Long-Term Residence Permit: Conditions, Rejection, Revocation, and Remedies

Long-term residence permit, is an indefinite residence status granted to foreigners who have legally resided in Turkey for a certain period. However, this status is not Turkish citizenship; nor does it grant the foreigner the unconditional and unlimited right to remain in Turkey. The permit is contingent upon meeting the conditions stipulated by law and the absence of subsequent grounds for revocation.

Short answer: A long-term residence permit is a residence permit that can be issued indefinitely to foreigners who have legally resided in Turkey continuously for at least eight years and meet the other conditions set forth in Law No. 6458. Completing the eight years is not sufficient on its own. The application may be denied; an issued permit may be revoked in the event of a serious threat to public order or public security, or in the case of remaining outside Turkey for more than one continuous year, barring the exceptions provided by law.

Legal Nature of the Long-Term Residence Permit

The primary regulatory framework consists of Articles 42 through 45 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458. The systematic structure of the Law is as follows:

Subject	Basic regulation
Issuance of the long-term residence permit	Art. 42 of Law No. 6458
Application conditions	Art. 43 of Law No. 6458
Rights of the long-term residence permit holder	Art. 44 of Law No. 6458
Grounds for revocation of the permit	Law No. 6458, Article 45
Family ties and the best interests of the child in residence permit decisions	Law No. 6458, Article 25
Administrative lawsuit period and stay of execution	Law No. 2577, Articles 7, 11, and 27

Pursuant to the Law, a long-term residence permit is granted by the governorates with the approval of the Ministry to foreigners who have resided in Turkey with a residence permit for at least eight years continuously, or to individuals who meet the special conditions determined by the Ministry. The evaluation of the application does not merely consist of a mathematical calculation of whether eight years have been spent in Turkey. The applicant's social assistance history, income status, health insurance, and situation in terms of public order and public safety are also evaluated. For the scope of the permit and current administrative announcements, The residence permit types page of the Presidency of Migration Management may be examined.

In this context, the fundamental legal question that needs to be answered is:

What conditions must a foreigner who has resided in Turkey for eight years meet in order to obtain a long-term residence permit; on what grounds may the application be rejected or the granted permit revoked?

The burden of proof and submission of documents rests predominantly with the applicant. The applicant must demonstrate with official documents their duration of residence, income, whether they receive social assistance or the nature of the assistance received, health insurance, and legal and de facto ties with Turkey. Conversely, in a rejection or revocation action based on a negative assessment regarding public order or public safety, the administration has the obligation to set forth the grounds for the action in a manner subject to legal review.

A person who obtains a long-term residence permit may benefit from a significant portion of the rights granted to Turkish citizens, without prejudice to acquired rights in the field of social security. However, the person;

from military service obligation,

from the right to vote and to be elected,

from the right to enter public service,

from the right to import vehicles with exemption,

cannot benefit. This status does not produce the same legal consequences as naturalization.

Furthermore, for refugees, conditional refugees, persons with subsidiary protection status, humanitarian residence permit holders and persons under temporary protection, the right to transition to a long-term residence permit is explicitly restricted under Article 42 of Law No. 6458.

The cancellation of a long-term residence permit is an administrative act distinct from the rejection of a newly filed application. For detailed information regarding the notification of the cancellation decision, its legal consequences, stay of execution, and issues that may be raised in an annulment lawsuit, annulment of residence permit and annulment action you may review our guide.

Legal Remedies Against Rejection or Revocation Decisions

1. Remedy against rejection or cancellation

The rejection of a long-term residence permit application or the cancellation of an existing long-term residence permit constitutes an administrative act. The act must be notified to the foreigner, their legal representative, or their attorney.

Pursuant to Article 25 of Law No. 6458, the notification shall include:

available remedies against the decision,

competent authorities to apply to,

deadlines,

the rights and obligations of the foreigner in the process,

must be effectively indicated. This obligation must be evaluated together with the requirement to indicate the remedies and deadlines set forth in Article 40 of the Constitution.

