Foreigners and Citizenship Law
Information on residence permits, work permits, deportation, Turkish citizenship and the Blue Card for former citizens, for foreigners and the diaspora in Şanlıurfa.
Foreigners law (yabancılar hukuku) regulates the entry, stay and work of non-Turkish nationals in Turkey, mainly under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu). Citizenship law (vatandaşlık hukuku) governs acquiring, losing and regaining Turkish citizenship.
This area concerns foreign spouses of Turkish citizens, retirees and investors settling in Turkey, foreign workers and students, and members of the diaspora who gave up Turkish citizenship to become, for example, German citizens.
Scope of services
- Applications for residence permits (ikamet izni): short-term, family, student and long-term
- Extension, transfer and refusal of residence permits
- Work permits (çalışma izni) through the Ministry of Labour
- Deportation decisions (sınır dışı etme kararı) and administrative detention
- Entry bans (giriş yasağı) and restriction codes
- Acquisition of Turkish citizenship through marriage, residence or investment
- Blue Card (Mavi Kart) for former Turkish citizens and their descendants
- Regaining Turkish citizenship and dual citizenship matters
- Lawsuits before administrative courts against decisions of the migration authorities
How does the process work?
- Your status, nationality, family situation and plans are reviewed.
- The suitable permit or citizenship route and the required documents are determined.
- Foreign documents are prepared with an apostille and sworn translation, and the application is made to the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) or the relevant authority.
- The application is followed until a decision is issued.
- In case of refusal, cancellation or deportation, the legal remedies and deadlines are assessed and a lawsuit is filed if appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Blue Card (Mavi Kart)?
Persons who were Turkish citizens by birth and gave up their citizenship with permission, as well as their descendants, can obtain the Blue Card. It grants most of the rights of a citizen, such as residence, work, and acquiring and inheriting property, but not the right to vote or to work in certain public positions.
What can be done against a deportation decision?
A deportation decision can be challenged before the administrative court within a short deadline set by law, counted in days. Filing the lawsuit generally suspends deportation until the court decides, except in certain cases defined by law. Immediate action is therefore important.
Can I obtain citizenship by marrying a Turkish citizen?
Marriage does not grant citizenship automatically. A foreign spouse can apply after at least three years of marriage, provided that the couple lives together as a family and other legal conditions are met. The application is examined by the authorities, and a positive outcome cannot be guaranteed.
For questions about your residence or citizenship status, please use our contact page.