Foreign investors
Getting a Turkish Residence Permit as a Property Owner
Does a title deed grant residence? The conditions for a short-term permit, the application steps, the health insurance requirement and the closed-neighbourhood rule.
Owning a home in Türkiye is a valid ground for a residence permit application. There is a widespread misunderstanding, however: the title deed does not grant the permit automatically. The deed is the ground for the application; the permit follows from the immigration authority's assessment.
The basic conditions
- An immovable property registered in your name and residential in character. Land, a shop or an office cannot support an application on this ground.
- A valid passport — with at least sixty days' validity beyond the residence period requested.
- Valid health insurance. Depending on age, private cover or an equivalent arrangement is required.
- A declaration of sufficient means of support for the period of stay.
- Address registration — you register at the address of the home you have bought.
If you will occupy the home with your spouse or children, a separate application is made for each; even though the deed is in one name, family members may apply through the same address. Each application is nevertheless assessed independently.
The closed-neighbourhood rule
The Directorate General of Migration Management can suspend new residence registrations in neighbourhoods where the foreign population exceeds a set proportion. This is a direct risk for property buyers: if the neighbourhood you bought in is closed, you cannot register at that address and your permit will not be granted.
Asking whether a neighbourhood is open to registration before you buy gives you an assurance that no feature in the listing can. The list changes over time; ask your consultant to confirm the current position.
The application steps
- 01Apply onlineThe form is completed and an appointment booked through the immigration system. The application must be made while you are still within your lawful period of stay.
- 02Prepare the documentsTitle deed, passport and translation, health insurance policy, biometric photograph and proof of the fee.
- 03Attend the appointment and give biometricsDocuments are handed in at the provincial immigration office and fingerprints and a photograph are taken.
- 04Decision and delivery of the cardOnce the assessment is concluded the residence card is couriered to your address. This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
400.000 USD
Minimum amount for citizenship by property investment
5 August 2026 valid as at
3 yıl
Period of the no-sale annotation placed on the title deed
5 August 2026 valid as at
The questions we hear most
- Does a residence permit lead to citizenship?
- Five years' uninterrupted lawful residence satisfies the condition for an ordinary citizenship application, but it does not produce an automatic result. Citizenship through property investment is a separate and much faster route, with no residence requirement.
- How long is it granted for?
- A short-term permit based on home ownership is usually issued for one or two years and can be extended for as long as the conditions continue to be met.
- If I sell the property, is my permit cancelled?
- Because the ground for your application has fallen away, an extension may be refused. Your existing permit remains valid until it expires, but you will need to show a new ground — a tenancy agreement, a work permit.
- Where do I get health insurance?
- Turkish insurers offer policies designed for foreign nationals which meet the minimum cover the immigration authority accepts. Policies issued abroad are usually not accepted.
Where you can verify this
The information on this page is for general guidance and does not constitute legal or financial advice. The legislation may change; consult your accountant or lawyer before acting.