2. Competent court

The judicial branch having jurisdiction in annulment lawsuits to be filed against the rejection, non-renewal, or revocation of a residence permit is the administrative judiciary. The competent court is, as a rule, the administrative court located in the jurisdiction where the administrative authority that enacted the act is situated.

This dispute is not a receivable or compensation dispute falling within the jurisdiction of the judicial courts, but rather a review of the legality of a unilateral administrative act instituted by the administration relying on its public power.

3. Competent Court

In determining the competent court, the location of the governorship or the relevant Directorate of Migration Management unit that enacted the act shall be taken as the basis. For instance, regarding an act instituted by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management or the Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul administrative courts; regarding a central administrative act in Ankara, Ankara administrative courts may become relevant.

A definitive determination of venue should not be made without examining the specific act and the authority that instituted it.

4. Limitation Period for Filing a Lawsuit

Pursuant to Article 7 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577, the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit in the administrative court for administrative acts for which no special period is prescribed is sixty days starting from the day following the written notification.

In decisions regarding the rejection or revocation of a long-term residence permit, as a rule, an annulment lawsuit must be filed within 60 days starting from the day following the date of service.

If an administrative application is contemplated, Article 11 of Law No. 2577 is of significance. Accordingly, before filing a lawsuit and within the statutory filing period, the interested party may request the higher authority—or the authority that enacted the act if no higher authority exists—to revoke, withdraw, amend, or issue a new act. This application suspends the statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Upon the rejection of the application or the failure to respond within 30 days, the remaining filing period resumes running.

However, in proceedings carrying time risks in practice, rather than relying solely on the administrative application route, filing a lawsuit within the statutory period and, if necessary, requesting a stay of execution may be a safer legal approach.

5. Request for stay of execution

The revocation or non-renewal of a residence permit may directly affect the foreigner's residence status in Turkey. This situation may create severe consequences on family unity, education, employment, healthcare services, settled life, children's education, and other personal ties.

Pursuant to Article 27 of Law No. 2577, two conditions must be met concurrently for a stay of execution:

1. The administrative act must be clearly unlawful,

2. The enforcement of the act must cause damages that are difficult or impossible to compensate.

These two conditions must be concretized separately in the petition. For instance, abstract statements such as “I have family ties” may not be sufficient. Facts such as a spouse being a Turkish citizen, a joint child studying in Turkey, maintenance obligations, employment relations, chronic health conditions, long-term legal residence, and real estate or corporate affiliations must be supported by documentary evidence.

6. Mediation

There is no mandatory mediation requirement as a condition to file an annulment lawsuit against the denial, revocation, or non-extension of a long-term residence permit. The dispute is not a private law claim or a commercial dispute, but a request for the annulment of an administrative act.

7. Type of lawsuit and form of demand

The primary lawsuit in this dispute is an annulment action. A judicial review of a constitutive nature is requested. Depending on the specific administrative act, the relief sought is:

for the annulment of the rejection procedure,

for the annulment of the procedure regarding the cancellation of the long-term residence permit,

for the annulment of the procedure regarding the rejection of the re-application, if any,

for a stay of execution,

may be established as follows.

As a rule, the court does not directly substitute itself for the administration to issue a residence permit. Following the annulment decision, the administration must conduct a new evaluation in accordance with the reasoning of the court decision.

8. Statute of limitations and forfeiture periods

In an annulment action, the administrative litigation period is of importance, rather than the classic private law statute of limitations. If the 60-day period from the date of service is missed, the administrative act may become final. If it can be claimed that the service of process was irregular, that the legal remedy and the period were not indicated, or that actual knowledge occurred at a later date, these matters must be examined separately based on the specific case.

