Turkey Tourist Residence Permit 2026: Documents, Fees, Rules
How to get a Turkey tourist residence permit in 2026: documents, official fees for Iranians, closed neighbourhoods, application timing and refusal reasons.
A Turkey tourist residence permit is a short-term residence permit granted for tourism (Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni). Iranians can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days without a visa. To stay longer, they must apply on the e-İkamet system before those 90 days run out, then hand in their documents at the migration office on their appointment date. The main documents are a passport, biometric photos, health insurance covering the whole period, proof of where you live and receipts for the fees. In 2026 the official cost for Iranians is the 964 lira card fee plus a residence fee in dollars: 25 dollars for the first month and 5 dollars for each month after that.
This guide explains every step of a first application, with the official 2026 figures, the list of closed Istanbul neighbourhoods and the most common reasons for refusal. If you already hold a permit and only need to extend it, read our Turkey residence permit renewal guide 2026.
What is a tourist residence permit and who gets it?
Turkey's Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458) lists several grounds for a short-term permit in Article 31. Tourism is one of them. The others include:
- owning residential property in the applicant's own name
- setting up a business or having business connections
- medical treatment
- a Turkish language course
- scientific research and educational exchange programmes
By law, a short-term permit can be issued for up to 2 years at a time. In practice, first applications, and tourism applications in particular, are usually granted for a shorter period. The migration office decides case by case.
A tourist residence permit does not allow you to work. Work requires a separate work permit. We explain the requirements in our Turkey work permit guide.
Key limit: tourist permits are not extended beyond one year
On 2 December 2019, Turkey's Directorate General of Migration Management announced that, from 1 January 2020, residence and extension applications for tourism would not be approved for anyone who had already held tourist residence for a total of one year or more. The only exception is an applicant with another valid reason among the legal grounds.
In practice, a tourist permit is a short-term solution, not a route to staying for several years. If your plans are longer, consider a different route from the start. The options are:
- Turkish residence through buying property
- a student residence permit
- a family residence permit
- a work permit
Turkey's migration rules have changed many times. Before you decide, check the current position with ALO TURKEY's consultants.
Documents for a Turkey tourist residence permit
The list below covers the usual documents for a first application. The migration office may ask for more.
- The application form, completed and signed on e-İkamet.
- A valid passport, with copies of the photo page and the entry stamp page.
- Two biometric photos on a white background, taken within the last 6 months.
- Health insurance covering the whole period you apply for. The details are in our guide to health insurance in Turkey.
- Proof of address: a notarised rental contract, a title deed or a hotel booking.
- Proof of financial means: the financial means declaration form, and usually a bank statement or proof of income.
- Payment receipts for the card fee and the residence fee.
According to Turkish immigration lawyers in 2026, a hotel booking or a flight ticket alone is often not enough. The migration office checks whether the stated purpose matches the period requested.
Turkey tourist residence permit fees in 2026 for Iranians
The official cost has two parts:
- The residence card fee: 964 lira. No nationality is exempt. It was set in Official Gazette No. 33117 of 24 December 2025.
- The residence fee: for nationalities with their own dollar table, it is set in dollars. Under the 2026 table, Iran is in Group A: 25 dollars for the first month and 5 dollars for each month after that.
| Period applied for | Residence fee (USD) | Card fee (TRY) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 35 | 964 |
| 6 months | 50 | 964 |
| 1 year | 80 | 964 |
| 2 years | 140 | 964 |
Source: the residence fee table grouped by nationality, Turkish Official Gazette Nos. 33117 and 33124 (December 2025). We added up the dollar amounts from the monthly rates.
The e-İkamet system shows the final amount when it issues the payment slip, and that amount is the one that counts. On top of these fees, budget for health insurance, translation and notary costs, and rent. These costs are not fixed and depend on your age, the city and the type of contract.
How to get a tourist residence permit: step by step
- Apply before your 90 days end. The application must be filed while your legal visa-free stay is still running.
- Settle where you will live. Before signing a rental contract, make sure the neighbourhood is not closed to new residence registrations (see the next section).
