Humanitarian Residence Permit Current Guide 2026

A humanitarian residence permit is a special type of residence permit granted to foreigners who cannot meet the requirements for a standard residence permit in Turkey, but who must remain in the country for humanitarian reasons. The absence of a passport or the expiration of a passport does not constitute an obstacle to application on its own. Foreigners in an undocumented situation may also apply for a humanitarian residence permit provided they meet the conditions specified in the law. Applications are received through the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, and most files are evaluated by the Presidency of Migration Management in Ankara.

Unlike other residence permits, a humanitarian residence permit is considered exceptional, and all applications are subject to detailed review. The file prepared by the provincial migration management where the application is made is submitted for final evaluation to the Presidency of Migration Management in Ankara. Therefore, humanitarian residence permit applications take longer to conclude compared to short-term residence permit or family residence permit applications. In practice, the conclusion period for humanitarian residence permit applications generally ranges between 3 and 6 months.

Among the most frequently asked questions regarding the humanitarian residence permit are: how to obtain a humanitarian residence permit, whether one can travel abroad with a humanitarian residence permit, how to apply for the extension of a humanitarian residence permit, whether a humanitarian residence permit application can be made without a passport, and whether a private hospital report is accepted for a humanitarian residence permit. In this guide, we will address all these questions in detail within the framework of current practices and legislation as of 2026.

Short answer: The humanitarian residence permit is an exceptional residence permit regulated under Articles 46 and 47 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458. In the event that one of the special circumstances enumerated in the Law exists, it may be granted without applying certain conditions required for other types of residence permits. However, the acceptance of the application is not automatic; the foreign national's personal situation and the documents submitted are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

What is the Legal Basis of the Humanitarian Residence Permit?

The primary legal basis for the humanitarian residence permit is Article 46 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458. The non-extension or cancellation of the permit is regulated under Article 47 of the Law. Pursuant to these provisions, unlike ordinary residence permits, a humanitarian residence permit comes into question only in special and exceptional circumstances.

The existence of the circumstances enumerated in the Law does not mean that every application will necessarily be accepted. The administration takes into account together the specifics of the case, the family and personal ties of the foreign national in Turkey, the consequences they may face in the event of return to their country, the best interests of the child, and the evaluation made in terms of public order and public security.

How to Obtain a Humanitarian Residence Permit?

The humanitarian residence permit application is made before the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where the foreign national is located. However, unlike other residence permits, the authority to decide on humanitarian residence permit applications is largely exercised by the Presidency of Migration Management in Ankara. Therefore, regardless of which province the file is prepared in, it is sent to Ankara for evaluation.

It is of great importance that all documents supporting the foreign national's situation are submitted completely during the application. In particular, documents demonstrating grievances that would arise in the event of health, family unity, education, or return to the country form the basis of the file.

In practice, many people think that the humanitarian residence permit will be concluded in a short time. However, due to the additional examination of the file in Ankara, the process takes longer compared to normal residence permits. In current practice, the processing time for applications ranges between an average of 3 to 6 months.

What Are the Requirements for a Humanitarian Residence Permit?

The conditions for a humanitarian residence permit are evaluated according to the specific characteristics of each file. Nevertheless, one of the most important criteria in practice is that the situation of the foreign national possesses a special and exceptional character requiring the grant of a humanitarian residence.

In the acceptance of the application;

• Personal and family situation in Turkey,
• Health status,
• Grievances that may be experienced in the event of return to their country,
• The best interests of the child,
• Educational and social reasons,
• Assessments of public order and public security

along with many other factors, are examined together.

It must be emphasized that an income requirement is not sought for humanitarian residence permit applications. In other words, the lack of a regular income by the individual does not mean that the application will be rejected solely on this ground. In this respect, a humanitarian residence permit differs from certain other types of residence permits.

In Which Circumstances Can a Humanitarian Residence Permit Be Granted?

Pursuant to Article 46 of Law No. 6458, the issuance of a humanitarian residence permit may be brought into question in the following circumstances:

1. The existence of the best interests of the child,
2. The impossibility of enforcing the departure of the foreigner from Türkiye, or the departure not being considered reasonable or possible, despite the existence of a deportation decision or an entry ban to Türkiye against the foreigner,
3. The existence of legal grounds under which a deportation decision should not be issued against the foreigner,
4. Recourse to judicial remedies against proceedings such as a deportation decision, the finding of an application for international protection as inadmissible, or the withdrawal of an application being deemed to have occurred,
5. The continuation of proceedings for the return of the applicant to the first country of asylum or a safe third country,
6. The necessity of permitting the foreigner to enter and stay in Türkiye due to urgent reasons, the protection of national interests, public order, or public security.
7. Presence of extraordinary circumstances.

