challenge it (Article 25/2 of Law No. 6458). Under Law No. 2577, you may ask the administration to review the decision or bring an annulment lawsuit ( iptal davası ) before the Administrative Court within 60 days of notification; an application to the administration within that period stops the clock (Articles 7 and 11).
Does the property route work per person or per property?
Law No. 6458 does not fix a dollar figure; Article 31/6 leaves the qualifying value to the Ministry of Interior. On who can rely on the property, Article 28/3 of the Implementing Regulation is specific: family members who hold a share in the dwelling, or own it jointly, may apply on this ground themselves, while for family members who are not co-owners the property only counts towards proof of financial means. A separate permit is issued to each foreigner (Article 23/1 of Law No. 6458).
How long can I stay outside Turkey with a residence permit?
Holders of a short-term residence permit should be cautious about extended absences. Under Article 29/1(c) of the Implementing Regulation, a short-term permit is cancelled, or is not granted or extended, if you spent more than 120 days in total outside Türkiye in the last year, unless the absence was for compulsory public service, duty, education or health.
This guide is general information on Turkish law, not legal advice on your own matter. Rules and practice change; check the position before you act.