- Fill in the form on e-İkamet and book an in-person appointment.
- Pay the fees and keep the receipts.
- On your appointment day, take the originals and copies of your documents to the provincial migration office.
- Follow the result on e-İkamet. Lawyers report that new applications usually take 2 to 6 weeks. In busy provinces it can take longer.
- The residence card is sent to your registered address.
Once you hold the permit, if your address changes you must report the new address within 20 working days, according to the migration office as quoted by lawyers. The late-notification fine for 2026 is reported at about 814 lira.
After receiving the card, you can get a tax number and an e-Devlet password. You will need both for banking and official paperwork.
Neighbourhoods closed to residence in Istanbul
Since July 2022, Turkey has closed neighbourhoods where the foreign population exceeded a set level to new residence address registrations. In July 2023 the migration office said the measure covered 1,169 neighbourhoods in 63 provinces. According to the same statement, these 10 Istanbul districts were closed to new residence applications:
- Fatih and Esenyurt, since January 2021
- Avcılar, Bahçelievler, Başakşehir, Bağcılar, Esenler, Küçükçekmece, Sultangazi and Zeytinburnu, since October 2022
This list is not fixed and may have changed. If your address is in a closed neighbourhood, the application is refused, so check the neighbourhood before renting. A fuller list is in our article on the best Istanbul areas for getting residence. For rental contracts, see our guide to renting a home in Turkey.
Why are tourist residence permits refused?
The common reasons reported by Turkish lawyers in 2026:
- The purpose of the stay is not convincing or does not fit the period requested.
- Documents are incomplete or inconsistent. This is the most common reason.
- Proof of financial means is weak.
- The registered address does not match reality or the other documents.
- The address is in a closed neighbourhood.
- The application was filed after the legal stay had ended.
- The applicant has already held tourist residence for a year or more.
If your application is refused, the time to leave the country or to appeal is limited. Consult a lawyer or a trusted adviser straight away.
Tourist residence or another route?
| Route | Usual period | Renewable after one year? | Right to work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist residence | Short, usually up to one year | Usually not | No |
| Residence through property | Up to 2 years per grant | Yes, while you own the property | No |
| Student residence | Matches the study programme | Yes, while you study | Limited, with permission |
| Work permit | Matches the contract | Yes | Yes |
Families can also use a family residence permit. On this route, a spouse and children can get residence alongside the holder of a property-based or work-based permit. The details are in Turkish family residence through buying property.
Frequently asked questions
Do Iranians need a visa to travel to Turkey?
No. According to Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holders of ordinary Iranian passports are exempt from visas for trips of up to 90 days. To stay longer, you need a residence permit.
How much does a one-year tourist residence permit cost for Iranians?
Under the 2026 table, the one-year residence fee is 80 dollars, plus the 964 lira card fee. Insurance, translation and rent are extra.
Can a tourist residence permit be renewed every year?
Usually not. Under the migration office's December 2019 announcement, someone who has held tourist residence for a total of one year can only continue on a ground other than tourism.
Can I work in Turkey with a tourist residence permit?
No. You need a separate work permit to work.
How long does a tourist residence application take?
Turkish lawyers report that it usually takes 2 to 6 weeks after you hand in your documents. In busy cities it can take longer.
Free consultation with ALO TURKEY
If you are not sure whether a tourist permit suits your situation or another route would, ALO TURKEY's consultants in Istanbul can guide you in Persian. Topics we review with you:
- choosing the type of residence
- checking the neighbourhood before you rent or buy
- preparing your documents
Rules and fees change, and the final decision rests with the migration office. No adviser can guarantee that a permit will be approved. Contact us on WhatsApp or through our contact page.
Sources: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (visa information for foreigners); Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, Article 31; Turkish Official Gazette Nos. 33117 (24 December 2025) and 33124 (31 December 2025), as reported by Dağdeviren Yağız law office; Directorate General of Migration Management announcement (2 December 2019); migration office statement on closed neighbourhoods (July 2023); legal guides by Öner Hukuk (October 2026) and FFK Partner Hukuk (2026).