Rumors: Now a Reason is Required to Live in Turkey

[Omer Varol 3]

So I've been seeing rumors that to obtain a residence permit after January 2020, you must have a good reason to stay that is satisfactory for immigration to approve. Property, business, going to a uni., training. But I didn't see the reason for extending your "touristic stay" aka just to live there.

Wondering if there is some truth to this rumor?

[Dona Timani 19]

Recent posts on FB confirm it, but apparently it doesn't apply to all nationalities:

"one operator on the 157 helpline stated to a caller that this ''should not'' apply to those applying with passports issued in the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, Chile, New Zealand, China and Russia . [It is to be assumed that after Brexit the UK would be added to the above list.]"

[REDDERS 286]

Yes,thats my text copied & pasted word for word!.

[Dona Timani 19]

 

14 hours ago, REDDERS said:

Yes,thats my text copied & pasted word for word!.

Yes, hence the quotation marks.

I also just called 157 to ask about my status as Lebanese citizen, in the off chance Lebanon was spared, but no such luck. 
 

[Omer Varol 3]

Hmm, so I guess it's pretty true. I guess we have to wait and see. But what really concerns me is the "should not" apply to certain nationalities which makes the limbo worse. I'll be wanting to stay and house hunting for the first few years I arrive in Turkey, hopefully they'll allow a residence permit for that reason.

[as012a2568 26]

You can become a Turkish Citizen by purchasing a property in Turkey that is worth a minimum of $250,000. I heard that might be dropping to $150,000 dollars sometime soon. An alternative to scrabbling around with visas all the time for those that can afford it that is.

[IbrahimAbi 607]

That would be good for many but would probably still put off those who are looking for citizenship for the wrong reasons.

[Khaled Jub 1]

Hi, 

I have an appointment before couple of days to extend my residence permit, they said we will stop renew the residace permit for "tourism purpose" and they told me: if you come after 1.1.2020 we will never renew for this purpose.

I ask if I have real state in Turkey, they said we will give for 1 year

They renew for me 6 month only. 

I hope this information will help any body in the future. 

Regards 

[Ken Grubb 1,304]

Wow. That's pretty drastic. Not good news, but thanks for letting us know.

[naser algaz 1]

so your real state owner and they renew for 6 month only ?

may be passport expire date related to this ?

[Khaled Jub 1]

No, I don't have real estate. I just ask if I have, they will renew for 1 year. 

[as012a2568 26]

I am not sure if I am reading this right but it looks as if the Turkish Government are clamping down on auto-renewals of the Tourist Residency Permit. As I understand it you can apply to have the Residency Permit for 1 year but then those who are renting and who are not property owners will not get their RP renewed a second time around. People may leave and then come back after 1 year and get another Tourist RP but again the term is only for one year before a break is needed again.

It would appear that they are trying to clamp down on all the RP owners who overstay or work illegally in the country. Are there exclusions for citizens of some countries? It doesn't look that way from what I am reading.

Does anyone have any clarification on this? I know a couple of my friends might be affected if this is the case. 

 

[naser algaz 1]

11 hours ago, Khaled Jub said:

No, I don't have real estate. I just ask if I have, they will renew for 1 year. 

I.C  i thought you are owner there .

[REDDERS 286]

The 157 helpline state that this ''should not'' apply to those applying with passports issued in United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, which are member countries of the EU or Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,

Cyprus, Croatia, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden,

Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal,

Australia, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, USA

China, Japan, Canada, South Korea, Mexico, Norway, Chile, New Zealand

Republic of the Russian Federation.

[as012a2568 26]

Thanks for that clarification Redders. Good news as far as my friends from the UK are concerned but bad news for some others I think.

[Dona Timani 19]

To renew Touristic Residence Permit 1 term more before new regulation starts, your extension Touristic Residence Permit application must be made in the online system before 31 Dec 2019, with appointment date booked after 01 Jan 2020 will be accepted.

I saw this posted online, and it made me think: Is it possible to apply for renewal several months before one's residence permit expires? 

Update: Answer is no. Can't apply for extension too early. It's gotta be within last 60 days of first permit duration.
 

 

[greenstein 121]

Recently, Göç İdaresi is giving date of appointment 2 or 3 moths later for renewal and first time residence permit applications.

[IbrahimAbi 607]

I suspect this depends on the region. Some offices will be busier than others. Which one are you referring to GS?

[greenstein 121]

Probably you are right abi. I was talking about Istanbul, recently I made applications behalf of someone and all of them got appointments 2 and 3 months later. Especially European side it's impossible to have an appointments.

[isnet80 1]

The new rule is that you can't use touristic reason more than once for a residence permit. It's only once per person for the first time application. If you are renewing, your reason has to change to either work or real estate owner, student or business.