Expat Solutions

We have some good news regarding Istanbul’s residence permit sponsorship system.

Back in April, when Istanbul prohibited notarized sponsorship undertakings between individuals who were not related by blood or family ties, we believed the measure would create unnecessary hardship for many legitimate foreign residents. We therefore submitted formal applications to both the Turkish Ombudsman Institution (Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu) and CİMER, explaining why the regulation should be reconsidered.

We’re now pleased to report that the ban has been lifted.

Following this development, our attorneys visited the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management to confirm the new implementation and obtain detailed information about the revised requirements.

Our latest article explains who can now act as a sponsor, the new financial requirements, the address limitations introduced to prevent fraud, and the practical implications for residence permit applicants.

Read the full article here:
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/istanbul-reopens-sponsorship-route-for-residence-permits-with-financial-safeguards-ad-3224729

Istanbul reopens sponsorship route for residence permits with financial safeguards, address checks - Türkiye Today Istanbul reinstates notarized residence permit sponsorships for non-family members under strict financial requirements and address-monitoring controls

We have some good news regarding Istanbul’s residence permit sponsorship system.

Back in April, when Istanbul prohibited notarized sponsorship undertakings between individuals who were not related by blood or family ties, we believed the measure would create unnecessary hardship for many legitimate foreign residents. We therefore submitted formal applications to both the Turkish Ombudsman Institution (Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu) and CİMER, explaining why the regulation should be reconsidered.

We’re now pleased to report that the ban has been lifted.

Following this development, our attorneys visited the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management to confirm the new implementation and obtain detailed information about the revised requirements.

Our latest article explains who can now act as a sponsor, the new financial requirements, the address limitations introduced to prevent fraud, and the practical implications for residence permit applicants.

Read the full article here:
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/istanbul-reopens-sponsorship-route-for-residence-permits-with-financial-safeguards-ad-3224729

🚨 Many foreigners wait over a year for a decision… Our client’s application was approved in just 7 months.

Another successful Long-Term Residence Permit approval in Türkiye.

Although the law sets out the eligibility requirements, the processing time depends on factors such as the workload of the immigration authorities, the completeness of the application, and how the legal procedure is managed.

At Expat Solutions, together with our partner lawyers, we prepare every eligible application with a detailed legal strategy and comprehensive support documentation. Based on our firm’s experience, our long-term residence permit applications have been finalized in approximately 6–8 months, and our eligible clients have achieved a 100% approval record to date. Nevertheless, each application is examined individually by the Turkish authorities, and no legal representative can guarantee an approval.

Have you been legally living in Türkiye for more than 8 years?

You may be eligible to apply for a Long-Term (Permanent) Residence Permit, which provides an unlimited right of residence without the need for periodic permit renewals, provided the legal requirements continue to be met.

📩 Contact us today for a free eligibility assessment via WhatsApp:

wa.me/expatsolutions

What looked like a job opportunity in Türkiye turned into a legal nightmare

John was offered an English teaching position at a university in Türkiye.

Everything sounded stable and professional. But what John didn’t know that instead of a standard work permit, they would handle things through a work permit exemption, assuming it as a simpler and more secure option that would speed everything up.

John didn’t know anything about the legal requirement.

It sounded like the university knew the system.

He resigned from his job, ended his lease, packed his life into boxes, and moved to Türkiye with full confidence that everything was already arranged.

At first, everything seemed fine.

But soon after arrival, things started to feel different.

The exemption process was not as “simple” as it had been processed. There were delays, unclear steps, and missing confirmations. What was supposed to be a smooth transition into a teaching role started turning into confusion.

Then came the real problem: the legal structure behind the job was not as solid as he had been led to believe. The work permit exemption was not functioning the way a standard work permit would in a full-time university teaching role.

The university insisted everything would be resolved, but nothing was clear anymore.

Meanwhile, John had already signed a rental contract, paid deposits, and committed financially to living in the country.

He had the job offer—but not the legal stability he thought came with it.

Weeks passed. Communication slowed down. The situation became uncertain.

And eventually, John had to leave Türkiye.

What started as a promising international teaching opportunity turned into a forced exit he never expected.

His biggest mistake wasn’t accepting the job.

It was assuming that the legal process behind it was correctly understood and properly handled.

Stories like this are more common than people think and happened to thousands of other foreigners who just flew to Turkey with no work visa but with a visa free or tourist visa.