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Conditions for a Long-Term Residence Permit

Pursuant to Article 43 of Law No. 6458, the following conditions are required for the application:

Condition	Legal meaning	Documents that can be used in the application
Residing in Turkey with a residence permit for at least 8 years uninterruptedly	The period spent under a valid residence status must meet the statutory period.	Former residence permit cards, e-residence records, entry-exit records
Not having received social assistance within the last 3 years	There must be no dependency on regular social assistance. The specific type of assistance may be evaluated separately.	Social assistance record, official institution letter, income documents
Sufficient and regular income	The applicant must be able to sustain themselves and their family, if any.	Payroll, SGK service breakdown statement, bank account statements, rental income, company documents, tax records
Valid health insurance	Valid health coverage in Turkey is required.	SGK record, private health insurance policy
Not posing a threat to public order or public security	The administration's security assessment must not be unfavorable.	Criminal record, information on ongoing investigations and prosecutions, records regarding restriction codes, explanatory documents

Condition of uninterrupted eight-year residence

Not the entirety, but only half of the time spent in Turkey with a student residence permit is included in the calculation of the eight-year period required for the long-term residence permit. For detailed information regarding the conditions of a student residence permit, the application process, and options after the expiration of the permit type student residence permit requirements and documents you may review our guide.

For an example-based calculation regarding the counting of student residence as half, work permit periods, gaps between permits, and the effect of departures abroad long-term residence permit 8-year calculation you may review our guide.

made before the expiration of the residence permit residence permit extension application made by the foreigner with the purpose of changing the current permit type residence permit transition application, may yield different legal consequences in the evaluation of the eight-year period. Application dates, application documents, and gaps between permit periods must be examined together.

The Law requires the condition of “having resided in Turkey with a residence permit for an uninterrupted period of at least eight years”. Therefore, merely being physically present in Turkey shall not be deemed sufficient. The residence must be lawful and permitted; past residence statuses, extension applications, and entry-exit records must be examined collectively.

It is important that the following documents are systematically checked prior to the application:

The initial residence permit and all subsequent extension permits,

Whether there are any gaps between residence permit periods,

Periods spent outside Turkey during the application,

Types of residence permits transitioned to,

Periods spent under another legal status in lieu of a residence permit,

Apparent gaps in duration arising due to administrative delays.

If there is a registration issue arising from the administration finalizing the application late despite the applicant having made a timely extension application, the second paragraph of Article 24 of Law No. 6458 must be taken into consideration. A foreigner who makes a timely extension application may reside in Turkey with the application document issued until a decision is rendered.

Condition of not receiving social assistance

The Law requires that no social assistance has been received within the last three years. However, in the specific case, the type, continuity, and amount of the social assistance, as well as the applicant's subsistence capacity and family conditions, must be evaluated. Rather than concealing a social assistance record if one exists, the applicant should document the nature of the assistance, whether it is continuous, and their current financial sufficiency.

Sufficient and regular income

The source of income must be lawful, sustainable, and at a level capable of supporting the applicant and their family, if any. Regular income is not limited solely to employment-based earnings. Depending on the nature of the specific case:

wage income based on a work permit,

retirement income,

rental income,

income derived from company partnership or commercial activity,

regular and explainable sources in bank accounts,

the legal support capacity of a family member,

may be subject to evaluation.

However, unverified bank transactions, short-term high cash inflows, or transactions that appear to have been created solely prior to the application may not be deemed sufficient by the administrative authority. Income sources must be consistent with tax, banking, SGK and commercial records.

Health insurance

The applicant must have valid health insurance. SGK coverage or private health insurance valid in Turkey must be attached to the application file. Whether the policy is valid as of the application date, its scope, and continuity must be verified.

Public order and public security requirement

This requirement is one of the most contentious issues in practice. The law requires that the foreigner does not pose a threat to public order or public security when transitioning to a long-term residence permit. However, this discretion is not unlimited.

The administration's assessment of public order or public security must be based on:

a legal basis,

concrete facts,

data associated with the individual,

proportional assessment,

reasoning amenable to judicial review,

must be based upon.

Mere abstract suspicion, an unelucidated record, or an assessment inadequate for the individual to formulate a defense shall not automatically result in a lawful transaction in every case. Conversely, where there is a concrete security risk, serious criminal association, fraudulent documentation, activity directly affecting public order, an entry ban, or reliable information demonstrating the individual's personal circumstances, the administration's discretion may broaden.

