What Is Ikamet and Why Do You Need It?

Ikamet is the identity document of a foreign national living in Turkey. Put simply, it is the residence permit you need if you stay in the country for more than 3 months, for example while renting an apartment in Turkey. More precisely, citizens of most visa-exempt countries can stay in Turkey for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period, and a longer stay requires an ikamet. We describe step by step how to get a residence permit in Turkey in a separate article. Having an ikamet does not require you to learn the language or report to the police every month: once you have it for a year, you can put it out of your mind. There is one obligation to remember, though: a change of address must be reported within 20 working days (more on this below).

An ikamet is a plastic card issued for 6 months, 1 year or 2 years when a tourist visa is extended. The exact validity period is decided by the authorities. A short-term ikamet is issued for a maximum of 2 years at a time, but in practice permits based on tourism or property ownership are usually issued for 1 year. It is fairly easy to obtain: the grounds can be tourism, study, work, the purchase of property, marriage to a Turkish citizen, staying on a yacht in Turkish waters and so on. Since 2022, however, checks have become stricter: for tourism-based permits, the migration authorities look closely at the purpose of the stay and the applicant's funds, especially for renewals in large cities, and in some neighborhoods new foreign residents cannot be registered at all (more on this below).

The ikamet application is submitted online on the website of the Presidency of Migration Management of Turkey (https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/). Once the online application is complete, you choose a convenient date for an appointment, to which you bring the full set of documents. You also need to save and print the application form.

To get the simplest tourist ikamet, you will need the following documents:

• the printed application form;
• the receipt for the application fee;
• a color copy and the original of your passport;
• 4 biometric photos;
• an apartment lease (certified by a notary) or documents confirming the purchase of property in Turkey (the title deed, TAPU);
• Turkish health insurance for the year of your stay – insurance from your home country is not accepted. To take out insurance, you need a tax number (issued by the tax office on presentation of your passport). Foreign nationals over 65 are exempt from the insurance requirement;
• proof of financial means for the year of your stay – under the law, this is a declaration in the application form that your funds will cover the whole period. The law does not set a fixed amount, but the authorities may ask for proof such as a bank statement or a certificate of income. You can open an account with a Turkish bank without an ikamet, using your passport and tax number, but conditions vary from bank to bank.

At the chosen time, you attend the appointment with the prepared documents. After the appointment, the migration authorities decide whether to grant the residence permit. The decision usually takes from two weeks to three months. By law, the decision must be made within 90 days. If the decision is positive, the ikamet card is delivered to the address given in the application.

The cost of a first ikamet is made up of three parts: the card fee (TRY 964 in 2026, the same for everyone), the state fee, which depends on your nationality and the length of the permit, and health insurance. The e-ikamet system shows the exact state fee when you submit the application. Renewal is much cheaper and is valid for a year. This is why a family budget should be calculated per person: everyone, including children, needs their own card and insurance.

Keep in mind, too, that an ikamet ties you to a specific place of residence. If you decide to move, you must register your new address within 20 working days through the e-Devlet portal or at the civil registry office (nüfus müdürlüğü), and if you move to another province, you must also inform the migration authorities. If the ikamet was granted on the basis of property ownership, selling the property removes the basis for it.

Contents:

• Grounds for an ikamet: which one to choose
• Ikamet through property ownership in 2026
• Closed neighborhoods: what has changed in Alanya
• When you do not need an ikamet, or when it will not work
• Frequently asked questions

Grounds for an ikamet: which one to choose

A short-term ikamet can be issued on various grounds. For property buyers, three of them are the most relevant:

An ikamet does not give the right to work: work requires a separate permit. We explain how to get a permanent ikamet after 8 years of residence in a separate article.

Ikamet through property ownership in 2026

Buying an apartment is the most straightforward ground for an ikamet, but it comes with four conditions:

1. The property must be worth $200,000 or more. What counts is the transaction price stated in the TAPU, converted at the Central Bank of Turkey rate on the purchase date; a valuation report is not accepted for this.

2. The property must be residential (registered on the title deed as konut). A shop, office or plot of land of the same value does not qualify.

3. The apartment must be registered in the applicant's name. The spouse and children receive a family residence permit on that basis.

4. The neighborhood must be open to the registration of foreign residents.

"Before buying for an ikamet, we advise checking two things: the price that will be stated in the TAPU and the status of the neighborhood. If the TAPU shows less than $200,000 at the Central Bank rate on the day of the deal, the ground will not work. Both checks are done before the deposit, take a few days and remove the main risk," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

Closed neighborhoods: what has changed in Alanya

Since July 1, 2022, the migration authorities have not registered new foreign residents in neighborhoods (mahalle) where foreigners make up more than 20% of the number of Turkish citizens. The threshold was initially 25% and was later lowered. When the rule was introduced, 1,169 neighborhoods in 63 provinces were closed. The list changes: if the share of foreigners falls, a neighborhood is reopened.

In June 2026, at a briefing at the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO), it was announced that Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar and Kargıcak were open again to ikamet applications based on property ownership. However, there is no single official register of open neighborhoods, and the migration authorities review each application individually. This is why the status of a specific address is checked at the migration office before a deposit is paid.

When you do not need an ikamet, or when it will not work

• Trips shorter than 90 days in six months. If you come for a holiday or to view apartments, you do not need an ikamet: visa-free entry is enough.
• Working in Turkey. An ikamet does not give the right to work. Work requires a work permit, which itself serves as a residence permit.
• An apartment worth less than $200,000. It will not qualify for a property-based ikamet. The tourism ground with a lease or your own apartment remains an option, but its requirements are stricter.
• An apartment in a closed neighborhood. You can buy it, but you cannot get an ikamet at that address until the neighborhood reopens.

Each of these situations can be foreseen, so it is best to choose the ground for your ikamet before you buy: it determines which property and which neighborhood will work for you.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay in Turkey without an ikamet?

Citizens of most countries that do not need a visa can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A longer stay requires an ikamet.

Does buying an apartment give the right to an ikamet?

Yes, if the apartment is a home worth $200,000 or more at the TAPU price and is located in a neighborhood open to foreign residents. The spouse and children receive a family residence permit.

How much does an ikamet cost in 2026?

The card fee is TRY 964 for everyone. The state fee depends on your nationality and the length of the permit, and the e-ikamet system shows the exact amount. Health insurance is paid separately.

When should I apply for a renewal?

A renewal application can be submitted from 60 days before the permit expires, and it must be submitted before the expiry date.

Can I work with an ikamet?

No. Work requires a work permit, which itself replaces the ikamet.