How long does Turkey take to decide a residence permit application?

Checked on 2026-10-25

Turkish law says residence permit applications are decided within 90 days at the latest. The implementing regulation counts the 90 days from the date the complete documents reach the authority, and you are told if it takes longer. If documents are missing, you get 30 days to complete them, or the application is closed.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Deadline	Applications are decided within 90 days at the latest	Law 6458, art. 21(5); Regulation, art. 22(2)
When the 90 days start	From the date the information and documents are delivered in full to the authority	Regulation, art. 22(2)
If it takes longer	The applicant is informed	Regulation, art. 22(2)
Missing documents	You are notified; if you don’t complete them within 30 days of the notice, the application is removed from processing	Law 6458, art. 21(3); Regulation, art. 22(1)
While you wait	The residence permit application document (ikamet izni müracaat belgesi) gives the right to stay in Turkey until the decision	Regulation, art. 21(9)(ç)

How the 90 days are counted

The law sets the outer limit: 90 days (art. 21(5)). The regulation adds that the clock starts only when your documents are complete, and that you are told if the process runs longer. The Presidency of Migration Management’s FAQ repeats both points.

If something is missing, the law lets the authority put the application on hold until you complete it (art. 21(3)). The regulation gives you 30 days from the notice; after that the application is removed from processing. The FAQ says the same: up to 30 days, then the application is closed.

While you wait

People who complete an application in Turkey receive an application document. The regulation says it lets you stay until the decision and costs nothing by itself. The FAQ says that once a permit is approved, the card is sent to the address you gave.

Travelling during the wait: with the approved application document and fee receipts you may leave and come back within 15 days each time (Regulation, art. 21(9)(d)).

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.