Short-Term Residence Permit in Turkey
A visa or visa exemption lets you stay in Turkey for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. To stay longer, for tourism, business connections, property ownership or a language course, you need a short-term residence permit.
In short
A visa or visa exemption allows at most 90 days in any 180-day period in Turkey; longer stays need a residence permit. A short-term residence permit covers purposes such as tourism, business connections, property ownership and Turkish language courses. Applications are made online through e-ikamet, followed by an appointment, and the authority may take up to 90 days to decide. We match the purpose to your documents and prepare the file.
By Burak Ünal, licensed real estate broker · Updated
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- Visa-free stays
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period; some nationalities get 30 or 60 days; longer stays need a residence permitSource: Göç İdaresi, goc.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Purposes
- Tourism, business connections, property ownership, a Turkish language course and other purposes set by Law No. 6458Source: goc.gov.tr (Law No. 6458) (opens in a new tab)
- Residence permit
- Residential property with a title deed sale price of at least USD 200,000, for property bought from 16 October 2023Source: Göç İdaresi, goc.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Application
- Online at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr, followed by an appointmentSource: e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Decision time
- Up to 90 days; times vary by provinceSource: Göç İdaresi, istanbul.goc.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Overstay
- Up to 3 months, with voluntary exit and the fine paid: no entry ban; longer overstays lead to entry bans from 1 month to 5 yearsSource: Göç İdaresi, goc.gov.tr (opens in a new tab)
- Long-term permit
- After at least 8 years of continuous residence on permits (Law No. 6458, Art. 42)Source: goc.gov.tr (Law No. 6458) (opens in a new tab)
Each figure links to its official source. Rules change, so we confirm the current position before you act.
Who it is for
- Foreigners who want to stay in Turkey longer than 90 days in any 180-day period
- Visitors who want a longer stay to travel or to prepare a move
- Business visitors building contacts in Turkey without working here
- Owners of residential property and students of a Turkish language course
When you need a residence permit
A stay granted by a visa or a visa exemption may not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period, counted on a rolling basis, and some nationalities get shorter allowances, such as 30 or 60 days. Anyone who wants to stay longer must obtain a residence permit. Apply while your current legal stay is still valid.
Common purposes
- Tourism: a longer stay to travel or to get to know the country before a move. These applications are examined closely, and a file whose documents do not support the purpose can be refused.
- Business connections: meetings, market research and setting up business contacts, without working in Turkey. Employment needs a work permit.
- Property ownership: for owners of residential property; see the residence permit for property owners (USD 200,000 for property bought from 16 October 2023).
- Turkish language course: for students of a Turkish language course; see the Turkish language course visa.
Law No. 6458 sets out other purposes as well, and remote workers can look at the digital nomad visa. We check which purpose fits your plans and your documents before you apply.
Who it does not suit
- Anyone who wants to work in Turkey: employment needs a work permit.
- Spouses and children of Turkish citizens or of permit holders, who can look at the family residence permit.
- Students enrolled at a university, who apply for a student residence permit.
- Foreigners with 8 years or more of continuous residence on permits, who may qualify for a long-term residence permit.
The application
The application is made online at e-ikamet, followed by an appointment at the provincial migration directorate, where the documents are submitted. The authority may take up to 90 days to decide, and times vary by province; Istanbul has had appointment backlogs. The permit is issued for a set period and must be renewed before it expires if you want to stay longer.
If you overstay
Overstaying a visa, a visa exemption or a permit leads to a fine and, for longer overstays, an entry ban. Under the migration authority's table, a foreigner who overstays by up to 3 months, leaves voluntarily and pays the fine gets no entry ban. With the fine paid, longer overstays lead to a ban by length: 1 month for 3 to 6 months, 3 months for 6 months to 1 year, 1 year for 1 to 2 years, 2 years for 2 to 3 years and 5 years for more than 3 years. If the fine is not paid at exit, a ban is imposed and entry is refused until the debt is paid. The fine and the ban are set at the border, so no outcome can be promised. Our entry ban calculator gives an estimate.