Humanitarian Residence Permit Due to Health Grounds

A humanitarian residence permit may be considered for foreigners who have serious health issues, whose treatment continues in Türkiye, or for whom travel is asserted to pose a serious health risk. The health ground must be supported not merely by declarations, but by up-to-date medical documents detailing the nature of the disease, the treatment, and the travel risk.

Humanitarian Residence Due to Deportation and Litigation Process

When a deportation decision issued against a foreigner or certain administrative procedures regarding international protection are brought before the judiciary, a humanitarian residence permit may come into question depending on the conditions set forth in the Law. However, the mere filing of a lawsuit does not mean that a humanitarian residence permit will automatically be granted in every case. The subject matter of the lawsuit, current measures, and the legal status of the foreigner must be examined together. For detailed information regarding deportation decisions, annulment of deportation order our article may be reviewed.

Turkish Citizen Child and the Best Interests of the Child

The best interests of the child is one of the evaluation grounds explicitly stated in the law for a humanitarian residence permit. If the departure from the country of a foreign parent who de facto undertakes the care of a Turkish citizen child or a child studying in Türkiye could seriously affect the child's family life, care, health, or education, this situation must be explained in the application file along with supporting documents. The mere presence of a Turkish citizen child does not automatically grant a permit; the care relationship and the concrete consequences of separation on the child must be demonstrated.

Can a Humanitarian Residence Permit Application Be Made for Undocumented Individuals?

One of the most common misconceptions in practice is that foreigners in an undocumented (overstay) status cannot apply for a humanitarian residence permit. However, there is no such prohibition in the legislation.

The fact that a foreigner has exceeded their legal period of stay in Türkiye or is in an undocumented status does not, in and of itself, constitute an obstacle to applying for a humanitarian residence permit. What is essential is whether the foreigner meets the conditions that necessitate the granting of a humanitarian residence permit.

Therefore, foreigners in an undocumented status may also apply for a humanitarian residence permit, provided that the necessary conditions exist. However, it should be kept in mind that each application is evaluated based on its own specific circumstances.

Can a Humanitarian Residence Permit Application Be Made Without a Passport?

Unlike other residence permits, a humanitarian residence permit is of an exceptional nature. Therefore, while evaluating the application requirements, the special circumstances in which the foreigner finds themselves are also taken into consideration.

One of the frequently wondered topics in practice is whether a humanitarian residence permit application can be made without a passport. The absence of a passport does not constitute an obstacle to applying for a humanitarian residence permit by itself. In the presence of humanitarian grounds specified in the Law, foreigners without a passport may also apply for a humanitarian residence permit.

During the evaluation of the application, the reasons why the foreigner does not have a passport, whether they can obtain a new passport from their home country, and the specific circumstances of the case are further examined. Therefore, the lack of a passport does not mean that the application will be rejected in every case.

Can a Humanitarian Residence Permit Application Be Made With an Expired Passport?

Having an expired passport does not constitute an obstacle to filing applications for a humanitarian residence permit. In practice, applications for a humanitarian residence permit can also be made with an expired passport.

If a decision is made to grant a humanitarian residence permit, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management may grant the foreigner a certain period of time to obtain a valid passport and, if the conditions are met, to transition to other types of residence permits.

In the event that the conditions giving rise to the humanitarian residence permit cease to exist, the foreigner may apply for another type of residence permit, excluding a long-term residence permit, provided that they meet the requirements. For examples regarding the transition period, application method, and different permit types, our residence permit transition application guide you may review.

Therefore, the expiration of the passport validity does not, by itself, mean that the humanitarian residence permit application will be denied. The primary assessment is based on whether the foreigner meets the conditions necessitating the issuance of a humanitarian residence permit.

Is a Private Hospital Report Accepted for a Humanitarian Residence Permit?

Health grounds hold a very significant place in applications for humanitarian residence permits. Particularly, foreigners who cannot return to their home country due to serious illnesses or whose treatment must continue in Turkey may apply for a humanitarian residence permit based on health grounds.