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How to Apply for a Long-Term Residence Permit

Prior to the application, the calculation of the eight-year period, gaps between residence permits, and entry-exit records to Turkey must be checked together. For the current application screen and guidelines, only The official e-Residency system of the Presidency of Migration Management must be used. Since the application procedure and requested documents may vary depending on the individual's circumstances, the current document list on the system shall be taken as the basis.

The evaluation period exceeding 90 days after the complete submission of the application file to the competent authority does not mean that the application is automatically accepted or rejected. For detailed information on the start date of the period, the effect of requests for missing documents on the period, and how to track a delayed application, what to do if a residence permit application is not concluded within 90 days you may review our guide.

If an appointment has been scheduled for the foreigner within the scope of the application, the obligation to be present at the specified date and place must be complied with. For detailed information on the consequences of missing the appointment, acceptable excuses, and the possibility of re-application, what happens if you do not attend the residence permit appointment you may review our guide.

Pre-application checklist

1. Past residence permits and extension applications are listed chronologically.
2. It is taken into consideration that half of the time spent with a student residence permit will be counted.
3. The continuous residence requirement is verified through entry-exit records.
4. Social assistance records for the past three years shall be investigated.
5. The currency of income and health insurance documents shall be verified.
6. Criminal records, restriction codes, or any information subject to public order assessment, if any, shall be reviewed in advance.

Essential documents that may be required in the application

• Relevant pages of the passport or substitute document,
• Current and past residence permit documents,
• Turkey entry-exit records,
• Documents demonstrating sufficient and regular income,
• Valid health insurance document,
• Records or documents showing that no social assistance has been received in the last three years,
• Other documents requested by the administration on the current application portal.

Failure to submit additional or missing documents requested by the administration within the given period may result in the case being dropped, unlike the dismissal of the application on the merits. For detailed information regarding the legal nature and consequences of this decision, as well as re-application options, withdrawal of the residence permit application from processing you may review our guide.

Merely adding the documents to the file may not be sufficient. It must be clearly demonstrated which condition each document satisfies, and time calculations should be explained with a table including date ranges, if applicable. For more detailed calculation examples, calculation of the eight-year period for long-term residence permits written statement can be examined.

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Under What Circumstances is a Long-Term Residence Permit Revoked?

Article 45 of Law No. 6458 provides for two main grounds requiring the revocation of a long-term residence permit:

1. The foreigner posing a serious threat to public order or public security,

2. Being outside Turkey for a continuous period of more than one year for reasons other than health, education, or compulsory public service in their home country.

The point to be noted here is that the condition at the application stage and the condition for revocation are not established with the same intensity. While the requirement of “not posing a threat” is sought in the evaluation of the application, the law utilizes the criterion of a serious threat to public order or public security for the revocation of a granted long-term residence permit.

This difference indicates that a stricter revocation threshold is provided for holders of long-term residence permits. In the revocation procedure, it must be concretized that the individual poses a serious threat to public order or security.

Staying abroad for more than one year

If a foreigner holding a long-term residence permit stays outside Turkey for a continuous period of more than one year for reasons other than health, education, or compulsory public service in their own country, the permit may be revoked.

Therefore, the following documents should be retained for individuals who need to stay abroad for extended periods:

hospital, treatment, and medical reports,

education acceptance documents and student registrations,

official documents regarding compulsory public service,

assignment letters,

entry-exit records,

official documents with certified translations indicating the reason for mandatory presence.

If the individual's grounds for being abroad fall under one of the statutory exceptions, it is crucial to substantiate this exception with documentary evidence.

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How Jurisprudence is Used in Long-Term Residence Disputes

In long-term residence permit disputes, the number of published decisions directly concerning the exact same type of incident may be limited. Therefore, the principles established in decisions regarding residence permits, work permits, deportation, restriction codes, and interference with the fundamental rights of foreigners must be applied with caution. A precedent should not be directly applied to the specific case without explaining the similarities in facts and legal grounds.

The grounds for the administrative act must be concrete and verifiable.

The grounds of public order or public security do not grant the administration unlimited authority exempt from judicial review. The rationale behind the rejection or revocation action must be correlated with the applicant's individual circumstances and must be subject to judicial review. In the litigation file, it may be requested that the administration submit the information and documents underlying the action.