Costs
The state fees for the permit and the card, the health insurance premium and any translations or notarisations are paid separately; we confirm the current amounts for your case. Our own fees are not published: contact us for fees, questions and service scope.
Common reasons for refusal or delay
- A purpose that the documents do not support, especially for tourism.
- No valid proof of an address in Turkey, such as a notarised rental agreement or a title deed.
- Health insurance that does not meet the requirements.
- Insufficient proof of financial means.
- Applying after the legal stay has ended.
Guides
- The residence permit application, step by step
- Tourist residence permits in practice
- What to do after a tourist permit refusal
- Address documents for the residence permit
- Visa overstay penalties
Book a consultation or message us on WhatsApp: tell us why and for how long you want to stay, and we will tell you which permit fits.
How the process works
Purpose and eligibility
We check which purpose fits your plans and whether your documents support it.
Documents
We prepare the list with you: address, health insurance, proof of financial means, photographs and the documents for your purpose.
e-ikamet application
The application is filed online while your stay is legal, and the appointment is booked.
Appointment
The documents are submitted at the provincial migration directorate; we prepare you for the appointment.
Decision and card
The authority may take up to 90 days to decide; the permit card is then delivered by post.
Renewal
If you want to stay longer, the renewal is filed online before the permit expires; we track the dates.
Documents checklist
- Valid passport, with a copy
- Biometric photographs
- Proof of an address in Turkey, such as a notarised rental agreement or a title deed
- Health insurance valid in Turkey
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Documents showing the purpose of your stay, such as a business invitation or a course enrolment
Your full list depends on your situation; we prepare it with you.
Updated
The information on this page is general and is not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules, amounts and procedures change; contact us to confirm the current requirements before you act.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in Turkey without a residence permit?
A visa or visa exemption allows at most 90 days in any 180-day period, counted on a rolling basis. Some nationalities get shorter allowances, such as 30 or 60 days. Longer stays need a residence permit.
Can I work with a short-term residence permit?
No. A short-term residence permit is not a work permit; employment in Turkey needs a work permit.
How long does a decision take?
The authority may take up to 90 days to decide on an application filed through e-ikamet. Actual times vary by province, and Istanbul has had appointment backlogs.
Is a tourist residence permit still possible?
Yes, tourism is one of the purposes. These applications are examined closely, and a file whose documents do not support the purpose can be refused, so we review your file before you apply.
What happens if I overstay?
A foreigner who overstays by up to 3 months, leaves voluntarily and pays the fine gets no entry ban. Longer overstays lead to an entry ban set by the length of the overstay, from 1 month to 5 years, and an unpaid fine leads to a ban until it is paid. The fine and the ban are set at the border.
Can a short-term residence permit be renewed?
In general yes, if the conditions still apply; file the renewal online before the current permit expires. Some types, such as the Turkish language course permit, can be renewed only a limited number of times.
Does a short-term permit count towards a long-term permit?
Yes. Years on residence permits count towards the 8 years of continuous residence needed for a long-term residence permit; periods on a student permit count at half.
Related services
- Residence Permit by Property OwnershipA residence permit for owners of residential property: USD 200,000 on the title deed for property bought from 16 October 2023.
- Family Residence PermitFor the foreign spouse and children of a Turkish citizen or of a foreigner living in Turkey on a permit.
- Turkish Language Course VisaVisa and residence permit for students of Turkish language courses in Istanbul.
- Turkish Work PermitWork permits for foreigners employed by a company in Turkey.
Other residence permits
Client reviews
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“I have been applying through Gordion Partners for the past five years, and they have always been incredibly helpful and professional. They are honest, friendly, and truly care about their clients. The team is always up to date with the latest government regulations, which makes the entire process smooth and stress-free. When it comes to applying for my kimlik, I completely trust them. They are reliable, kind, and genuinely supportive throughout the whole process. I highly recommend their services to anyone looking for trustworthy and professional assistance.”
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