Getting Residency in Dalyan Turkiye

Turkiye has fallen in line with many European countries in allowing a visitor to spend 90 days in the country in every 180 days. This is one of the reasons why some ex-pats can no longer stay, leave for a few days, then immediately return on an ongoing basis. Anyone wanting to spend significant time in Turkiye must now apply for residency and go through the application process.

There are people who can help with the process and for language skills alone, such people’s services are very welcome and these days, almost essential.

Conditions currently in place have become stricter recently, and one of the reasons is political. Turkiye has been seen as a safe haven for refugees and also people wishing to avoid issues that might exist in their home countries.

However, the law does not differentiate between countries so those stricter laws apply to all. It must be noted that in order to benefit from the advantages of owning a property in obtaining residency, the property must have a minimum value of US$200,000.

The general question that an applicant for Turkish residency needs to satisfy the authorities about is the ability to fund their lifestyle because it is not permitted to work, or receive government benefits.

Home owners who have a tapu, the proof of ownership, can present that evidence together with bank statements showing the means of living in Turkiye. Passport details must be provided with the relevant documentation translated.

Biometric photographs (4) should accompany the application together with health insurance details. The application will be considered once the appropriate fees are paid.

A home owner whose name is on the tapu can expect to get a 2-year residency. It makes sense to have man and wife on the tapu because if one or other is not on the tapu, it is likely that the one missing will only get 6 months. It does seem that different provincial offices occasionally treat applicants different from the norm.

Anyone wanting to invest in Turkiye and potentially employ local people will find that if they satisfy the authorities of that fact, may get a 5-year short term visa. The documentation required as proof of that is more extensive and the assistance of a local expert is probably the best way to proceed.

If you are of official retirement age, and you can show evidence of your assets, you will still be able to get residency even if your intention is to rent. Applications from people below retirement age is now much more difficult, and this is largely the result of the political stance mentioned above.

Long term (permanent) residency is available for anyone with eight years’ continuous residency in Turkiye. There is additional documentation required to achieve this and it includes a criminal record check both in Turkiye and the applicant’s former country. Such documentation must be apostatised. Incidentally, anyone married to a Turk can obtain that far quicker, and even citizenship.

It has to be said that changes can take place at any time in the future but it is unlikely that things will become stricter. Non-EU Balkan states have become more popular with people wanting to head west while the independent States of Central Asia have also become an option. Do not think that Turkiye is not a welcoming country but its internal issues like rising rental costs have needed to be addressed for its ordinary citizens. Ensuring that the spending power of foreign nationals cannot fuel further rises makes absolute sense.