Kymlik and Ikamet: what is the difference

Planning purchase of real estate and moving to the Republic of Turkey, foreigners are faced not only with some features of the housing market, but also with unusual terminology. In particular, these are kimlik and ikamet, which are of paramount importance for the legal residence of foreigners in Turkey.

The topic of our expert article: Kymlik and Ikamet, what kind of documents are they, and how do they differ from each other.

Content of the article:

What is Kimlik in Turkey

Kimlik in Turkey – What is this? This document is an internal biometric passport that every citizen of the Republic of Turkey has. An identity card is a plastic ID card without an expiration date with a person’s photo and personal data. Thus, civil status is maintained throughout life and is passed on to the next generation (children, grandchildren, etc.).

Kimlik in Turkey guarantees its owner all social rights, including:

  • legal work;
  • appointment to service in government bodies;
  • participation in public polls and elections as a voter or candidate;
  • free education in public schools, colleges, universities;
  • treatment in municipal and private hospitals;
  • social assistance;
  • obtaining loans from banks for various purposes (buying housing, movable property, starting a business) and much more.

How can a foreign citizen obtain Kimlik in Turkey?

A plastic card is issued to foreigners on the following grounds:

  1. Officially registered marriage with a Turkish citizen.
  2. Residence in an eastern country with a residence permit for 5 years.
  3. If the father or mother of the applicant – citizens of the Republic of Turkey.
  4. Official work for 5 years without interruption.
  5. Participation in the Turkish citizenship by investment government program, under which foreigners can apply for investment citizenship.

Citizenship by investment allows non-residents who wish to invest money in the Turkish economy to obtain a second passport in a simplified and expedited manner. The government provides for several types of investment:

  1. Opening your own business and providing Turkish citizens with at least 50 jobs.
  2. Purchase of securities, investment of deposit funds in a bank of an eastern state in the amount of $500,000.
  3. Purchase of real estate (one or more residential, commercial properties, land plots) in the amount of $400,000.
  4. Purchase of real estate for subsequent receipt of Ikamet – the most popular method among foreigners. Let us remind you that until April 2022, the volume of investments was only $250,000. But even after amendments to the law came into force to increase the minimum threshold for the value of real estate, the Turkish passport for investment has not lost its relevance. Buyers should be aware that payment must be made in Turkish Lira in order to enter into a valid sales transaction. That is, foreign currency (dollars, euros, rubles, pounds sterling) must be exchanged at a bank.
Kymlik and Ikamet: what is the difference

After receiving the TAPU, the foreigner can fill out an application on the official web portal of the Migration Service and begin collecting the package of papers.

List of required documents for Turkish citizenship:

  • Completed and printed application.
  • Foreign passport (copy and original).
  • Residence permit issued for the purpose of applying for Kymlicka.
  • Documents on current civil status and family composition.
  • Metric certificates, if there are minor children.
  • Certificate of no criminal record.
  • Health insurance policy and a certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.
  • 4 recent photos 35x45 mm.
  • Receipt for payment of state duty.
  • TAPU.
  • Certificate of Conformity.
  • Bank cash receipt confirming the exchange of foreign funds into lira.

After filling out the online application, the system will issue a date for an in-person meeting at the Migration Department (İl Göç idaresi Müdürlüğü), where you will need to come with a package of documents.

A Turkish ID number takes on average from several months to six months. Payment for an application on Kimlik is individual, the amount is displayed on the screen immediately after filling out the online application on the site and, as a rule, is about $500.

