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As of mid-November 2025, and based on our direct observations at the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management and the Pendik District Migration Office, we provide here the latest practical guidance on residence permit applications in Türkiye. This information is particularly relevant for legal practitioners, expatriates, and stakeholders involved in administrative compliance.
At the Pendik District Governorate, for documents such as passports, identity cards, work permits, or residence permit cards, the original document is not required, but a photocopy produced directly from a scanner or photocopy machine is mandatory. Scanned documents that are subsequently printed from a computer will not be accepted.
Applicants acting through a proxy or submitting requests without being physically present should take particular care.
Failure to comply may result in significant delays, as bringing only a digital printout of a document may render your application invalid. This requirement currently applies specifically to Pendik and is not yet enforced in other Migration Management offices across Türkiye.
Contrary to widespread belief, tourist residence permits are not categorically rejected at first application.
Rejections typically arise when the application lacks any documentation demonstrating a legitimate tourism purpose under the updated regulations. Applications failing to provide supporting documents for planned tourism activities are generally refused.
Exceptions exist for retirees in Izmir, Antalya, and Mugla, who may submit an apostilled and notarized Turkish translation of proof of income at 1.5 times the net minimum wage. When all required documents, including a motivation letter, are submitted correctly, such applications are generally approved.
In practice, tourist residence permits are usually granted for up to six months. However, applicants demonstrating a monthly income of three times or more the net minimum wage, young age, the presence of children, or advanced age may obtain a one-year permit.
If the supporting spouse holds a work permit, family residence permits must be requested for the spouse and children. In such cases, spouses generally receive six-month permits, and children receive one-year permits. Absence of an apostilled marriage certificate increases the risk of rejection even when bank statements are provided.
Applicants from conflict-affected countries such as Ukraine, Yemen, Libya, and Palestine may receive a two-year residence permit, and are exempt from income declaration requirements.
Exceptional Cases: Certain unique circumstances allow for a tourist residence permit application even when no dedicated category exists.
Examples include situations where the applicant’s supporter is a Turkish citizen, child, parent, or other immediate family member, or when the supporter is a diplomat or consular officer. Each application is evaluated on its individual merits to determine whether an exception applies.
The Pendik office now requires the supporting spouse to attend the appointment in person and provide a signature.
Additionally, foreign spouses must provide a criminal record certificate obtained from their home country, apostilled, and notarized with a Turkish translation if they do not reside in Türkiye with a valid residence permit for over 5 years.
Where the spouse’s country is not a signatory to the apostille convention, the certificate must also be authenticated by the local Governorate.
Other Migration Management offices may accept two biometric photos of the supporting spouse attached to the primary applicant’s file unless specifically requested otherwise.
Failure to provide these documents may lead to extended processing times or cancellation of the residence permit application, with potential overstay risks for the applicant in Türkiye.
Applicants remaining in Türkiye due to ongoing medical treatment may qualify for a residence permit under the following conditions:
Applications outside these categories are generally rejected.
Residence permit applications based on Turkish language courses require enrolment in state-approved, certified programs. Enrollment in private or uncertified courses, even with a valid Turkish Study Visa, may result in application refusal.
The consulate’s issuance of a visa does not override the internal evaluation conducted by Migration Management. Applicants should verify all institutional course details in advance.
No changes have been made to the list of closed neighborhoods since April 2025. Updated information is available through official public channels.
About the author: Kagan Orhan is a human resource and immigration consultancy expert at Expat Solutions Turkey, dedicated to facilitating the adaptation processes of foreigners in Türkiye with expertise and knowledge in managing legal procedures such as residence permit applications, work permits, business establishment, real estate and citizenship processes for foreigners settling in Türkiye with their team of lawyers and consultants
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