Humanitarian residence permit in Turkey
A status for foreign nationals whom the state cannot lawfully remove but who fit none of the student, family, short-term or long-term residence permits. The decision is taken by the provincial governorate with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior — a measure for exceptional cases: disputes around deportation, the interests of a child, an inability to leave. The status does not open a route to open-ended residence.
Source: goc.gov.tr — types of residence permit, “İnsani İkamet İzni” section
On what grounds a humanitarian residence permit is granted
The Law on Foreigners and International Protection (article 46) lists six closed grounds — all of which come down to two logics: a legal impossibility of removing the person, and special state or humanitarian interests.
Legal obstacles to removal
- There is a deportation decision or an entry ban, but leaving Turkey is impossible or unreasonable
- No deportation decision under article 55 has been taken in respect of the person, although formally it could have been
- Court proceedings are pending against a deportation decision, a finding that the application is inadmissible, or its withdrawal (articles 53, 72, 77)
Special circumstances of the person or the state
- The interests of a minor child come first
- A procedure is under way to transfer the applicant to a first country of asylum or a safe third country
- Entry and stay have to be allowed for emergency reasons or in the interests of the state, of public order and security — or these are other exceptional circumstances in which no other residence permit can be obtained
When this programme will not suit you
I have an ordinary reason to stay in Turkey — property, business, medical treatment or tourism — with no exceptional circumstances
The short-term residence permit (Kısa Dönem İkamet İzni)
I am married to a Turkish citizen or moving to a relative who already holds a residence permit
The family residence permit (Aile İkamet İzni) — for family reunification, without humanitarian conditions
I fear persecution at home and want a stable status rather than a temporary permit subject to ministry approval every year
International protection / conditional refugee status (Uluslararası Koruma) — it gives access to the labour market 6 months after the application is filed
I have come to study at a Turkish university
The student residence permit (Öğrenci İkamet İzni)
What it costs
| Residence card fee (belge bedeli)The rate applies from 1 January 2026 | 964 TRY |
|---|---|
| Duty (harç) for the residence permit — for each month after the firstThe general rate for most nationalities; the first month is paid separately, at a rate from 653.70 to 3,359.90 lira depending on the applicant's country | 2 232,3 TRY |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 3 196,3 TRY |
Paid separately
- Health insurance — Arranged separately with an insurer for the whole period of stay applied for; it is not part of the state fee
Documents to gather
There is no single approved list for the humanitarian residence permit — the province requests documents for the applicant's specific situation, but the general residence permit requirements form the basis.
- Passport or another identity document
- Application form filed through the e-İkamet system or directly with the province
- Documents confirming one of the humanitarian grounds under article 46 of the law (a deportation decision, court proceedings, the interests of a child and so on)
- Valid health insurance covering the whole period of stay applied for
- Address of residence in Turkey for subsequent address registration
How the process runs
Unlike most types of residence permit, the humanitarian residence permit application is not filed through a consulate but directly in Turkey.
- 1
Filing the application with the province
Unlike applications for most other types of residence permit, an application for a humanitarian residence permit can be filed directly with the province where the applicant is staying in Turkey, without first approaching a consulate abroad.
- 2
Consideration of the application and ministry approval
up to 90 daysThe decision on the application is taken by the province, but only after approval by the Ministry of the Interior — without it the permit is not issued, renewed or cancelled. By law, residence permit applications are decided within 90 days of the full set of documents being filed.
- 3
Issue of the permit and address registration
20 working daysOnce the humanitarian residence permit has been issued, the foreign national must register in the address registration system within 20 working days of the date the permit was issued.
Who you can bring with you
The law contains no separate family rules specifically for the humanitarian residence permit — the general residence permit provisions apply, and they take account of the limited term of the humanitarian status.
A child born in Turkey
Spouse and children on a separate family residence permit
Trips, renewal and the grace period
There are no strict requirements on days of presence
The humanitarian residence permit is granted for a maximum of 1 year at a time. The province may renew it for the same period — but only with the approval of the Ministry of the Interior and only while the grounds on which it was granted remain. The renewal application is filed with the province no later than 60 days before expiry and in any event before it expires. If the grounds have fallen away, the province, with the ministry's approval, cancels the permit and does not renew it.
How it differs from the routes next to it
The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.
| Humanitarian residence permit | Short-term residence permit | Turquoise Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | A maximum of 1 year at a time, renewed annually | Usually 1 year (property), six months / 1 year (tenancy), up to 2 years; renewable while the ground remains | The exact term and renewal are not disclosed (a transition period is provided for) |
| Grounds | Exceptional circumstances | Tourism / property | High qualifications |
| Work | Does not give an automatic right to work | A short-term residence permit is not a work permit | By its nature it is linked to the right to work; the exact regime is not confirmed |
| Residence | There are no strict requirements on days of presence | No specific minimum number of days is stated | No minimum number of days is stated |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
The route to the long-term residence permit is closed
Route to citizenship
Through a change of status or marriage to a citizen
Frequently asked questions about Humanitarian residence permit
Can a humanitarian residence permit eventually turn into a long-term (open-ended) residence permit?
Does the humanitarian residence permit give the right to work in Turkey?
Who exactly decides to grant a humanitarian residence permit?
Does the humanitarian residence permit require proof of income and accommodation, as other types of residence permit do?
How much does the humanitarian residence permit cost in 2026?
Other ways to move to Turkey
- Kısa Dönem İkamet İzniResidence permit (short-term)
- Turkuaz KartResidence permit (qualified specialist)
- Uluslararası KorumaAsylum / refugee status
- Short-term residence permit for property ownersResidence permit
- Family residence permitResidence permit
- Student residence permitResidence permit
- Long-term residence permitResidence permit
- Naturalisation on the general termsCitizenship
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Turkey.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.