Residence permits
Short-term, family, student and long-term permits: first applications on e-İkamet, renewals, switching permit types and address or status changes.
Read our residence permit guide →
Immigration Law · Istanbul
Immigration Lawyer in Istanbul
Residence permits, work permits, Turkish citizenship, refusals and deportation orders, handled in English by a founding partner of Güler Law & Consultancy. No translator, no call centre: you speak to the lawyer who works on your file.
Received a deportation order?
You have 7 days from notification to apply to the administrative court (Law No. 6458, Art. 53). Call us the day you receive it.
Immigration Help for Foreigners Living in Istanbul
Most residence problems we see in Istanbul start small: a renewal filed a few days late, a health insurance policy that does not meet the rules, an address that was never updated, or a family permit that no longer fits the family's situation. Left alone, these turn into refusals, cancellations and, in the worst case, deportation orders and entry bans.
Our immigration work is led by Hazal Güler, Esq., who advises expatriates directly in English. Before you apply, our step-by-step residence permit guide covers permit types, documents and fees. If something has already gone wrong, call us first: in Turkish immigration law the deadline is usually the most important fact in the file.
We are an Istanbul law firm, registered with the Istanbul Bar, with our office in the İstoç Trade Centre in Bağcılar. Read more about our firm or book a consultation.
What we handle
Immigration Matters We Handle in Istanbul
Work permits
Work permit applications to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with your employer, and advice for employers hiring foreign staff. A valid work permit also counts as a residence permit.
Turkish citizenship
Citizenship by investment, including the real-estate route, and citizenship by marriage to a Turkish citizen after at least three years of marriage. We align the citizenship file with your residence history.
Refusals and cancellations
Objections and administrative-court actions against refused or cancelled residence permits. Court deadlines are short and run from the date you are notified.
Deportation orders and entry bans
Urgent court applications against deportation orders, administrative detention reviews and applications to lift or shorten entry bans after you have left Türkiye.
Family and property matters
Divorce and custody between Turkish and foreign spouses, recognition of foreign judgments, and legal checks before you buy property in Türkiye.
Turkish Immigration Rules at a Glance (2026)
The rules below come from the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458), as amended in November 2024. You can read the full Turkish text on mevzuat.gov.tr; the Presidency of Migration Management publishes procedures on goc.gov.tr.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Short-term residence permit | Granted for up to 2 years at a time (Law No. 6458, Art. 31) |
| Family residence permit | Granted for up to 3 years at a time, never longer than the sponsor's permit (Art. 34) |
| Long-term residence permit | Available after at least 8 years of uninterrupted residence on permits (Art. 42–43) |
| Overstaying a visa or permit | More than 10 days without an acceptable reason is a ground for deportation (Art. 54) |
| Working without a work permit | A ground for deportation (Art. 54) |
| Appealing a deportation order | 7 days from notification, to the administrative court; you are not deported while the case is pending (Art. 53) |
How Working With Us Works
- 1
Call or message us
Tell us briefly where your case stands. If you received a decision or notification, send us a photo of it on WhatsApp.
- 2
Deadline check
We identify which deadline is running and what must be filed first. Deportation and detention cases are treated as urgent.
- 3
Plan and documents
You receive a clear list of documents, a timeline and a fee quote before any work starts.
- 4
Filing and follow-up
We prepare and file the application or court action and keep you updated in English at every step.
Your lawyer
Hazal Güler, Esq.
Founding Partner · Istanbul Bar Association, registration no. 72864
Hazal Güler holds a law degree from Bahçeşehir University together with English-medium undergraduate qualifications in Economics and Psychology. After a year of intensive English study at Mentora College in Washington, D.C., she now provides legal advisory work, contract review and litigation representation directly in English — no translator required. She specialises in all legal matters affecting expatriates living and working in Türkiye, from residence and work permits through to commercial contracts and Turkish citizenship.
- English throughout, without a translator
- One lawyer from first call to final decision
- Clear fee quote before work starts
Turkish Immigration: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for a Turkish residence permit?
No. Many straightforward first applications and renewals can be filed by the applicant on e-İkamet. A lawyer adds the most value when an application has been refused or cancelled, when your status is changing (for example from family to short-term), when you have overstayed, or when a residence file must line up with a citizenship or work-permit application.
I received a deportation order. How much time do I have?
Seven days from the date the order is notified to you, your legal representative or your lawyer. The application is made to the administrative court, which decides within fifteen days once the file is complete, and its decision is final. Unless you consent, you are not deported while the time to apply is running or while the case is pending.
My residence permit was refused. What can I do?
Read the refusal decision first: it states the reason and how it can be challenged. Depending on the reason, the practical route may be a corrected new application or an action before the administrative court, which must be filed within the deadline that runs from notification. Do not let your legal stay lapse while you decide.
Can you represent me if I am outside Türkiye?
Yes. You can grant us a power of attorney at a Turkish consulate, or before a notary in your country with an apostille and a sworn translation. We then handle filings and court work in Türkiye on your behalf.
Is citizenship by investment still USD 400,000 in 2026?
Public guidance in 2026 continues to describe a USD 400,000 real-estate route with a three-year restriction on selling the property. The thresholds and procedures are set by regulation and can change, so confirm the current figures before you sign a purchase contract.
How are your fees set?
Fees depend on the type of matter and the work involved, and cannot be lower than the Turkish Bar Association's minimum fee schedule. Government fees and card costs are separate. We give you a clear quote after reviewing your situation.
Speak to an Immigration Lawyer Today
Tell us what happened and which documents you received. We will tell you which deadline is running and what to do first.
- 2417, Mahmutbey, 1. Yol Sk. İstoç Ticaret Merkezi No: 86/3, 34218 Bağcılar/İstanbul
- Monday to Friday, 08:30 – 18:00