Long-Term Residence Permit
Indefinite Right of Residence for Foreign Nationals Who Have Lawfully Resided in Türkiye for at Least 8 Years
Foreign nationals who have lived lawfully in Türkiye for a long time may apply for a long-term residence permit if they meet the conditions set out in the law.
Unlike other residence permits, the long-term residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. However, merely having been in Türkiye for eight years is not sufficient. The applicant's residence history, periods spent outside Türkiye, income situation, history of social assistance, health insurance and standing in terms of public order are assessed together.
Canaydın Law Firm provides legal services on assessing eligibility for a long-term residence permit in advance, calculating the eight-year residence period, reviewing entry-exit records abroad, preparing the application file and following up the process.
Who Can Apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit?
Foreign nationals who have stayed in Türkiye on a residence permit continuously for at least eight years may apply for a long-term residence permit, provided they also meet the other statutory conditions.
In calculating the eight-year period, it is not sufficient to look only at the start and end dates of the residence cards. The periods the applicant has spent outside Türkiye and past residence statuses must also be reviewed.
Half of the periods spent on a student residence permit and the whole of the periods spent under other residence permits are included in the calculation.
Conditions for the Long-Term Residence Permit
In general, the applicant:
01 — Has lived in Türkiye on a residence permit continuously for at least 8 years
02 — Has not received social assistance within the last 3 years
03 — Has sufficient and regular income to support themselves and, if applicable, their family
04 — Holds valid health insurance
05 — Does not pose a threat to public order or public security
When assessing whether the eight-year residence requirement is met, the entry and exit records for Türkiye must be examined in detail.
How Is the Continuous 8 Years Calculated?
One of the most important stages of the long-term residence permit is the correct calculation of the eight-year continuous residence period.
In the assessment, the residence history counted back from the application date and the periods spent outside Türkiye are reviewed. Long-term or frequent departures abroad in particular may affect the eligibility of the application.
For this reason, before applying for a long-term residence permit, it is important to assess together all past residence permits, work permit periods, student residence periods, entries into and exits from Türkiye, and periods spent without a residence permit.
Who Cannot Switch to a Long-Term Residence Permit?
Under the law:
- Holders of refugee status
- Holders of conditional refugee status
- Holders of subsidiary protection status
- Holders of a humanitarian residence permit
- Foreign nationals under temporary protection
For How Many Years Is the Long-Term Residence Permit Valid?
The long-term residence permit is issued for an indefinite period.
In this respect, it differs from short-term, family or student residence permits and does not require applying to extend the residence permit at regular intervals.
Rights Granted by the Long-Term Residence Permit
Foreign nationals holding a long-term residence permit may benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens in many respects, without prejudice to the provisions of special laws. However, a long-term residence permit:
- Does not mean Turkish citizenship
- Does not grant the right to vote and to stand for election
- Does not grant the right to enter public service
- Does not give rise to military service obligations
As for the right of a foreign national holding a long-term residence permit to work, the rules in the employment legislation apply separately.
Can the Long-Term Residence Permit Be Canceled?
Yes. The fact that it is issued for an indefinite period does not mean that a long-term residence permit can never be canceled under any circumstances.
The long-term residence permit may be canceled in particular where the foreign national poses a serious threat to public order or public security, or stays outside Türkiye continuously for more than one year, other than under the exceptions provided for in the law, such as health, education and compulsory public service in the person's own country.
For this reason, even after obtaining a long-term residence permit, the legal consequences of extended stays abroad should be taken into account.
What Do We Review Before the Application?
Before a long-term residence permit application, we review in particular:
Total period of lawful residence in Türkiye
Which residence permits the stay was under
Periods with a student residence permit
Periods spent on a work permit
Türkiye entry and exit records
Periods spent abroad during the last eight years
Income and social assistance status
Health insurance status
Services We Provide as Canaydın Law Firm
In connection with the long-term residence permit:
Assessment of application eligibility
Calculation of the 8-year residence period
Review of entry-exit records
Assessment of previous residence and work permits
Determination of the required documents
Preparation of the e-Residence (e-İkamet) application
Preparation of the application file
Follow-up of the process before the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management
Responding to requests for additional documents
Legal assessment of refusal or cancellation decisions
Are You Eligible for a Long-Term Residence Permit?
If you have been residing in Türkiye for many years, before applying it is important to calculate together your eight-year residence history and the periods you have spent outside Türkiye, rather than looking only at the durations of your residence cards.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Can Apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit?
Foreign nationals who have stayed in Türkiye on a residence permit continuously for at least eight years may apply for a long-term residence permit, provided they also meet the other statutory conditions. Half of the periods spent on a student residence permit and the whole of the periods spent under other residence permits are included in the calculation.
How Is the Continuous 8 Years Calculated?
In the assessment, the residence history counted back from the application date and the periods spent outside Türkiye are reviewed. Long-term or frequent departures abroad in particular may affect the eligibility of the application.
Who Cannot Switch to a Long-Term Residence Permit?
Under the law, holders of refugee status, holders of conditional refugee status, holders of subsidiary protection status, holders of a humanitarian residence permit and foreign nationals under temporary protection cannot switch to a long-term residence permit.
For How Many Years Is the Long-Term Residence Permit Valid?
The long-term residence permit is issued for an indefinite period. In this respect, it differs from short-term, family or student residence permits and does not require applying to extend the residence permit at regular intervals.
Can the Long-Term Residence Permit Be Canceled?
Yes. The fact that it is issued for an indefinite period does not mean that a long-term residence permit can never be canceled under any circumstances. The long-term residence permit may be canceled in particular where the foreign national poses a serious threat to public order or public security, or stays outside Türkiye continuously for more than one year, other than under the exceptions provided for in the law, such as health, education and compulsory public service in the person's own country.