Long-Term Residence Permit

This type of permit grants indefinite residency rights to foreigners who have resided in the country for eight consecutive years.

What is a Long-Term Residence Permit?

  • Long-Term Residence Permit, under Law No. 6458, is a type of permit granted to foreigners who have lived continuously in Türkiye for a specific period, granting them the right to reside there indefinitely.

    It is also commonly known as "indefinite residence." Holders of this permit largely enjoy the same rights as Turkish citizens, with the exception of military service, the right to vote and be elected, and the right to hold public office.

Application Requirements

  • Having resided continuously for 8 years (half of the student residency period counts).
  • Not having received social assistance in the last 3 years.
  • Having a sufficient and regular income to support oneself and, if applicable, one's family.
  • Having valid health insurance.
  • Not posing a threat to public order or public safety.
  • Note: Refugees, conditional refugees, subsidiary protection status holders, humanitarian residence permit holders and temporary protection holders are not granted long-term residence permits.

Required Documents

  • Application Form A completed and signed form via the e-Residence system.
  • Biometric Photo Four photographs taken within the last six months, against a white background.
  • Daily Count Document A document obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management or from e-Government, showing a period of 8 years.
  • Criminal Record Criminal record certificates from both the applicant's country and Türkiye.
  • Social Assistance Certificate A document from the Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation stating that the individual has not received social assistance in the last 3 years.
  • Passport Original passport and photocopies of the identification/transaction pages.
  • Previous Residence Permits Original copies and photocopies of previous residence permit documents.
  • Income Certificate Certified document showing regular income for the last 6 months.
  • Health Insurance A valid health insurance policy covering the duration of your stay.

Application Process

01. Online Registration

The application form is completed via the e-Residence system.

2. Document Preparation

All required application documents are prepared, organized, and compiled into a complete file.

3. File Submission

On the day of the appointment, you go to the institution in person with the prepared file.

4. Evaluation

The file is reviewed, and if there are any deficiencies, an additional 30 days are granted.

5. Result

If the result is positive, the card is printed and sent to the address via PTT (Turkish Post).

Rights Provided

  • Permanent residence permit (Card renewed every 5 years)
  • Exemption from military service
  • Protection of insurance rights
  • Equal rights to travel, work, and invest with Turkish citizens

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions during the residence permit application process:

Half of the duration of student residence permits and the full duration of other residence permits are taken into account when calculating the 8-year period.

This license may be revoked if you have been outside of Türkiye for more than one year continuously (excluding education and health) or in cases of threat to public order/security.

Yes, work permit periods are also counted towards the residency period calculation. You can apply once you have completed 8 years.

Depending on the workload, long-term applications may take an average of 3-6 months to process as they require detailed review.