Republic of Turkey — one of the most popular countries for relocation among foreign citizens, including — Russians. Strategically advantageous geographical and geopolitical location, active economic development and high standard of living, great business opportunities and a good investment climate attract foreigners to the country.
According to Turkish media with reference to Migration Department, more than 130,000 Russians have a residence permit as of September 2023. Moreover, one of the popular grounds for guaranteeing a residence permit remains purchase of an apartment in Turkey.
Due to several serious migration waves, Turkish authorities have been forced to tighten controls and introduce new, stricter conditions regarding the issuance of ikamet cards. As a result, the number of refusals for residence permits in Turkey has increased significantly.
Why do they refuse and what to do if your application for a residence permit in Turkey is rejected? Answers to these and other pressing questions — in our expert review.
Content of the article:
- Reasons for refusal of a residence permit in Turkey
- Refusal of a residence permit in Turkey under Article 32. What does this mean?
- Who and why can be denied a residence permit in Turkey
- Where to check the refusal of a residence permit
- What does a refusal of a residence permit look like in Turkey
- What to do if you are refused a residence permit in Turkey
- Is it possible to appeal a refusal to issue an ikamet through a court
- How to appeal a refusal
- Is it possible to re-apply for a residence permit in Turkey
- When and how many times can you apply for a residence permit after refusal
Reasons for refusal of a residence permit in Turkey
The topic that Turkey denies tourist residence permits to Russians was especially actively discussed in social networks and the main media in January-February 2023. Now all the unrest associated with this sudden news has subsided, and most relocants understand that for a positive decision on a residence permit in Turkey, it is necessary to think through and prepare compelling reasons. Despite changes in the rules regarding migration, an increase in the price threshold for a residence permit under TAPU, closure of some areas< /a> for the primary ikamet, it is possible to fulfill all the updated requirements if you are serious about relocation.
The main regulator of the rules and regulations for obtaining a residence permit is The Law “On Foreigners and International Protection in the Republic of Turkey”< /a>. For what reasons do foreigners’ applications often receive refusals of residence permits? Let's figure it out further.
Refusal of a residence permit in Turkey under Article 32. What does this mean?
BArticle 32 Law “On Foreigners and International Protection in Turkey" the most common reasons for refusing a residence permit to citizens from abroad are given. Namely, we are talking about several mandatory conditions for successfully obtaining an ikamet card:
- The foreigner must attach to the application documented grounds for a residence permit (one or more). Landmark — Article 31, which lists the categories of foreigners who have the right to apply for a short-term residence permit.
- A foreign national shall not be subject to Article 7, which deals with deportation outside Turkey due to certain legal violations.
- An applicant for a residence permit in the Republic of Turkey must be provided with safe and comfortable housing.
- Another mandatory criterion — provision of an extract confirming the absence of convictions or outstanding criminal record. The document is requested in advance by the applicant in his country of residence.
- Non-resident is required to provide official data confirming his address of residence in Turkey.
Who and why can be denied a residence permit in Turkey
Most refusals of a residence permit are argued by the Migration Service due to the lack of sufficient and legal reasons for registration. In particular, multiple refusals of a tourist residence permit in the presence of only a long-term rental contract show that renewing a permit of this type for years is simply illogical. This means that the authorities can quite naturally conclude that the issued residence permit will be used by the foreigner for other than its intended purpose. And, for example, for illegal employment in Turkey or for any other illegal actions.
In addition, refusal of a Turkish residence permit may be due to the following reasons:
- If the legal requirements for staying in the state are violated: residence after the expiration of the visa or previous ikamet.
- If labor laws have not been observed: work without appropriate official permission.
- If a violation of the law is detected or a crime has been committed. For example, the reason for refusal may be exposure to drug use and even systematic violations of traffic rules.
- If a foreigner intentionally provides incorrect information when applying for a residence permit in Turkey.
- If information is discovered about non-payment of taxes, duties and fines by an applicant for a residence permit.
- If there is no satisfactory financing for living in the Republic of Turkey during the entire period of validity of the residence permit. For example, a rental agreement for obtaining an ikamet card for tourism purposes must be supported by a bank statement indicating the presence of a certain amount in the current account . The amount must exceed at least one and a half times the minimum monthly wage in Turkey. Thus, to live under a residence permit for a year, a foreigner must deposit about $8,000 into the account.
Are foreigners often denied a residence permit in Turkey? In practice, everything depends on a well-calibrated approach to the selection of reasons for the application and to the careful preparation of documents.
Where to check the refusal of a residence permit
As a rule, employees of the Migration Department do not refuse relocants directly during the rendevu. Thus, if inaccuracies were identified in the documentation, or if the foreigner provided an incomplete package of papers, then he will be asked to correct the errors within up to one month. If this is not done within the specified period, the application will be automatically canceled.
If the application is accepted for consideration along with a package of documents, then the foreign citizen remains to check the status of the application and wait for the final verdict.
You can check whether you have received approval or refusal of a residence permit by going to the official website of the Migration Service.
In addition, there is a 24-hour information service for foreigners. Contact phone number — 157.
