In 2025, the tax rate for procedures concerning expats and foreign residents has been increased to 43.93%, making it reasonable to expect corresponding hikes in notary fees and residence permit application charges.
Income declaration and sponsorship requirement
For residence permit applications, individuals without income documentation must rely on sponsors to provide a sponsorship declaration. Beginning in 2025, sponsors are required to present a bank income certificate reflecting an income of at least 1.5 times the net monthly minimum wage per adult foreigner for the duration of their stay. This amounts to TL 33,156 ($939) per month. For foreign children, the required amount is TL 22,104 ($626) per month.
For instance, a family of four, all foreign nationals, where the father acts as the sponsor, must declare a monthly income of TL 110,520 ($3,128). If the income is declared as monthly income, documents from the applicant’s home country must bear an apostille, be translated by a sworn notary translator, and be notarized by Turkish authorities. Alternatively, a bank statement showing a total of TL 660,120 ($18,686) in a Turkish savings account for a six-month stay will suffice. Importantly, it must be evident that the income is regularly deposited into the sponsor’s or applicant’s account.
In certain cities, such as Izmir, Ankara, and Istanbul, income declarations serve as supporting documents, while in others, they are the main part of the application and are mandatory. Regardless, applicants should be prepared for immigration officials to request such documents even where they are not explicitly required.
Residence permit applications via $200K real estate investment
In a previous article, we provided a comprehensive guide to avoiding pitfalls when renting property for residence permits.
As of 2023, a minimum property investment of $200,000 became a prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit through real estate purchases. However, some intermediaries exploited operational loopholes to secure Type B residence permits for investments as low as $20,000-$50,000. These schemes often involved formalized sales transactions with mortgages on properties valued at $200,000 or more, while the actual arrangement was a long-term rental.
To counteract such practices, unofficial sources indicate that the Directorate General of Migration Management may now require applicants to submit a “takyidat” document as an additional safeguard.
Takyidat document and how to get it
The “takyidat” document provides details on encumbrances, declarations, easement rights, real estate liabilities, and liens associated with a property.
There are two manners to may obtain the takyidat document:
- Land registry offices: Applicants can visit the land registry office of the property’s location without an appointment.
- E-devlet (turkiye.gov.tr): Registered users to the Turkish government’s ‘e-devlet’ portal can log into the ‘webtapu’ section’s application to download a QR-coded Takyidat document confirming no liens or mortgages on the property. This service is free. However, first-time residence permit applicants who have not yet obtained residence cannot use this method.
Avoiding real estate scams
While the “real estate valuation report,” once mandatory for Type B residence permits, is no longer required for properties valued at $200,000 or more, authorities may request this report if the declared sale price significantly exceeds the average market rate in the area.
To prevent future complications during residence permit applications, foreign investors should exercise caution. Avoid dealings with companies exploiting legal loopholes, such as inflating property values on title deeds or offering temporary rentals disguised as purchases. Strict adherence to Turkish laws and regulations is vital to safeguarding against potential losses or legal disputes.
About the author: Kagan Orhan is a human resource and immigration consultancy expert at ‘Expat Solutions Turkey,’ dedicated to facilitating the adaptation processes of foreigners in Türkiye with the expertise and knowledge in managing legal procedures such as residence permit applications, work permits, business establishment, real estate and citizenship processes for foreigners settling in Türkiye with their team of lawyers and consultants.
