Long-Term Residence Permit

A settled, indefinite status — not automatic and not citizenship

Turkey's long-term residence permit (uzun dönem ikamet izni), created under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, is available to foreign nationals who have lived in Turkey legally and without interruption for at least eight years, among other statutory conditions. It grants an indefinite residence status broadly comparable to a short-term permit in many everyday respects, but it is not Turkish citizenship and does not carry citizenship's political rights. FTurkey's consulting helps you assess whether your residence history meets the threshold and coordinates the application; the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management decides whether to grant it.

Check the eligibility conditions before applying

Beyond eight years of continuous legal residence, the law requires that the applicant has not received uninterrupted social assistance from public authorities in the past three years, has sufficient income or a regular source of support, has valid health insurance, and does not pose a threat to public order or public security. Certain categories of short-term permit holders and time spent under some permit types may not count toward the eight years, or may be excluded from eligibility altogether; FTurkey can review your permit history against the current rules before you commit to an application.

Reconstructing an eight-year residence history

The application must demonstrate continuous legal residence, which in practice means assembling your full history of residence permits, entry and exit records, and accounting for any gaps or absences from Turkey during the qualifying period. Extended absences beyond the limits the regulation allows can interrupt continuity even where a permit remained formally valid. FTurkey can help you compile this history from your own records and official sources, flag any period likely to raise a question, and organise the supporting evidence into a coherent file before submission.

Applying through e-ikamet and the provincial directorate

The long-term residence permit application is filed through the e-ikamet online system, which schedules an appointment at the relevant provincial migration directorate once the required documents and fee are ready. Within an agreed scope, FTurkey can help complete the application accurately, prepare the appointment file, and coordinate interpretation if needed. The in-person appointment, biometric data collection and the authority's substantive review of your eligibility are conducted directly between you and the directorate and cannot be delegated to a third party.

What the authority decides and what it does not guarantee

The directorate reviews the full file — residence history, income, insurance, social assistance record and any public order or security concerns — and decides whether to grant the permit; it may request additional documents or clarification, or refuse an application without being required to give a detailed reason. No approval, processing time, or particular outcome can be promised by FTurkey at any stage, and a long-term residence permit does not itself create eligibility for citizenship, which follows a separate and additional statutory process.

Request a proposal

The work required depends on how complete your residence, income and insurance records already are, and how many years of history need to be reconstructed from official sources. Request a quote describing your residence history in Turkey and your current permit status, and FTurkey can propose a written scope for the eligibility review and coordination support available.