Foreign nationals who wish to live, work, study or become citizens in Türkiye usually deal with several authorities at once: the migration authorities, civil registry offices, land registry offices, tax offices and, where necessary, the courts. This page outlines the issues most often encountered in immigration and citizenship law and how the process works. Meetings can be held in English and, where needed, partly in Arabic.
How we can help
Residence permits
Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection provides for different types of residence permit, such as short-term, family, student and long-term residence permits. Each type has its own requirements, documents and renewal conditions. Applying for the right type is the first step in avoiding a refusal for missing documents.
Acquisition of Turkish citizenship
Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 regulates separately the acquisition of citizenship through the general route, through marriage and through exceptional routes (for example, by investment). The core of this work is preparing the application file, following the correspondence between authorities and monitoring the file until the process is concluded.
Entry restriction codes and entry bans
An entry restriction code or an entry ban imposed on a foreign national directly affects entry into Türkiye and residence applications. We find out which decision the code is based on, apply to the administration for its removal and, where necessary, take the matter to the administrative courts.
Deportation and administrative detention
Deportation orders can be challenged before the administrative court, and administrative detention orders before the criminal judgeship of peace. These applications are subject to short and strict time limits; it is important to consult a lawyer on the very day the decision is served.
Work permits and family reunification
Work permit procedures for foreign nationals who will work in Türkiye, and family residence permit applications that allow a foreign national's family to join them, also fall within this area.
How the process works
- First meeting: We review your situation, your passport and your current permit together.
- Road map: We set out in writing which application will be made, before which authority and with which documents.
- Application and follow-up: Preparation of the file, appointments and correspondence are handled by a single point of contact.
- Regular updates: You know where your file stands at every stage.
Useful to bring to the meeting
- Your passport and, if you have one, your residence permit card
- Documents relating to previous applications and decisions
- Letters or official notifications received from the authorities
- Your address in Türkiye and, if any, your title deed or tenancy agreement
Frequently asked questions
- Can we hold the meeting in English?
Yes. Meetings and correspondence can be conducted in English; with Arabic-speaking clients we can also communicate partly in Arabic.
- I have been served with a deportation order. How much time do I have?
The time limits for challenging such decisions are short under the law, and missing them is difficult to remedy. You should seek advice, with the document, on the day you receive the decision.
- Where do I apply for a residence permit?
As a rule, the first application is made to a Turkish consulate abroad. Foreign nationals already in Türkiye may, in the cases listed in the law, apply to the provincial migration authority through the e-İkamet system (Law on Foreigners and International Protection, Articles 21 and 22).
- What is an entry restriction code, and can it be lifted?
An entry restriction code is an administrative record that bans a foreign national from entering Türkiye or makes entry subject to permission. Depending on its type and legal basis, its removal can be requested from the administration or through an action for annulment before the administrative court (Article 9).
This page is for general information only; every case must be assessed on its own facts.