Examples of real estate in Turkey

104 500

Cozy 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, just 550 m from Cleopatra Beach, in a complex with a swimming pool and a garden

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

8781

106 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, just 500 m from the famous Cleopatra Beach, with a swimming pool and a fitness room.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8780

137 500

Apartments with furniture and appliances in a new building in the Chiplakli area

room

2+1

area

115 m²

id

8779

93 500

Furnished apartments 90 sq.m. at a bargain price

room

2+1

area

90 m²

id

8778

106 000

Apartments in the center of Alanya 200 meters from the sea

room

2+1

area

100 m²

id

8777

186 000

The best location in Alanya is Cleopatra Beach

room

2+1

area

90 m²

id

8776

93 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment in a modern complex, 1800 meters from the beach and 900 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

8775

86 000

Furnished 1+1 apartments in a complex with a swimming pool and fitness, 1650 meters from the beach and 750 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

8774

93 500

Spacious 1+1 apartment with balcony in a new complex of 2024, 1500 meters from the beach and 1200 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

8773

Furnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar, just 150 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8772

104 500

Cozy 1+1 apartment with balcony in Cikcilli, overlooking the sea and stunning sunsets, 700 meters from the beach and 350 meters from the city center.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8771

97 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment with separate kitchen and spacious hallway, just 200 meters from the sea in the center of Alanya.

room

2+1

area

80 m²

id

8770

88 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony in Gullerpinari area, just 250 meters from the beach and 150 meters from the center of Alanya.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8769

115 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony in the center of Alanya, 900 meters from the sea and 250 meters from the city center, in a new complex of 2022.

room

1+1

area

45 m²

id

8768

Furnished 1+1 apartment with glazed balcony, just 250 meters from the sea and 100 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

8767

148 500

Cozy 2+1 apartment with two balconies and a zoned kitchen in Mahmutlar, just 300 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the city center.

room

2+1

area

125 m²

id

8765

308 000

Elegant 2+1 apartment with panoramic sea view in Mahmutlar, in a prestigious complex on the first line and only 150 meters from the center

room

2+1

area

120 m²

id

8764

129 000

Bright 3+1 apartment with two balconies in Mahmutlar, just 250 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the center

room

3+1

area

128 m²

id

8763

87 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony on the second floor in Kestel, 700 meters from the beach and 500 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

72 m²

id

8762

362 000

A luxurious villa with magnificent panoramic views of the sea and mountains, 200 m², ideally located just 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of Kargicak.

room

3+1

area

200 m²

id

8761

See more

What is Ikamet in Turkey

«Ikamet in Turkey – what is this?” – another common question from citizens from abroad who want to buy real estate on the Mediterranean coast. Foreigners are allowed to legally reside in the country for no more than the period provided for by the visa-free or visa regime. As a rule, the visa-free period does not exceed 90 days. For a long-term legal stay in Turkey, you need to apply for a special Ikamet permit, which is a plastic card with a photo and data of a foreigner.

The validity period of Ikamet depends on the type of document:

  1. Short-term or temporary residence permit is issued for a period from 6 months to 3 years with the possibility of further extension.
  2. A long-term or indefinite residence permit guarantees the foreigner's presence in Turkey without any time restrictions.

The grounds for obtaining a Turkish residence permit and its extension are:

  • purchase of real estate;
  • reunion with immediate family;
  • long-term recreation and tourism;
  • official employment under contract;
  • long therapeutic procedures in municipal and private hospitals;
  • in-patient training in Turkish educational institutions;
  • language courses;
  • refugee status or victim of violence.

Before you receive Ikamet in Turkey on the basis of a certificate of ownership, it is important to study the conditions of registration. So, A residence permit for the purchase of real estate is available to foreigners if the cadastral value of the property is at least $200,000 in lire equivalent at the time of its registration (these changes came into force on October 16, 2023). If the price threshold is lower, buyers of Turkish apartments can count on tourist ikamet.

Kymlik and Ikamet: what is the difference

A residence permit guarantees foreigners all the benefits of living in Turkey, with the exception of official employment. In addition, Ikamet card holders have access to:

  • completing driving courses and obtaining a driving license;
  • medical care in public and private hospitals in the country;
  • education of children in municipal kindergartens and schools;
  • simple opening of a commercial activity.

