Unofficial English translation for information only. In case of discrepancy, the Turkish text prevails. This translation is not legal advice.
Turkish source: Law No. 6458, Official Gazette 11/04/2013, No. 28615. Turkish text as published on mevzuat.gov.tr, checked on 26 October 2026: mevzuat.gov.tr
PART TWO – Foreigners
CHAPTER TWO – Residence
Article 19 – Residence permit
(1) Foreign nationals who will stay in Türkiye for longer than the period granted by a visa or visa exemption, or for more than ninety days, are required to obtain a residence permit. A residence permit shall cease to be valid if its use is not commenced within six months.
Article 20 – Exemption from residence permits
(1) The following foreign nationals are exempt from residence permits:
a) Those arriving with a visa or visa-exempt for up to ninety days, for the duration of the visa or visa exemption
b) Holders of a Stateless Person Identity Document
c) Diplomatic and consular officers serving in Türkiye
ç) Those notified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from among the family members of diplomatic and consular officers serving in Türkiye
d) Those working at the representations of international organisations in Türkiye whose status is determined by agreements
e) Those exempt from residence permits under agreements to which the Republic of Türkiye is a party.
f) Those falling within the scope of Article 28 of Law No. 5901
g) Holders of documents under the first paragraphs of Articles 76 and 83[10]
(2) A document whose form and content are jointly determined by the Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be issued to the foreign nationals specified in subparagraphs (c), (ç), (d) and (e) of the first paragraph. If these foreign nationals are to continue staying in Türkiye after the circumstances granting them exemption from residence permits have ended, they shall be required to apply to the governorships for a residence permit within ten days at the latest.
Article 21 – Application for a residence permit
(1) An application for a residence permit shall be made to the consulates in the country of which the foreign national is a citizen or in which they are legally present.
(2) Foreign nationals applying for a residence permit shall be required to hold a passport or a document replacing a passport valid for sixty days longer than the requested residence permit period.
(3) If the information and documents required for the application are incomplete, assessment of the application may be postponed until the deficiencies are remedied. The applicant shall be notified of the missing information and documents.
(4) The consulates shall forward applications for residence permits to the Directorate General together with their opinions. Where deemed necessary, the Directorate General shall also obtain the opinions of the relevant institutions and, after concluding its assessment of the applications, inform the consulate for issuance of the residence permit or rejection of the application.
(5) Applications shall be concluded within ninety days at the latest.
(6) Actions concerning rejection of an application for a residence permit shall be served on the person concerned.
(7) (Added: 28/7/2016-6735/27 art.) (Amended:6/12/2019-7196/72 art.) Applications for residence permits may also be made by an authorised intermediary institution. Where deemed necessary by the Ministry of Interior, authorised intermediary institutions that will provide residence permit brokerage services may be appointed (…)11 under contracts valid for a maximum of three years, provided that the residence permit brokerage service fee (…)[11] is transferred to the general budget. (Third and fourth sentences annulled: By the Constitutional Court’s Decision dated 25/1/2023 and numbered E: 2020/30, K: 2023/12.) (…)11 is authorised to record the share to be collected as special revenue in the general budget and to allocate special appropriations to the relevant budget items of the ministry.
Article 22 – Applications for residence permits that may be made from within Türkiye
(1) Applications for residence permits may exceptionally also be made to the governorships in the following cases:
a) Pursuant to decisions or requests of judicial or administrative authorities
b) Where it is not reasonable or possible for the foreign national to leave Türkiye
c) For long-term residence permits
ç) For student residence permits
d) For humanitarian residence permits
e) For residence permits for victims of human trafficking
f) When transitioning from a family residence permit to a short-term residence permit
g) For applications made by a mother or father holding a residence permit in Türkiye for their children born in Türkiye
ğ) For applications to obtain a residence permit suitable for the new purpose of stay due to the reason forming the basis for the issuance of a valid residence permit having ended or changed
h) For applications for residence permits under the second paragraph of Article 20
ı) When transitioning to a short-term residence permit by those who have completed their higher education in Türkiye
Article 23 – Issuance and form of residence permits
(1) Residence permits shall be issued separately for each foreign national, for a period sixty days shorter than the validity period of their passport or document replacing a passport, and in accordance with the purpose of stay.
(2) The form and content of a residence permit shall be determined by the Ministry, while the form and content of a work permit replacing a residence permit shall be jointly determined by the Ministry and the relevant institutions.
Article 24 – Extension of residence permits
(1) Residence permits may be extended by the governorships.
(2) Applications for extension shall be made to the governorships starting sixty days before the expiry of the residence permit and, in all cases, before the residence permit expires. A document not subject to a fee shall be issued to those applying to extend their residence permit. These foreign nationals may reside in Türkiye with this document until a decision is made concerning them, even if their residence permits have expired.
(3) Extended residence permits shall commence as of the date on which the lawful permitted periods expire.
(4) Applications for extension shall be concluded by the governorships.
Article 25 – Rejection of residence permit applications made from within Türkiye, cancellation or non-extension of residence permits
(1) Rejection of a residence permit application made from within Türkiye, non-extension or cancellation of a residence permit, and service of these actions shall be carried out by the governorships. During these actions, matters such as the foreign national’s family ties in Türkiye, duration of residence, situation in the country of origin and the best interests of the child shall be taken into consideration, and the decision concerning the residence permit may be postponed.
(2) Rejection of a residence permit application, non-extension or cancellation of the permit shall be served on the foreign national or their legal representative or lawyer. The notification shall also state how the foreign national may effectively exercise their rights to object to the decision and their other legal rights and obligations in this process.
Article 26 – Other provisions concerning residence permits
(1) Periods spent in prisons by foreign nationals held in detention on remand or serving a sentence, or in removal centres under administrative detention, shall not be considered a violation of the residence permit period. Any residence permits held by these persons may be cancelled. Foreign nationals among them who do not have a foreigner identification number may be issued one without requiring a residence permit.
(2) Foreign nationals arriving in Türkiye after obtaining residence and work permits from consulates shall have their registrations made in the address registration system within twenty working days at the latest from their date of entry.
Article 27 – A work permit being deemed a residence permit
(1) A valid work permit and the Work Permit Exemption Confirmation Document issued pursuant to Article 10 of the Law on Work Permits of Foreign Nationals No. 4817 dated 27/2/2003 shall be deemed a residence permit. (Repealed second sentence: 28/7/2016-6735/27 art.)
(2) In order for a work permit to be issued or extended, the foreign national must not fall within the scope of Article 7.
Article 28 – Interruption of residence
(1) For the implementation of the provisions of this Law, absences from Türkiye exceeding a total of six months in one year or a total of one year within the last five years shall be considered an interruption of residence, except for compulsory public service, education and health reasons. For those whose residence has been interrupted, previous permit periods shall not be taken into account in applications for a residence permit or when transitioning to another residence permit.
(2) In calculating uninterrupted residence permit periods, half of the periods covered by student residence permits and the full periods covered by other residence permits shall be counted.
Article 29 – Transitions between residence permits
(1) Where the reason forming the basis for the issuance of a residence permit has ended or a different reason has arisen, foreign nationals may request a residence permit suitable for their new purpose of stay.
(2) The procedures and principles concerning transitions between residence permits shall be regulated by a regulation.
Article 30 – Types of residence permits
(1) The types of residence permits are as follows:
a) Short-term residence permit
b) Family residence permit
c) Student residence permit
ç) Long-term residence permit
d) Humanitarian residence permit
e) Residence permit for victims of human trafficking