What does a refusal of a residence permit look like in Turkey
Tebliğ formu — This is the name of the official notification of refusal of a Turkish residence permit, which is sent by the Migration Department to a foreign resident in response to his application.
That is, any other message regarding the status of your application for an ikamet ID card, received in the form of an email or SMS to your phone, is not considered legitimate.
Officially, a refusal of a Turkish residence permit must be sent to the residence address entered in the electronic application form on the Migration Service website, and received by the foreign citizen in the form of a letter. Only from this date does the countdown of 10 days begin, during which a foreigner is obliged to travel outside Turkey.
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In the Oba area, furnished 1+1 apartments with an area of 51 m² in a complex built in 2022, located 1300 m from the sea and 500 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, new furniture and appliances, and views of the surrounding area.
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In Konakli Alanya, 2+0 apartments of 45 m² in a hotel complex with permission for short-term rental, located 600 m from the sea, on the south side, with heated floors and a full sea view.
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In the Avsallar area, furnished 1+1 apartments of 65 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 600 m from the sea and 250 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, heated floors in the living room and views of the green surroundings.
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In the Avsallar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 95 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 650 m from the sea and 450 m from the center of the area, with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit, two balconies and a partial sea view.
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95 m²
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In the Verkhnyaya Oba area, this 1+1 apartment with an area of 52 m² in a complex built in 2024, located 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of the area, is suitable for short-term rent and features high-quality modern finishing.
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In the Mahmutlar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 120 m² in a complex built in 2007, located 300 m from the sea and 200 m from the center of the area, with a sea view, two bathrooms and a spacious layout.
2+1
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In the Mahmutlar area, 1+1 apartments with an area of 45 m² in a complex built in 2023, located 1500 m from the sea and 800 m from the center of the area, with a partial sea view, panoramic windows and developed infrastructure for a comfortable stay.
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In the Demirtaş area, 1+1 apartments with an area of 49 m² in a complex built in 2025, located 1200 m from the sea and 700 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, partial sea views and modern decoration.
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In the Avsallar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 125 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 900 m from the sea and 300 m from the center of the area, with a functional layout, a glazed balcony and developed infrastructure.
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In the Payallar area, 1+1 apartments of 55 m² in a new complex built in 2024, located 2000 m from the sea and 750 m from the center of the area, with sea views, panoramic windows and high investment potential.
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What to do if you are refused a residence permit in Turkey
A logical question that worries all foreign applicants for relocation to Turkey: what to do if you are denied a residence permit?
If this unfavorable scenario occurs, you have the following rights:
- If the application for a residence permit was submitted in advance (that is, one or two months before the end of the previous residence permit or visa-free entry period), you still have the opportunity to request permission using another basis. That is, if you wanted get a residence permit for tourism purposes, but you were refused, take advantage of the opportunity purchase of housing in Turkey and are guaranteed to receive ikamet at TAPU.
- If the time spent in an eastern state, regardless of the reasons, has ended, you are given 10 days from the date of receipt of the official notification of refusal of a residence permit in order to leave Turkey. In the future, you will be able to return back after the visa-free regime is renewed. At the same time, along with the opportunity to re-enter Turkey, your rights to apply for a residence permit are renewed. However, filing an application on the same grounds on which you were already refused the first time is allowed after 6 months.
Is it possible to appeal the refusal to issue an ikamet through the court
If your residence permit is refused, you retain the right to appeal it. A lawsuit can be filed within 60 calendar days. All appeals of this type are reviewed by the administrative court. Foreign citizens cannot remain in Turkey while the trial is ongoing unless a suspension of the execution of the Migration Board's verdict has been promptly requested.
That is, a foreigner needs to request through the court the opportunity to live in Turkey during legal proceedings on the refusal of a residence permit until a decision is made that is not subject to review. Do not hesitate to submit your application, since after 10 days the non-resident will be required to leave Turkey.
Often, an interim verdict to suspend the deportation of a foreign citizen is issued quickly by the court. If the decision is not in favor of the applicant, then he will have to leave the country and wait for the end of the trial in his homeland. As a rule, the entire legal process for refusal of a residence permit lasts about a year.
How to appeal a refusal
We recommend filing an appeal against the refusal of a Turkish residence permit under the professional guidance of an experienced lawyer. A true professional will help you correctly substantiate the reasons for disagreement with the rejection of the permit by the Migration Service, will undertake the obligation to draw up a competent claim and will represent your interests at court hearings.
Why is this important? The thing is that, due to the tightening of migration policies, winning such cases has become much more difficult. Especially if the non-resident is not familiar with the intricacies of Turkish judicial law. An unprofessional approach can only aggravate the current state of affairs.
The weight of the grounds for obtaining a residence permit is of decisive importance when filing an appeal. This greatly increases the chances that the foreigner’s claim will be satisfied and he will eventually be given the type of ikamet that was previously denied.
Is it possible to re-apply for a residence permit in Turkey
Re-submission of an application for a residence permit in Turkey, regardless of whether a refusal is received or it is a matter of extending a previously successfully issued residence permit, is available to foreign citizens. However, the number of applications submitted is not limited.
