Paylaş: Long-Term Residence Permit Requirements in Turkey
A long-term residence permit is a permanent residence permit granted to foreigners who have resided in Turkey for at least 8 consecutive years with a valid residence permit or who meet the conditions set by the Ministry of Interior's Migration Policy Board. This permit is approved by the Ministry and issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM).
Foreigners holding this permit do not need to renew it annually or biennially. It provides a stable residency status for qualified foreigners.
Eligibility Requirements for a Long-Term Residence Permit
Continuous Residence in Turkey for at Least Eight Years
Foreigners must have resided in Turkey for at least 8 uninterrupted years with a valid residence permit to qualify for a long-term residence permit.
- Student residence permit durations count as half, while other residence permits count fully toward the 8-year requirement.
Calculation of Eight-Year Uninterrupted Residence
a. Residence Duration Calculation
The calculation is based on the date of application. Any time spent abroad or in Turkey without a valid residence permit is considered an interruption.
b. Annual Period Check
From the date of application, the foreigner’s residence history is checked for each 1-year period, ensuring that there are no interruptions exceeding 180 days within any one-year timeframe. This process continues until the 8-year period is completed.
c. 5-Year Period Check
If there are no interruptions exceeding 180 days in one-year periods, the total interruptions within the last 5 years are then reviewed, ensuring that they do not exceed 365 days in total.
d. Interruptions of 6 Months or More
If the foreigner spends more than 6 consecutive months abroad or in Turkey without a residence permit, either consecutively or separately, the application is rejected without further calculation.
e. Exclusion of Deportation Periods
Residence periods prior to any deportation decision are not included in the calculation of the 8-year requirement.
Additional Requirements for Long-Term Residence Permit
No Social Assistance in the Last Three Years
The applicant should not have received any social assistance in the last three years.
- If the applicant has received social assistance within the past 3 years, the application will be rejected.
Sufficient and Stable Income
The applicant must demonstrate sufficient and stable financial resources to support themselves and their family members.
- The applicant must have an income not less than the net minimum wage applicable in the application year.
- For each family member, the applicant must demonstrate an income of at least 1/3 of the minimum wage.
- Income sources from third-party guarantees are not accepted.
Valid Health Insurance
The applicant must have valid health insurance coverage.
No Threat to Public Order or Security
The applicant must not pose a threat to public order or security. If necessary, the applicant’s security status will be reviewed in coordination with relevant security agencies.
Exceptions by Migration Policy Board
For foreigners who meet special conditions set by the Migration Policy Board, only the public order or security requirement is considered, while other criteria are waived.
