📌 Legal Clarification
This clarification has been prepared based on the current practice of applying the law and official information from the Turkish Government.
The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Turkey in 2026 has not changed significantly, however, the amounts of government fees have been updated and the categories of exemptions have been clarified.
💰 1. Mandatory government payments
📄 1.1. Residence Permit Card (İkamet İzni Belge Bedeli)
* 964 TL
📌 Legal status:
* fixed government fee
* mandatory for all applicants
* not dependent on citizenship, grounds or duration of residence permit
* no exemptions
👉 paid upon each initial application and renewal
💳 1.2. Residence Permit State Duty (İkamet Harcı)
The state duty is paid once upon filing the application and is calculated for the entire requested period of residence.
📌 Official calculation formula:
* up to 1 month:
384.10 TL per day
(minimum 653.70 TL - maximum 3,359.90 TL)
* after 1 month:
2,232.30 TL per month
📌 Legally important provision:
* the amount is calculated individually by the system
* the principle of reciprocity applies
* the total is confirmed upon filing the application
* there is no universal fixed amount for all countries
📊 2. Approximate calculation of the cost of a residence permit
⚠️ All calculations below are approximate.
👉 The final amount is determined individually by the system and cannot be lower than the minimum calculated level according to the formula.
🟢 Residence permit for 1 year (12 months)
💳 State duty:
≈ 27,915.20 TL (approximate minimum)
➕ Residence permit card:
964 TL
📌 TOTAL:
≈ 28,879.20 TL
🟢 Residence permit for 2 years (24 months)
💳 State duty:
≈ 54,702.80 TL (approximate minimum)
➕ Residence Permit Card:
964 TL
📌 TOTAL:
≈ 55,666.80 TL
⚖️ 3. Countries with a zero rate of state duty
📌 As part of the current practice of applying the principle of reciprocity:
a zero rate of ikamet harcı is applied to a number of countries.
These include:
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Ireland
* Kosovo
* Nepal
* Sri Lanka
* Syria
* Turkmenistan
* Palestine
* Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
📌 Legal explanation:
* the list is based on the interstate principle of reciprocity
* is not static and can be updated
* the final application of the rate is always determined by the system upon Submission
👥 4. Preferential categories of applicants (strictly defined grounds)
📌 Exemption or reduction of the state fee applies only to specifically established categories:
🎓 1. Students
✔️ Students of Turkish schools
✔️ Students of Turkish universities
📌 Conditions:
* proof of student status is required
* exemption or reduction of the state fee may apply
* residence permit card (964 TL) is paid in full
👤 2. Persons of Turkic origin
✔️ applicants officially recognized as persons of Turkic origin
📌 Conditions:
* documentary confirmation of status is required
* exemption from state duty may apply
* the decision is made as part of the administrative procedure
🟢 3. Holders of a long-term residence permit
✔️ foreigners with a long-term residence permit (uzun dönem ikamet izni)
📌 Conditions:
* when extending or changing status, the state duty may not be charged
* applies only to valid long-term status
* the residence permit card is paid for upon issuance of the document
🚨 4. Victims of human trafficking
✔️ foreigners officially recognized as victims of human trafficking
📌 Conditions:
* full exemption from state duty
* special protective status
* is regulated by a separate procedure of the migration service
📌 IMPORTANT:
* benefits apply only with documented confirmation of status
* any exemption is confirmed by the Göç system İdaresi
* independent application of benefits is impossible
⚠️ 5. Key legal conclusions
✔️ A residence permit includes two mandatory payments
✔️ A residence permit card is paid by all applicants without exception
✔️ The state fee is calculated for the entire period upon submission
✔️ The final amount is calculated individually
✔️ Benefits apply only to strictly defined categories
📌 Final explanation from a lawyer
Obtaining a residence permit in Turkey in 2026 remains a standardized procedure:
* Document requirements are stable
* Changes only concern the amount of state fees
* The calculation system is individual
* Benefits apply Strictly on established grounds.
🤝 Point Property Practice Position
We always work exclusively with current official information,
check changes in real time, and support clients at every stage of the residence permit application process to eliminate errors and risks of denial.
