The legal position of a foreign national coming to Türkiye is governed by a series of rules that start at the border and extend to residence, work, property ownership and family life. Most of these rules are found in Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK). Work permits are governed by International Labour Force Law No. 6735, property acquisition by Land Registry Law No. 2644, and private law relationships with a foreign element by Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure (MÖHUK).
Because the rules are spread across several laws, a single transaction often involves more than one authority. A foreign national buying a home in Türkiye, for example, may need to deal with the land registry office, the provincial directorate of migration management and the tax office during the same period. A mistake or delay in one area affects the others: a residence permit that was allowed to lapse may interrupt the residence period counted in a later citizenship application.
Entering Türkiye: visas and entry bans
Foreign nationals enter Türkiye with a valid passport or equivalent travel document and, as a rule, a visa. Visa exemptions are determined by Türkiye's agreements with the country concerned and by Presidential decisions. For nationals of most countries, short-term visas and visa exemptions allow a stay of up to 90 days in any 180-day period; these periods depend on the visa regime. Foreign nationals who will stay longer than their visa or visa exemption, or longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit (YUKK Art. 19).
The Law provides that certain foreign nationals will not be admitted to Türkiye (YUKK Art. 7) and that an entry ban will be imposed in certain cases. The Presidency of Migration Management may impose an entry ban on foreign nationals considered undesirable for reasons of public order, public security or public health. Under YUKK Art. 9, an entry ban may not, as a rule, exceed five years; where there is a serious threat to public order or public security, the Presidency of Migration Management may extend it by up to ten more years. An entry ban is also imposed on foreign nationals who are deported.
An entry ban may not be imposed on foreign nationals who leave Türkiye voluntarily after their visa or residence permit has expired, pay the administrative fine and whose overstay does not exceed certain limits. Entry bans and similar restrictions are recorded as codes in administrative records, commonly referred to as "restriction codes" (tahdit kodu). These records can be challenged by identifying the underlying decision and filing an administrative application or an annulment action before the administrative court.
Staying in Türkiye: residence permits
Foreign nationals who will stay longer than their visa or visa exemption, and in any case longer than ninety days, must obtain a residence permit. YUKK Art. 30 divides residence permits into six types: short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian, and residence permits for victims of human trafficking. Each type has different conditions, durations and rights. A valid work permit replaces a residence permit (YUKK Art. 27).
First applications are, as a rule, made to the Turkish consulate in the country of which the foreign national is a citizen or where they are lawfully present (YUKK Art. 21); applications from within Türkiye are limited to the exceptional cases listed in the Law (YUKK Art. 22). In practice, applications within Türkiye are started on the e-İkamet system and continue with the submission of documents to the provincial directorate of migration management. The types of permit, the timing of renewal applications and the remedies against refusals are covered in detail on the Residence Permits page.
Working in Türkiye: work permits and the Turquoise Card
As a rule, foreign nationals must obtain a work permit to work in Türkiye, whether as employees or independently. Permits are issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security under Law No. 6735. Fixed-term, indefinite and independent work permits and the Turquoise Card are the main types under the Law. Working without a permit results in administrative fines for both the foreign national and the employer; for the foreign national, it may also be a ground for deportation (YUKK Art. 54). The application procedure, permit durations, objections against refusals and employer obligations are covered on the Work Permits for Foreign Nationals page.
Deportation and administrative detention
A deportation order is issued by the governorship, either on the instruction of the Presidency of Migration Management or on its own initiative, and is notified to the foreign national together with its reasons (YUKK Art. 53). An action may be filed against the order before the administrative court within seven days of notification. Because this period is very short, the moment of notification is the moment when legal assessment is needed. Some foreign nationals may not be deported at all; for example, those for whom there are serious indications that they would face the death penalty, torture or inhuman treatment in the country to which they would be sent (YUKK Art. 55).
A foreign national subject to a deportation order may be placed under administrative detention at a removal centre, for example where there is a risk of absconding or disappearing. An application may be made to the criminal judgeship of peace against the detention order. Time limits, exceptions and alternative obligations to detention are covered on the Deportation and Administrative Detention page.
International protection
YUKK provides for refugee, conditional refugee and subsidiary protection status for foreign nationals who face a risk of persecution or serious harm if they return to their country; a temporary protection regime is provided for mass influx situations. Applications and decisions on these statuses are subject to specific procedural rules and short time limits for court action. The position of international protection applicants should be assessed separately, taking into account the person's country of origin and the information in the file.
Acquisition of property by foreign nationals
The acquisition of property in Türkiye by foreign individuals is governed by Article 35 of the Land Registry Law. The reciprocity requirement was abolished by Law No. 6302 in 2012; the power to determine the nationals of which countries may acquire property now lies with the President. As a rule, the total area of property a foreign individual may acquire across the country may not exceed thirty hectares, and the total area foreign nationals may acquire in a district may not exceed ten percent of that district's area subject to private ownership. Property in military restricted zones and security zones is subject to additional permissions and restrictions.
