How to get an indefinite residence permit in Turkey?

Long-term residence permits may be granted to:
1. Foreigners who have resided in Turkey continuously for at least eight years or who meet the criteria established by the Ministry of the Interior.
2. Foreign nationals without refugee status, conditional refugee status or subsidiary protection.
3. Persons without humanitarian residence permit and temporary protection.

Advantages of the permanent residence permit.
Foreigners with permanent residence in Turkey have almost the same rights as Turkish citizens, with some exceptions provided by law. They were not obliged to perform military service, could not vote and could not enter public service. However, they benefit from:

- medical care in public clinics
Free education in public schools
- doing business in the republic
- exemption from certain taxes on the import of goods

Important! Foreigners residing in Turkey on indefinite residence permit, do not have the right to work. A work permit must be issued to an alien for official employment.

Important points when calculating the required number of days to obtain an indefinite residence permit:

- Date of application: The eight-year residence period is calculated from the date of application for a long-term residence permit.    
- Periods of stay abroad: The period of residence is not included when the alien was abroad or in Turkey without a residence permit.  
- Breaks in residence: Stay outside Turkey for more than six months in a year or more than one year in the last five years, except for compulsory public service, study or health reasons, is considered a period of residence. If there are such breaks, an application for a long-term residence permit will be automatically rejected
- Registration of student’s residence permit: When calculating the continuous period of residence, half the time spent on student’s residence permit and the full term for other residence permits are considered.  

What documents are required for application? 

- Residence permit application form 
- Photocopy of passport or passport replacement document 
- Biometric photos 
- Health insurance 
- Criminal record 
- Receipts for required fees 
- Evidence of sufficient funds 
- Certified proof that the applicant has not received social assistance for the last 3 years 
- Document of registration in the address registration system 
- Proof of 8 years of continuous residence in Turkey 
- If other residence permits were previously used, documents relating to this type 
- Proof of residence (title certificate, lease) 

Additional documentation may be required depending on the particular situation of the applicant.   

A long-term residence permit in Turkey opens up wide opportunities for foreign nationals. Having fulfilled all the requirements and prepared the necessary documents, it is possible to obtain almost all the rights that Turkish citizens enjoy.