However, there is an important practical rule to note here. Private hospital reports are not accepted as sufficient in humanitarian residence permit applications based on health grounds.

In practice, medical board reports obtained from state university hospitals or public hospitals are taken as the basis. Therefore, if a humanitarian residence application is to be made on health grounds, a detailed medical report must first be obtained from a state university hospital.

Although reports obtained from private hospitals can be submitted as supporting documents, in most cases they are not considered sufficient on their own.

What Are the Required Documents for a Humanitarian Residence Permit?

There is no single, fixed document checklist that applies uniformly to every file for a humanitarian residence permit. The documents to be submitted are determined according to the humanitarian ground upon which the application is based. In practice, the appropriate documents among the following may be requested:

Document group	Sample documents	Explanation
Identity documents	Passport, foreign national identity number, previous residence card	The absence of a passport or the expiration of its validity must be additionally explained.
Application documents	Application form, biometric photograph, address, and contact information	The current formats and quantities requested by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management must be verified.
Medical documents	Medical board report, epicrisis, treatment plan, report indicating travel risk	It is important that the report is up-to-date, verifiable, and explains the grounds for the application.
Family and child documents	Birth certificate, civil registry record, school certificate, custody or care documents	The best interests of the child and the de facto care relationship must be substantiated.
Judicial documents	Statement of claim, court decision, stay of execution decision, service of process	The nexus between the lawsuit and the administrative act must be explained.
Documents concerning country conditions	Official reports, security, and humanitarian situation documents	It must be directly related to the alleged risk that would arise in the event of return.
Certificate of representation	Power of attorney	Submitted if the application or legal proceedings are conducted through an attorney.

The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management may request additional documents based on the specifics of the concrete case. Therefore, before making an application, the current document list and application method must be verified with the relevant directorate.

How to Apply for a Humanitarian Residence Permit Extension?

A humanitarian residence permit is a type of residence permit granted for specific periods. If the granted period is nearing expiration, the foreigner must apply for a humanitarian residence permit extension.

In extension applications, it is further examined whether the conditions of the initial application continue to be met. For instance, in a humanitarian residence permit granted for health reasons, it is re-evaluated whether the illness persists and the treatment continues.

Similarly, a new review is conducted regarding family reasons, educational status, or other humanitarian grounds.

Therefore, it is important to include up-to-date documents in the file for extension applications and to demonstrate that the situation underlying the initial application still persists. In this regard, an expert in the field foreign lawyersupport must be obtained from.

Can You Travel Abroad with a Humanitarian Residence Permit?

One of the most frequently asked questions by foreigners is whether it is possible to travel abroad with a humanitarian residence permit.

A humanitarian residence permit grants the foreigner the right to legal stay in Turkey. However, regarding departure from Turkey and re-entry into Turkey, it does not differ from other residence permits. A person holding a humanitarian residence permit may enter and exit the country.

What to Do If a Humanitarian Residence Permit Application Is Denied?

Not all applications for a humanitarian residence permit are approved. As a result of the evaluation conducted by the Presidency of Migration Management, a rejection decision may be issued if it is concluded that the application does not meet the statutory requirements or that the submitted documents are not of a nature to warrant the issuance of a humanitarian residence permit. However, the rejection of the application does not mean that all legal remedies available to the foreigner have been exhausted.

In the event of the rejection of a humanitarian residence permit application, the grounds for the rejection decision must first be carefully examined. This is because in some cases, rejection decisions issued due to missing documents or insufficient explanations may yield different results in new applications to be made upon remedying the deficiencies.

Nevertheless, if it is considered that the rejection decision rendered by the administration is unlawful, it is possible to file an annulment lawsuit before the Administrative Court. In the lawsuit to be filed, it may be asserted that the foreigner meets the conditions requiring the issuance of a humanitarian residence permit and that the administration's evaluation is contrary to law and regulations. In the review to be conducted by the court, the documents in the file, the personal situation of the foreigner, and the grounds for the rejection decision are evaluated together.

Issues such as health conditions, the protection of family unity, the best interests of the child, or serious grievances that may arise upon return to the country are particularly significant during the litigation process. Therefore, the application file and the rejection decision must be examined in detail before filing a lawsuit.

