Turkish Residence Permit

Establishing real estate, bank deposits, capital investments, employing 50 people, all investment types, the investor receives a certificate of conformity. The receiving process is the same for all investment types.

After receiving the certificate of conformity, the investor applies for the "investor residence permit" (according to clause j of article 31 of the law no 6458). This is mandatory and this obligation is only for the investor himself. Spouses and children can also apply, but it is not mandatory for these people.

Even if the investor already has a Turkish Residence Permit, it has to change to its type. E.g; The investor, who has a tourist residence permit, has to convert the tourist residence permit into an investor residence permit after receiving the certificate of conformity.

The investor is not required to be in Turkey during the Turkish Residence Permit application. There are approximately 30 types of Turkish Residence Permits (investor, real estate investment (below 250.000 USD), touristic, family, student etc.) in Turkey. In all types of Turkish Residence Permits, the investor must be in Turkey. However, the amended law made an exception for the Investor Turkish Residence Permit. Accordingly, even if the investor is not in Turkey, he/she can apply for a Turkish Residence Permit through his/her attorney. This attorney must be a lawyer who is  registered with the bar association.

As we said, the spouse and children of the investor can also apply for this type of Turkish Residence Permit. But it is not mandatory. If they wish to apply, they must prove their relationship with the investor. Accordingly, the investor's spouse needs to present the marriage certificate; children need to present their birth certificates. These marriage and birth certificates must be certified according to the procedures that we will explain in detail in chapter 9.

Children must be under the age of 18. If children are over 18, they must be a student. Children over the age of 18 must submit a document that includes the estimated date of graduation and that they are students from the school they are studying, certified according to the procedures we will explain in detail in heading 9. Children can benefit from this type of residence permit up to the age of 25, even if they are students.

The investor (or his/her spouse and children) can obtain this residence permit for 5 years at a time. This type of residence permit is renewable. They can get a 5-year residency each time. But we generally recommend taking 1 year, except for students over 18 years old. Because they will become Turkish citizens in a short time.

If the spouse and children want to apply, they have to be in Turkey, unlike the investor. But unlike other types of residence permits, they do not have to go to a residence appointment. The obligation not to attend an appointment for spouses and children is only valid for Istanbul. In other provinces, spouses and children must make an appointment and go to this appointment. They can apply for this type of session through their proxy. This attorney must be a lawyer registered with the bar association.

If the spouse does not request a residence permit but does request a child, the spouse must give a consent letter for the child in accordance with the procedures explained in heading 9.

Required documents for Residence Permit Application

• Application Form – you have to get an appointment from Immigration Office website.,
• Passport Copy – If the applicant applies via attorney at law, the passport has to be translated and notarised.
• 2 piece photos
• Insurance – if the applicant is over 65 or under 18 years old, it is not needed.
• Rent contract OR title deed copy and numarataj – these documents are not necessary in İstanbul. You don't have to prove your residential address in Istanbul but Immigration Officers in other cities ask for these documents. Rental contract has to be notarised. If you reside in your own apartment, you have to present your title deed copy and numarataj document. numarataj is a document which you can get from the Municipality and shows your full address as in the Land Registry.
• Copy of Conformity Letter
• Last Turkish Visa – If the applicant is from a visa free country or never entered in Turkey, it is not necessary.
• Residency Permit Fee
• Power of Attorney – If the applicant is represented by an attorney at law, he/she has to be authorized to submit on the applicant's behalf.
• Marriage certificate – if the applicant is the spouse of the investor, he/she has to present the notarized and translated marriage certificate which is certified according to the procedures which will be explained in detail in heading 9.
• Birth certificate - if the applicant is the child of the investor, he/she has to present the notarized and translated birth certificate which is certified according to the procedures which will be explained in detail in heading 9.
• Consent letter - if the applicant is the child of the investor and his/her non-investor parent does not apply for residency permit, the child has to present the consent letter which is approved according to the procedures which will be explained in detail in heading 9.
• Student certificate - if the applicant is the child of the investor and he/she is over 18 years old, he/she presents the student certificate which is issued according to the procedures which will be explained in detail in heading 9 and contains an estimated graduation date.