The procedure for extending a residence permit in Turkey

After the expiration of the visa-free regime, foreigners need to legalize in Turkey in order to legally stay in the country. In the case of an illegal stay in the Republic of Turkey, you risk being expelled from its borders and, with a high probability, re-entry will be closed to you. Therefore, one should be extremely careful in the issue of legalization and take into account absolutely all the nuances.

We remind you that for Russian citizens the period of visa-free stay in Turkey is 60 days, for Belarusians - 30 days, for Ukrainians - 90 days. In the future, you will need to apply for a Turkish residence permit, which subsequently must be renewed in a timely manner. How to do this and what documents to extend the ikamet you need to submit to the Migration Service - we understand in detail.

The required package of documents for a residence permit in Turkey

To extend the existing ikamet, you need to prepare the same documents as what and on getting:

• birth and marriage certificates;
• 2 biometric photos;
• health insurance valid for the entire duration of the residence permit;
• a bank statement showing the availability of funds in your account;
• scanned copy of the passport;
• a copy of the current ikamet;
• receipt of payment for the service;
• registration, which you had to apply for the initial residence permit;
• you also need to have your original passport and valid ikamet with you.

If you are renewing ikamet for renting an apartment, you should know that you do not need to attach a rental agreement. Under the new rules, registration is provided through the e-Devlet website, and your contract is automatically extended for 5 years.

But if the owner officially notifies you 2 months before the end of the contract that he is selling real estate or he will live in this apartment himself, then naturally you will have to move out. If the owner did not send you such a paper, then the contract is automatically extended for a year. And such a scheme will operate from year to year for 5 years. The main thing is to pay the rent on time and keep the receipt.

So, you now know what documents are needed to extend the Ikamet in Turkey. It is also important to understand that by renting you will receive a tourist residence permit for a period of 6 months. If you are a real estate owner, it matters how much your property is valued. The estimated cost of the apartment is less than $75,000 - get a tourist ikamet, more than $75,000 - you can get a TAPU residence permit for a period of 1-2 years, provided that your valid passport is still valid for at least 2 years. It is important to note that in order to obtain ikamet by TAPU, it is not a cadastral assessment that is important, but an expert one.

Basics for extending a residence permit in Turkey

Foreign citizens can obtain and extend an ikamet in Turkey on objective grounds:

• acquisition of Turkish apartments;
• treatment in medical centers;
• training in higher educational institutions of the country;
• official employment and doing business, etc.

From January 1, 2020, it is impossible to extend the ikamet for tourism purposes. According to the amendment, it is not possible to obtain a residence permit in Turkey twice on the same grounds. The innovation applies to citizens of Europe, China, Russia and Slovenia.

Ikamet recommends applying for an extension 2 months before the end of your current residence permit. It is important to adhere to the conditions of Turkish migration law and take into account the excessive loading of the official website of the Turkish Migration Service due to the huge number of applications. Then you will fill out an electronic application for ikamet in a timely manner.

After the extension of ikamet, you must notify the Migration Service of all important changes: change of address, surname, marriage. New data must be submitted within 15 days. In case of violation of the deadlines, penalties and deportation from the country are provided.

How much does it cost to renew ikamet

When applying for an extension of a residence permit in Turkey, it is necessary to take into account the current costs:

• scan copy of passport — ₺3;
• photo — up to ₺50;
• insurance — from ₺2,000;
• postal services — ₺70;
• State duty — ₺500–1,700, depends on citizenship.
• making an ikamet card — ₺400.

Insurance for people over 65 and children under 18 is optional!

You will see the total amount of all expenses as soon as you will fill out an electronic form. Card production time, on average, is up to 30 business days.

The path to Turkish citizenship through a residence permit

The easiest way is to buy a property worth at least $75,000 and apply for a Turkish residence permit based on TAPU. It is important to make a registration at the address of the purchased apartment and clarify that the object is not located in an area closed to residence permits. For example, in Alanya foreigners are not given ikamet in Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar and Kargicak.

The restrictions do not apply to obtaining citizenship for investments in real estate from $400,000. In this case, Turkish citizenship is issued within 6 months without passing the Turkish language and the need for permanent residence in the country.

To apply for a Turkish passport by ikamet, you need to live in Turkey for 5 years and renew your residence permit in a timely manner. In total, during this period you can be absent from the country for 180 days. After 5 years, you can apply for citizenship, having thoroughly prepared for the Turkish language test.

The prospect of living on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey attracts many foreigners for a number of reasons, including obtaining a residence permit and citizenship. Contact our specialists, and they will select a property for you according to your goals and budget and legally support the transaction.