Don’t wait until you’re already in Türkiye to discover something is wrong. If you’re considering relocating for work, take a few minutes to read our latest Türkiye Today column and learn about the mistakes that have already cost many foreigners their jobs, savings, and legal status.

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/moving-to-turkiye-for-work-legal-and-financial-reality-most-foreigners-miss-3222435

BREAKING: “Silent Amnesty” Shock in Türkiye Immigration Rules? Overstayers May Be Able to Legalize Without Leaving the Country

A development that is creating debate in immigration practice suggests that a pathway previously seen as extremely limited may, in certain cases, be applied more broadly than expected.

A program long understood to mainly cover female domestic care workers is now, in specific approved cases, also being extended to male applicants.

In a recent case handled by us at Expat Solutions, a male foreign national who had overstayed his visa was successfully able to regularize his status through an employment-based application without being required to leave Türkiye first.

This is not a general amnesty. Every application still depends on strict eligibility conditions, documentation quality, and discretionary approval by authorities. However, this outcome indicates that the practical application of the rule may be expanding beyond what was previously assumed.

In short: this is not a loophole or automatic right—but a developing practice that may open doors for a limited group of overstayers.

Full breakdown of rules, requirements, and limitations can be found here:
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/turkiyes-limited-immigration-amnesty-expands-male-applicants-may-also-qualify-uder-up-3222165?s=1

Note: This report has been prepared exclusively by Expat Solutions for publication at Türkiye Today. Prior to publication, verification materials, including supporting evidence, were submitted directly to the news editor as part of the source validation process.

Recent developments indicate a significant update in Türkiye’s residence permit framework regarding previously designated “closed neighborhoods.”

According to the current system practice, the nationwide restriction on closed neighborhoods has effectively been lifted, with the exception of two districts in Istanbul where limitations remain in place. In these two districts, only certain exceptional applications may be accepted.

Renewal applications for existing residence permits are not affected by this change and continue to be processed under normal conditions. However, applications made as a transition from another status (for example, switching into a residence permit application) are still treated as new applications and may remain subject to exceptional assessment where applicable.

With this update, a long-standing issue has largely been resolved: individuals who previously purchased real estate or intended to apply for a residence permit for the first time in closed neighborhoods were often unable to proceed with their applications. That practical barrier now appears to have been removed in most areas.

The next key issue being closely followed is the treatment of properties purchased before the introduction of the USD 200,000 threshold. There is growing expectation that the “grandfathering” principle may be applied, ensuring that earlier property acquisitions are assessed under the rules in force at the time of purchase rather than the current threshold requirement. A more detailed analysis of this topic is available in our full article.

https://www.turkiyetoday.com/nation/turkiye-reportedly-removes-neighborhood-restrictions-for-foreign-residents-3221437

NOTE: This report has been prepared exclusively by Expat Solutions for publication at turkiyetoday.com
Prior to publication, verification materials, including supporting visual evidence, were submitted directly to the news editor as part of the source validation process.

Türkiye reportedly removes neighborhood restrictions for foreign residents - Türkiye Today Türkiye reopens most districts to expat residence permits, but legal gaps over property thresholds leave foreign investors in limbo

Have You Been Affected by Immigration Policy Changes?
Share Your Experience. We Are Listening.
Help Shape Better Immigration Policies in Türkiye.

A new Director General of Migration Management has recently been appointed in Türkiye.

As part of our ongoing work with expatriates and foreign residents, Expat Solutions is preparing an article that will outline some of the most common challenges and unintended consequences arising from immigration policy changes introduced in recent years. The goal is to present constructive recommendations and practical solutions that may help improve the experience of foreigners living in Türkiye.

The articles posted by Kağan Orhan the founder of Expat Solutions and the Istanbul Expat Community at the https://www.turkiyetoday.com/author/kagan-orhan on English News Platform Turkiye Today.

Examples of topics that may be addressed include the removal of the taahhütname option for couples living together prior to marriage, as well as the difficulties faced by certain property owners who purchased real estate before the introduction of the USD 200,000 threshold but remain unable to qualify for a Type B residence permit.

We would like to hear directly from the foreign community. If you have been affected by a policy change, administrative practice, or immigration-related regulation that created unexpected difficulties, please share your experience and suggestions in the comments below.

We will review all feedback and consider the most reasonable, practical, and widely supported concerns for inclusion in our upcoming article, which will be submitted to the relevant authorities.