Property acquisition by Turkish companies with foreign capital is subject to a different regime, under Article 36 of the Land Registry Law and the related regulation. Before purchase, the zoning status of the property, the annotations on its title and the valuation report should be checked. The topic is covered in detail, together with the sale process, on our Real Estate Law page; where the property is to be used for a citizenship application, the requirements on the Turkish Citizenship by Investment page should also be considered.
Company formation and investment
Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875 grants foreign investors equal treatment with domestic investors and, as a rule, requires no prior approval. Foreign nationals may establish joint stock or limited liability companies under the Turkish Commercial Code, become partners in existing companies or open branches. Incorporation is handled by the trade registry offices; foreign shareholders need a tax identification number, and documents from abroad must be legalised by apostille or consular legalisation and translated. Being a shareholder does not in itself grant a work or residence permit; a work permit must be obtained separately for a foreign shareholder who will work in the company. For incorporation and subsequent corporate matters, see the Commercial and Corporate Law page.
Foreign judgments, family and inheritance
A divorce, custody or money judgment issued abroad does not automatically take effect in Türkiye. Recognition is required for it to have res judicata effect, and an enforcement (exequatur) decision is required for it to be enforced (MÖHUK Art. 50 et seq.; Art. 58 for recognition). Enforcement requires, among other things, that the judgment be final in the country where it was issued, that there be reciprocity between that country and Türkiye, that the judgment not be manifestly contrary to Turkish public order and that the defendant's right of defence was respected. In some cases, final foreign divorce judgments can be registered in the civil registry through an administrative application to the civil registry office instead of the court.
For inheritance, the rule in MÖHUK Art. 20 is important: succession is governed by the deceased's national law, but Turkish law applies to immovable property located in Türkiye. Therefore, where a foreign national dies abroad, the transfer of their apartment in Türkiye involves the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code and a certificate of inheritance obtained from a Turkish court or notary. Our Inheritance Law page may also help.
Common problems and time limits
Most disputes in this field arise from administrative acts and are resolved in the administrative courts. The general time limit for actions against acts such as refusal or cancellation of a residence or work permit and entry bans is sixty days from notification (Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, Art. 7). For deportation orders, however, the time limit is seven days, and for refusals of work permits an objection to the Ministry within thirty days is provided before going to court. These different time limits make it essential to identify the type of act correctly.
Common problems in practice include filing a renewal application after the permit has expired, failing to report a change of address, missing legalisation or translation of foreign documents, not noticing before a citizenship application that the residence period was interrupted, and missing the time limit for an action because the notification was sent to an old address.
Our work in this area
We advise foreign nationals who wish to settle, work or invest in Türkiye on residence and work permit applications and support them in preparing application files and following up administrative procedures. We handle administrative applications and court proceedings against refusals, cancellations, entry bans and deportation orders, and act in property acquisitions, company formations and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. For those planning long-term settlement, the Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship page and our article on requirements for Turkish citizenship in 2026 may also be relevant.
Areas covered under this heading
Main topics
- Visas, entry requirements and entry bans (YUKK Arts. 7 and 9)
- Residence permit applications, renewals and refusals
- Work permits and the Turquoise Card (Law No. 6735)
- Deportation, administrative detention and court proceedings
- Acquisition of property by foreign nationals (Land Registry Law Art. 35)
- Company formation and investment transactions for foreign investors
- Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments (MÖHUK Art. 50 et seq.)
- Family and inheritance matters with a foreign element
Frequently asked questions
I entered visa-free. How long can I stay in Türkiye?
It depends on the exemption granted to your country; for many countries it is up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you want to stay longer, you must apply for a residence permit before the exempt period ends. The rule for your country can be checked in the visa information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Does buying a home in Türkiye automatically give me a residence permit?
No. Owning property is one of the grounds listed in the Law for a short-term residence permit, but the permit must be applied for separately and the other conditions must be met. Whether the application is accepted depends on the administration's assessment, and some neighbourhoods may be closed to new residence applications.
How can I find out whether there is an entry ban against me?
Entry bans and similar records are kept by the Presidency of Migration Management and the police. The foreign national, in person or through an attorney, can apply to the relevant authority to find out whether a record exists and on what basis. Administrative applications and court actions are available against the underlying decision.
Is my foreign divorce judgment valid in Türkiye?
A foreign court judgment takes effect in Türkiye only through recognition or enforcement. In certain cases provided by law, final foreign divorce judgments can also be registered through an administrative application to the civil registry office. The appropriate route depends on the nature of the judgment and the country where it was issued.
Do I need a work permit if I set up a company?
Being a shareholder does not replace a work permit. A work permit must be obtained for a foreign shareholder who will actually serve as a manager or employee of the company. The Law provides exemptions or different assessment criteria for certain foreign shareholders.
Legislation and sources
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (in Turkish)
- International Labour Force Law No. 6735 (in Turkish)
- Land Registry Law No. 2644 (in Turkish)
- Law No. 5718 on Private International Law and International Civil Procedure (in Turkish)
- Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875 (in Turkish)
- Presidency of Migration Management
The information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice. As legislation may change, the current rules must be assessed separately for your particular situation.