Nevertheless, the absence of a final criminal conviction does not automatically invalidate the public security assessment in every case. Therefore, the defense should not rely solely on the criminal record; the content, currency, reliability, and connection of the administrative record to the individual must also be contested.

Claims regarding private and family life must be effectively examined.

The Constitutional Court's decision in the application of N.O. (App. No: 2018/36798, 17.11.2021), is significant regarding the effective examination of the impact of actions taken against foreigners on their private and family life. Rendering a decision based solely on general grounds without evaluating the applicant's family ties, settled life in Türkiye, and asserted fundamental rights claims may fail to constitute an adequate judicial review.

This approach does not imply that family ties mandate the issuance of a residence permit in every circumstance. The core issue is whether the administration and judicial authorities genuinely assessed the individual situation and struck a proportionate balance between public interest and the consequences affecting private life.

Matching to be performed when utilizing case law

• The factual matrix of the precedent must be compared with the concrete dispute.
• It must be verified whether the legal basis and the statutory article relied upon for the transaction are identical.
• Both favorable and unfavorable aspects must be explained together.
• It must be investigated whether the decision remains current as of the date of application.
• Karar metnine mümkünse resmî karar veri tabanından ulaşılmalıdır.

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Evaluation of Evidence and Matching with Conditions

Documentary organization is decisive for long-term residence permit applications or lawsuits against rejection/revocation proceedings. Documents should not merely be added to the file; it must be clearly demonstrated which legal fact each of them proves.

Particularly in rejections based on public order or public security grounds, rather than abstract statements describing the individual's positive social ties, official records, criminal investigation documents, and evidence of employment and family life must be systematically submitted.

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Potential Defenses of the Administration

“The condition of eight years of uninterrupted residence has not been met.”

The administration may claim that there are gaps between past residence permits, that the types of permits do not meet the requirements, or that departures abroad caused a break in continuity.

Counter-argument: Past permit cards, extension application documents, e-residence records, and entry-exit logs must be presented in a chronological table. It should be argued that a gap resulting from administrative delay, while an extension application was made in a timely manner, should not be interpreted against the applicant.

“The applicant does not have sufficient and regular income.”

The administration may argue that bank transactions are irregular, the source of income is uncertain, or it is insufficient to support the family.

Counter-argument: Income should not be based on a single document. SGK records, employment contracts, payrolls, tax documents, company records, rental income, and bank transactions must be presented to support one another. Any sudden or unexplained money transfers must be separately explained.

“There is a risk in terms of public order or public security.”

This heading may constitute the administration's strongest defense. A restriction code, intelligence information, criminal record, investigation, administrative assessment, or an individual's network of associations may be used as the basis for this defense.

Counter-argument: The specific incident, date, connection to the individual, currency, outcome of the investigation or prosecution, acquittal, or decision of non-prosecution underlying the transaction must be examined. It can be argued that the element of cause in the administrative act must be concrete and subject to judicial review.

However, the absence of a conviction alone may not render the public security assessment ineffective. Therefore, the defense should not be limited solely to the argument that “there is no conviction.”

“Family ties do not nullify the grounds of public order.”

This defense is legally valid to a certain extent. Family ties are not prioritized in every case if it is determined that there is a serious threat to public order and security.

Counter-argument: The point that must be advanced is not that family ties automatically produce results; rather, it is that the administration and the court are under the obligation to concretely evaluate these ties, the duration of residence, the situation in the country of origin, and the best interests of the child pursuant to Article 25 of Law No. 6458.

“Owning immovable property does not grant the right of residence.”

This defense is also generally correct.

Counter-argument: It should not be claimed that immovable property or investment alone creates the right of residence. These data must be advanced as supporting evidence of the private life, economic ties, and level of establishment the person has built in Turkey.

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Key Issues to Be Evaluated by the Court

The following questions stand out in the evaluation of the administrative court judge:

1. Has the applicant demonstrated the condition of eight years of continuous and legal residence with official documents?

