Russians in Turkey See Residency Permits Rise for First Time in Three Years

For the first time since spring 2023, the number of Russians holding Turkish residence permits is climbing again. Data from Turkish authorities shows that as of May 7, 2024, more than 75,500 Russians had valid permits—a 2% jump from late April, when the count stood just above 74,000.

The turnaround comes after a steady decline that began two years ago, when Ankara tightened rules on tourist residency applications. Officials started rejecting requests that didn’t clearly prove the applicant was actually living in Turkey as a tourist, rather than using the permit for other purposes. By early 2024, the number of Russian permit holders had dropped below 100,000.

Immigration lawyers in Turkey confirm a noticeable shift this spring. Approval rates are rising, and permits are being granted for longer periods. In Antalya, a popular destination for Russians, many applicants are now receiving two-year permits—a change from 2024 and early 2025, when approvals were often limited to six months or a year.

Most Russians—over 33,000—hold short-term tourist permits, which require a rental contract and supporting documents. Another 17,000 have family permits, available to relatives of foreign workers with valid permits. Russians don’t appear in the top 10 for student permits.

Despite the increase, Russians rank fifth among foreign nationalities with Turkish residency, behind citizens of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Syria, and Iran.