Migration legislation allows foreigners to apply for a second passport after 5 years of residence in Turkey using a short-term ikamet card. If Turkish citizenship is not the goal of a foreign citizen, then after 8 years he has the right to request a permanent residence permit, that is, a permit without an expiration date.
When and how many times can you apply for a residence permit after refusal
Certain restrictions are imposed only if a non-resident decides to repeatedly apply for the same type of ikamet. In this case, filling out an application for a residence permit, based on the same reasons for which you were refused last time, is allowed after six months.
If another justification is chosen, the application can be submitted without any waiting periods.
This 1+1 apartment with an area of 70 m² in Mahmutlar is a spacious, furnished home with a glazed balcony and infrastructure for comfortable living by the sea.
1+1
68 m²
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1+1 apartment of 60 m² in Mahmutlar is located in a complex with a swimming pool, garden and parking, just 300 meters from the sea.
1+1
60 m²
10926
This 1+1 apartment with an area of 54 m² in Mahmutlar is a modern home in a new complex built in 2025 with a rich infrastructure for relaxation and comfortable living.
1+1
54 m²
10925
In the Cikcilli area, furnished 1+1 apartments of 100 m² in a complex built in 2004, located 1000 m from the sea and 400 m from the center of the area, with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit, sea views and a spacious layout.
2+1
100 m²
10924
In the Cikcilli area, furnished 2+1 apartment of 95 m² in a complex built in 2004, located 1000 m from the sea and 400 m from the center of the area, with two bathrooms, two balconies and a spacious family layout.
2+1
95 m²
10923
In the Avsallar area, furnished 2+1 apartments of 75 m² in a complex built in 2015, located 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of the area, with two balconies and a convenient layout for everyday life and leisure.
2+1
75 m²
10922
In the center of Alanya, 1+1 apartments of 70 m² in a complex built in 2014, located just 200 m from Cleopatra Beach and 100 m from the city center, with a modern furnished layout and high rental potential.
1+1
70 m²
10921
In the center of Alanya, furnished 1+1 apartments of 55 m² in a complex built in 2025, located 750 m from the sea and 500 m from the center, with the possibility of short-term rental and rich resort-level infrastructure.
1+1
55 m²
10920
In the Oba area, 1+1 apartments with an area of 50 m² in a complex built in 2022, located 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of the area, with a view of the pool and the infrastructure of the complex, modern decoration and developed internal infrastructure.
1+1
50 m²
10919
In the Oba area, furnished 1+1 apartments with an area of 51 m² in a complex built in 2022, located 1300 m from the sea and 500 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, new furniture and appliances, and views of the surrounding area.
1+1
51 m²
10918
In Konakli Alanya, 2+0 apartments of 45 m² in a hotel complex with permission for short-term rental, located 600 m from the sea, on the south side, with heated floors and a full sea view.
1+1
45 m²
10917
In the Avsallar area, furnished 1+1 apartments of 65 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 600 m from the sea and 250 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, heated floors in the living room and views of the green surroundings.
1+1
65 m²
10916
In the Avsallar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 95 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 650 m from the sea and 450 m from the center of the area, with the possibility of obtaining a residence permit, two balconies and a partial sea view.
2+1
95 m²
10915
In the Verkhnyaya Oba area, this 1+1 apartment with an area of 52 m² in a complex built in 2024, located 1500 m from the sea and 1000 m from the center of the area, is suitable for short-term rent and features high-quality modern finishing.
1+1
52 m²
10914
In the Mahmutlar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 120 m² in a complex built in 2007, located 300 m from the sea and 200 m from the center of the area, with a sea view, two bathrooms and a spacious layout.
2+1
120 m²
10913
In the Mahmutlar area, 1+1 apartments with an area of 45 m² in a complex built in 2023, located 1500 m from the sea and 800 m from the center of the area, with a partial sea view, panoramic windows and developed infrastructure for a comfortable stay.
1+1
45 m²
10912
In the Demirtaş area, 1+1 apartments with an area of 49 m² in a complex built in 2025, located 1200 m from the sea and 700 m from the center of the area, with panoramic windows, partial sea views and modern decoration.
1+1
49 m²
10911
In the Avsallar area, furnished 2+1 apartments with an area of 125 m² in a complex built in 2014, located 900 m from the sea and 300 m from the center of the area, with a functional layout, a glazed balcony and developed infrastructure.
2+1
125 m²
10910
In the Payallar area, 1+1 apartments of 55 m² in a new complex built in 2024, located 2000 m from the sea and 750 m from the center of the area, with sea views, panoramic windows and high investment potential.
1+1
55 m²
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In the Obagol district, furnished 3+1 apartments with an area of 120 m² in a complex built in 2006 on the first coastline, located 100 m from the center of the district, with a sea view and suitable for obtaining Turkish citizenship.
3+1
120 m²
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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 the legal purity of documentation, support in re-registration of ownership. In addition, we provide our customers with a wide range of after-sales services.
