Türkiye's residence permit: a $100 fee and a pension letter
There's no retirement visa. Retirees enter visa-free, file for a short-term permit inside the country, and renew it every one or two years.
Below: what the migration office asks for in 2026, what it costs an American, and where tourism-based renewals get harder. Figures checked in September 2026.
Residence Visa
Required for stays longer than 90 days. Application is submitted in Turkey after arrival. Valid for extended residence.
- Government cost
- $100
- Processing time
- ~30 days
- Timeline
- Extended stay (beyond 90 days)
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Valid US passport
- Application to Provincial Directorate of Migration Management after arrival in Turkey
Which ground to file under
Match the permit to where your money comes from
Türkiye issues one short-term permit with several legal grounds. Pick the one your money supports.
Pension or savings: the tourism ground
The usual retiree route. Each card runs up to two years, but officers look harder at every repeat renewal.
Capital to park: the property ground
A home with a deed price of at least $200,000, in any city, since October 2023. The deed price counts, not an appraisal, and you can't rent the place out while living elsewhere.
Bigger capital: a passport instead
Property worth $400,000, with a three-year resale restriction on the deed, qualifies for Turkish citizenship. Türkiye allows dual citizenship.
The permit in six numbers
$80
Permit fee for Americans, one year
Plus a 964-lira card fee, about $20 (2026)
$860
Monthly income, one applicant
Set at 42,113 lira, 1.5x minimum wage (2026)
$200,000
Deed price for the property ground
Same in every city since October 2023
120 days
Most time outside Türkiye in a year
Go over and a renewal can be refused
65+
Age when mandatory insurance drops away
Ages 18 to 65 need a Turkish policy
8 years
Continuous residence for long-term status
Citizenship is possible after 5
The steps
From visa-free arrival to a card in the mail
- Arrive visa-free. Americans get 90 days in any 180, and that's when you file.
- Lock in an address. A notarized lease or a title deed, registered within 20 working days.
- Buy insurance if you're 18 to 65. It must come from a Turkish insurer and match the permit length.
- Apply at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr and book your appointment at the provincial migration office.
- Bring the file: a passport valid 60 days past the permit, your lease, insurance, and pension or bank proof with apostille and sworn translation. Fees aren't refunded if you're refused.
- Wait 30 to 90 days. Applicants report Istanbul and Antalya on the slow end. The card comes by post.
Where renewals go wrong
Renew in the 60 days before your card expires; a late filing isn't allowed. More than 120 days outside Türkiye in the past year can sink the renewal, and officers are tougher on people renewing a tourism permit year after year. If you plan to stay for good, weigh the property ground before your second renewal.
Health and taxes
Insurance at 65, and who taxes your pension
Under 65, the migration office wants a Turkish policy for the full permit. Over 65 it doesn't, which leaves you self-insuring until you've lived here a year and can join the state system (GSS). Private insurers get reluctant with age, so shop early.
On taxes, 183 days in a calendar year makes you a Turkish tax resident. The 1996 U.S.-Türkiye treaty leaves Social Security taxable only in the U.S., and Türkiye exempts foreign social security pensions. Your U.S. return and FBAR don't go away.
People who can help with this permit
Master Immigration Services (Turkey)
Turkey Relocation and Visa Services
Visa and relocation services in Türkiye. They handle e-ikamet filings, appointments and renewals.
Kimberly McCauley
Türkiye Local Guide
Expatsi's local guide in Istanbul, for questions about neighborhoods, leases and daily life.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
Healthcare coach who helps you plan coverage and care before and after a move.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Global health insurance for people living abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
U.S. expat tax preparation, including FBAR filings and treaty positions.
Türkiye's residence permit, answered
Can a Turkish residence permit lead to citizenship?
Yes. Naturalization requires five years of uninterrupted residence and an adequate level of Turkish; long absences break the clock. Eight years of continuous residence qualifies you for an indefinite long-term permit. Türkiye allows dual citizenship, and buying property worth $400,000 is a separate route to a passport.
Can I work on a Turkish short-term residence permit?
No. The permit doesn't allow employment. A job with a Turkish employer needs a separate work permit through the Ministry of Labor. Remote work for a foreign employer sits in a legal gray area.
How much income do I need for a Turkish residence permit?
In 2026, a single applicant is expected to show about 42,113 lira a month (about $860), which is 1.5 times the net minimum wage. Each additional family member adds about 28,075 lira (about $575). Pension statements work well as proof. Bank balances alone are viewed with skepticism, and foreign documents need an apostille and a sworn translation.
How long can I stay outside Türkiye on a residence permit?
Keep it under 120 days in total per year. Under Law No. 6458, a short-term permit can be refused or canceled if you lived outside Türkiye for more than 120 days in the preceding year.
Can I travel while my Turkish residence permit application is pending?
Applicants report that the application document plus certified fee receipts let you leave and re-enter, as long as each trip abroad is 15 days or less and you applied before your visa-free period or earlier permit ran out.
Does Türkiye have a retirement visa?
No. Türkiye has no dedicated retirement visa. Americans who retire there use the short-term residence permit, usually on the tourism ground or, for owners of a home with a deed price of at least $200,000, the property ground. You apply inside Türkiye after entering visa-free.
Do I need health insurance for a Turkish residence permit if I'm over 65?
No. Applicants under 18 and over 65 aren't required to buy the foreigner health insurance policy. Applicants 18 to 65 need a Turkish policy covering the full permit period. You can join Türkiye's public system (GSS) voluntarily after one year of residence.
Are some Istanbul neighborhoods still closed to foreign residents?
Reports from June 2026 say the closed-neighborhood rule, in place since 2022, was lifted and foreigners can again register addresses in any Istanbul neighborhood. Rules have changed quickly here, so confirm your exact address with the migration office or a local advisor before signing a lease.
How much does a Turkish residence permit cost for Americans in 2026?
About $100 for a one-year permit: an $80 permit fee for U.S. citizens plus a 964-lira card fee (about $20). First-time applicants who entered visa-free may also be charged a one-off single-entry visa fee of 9,376.40 lira (about $190). Budget separately for health insurance, notarized lease costs and translations. Fees aren't refunded if the application is refused.
Weighing Türkiye against other places to retire?
Talk to an Expatsi advisor about your income, your timeline and which permit fits.
Why not you?