What is an investor's residence permit in Turkey?

Turkish Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection governs the legal aspects of foreigners residing in the country, including various types of residence permits issued based on the purpose and intent of the foreigner's stay. Within this legal framework, Articles 31 and 33 of the Turkish Law on Foreigners and International Protection outline the categories of foreigners eligible for legal residency in Turkey for extended periods.
Specifically, a foreigner who invests in Turkey is eligible for a Short Residence Permit, as specified in Articles 28 and 29 of the Implementing Regulations of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection. The duration of this short residence permit in Turkey can extend up to two years, depending on its type, and it can be renewed under certain circumstances.
Generally, there are two primary types of residence permits granted to investors in Turkey:
1- Real Estate Investment Residence: Under Turkish law, this type of residence permit is provided to foreigners who own immovable property in Turkey, with "immovable property" referring to real estate. To be eligible, foreign investors must own property with a minimum value of $75,000 in major Turkish cities or $50,000 in smaller regions. Meeting these criteria entitles foreign investors to legal residence in the country.
2- Business-Related Residence Permits: Foreigners who establish a company in Turkey and operate it in compliance with the country's legal requirements can receive a renewable residence permit. This regulation also applies to individuals who participate in existing investments in Turkey, such as factories or other business ventures, or provide capital to Turkish companies.
 

To whom is the investor residence permit granted in Turkiye?

According to what was mentioned in the articles of the Turkish law related to the clause of short residence that is granted to many categories of foreigners, including investors, the investor's residence in Turkiye is given to two types of investors: .

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  Investor in fixed assets (immovable funds)
  This means foreigners who own real estate in Turkiye, and by virtue of their ownership of this real estate, Turkish law grants them the right of legal residence in the country.

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  Foreign Business Founders in Turkiye and Direct Investors
  A legal residence permit in Turkiye is granted to foreigners who establish companies in Turkiye or direct investment in the country in a variety of ways.

Advantages of investor residence permits in Turkiye

The foreign investor holding Turkish residency gains several advantages, the most important of which are:

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  A residence permit is granted to all members of his family (wife and children under the age of 18)

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  Enrolling children in Turkish public schools

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  Obtaining health insurance and medication in Turkish government hospitals

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  Obtaining the right to travel to many countries with Turkish residency, in addition to facilitating obtaining entry visas for different countries

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  Qualification for permanent residence in Turkiye, in case of residence for 8 consecutive years

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  The possibility of obtaining Turkish citizenship after applying the conditions of the law on granting Turkish citizenship to foreign investors

 

How to obtain an investor residence permit in Turkiye?

An investor residence permit in Turkiye is obtained by submitting an application to the General Directorate of Immigration before the end of the legal residence period in the country. Proof of investment within the Turkish borders is attached, such as a copy of the title deed or the tax number of the company and others according to the type of investment. The General Directorate of Immigration in Turkiye determines the documents required for each type of investment, as the documents that follow the establishment of companies differ from the documents required if the investment is in real estate.

Conditions for obtaining investor residence in Turkiye

The legal conditions stipulated by Turkish law must be applied in order for the foreign investor to be able to obtain a legal residence permit under his investment in the country, the most important of which are:

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  The investment should not be less than the minimum stipulated in Turkish law, not less than $75,000 in the case of buying real estate in major Turkish states.

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  The investment process should be legal, sound, and licensed in the country.

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  That purchases and sales are made through official bank transfers. Entering Turkiye legally and officially

Documents required to apply for investor residence permits in Turkiye

The investor needs documents related to the process of applying to obtain an investor residence permit in Turkiye, and it requires general and other documents related to the nature of investment in the country, and the most important documents required when applying for a residence permit for a foreign investor in Turkiye:

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  A copy of the passport valid for at least 3 months

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  4 biometric photos

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  A copy of the entry stamp

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  A copy of the title deed in case of real estate investment

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  A "Taşn Numara" document is obtained from the municipality in which the property is located

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  Obtaining an address registered in the Turkish Population Department

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  Having effective health insurance

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  Obtaining a tax number