Humanitarian Residence Permit: Who Can Apply, Conditions and Process

What is Humanitarian Residence Permit in Turkey and Who Is It Granted To?

Residence permit in Turkey is a document issued to enable foreigners to stay legally in the country. According to Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, this document grants foreigners the right to live in Turkey for a specific period and location.

Humanitarian residence permit, unlike ordinary residence permit types, comes into consideration through evaluation of the person's special circumstances. Therefore, it differs from standard applications such as tourist, student, family or work permits.

Who Can Be Evaluated Under Humanitarian Residence Permit?

Humanitarian residence permit differs from standard residence applications by its nature. While application reasons in types such as short-term, student or family residence permits are based on more specific categories, humanitarian residence permit involves evaluation of the person's stay in Turkey due to special circumstances.

This permit is not automatically granted to every foreigner. Foreigners who wish to stay in Turkey longer than their visa or visa exemption period must obtain a residence permit; however, which type of residence permit to apply for is determined according to the person's situation. Humanitarian residence permit is also one of these options, but merely being in Turkey is not sufficient for acceptance of the application. It is evaluated whether the conditions for the requested residence permit type are met.

In practice, humanitarian residence permit is an evaluation area dependent on the person's special situation rather than ordinary reasons for stay. Therefore, in application preparation, the person's current status, reason for staying in Turkey, previous residence or visa status, and explanations that can be presented in the file are considered together.

General Conditions and Application Process for Humanitarian Residence Permit

The basic rule in residence permit applications in Turkey is that the foreigner makes a request and submits the documents required for the type of residence permit they are applying for. The application is not based solely on a declaration of intent; the application made through the system and the application file must be of a quality that can be evaluated in terms of the relevant residence type. You can find the document and system logic in the general residence permit process in our article Turkey residence permit e-İkamet application and required documents.

Foreigners who will stay longer than the period granted by visa or visa exemption or longer than ninety days must obtain a residence permit in Turkey. However, this obligation does not mean that every application will be automatically accepted; the conditions of the residence permit type being applied for are separately examined.

In residence permit applications, passports or documents replacing passports must be submitted. Additionally, the photograph to be included in the residence permit document must be taken within the last 6 months, with white background and biometric. e-İkamet explanations state that family photos, selfies, unrecognizable photos, outdated or black and white photos should not be uploaded to the system; otherwise, the residence permit document will not be issued.

How to Apply?

Residence permit applications in Turkey are made through the e-İkamet system. The foreigner applies through this system for the residence permit type they believe they meet the conditions for. In terms of humanitarian residence permit, making the application through the correct residence type is important for evaluation of the file.

The application can be made personally by the foreigner, as well as through a legal representative or lawyer. However, if the administration deems it necessary, it may request the foreigner's presence during the application.

After the application is completed, the system's directions and the process of the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management are followed. It is important for evaluation of the file that the documents requested by the institution are complete and compatible with the application type.

Can Humanitarian Residence Permit Be Extended and Is Transition to Other Types Possible?

Extension Process

Residence permit extension applications are made in the same manner as initial applications, through the e-İkamet system. In humanitarian residence permit extension evaluation, it is also examined whether the person's current situation continues and whether the conditions of the application type are met. For deadlines and delay risks in the extension process, you can review renewing a residence permit in Turkey.

Having been granted a residence permit previously does not mean that the next application will necessarily result in the same way. The extension file is evaluated according to the conditions at the time of application.

Transition to Other Residence Permit Types

Turkey's residence permit system is based on making the application through the residence permit type that the foreigner believes they meet the conditions for. If the person's situation changes over time (for example, if a new reason for stay such as education, family, work emerges), the appropriate residence type needs to be evaluated separately.

In transitioning from humanitarian residence permit to another residence permit type, the basic criterion is whether the conditions of the new residence type to be applied for are met. If the necessary conditions for the new residence type do not exist, merely having a previous residence permit is not considered sufficient.

Prominent Points in Evaluation

In humanitarian residence permit applications, the person's reason for staying in Turkey, current legal status, and explanations related to the application type are evaluated together. Since the conditions of the applied type must be met, the file is expected to present the person's situation clearly and consistently.

For foreigners planning to stay in Turkey for a long time, the first question is usually 'which residence permit should I apply for?' While humanitarian residence permit is an option, it is not a general solution for everyone. Depending on the person's situation, short-term, student, family, work permit or another status may be more appropriate. As a different residence type falling under special protection, residence permit for victims of human trafficking is also a topic that requires separate evaluation.

Important Note: For official information and guidance regarding residence permits, announcements from the Presidency of Migration Management and the e-İkamet system should be taken as basis. Additionally, information can be obtained from the Foreigners Communication Center (157 from within the country, +90 312 157 11 22 from abroad) for questions and problems related to residence permits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is humanitarian residence permit?

Humanitarian residence permit is a special type of residence permit that comes into consideration for foreigners whose stay in Turkey needs to be evaluated for specific humanitarian reasons. The application is handled not just with the declaration 'I want to stay in Turkey' but with special circumstances explaining the person's situation.

Can every foreigner obtain humanitarian residence permit?

No. Humanitarian residence permit is not a general solution for everyone. Merely being in Turkey is not sufficient for the applicant; it is evaluated whether the conditions for the requested residence permit type are met.

How is humanitarian residence permit application made?

Residence permit applications in Turkey are made through the e-İkamet system. The foreigner applies through the system for the residence permit type they believe they meet the conditions for; the application can be made personally, through a legal representative or lawyer.

Can humanitarian residence permit be extended?

Extension application is made in the same manner as initial applications, through the e-İkamet system. However, one should not act with automatic extension expectations; the file is evaluated according to the conditions at the time of application.

Is transition from humanitarian residence permit to another residence type possible?

If the person's situation changes, an appropriate residence type can be evaluated separately. The basic criterion is whether the conditions of the new residence type to be applied for are met; merely having a previous residence permit is not considered sufficient.