Which Authorities Are Empowered to Make Decisions Concerning Foreigners?

It is important for a foreigner in Turkey to understand which authorities make decisions concerning foreigners, because each question has its own body: residence permit, citizenship, property, work and taxes go through different doors. Below the main bodies are listed from the texts of the laws, with the articles, and it is shown where to apply and who makes the final decision.

The material is for information and does not replace advice from a lawyer. The names of authorities sometimes change, so check the current websites.

Residence permit and stay: Law No. 6458

In Law No. 6458 the “Ministry” means the Ministry of the Interior, and the “General Directorate” the migration service (Göç İdaresi). After the 2018 reform the provisions on the organisation of the migration service were removed from the law (Decree No. 703), so the website and the name of the authority have to be checked separately: goc.gov.tr.

• Consulates accept applications for a residence permit from abroad and pass them with an opinion to the migration service (Article 21). Applications for a residence permit must be considered within no more than ninety days.
• Governorates (valilik) extend residence permits (Article 24), refuse an extension or cancel a permit and serve the decisions (Article 25), and issue a long-term residence permit with the agreement of the ministry (Article 42).
• The migration service gives instructions to governorates; on its instruction or on its own initiative the governorate makes a deportation decision (Article 53).
• Border authorities check passports and decide whether to admit a foreigner (Articles 5–7).
• The President determines visa regimes and may introduce entry restrictions (Article 18).
• Authorised intermediaries may file applications on behalf of the applicant if the ministry has appointed them (Article 21, paragraph 7).

Citizenship: Law No. 5901

Under Article 4, services for the acquisition and loss of citizenship within the country are run by the ministry, and abroad by diplomatic missions. Applications are filed with the governorate at the place of residence or with a mission abroad, in person or by power of attorney (Article 37). In the provinces there is a commission for considering applications, which determines whether the applicant meets the conditions under Articles 11 and 16 (Article 18). The case is sent to the ministry, which makes the decision: to admit to citizenship or to reject (Article 19). Exceptional cases under Article 12 are decided by the President, and the procedure is run by the ministry. Deprivation of citizenship under Article 29 is a decision of the President, published in the Official Gazette. Errors in decisions are corrected by the General Directorate (Article 39). Information: NVİ.

Property: Law No. 2644

• The land registry (TKGM) registers rights to property, draws up official deeds (Article 26) and keeps the data of valuation reports (additional Article 4).
• The relevant ministry approves the development project that a foreigner must submit within two years after buying an undeveloped plot (Article 35).
• The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of the Interior pass on maps and coordinates of military prohibited zones, security zones and strategic areas (Article 35).
• The Ministry of Finance sets the period for liquidating property acquired in breach (no more than one year, Article 35).
• The President determines the countries and the limits (Article 35).

Work, business and taxes

Work permits for foreign employees of companies established under Law No. 4875 on foreign investment are issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Article 3, point g). The registration of commercial businesses is run by the trade registry (Law No. 6102, Article 40), and the control of minimum capital and fines are within the competence of the Ministry of Trade. Taxes and fees are administered by the Ministry of Finance through GİB, and property tax is collected by municipalities.

Courts

Decisions of state bodies concerning foreigners can be challenged in the administrative court (Law No. 6458, Article 101 and Article 53). Disputed questions on property deals are heard by the courts of general jurisdiction. More on what can be appealed in article No. 19.

How to understand where to apply

1. Determine the question: stay, citizenship, property, work, tax.
2. Find the body and its website from the table above.
3. Put a written question and keep the answer (the ways are described in article No. 20).
4. For disputed decisions, find out the time limit for appeal and act within it.

Related topics: the main laws on stay, Law No. 6458, Law No. 2644 and the property catalogue.

Conclusion

Residence permit questions are handled by consulates, the migration service and governorates; citizenship by the Ministry of the Interior, provincial commissions and the President; property by the land registry and relevant ministries; work by the labour ministry; business by the trade registry and the Ministry of Trade; taxes by the finance authority. Read the other questions of this section on the page “Laws of Turkey”.

The material does not replace advice from a lawyer. The information was checked against the texts of Laws No. 6458, No. 5901, No. 2644, No. 4875 and No. 6102 as of 21 October 2026.

Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons; photos of the complexes are used with the site owner’s consent.