The application for Ikamet is filled out online on the website of the Turkish Migration Service. Digital scanned copies of the following documents are attached to the application form:

  1. Application for a residence permit with reference to the basis.
  2. Rental contract or TAPU.
  3. Copies of all pages of the foreign passport.
  4. Turkish TIN.
  5. Medical insurance for the entire period of validity of ikamet.
  6. Photo on a white background, 45x34 mm.

As a rule, no more than 6-8 weeks pass from the moment you apply for a residence permit until you receive the card. The cost of obtaining a residence permit in Turkey, including payment of state fees, preparation and translation of documents, – from $50 per person. The application surcharge for immediate relatives (children, spouses) is approximately $35 per person.

Summary

Point Property specialists will select suitable property for you in Turkish resorts to obtain Ikamet or citizenship. They will advise you on the conditions for processing documents for residence and will accompany you when submitting an application as part of the after-sales service.

Examples of real estate in Turkey

104 500

Cozy 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, just 550 m from Cleopatra Beach, in a complex with a swimming pool and a garden

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

8781

106 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment in the center of Alanya, just 500 m from the famous Cleopatra Beach, with a swimming pool and a fitness room.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8780

137 500

Apartments with furniture and appliances in a new building in the Chiplakli area

room

2+1

area

115 m²

id

8779

93 500

Furnished apartments 90 sq.m. at a bargain price

room

2+1

area

90 m²

id

8778

106 000

Apartments in the center of Alanya 200 meters from the sea

room

2+1

area

100 m²

id

8777

186 000

The best location in Alanya is Cleopatra Beach

room

2+1

area

90 m²

id

8776

93 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment in a modern complex, 1800 meters from the beach and 900 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

55 m²

id

8775

86 000

Furnished 1+1 apartments in a complex with a swimming pool and fitness, 1650 meters from the beach and 750 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

50 m²

id

8774

93 500

Spacious 1+1 apartment with balcony in a new complex of 2024, 1500 meters from the beach and 1200 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

8773

Furnished 1+1 apartment in Mahmutlar, just 150 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8772

104 500

Cozy 1+1 apartment with balcony in Cikcilli, overlooking the sea and stunning sunsets, 700 meters from the beach and 350 meters from the city center.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8771

97 000

Furnished 2+1 apartment with separate kitchen and spacious hallway, just 200 meters from the sea in the center of Alanya.

room

2+1

area

80 m²

id

8770

88 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony in Gullerpinari area, just 250 meters from the beach and 150 meters from the center of Alanya.

room

1+1

area

60 m²

id

8769

115 500

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony in the center of Alanya, 900 meters from the sea and 250 meters from the city center, in a new complex of 2022.

room

1+1

area

45 m²

id

8768

Furnished 1+1 apartment with glazed balcony, just 250 meters from the sea and 100 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

65 m²

id

8767

148 500

Cozy 2+1 apartment with two balconies and a zoned kitchen in Mahmutlar, just 300 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the city center.

room

2+1

area

125 m²

id

8765

308 000

Elegant 2+1 apartment with panoramic sea view in Mahmutlar, in a prestigious complex on the first line and only 150 meters from the center

room

2+1

area

120 m²

id

8764

129 000

Bright 3+1 apartment with two balconies in Mahmutlar, just 250 meters from the beach and 100 meters from the center

room

3+1

area

128 m²

id

8763

87 000

Furnished 1+1 apartment with balcony on the second floor in Kestel, 700 meters from the beach and 500 meters from the center.

room

1+1

area

72 m²

id

8762

362 000

A luxurious villa with magnificent panoramic views of the sea and mountains, 200 m², ideally located just 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of Kargicak.

room

3+1

area

200 m²

id

8761

See more

These materials have been prepared for informational purposes and are not of a commercial nature.

Point Property – is a certified real estate agency that specializes in providing a full range of real estate services for residential and commercial real estate transactions in Turkey. Our company takes care of all the organizational aspects of a real estate transaction: searching for an object, organizing a sightseeing tour, assistance in collecting documents and checking their legal purity, support during the re-registration of ownership.

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