Buying a property in Turkey in 2024 is still an attractive option for foreign investors, however, there are some important changes and limitations that you need to be aware of.
Context: What is happening in the Turkish real estate market right now
Until recently, it was quite easy to obtain a residence permit in Turkey, but those times have already passed — since July 1, 2022, there are 1,169 closed districts in 58 cities in the country. This means that a foreigner who decides to buy real estate there will not be able to register or live in this property. This means that he cannot obtain a primary residence permit and legally stay in the country. Plus, now you can get an icamet only if you have real estate (you can no longer do this on lease, starting from December 2022).
The full list of closed areas of Turkey can be downloaded on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. But open areas, of course, are also there — they will be discussed today.
It is worth noting that starting in 2022, the Turkish government has amended the rules for obtaining citizenship and residence permits (residence permits) based on real estate ownership. Now, to obtain a residence permit, you need to purchase housing worth at least $75 thousand in popular regions such as Istanbul and Antalya, and $59 thousand in other regions of the country.
What does a residence permit in Turkey give you?
A Turkish residence permit is not only an opportunity to legally reside in the country for a long time. It provides a number of privileges:
- The ability to open accounts in various local banks. Not all financial institutions are ready to cooperate with foreigners who do not have a residence permit.
- Ease of registration of a local SIM card. Travel SIM cards are much more expensive and, moreover, they are often blocked after 1-2 months of use.
- The opportunity to send your child to a local school. Without a residence permit, this can be problematic.
- Purchase of a personal travel card, which allows you to save money on public transport. For tourists, only non-nominal travel cards are available, which often cost more.
- The ability to live in the country without having to leave it every 60 days. As long as your residence permit is valid, you are not required to leave the country.
- Savings on cultural entertainment, for example, on tickets to museums.
According to data for August 2024, slightly more than 1.1 million foreigners live in Turkey under existing residence permits, in 2022 there were 1.3 million. Most foreigners are registered in Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara.
How to get a coveted residence permit in Turkey and reduce the risks of refusal: lawyer’s advice
List of open areas of Turkey for obtaining a residence permit
Despite the restrictions, there are still areas in Turkey where foreigners can obtain a residence permit when buying real estate. These include:
|
City |
Open areas |
|
Alanya |
The central part of the Payallar district, Oba, Okurjalar, Tosmur, Center, Jikjilli, Chiplakli, Demirtas. |
|
Antalya |
Altyntas, Kepez, Genchlik, Muratpasha. |
|
Istanbul |
Bakhchesehir, Buyukchekmeje, Kadikey, Eyup, Uskyudar. |
|
Mersin |
Mezitli.Tomyuk, Cheshmeli, Arpachbakhshish, part of the neighborhoods in Yeneshihir |
|
Izmir |
Cesme, Urla, Foca, Bayrakly. Alsancak, Halkapınar (Konar). |
|
Seminary |
Mudanya, Gemliksky. |
In 2024, to obtain a residence permit (residence permit) In Turkey, you can use an interactive map where you can see in which areas it is possible to rent or buy housing to obtain a residence permit.
Author
Yulia Yanukovych Editor-in-Chief
I am responsible for the work of the editorial office. I write expert interviews and guides.
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