List of Restricted Neighborhoods for Residence Permit Applications in Turkey

Update, October 2026: as of October 2026, no neighborhood is closed to new residence permit registrations by foreigners; the closures applied from 2022 to 2025 have been lifted. This article describes the rules as they applied during that period. From 2022, the Turkish government restricted residence permit applications in certain neighborhoods with a high concentration of foreign residents. These measures aimed to maintain a balance between the local and foreign populations in specific areas. This article explains their background and what they meant, while they applied, for foreigners looking to apply for a residence permit in Turkey.

The government released official announcements that listed the closed neighborhoods. In 2022, the Neighborhood Closure Announcement by the Immigration Office stated that 1,169 neighborhoods were closed to temporary protection registration, international protection registration, residence permits, temporary protection, or change of residence for foreigners within the scope of international protection and residence permits, with the exception of newborns and nuclear family reunification. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also announced that eight districts in Istanbul, including Küçükçekmece, Başakşehir, Bağcılar, Avcılar, Bahçelievler, Sultangazi, Esenler, and Zeytinburnu, were closed to all residence permit applications. These closures have since been lifted.

The 20% Foreigner Population Rule was the basis for these restrictions. From 1 July 2022, neighborhoods where the foreign population exceeded 20% of the total residents were subject to restrictions: new residence permit applications were not accepted there, and rental contracts at those addresses were not considered as part of the application process. The rule aimed to prevent an excessive concentration of foreigners in certain areas, promoting social integration and cultural balance within neighborhoods.

While the restrictions applied, foreigners planning to apply for a residence permit in Turkey had to take them into account when seeking accommodation: an application based on a rental contract in a restricted area was denied. As of October 2026, no neighborhood is closed to new residence permit registrations by foreigners, and all neighborhoods are open.