Immigration Law in Turkey
Prior to the recent framework changes in immigration law, Turkey had a very strict policy when it came to immigration and especially granting citizenship and residence/work permits to foreigners. More specifically, Turkey did not have a citizenship program based on investment which restricted immigration procedures. The residence permit application procedures were also very complex and were buried behind a wall of bureaucracy.
However, with the recent changes, residence and work permit application procedures are simplified and new immigration via investment schemes are implemented. It should be noted here that there are numerous options for foreigners to travel and stay in Turkey. These options range from short term visit, to short and long term residence permits, work permit and possible acquisition of Turkish citizenship. All of these options are regulated separately and are therefore subject to different application criteria and procedures.
Possible Options for Short-Term Immigration
There are numerous options for foreigners to travel and stay in Turkey. These options range from short term visit, to short and long term residence permits, work permit and possible acquisition of Turkish citizenship. All of these options are regulated separately and are therefore subject to different application criteria and procedures.
Touristic Residence Permits
As one of the more popular immigration options, Turkey issues touristic purpose residence permits up to two years depending on the applicant. This permit is strictly provided for touristic purposes and only provides a limited term of stay, as such, it does not allow the foreigner to legally work in Turkey. Furthermore, with the recent changes to extension review processes, Turkey no longer grants extensions of touristic residence permits after one year. For detailed information regarding this new procedure and exemptions, please refer to our published article here (also available via Mondaq).
Work Permits
Work permits are different, as once granted, they allow the foreigner to both legally stay and work in Turkey, acting as both a residence and a work permit. The application criteria for work permit is quite different however. Foreigner can either apply for a work permit by being employed by an established Turkish company, or they can choose the make a capital investment in Turkey, incorporate a new company and apply for a work permit as a shareholder of a local company (for detailed information regarding company formations, please refer to our Incorporation section under Corporate Law).
Our Immigration Services & Turkish Citizenship
Since there are different options for immigration in Turkey, it is imperative that the foreigners looking to immigrate understand and choose the option that suits them. Accordingly, As ASY LEGAL we can offer our expertise in immigration law and ensure that our clients make an educated decision with regards to the immigration option that best suit themselves. We provide services ranging from short-long term resident permits, to work permits and to Turkish citizenship applications.