2. Has the condition of not receiving social assistance within the last three years been met?

3. Is the applicant's income genuine, regular, sufficient, and verifiable?

4. Is the health insurance valid as of the application date?

5. Have the grounds of public order or public security been substantiated in the rejection or revocation action?

6. Is the reasoning of the action connected to the individual circumstances of the applicant?

7. Have the applicant's family ties in Turkey, duration of residence, status of children, and ties to the country of origin been evaluated?

8. Is the action proportionate with regard to the public interest sought to be achieved?

9. Does the rejection or revocation decision contain sufficient reasoning and properly indicate the legal remedies?

10. If a stay of execution has been requested, is the claim of irreparable harm supported by concrete documents?

The most common issues encountered in weak application or litigation files are:

Failure to explain past periods of residence in a chronological and documented manner,

Attempting to prove income solely through bank balances,

Failure to address social assistance records altogether,

Responding to the claim of public order solely with a general denial,

Failing to substantiate the claim regarding family life with documentation,

Leaving the notification date and the litigation period ambiguous,

Confusing a residence permit with citizenship,

Requesting to directly grant a permit by substituting the administration.

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Path to Follow in a Long-Term Residence Permit Lawsuit

The core strategic approach in this field can be summarized as follows:

A long-term residence permit is a status granted to foreigners who have legally resided in Turkey for eight years and meet the statutory requirements. However, the rejection of an application or the revocation of a granted permit may not be lawful in every case. The applicant must document the statutory requirements, correctly understand the grounds for rejection, effectively respond to the specific claim of public order, and challenge the lawfulness of the administrative act in the administrative judiciary without missing the limitation period. For general grounds for rejection and litigation preparation, rejection of residence permit guide can also be reviewed.

Recommended roadmap in terms of practice:

Document the periods of residence in a chronological table. You must submit past permit cards, extension applications, e-residence records, and entry-exit logs in sequential order and explain each period.

Extensively document your sources of income. SGK (Social Security Institution) records, tax documents, bank statements, employment contracts, payrolls, and company documents must support one another and demonstrate consistency.

Explain your social assistance record. If you have such a record, instead of concealing it, you must document the nature and duration of the assistance, as well as your current income status.

Prove the validity of your health insurance. The SGK or private insurance policy must be valid as of the application date and must be comprehensive.

Provide an effective response to the allegation of public order. If there is a criminal record, restriction code, or intelligence record, you must discuss them in detail and present matters such as acquittal, non-prosecution, or the loss of relevance of the incident.

Document your family and social ties. Demonstrate that you have established an integrated life in Turkey through records of spouse, children, employment, residency, education, health, and social environment.

Secure the rejection or cancellation decision and the date of service. The administrative act subject to the lawsuit and the notification document must definitively be included in the file.

Do not miss the litigation deadline. The filing period in the administrative court is 60 days from the date of service.

Request a stay of execution if necessary. Irreparable harm and clear unlawfulness must be supported by concrete evidence.

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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Long-Term Residence Permits

How many years is the long-term residence permit valid for?

Long-term residence permits are issued indefinitely. However, the permit may be revoked if grounds for cancellation set forth in Article 45 of the Law arise.

Can anyone who stays in Turkey for eight years obtain a long-term residence permit?

No. In addition to the requirement of eight years of uninterrupted residence, conditions regarding social assistance, income, health insurance, and public order must also be met.

Does a long-term residence permit grant Turkish citizenship?

No. A long-term residence permit and Turkish citizenship are distinct legal statuses.

Can a lawsuit be filed if the application for a long-term residence permit is rejected?

Depending on the grounds for the rejection and the date of notification, it is possible to file an annulment lawsuit in the administrative court. The statutory filing period must be calculated separately based on the specific decision.

In which cases is a long-term residence permit revoked?

Revocation may come into question if the foreigner poses a serious threat to public order or public security, or remains outside Turkey for more than one continuous year for reasons other than health, education, or mandatory public service in their home country.

Last updated: September 8, 2026. This content has been prepared for general legal informational purposes.

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