In some cases, a deportation decision or an obligation to leave Turkey may also arise alongside the rejection decision. In such cases, it is of utmost importance that the process is conducted more carefully and that the necessary legal procedures are carried out within the statutory periods to prevent any loss of rights.

In conclusion, the rejection of a humanitarian residence permit application does not always mean that the right to remain in Turkey has been completely eliminated. Depending on the specifics of the case, it may be possible to submit a new application or file a lawsuit in the administrative judiciary. Therefore, it would be beneficial for files receiving a rejection decision to be evaluated by a immigration lawyer .

An Important Warning for Turkmenistan Citizens

There is a special situation that requires attention in practice regarding Turkmenistan citizens.

From the perspective of Turkey, there is no obstacle to exiting and re-entering the country with a humanitarian residence permit. However, Turkmenistan's internal practices and administrative policies may occasionally yield different results.

In practice, it is observed that some Turkmenistan citizens may experience various issues during their entry or exit processes to their home country due to residing in Turkey under a humanitarian residence permit.

Therefore, it is important for Turkmenistan citizens to research current practices and conduct necessary checks before traveling to their home country. Otherwise, unexpected grievances may be encountered.

Humanitarian Residence Permit from the Perspective of Aliens Law

A humanitarian residence permit is one of the most technical and complex subjects in the field of Immigration Law. This is because each application file is evaluated within the scope of its own specific conditions.

Even the files of two foreigners who appear to be in the same situation may yield different results. Therefore, it is crucial that the documents to be used during the application process are prepared correctly, the legal grounds are set forth completely, and the file is tracked professionally.

Particularly in files where a refusal decision has been rendered, filing an annulment lawsuit or determining a new application strategy requires expertise.

The Importance of Immigration Lawyer and Foreigner Lawyer Support

Even a minor mistake made in humanitarian residence permit applications can lead to a negative outcome for the file. For this reason, many foreigners prefer to receive professional legal support during the application process.

An immigration lawyer or a foreigners' law attorney can assist in establishing the legal basis of the application, preparing the necessary documents, remedying deficiencies, and tracking administrative processes.

Conducting a legal evaluation is of great importance, especially for applications made on health grounds, applications by foreigners in an undocumented status, and files that have previously received a refusal decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About Humanitarian Residence Permits

In how many months is a humanitarian residence permit finalized?

The vast majority of applications are concluded within an average of 3 to 6 months. However, this timeframe may vary depending on the nature of the file.

Can undocumented individuals obtain a humanitarian residence permit?

Yes. Being in an undocumented status does not constitute an obstacle to the application on its own. What matters is the existence of the conditions stipulated by the law.

Is a income requirement sought for a humanitarian residence permit?

No. The lack of financial means is not solely a ground for rejection in humanitarian residence permit applications.

Is the right to work acquired with a humanitarian residence permit?

A humanitarian residence permit does not substitute for a work permit on its own. Foreigners who wish to work must obtain a separate work permit.

Can an application be made if the passport validity has expired?

Yes, applications can also be made with an expired passport.

Is a private hospital report sufficient?

Generally no. In applications based on health grounds, reports obtained from state university hospitals or public hospitals are taken as the basis.

Can one travel abroad with a humanitarian residence permit?

Departure from and reentry into the country are possible.

Can a lawsuit be filed if a rejection decision is issued?

Depending on the specific circumstances of the case, it may be possible to file a lawsuit against rejection decisions in the administrative judiciary.

Humanitarian residence permit applications are subject to a more comprehensive review compared to standard residence permits. It is crucial to manage the process professionally, particularly for applications based on health grounds, files of foreign nationals in an undocumented situation, and applications that have previously received a rejection decision. To obtain information regarding humanitarian residence permits, extension applications, litigation processes against rejection decisions, and other immigration law disputes, please contact our office contact you may.

Conclusion

A humanitarian residence permit is an important legal protection mechanism for foreign nationals in Turkey. It offers a significant solution for foreigners who cannot benefit from standard residence permits due to health issues, family reasons, or other exceptional circumstances. However, it should not be forgotten that each application is evaluated within its own specific conditions and the application file must be prepared meticulously.

It may be beneficial for foreign nationals seeking information about humanitarian residence permit applications, extension procedures, or legal processes against rejection decisions to receive support from an immigration lawyer or a lawyer specializing in foreigners' law to prevent loss of rights.

Last updated: September 7, 2026.

Author Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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