Foreigner Settlement Restrictions in Turkey: Neighborhood Quota Lifted in June 2026

The 20% Neighborhood Quota: Applied from 2022, Lifted on 10 June 2026

Between 2022 and 2025, Turkey ran a neighborhood quota to keep the foreign population balanced across local areas. In July 2022, the government cut the limit for foreigners from 25% down to 20%. A neighborhood that hit this 20% mark was added to the closed neighborhoods list, and new residence permit applications for that address were refused.

On 10 June 2026, the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) lifted the closed-neighborhood and quota application: e-ikamet now accepts residence permit applications from every address in Turkey, including Istanbul.

If you need a closer look here, see Attention to Foreigners Who Will Apply for Residence Permit!!!!.

The quota existed so that local services like schools and hospitals could keep up with the population. The Ministry of Interior watched these numbers every day. The measure was administrative, and it can return: if foreign density rises again in a neighborhood, the authorities may close it once more with a new decision. This is why checking your address in the e-ikamet system before you sign a lease or buy a home is still recommended.

The 1,169 Closed Neighborhoods: A Snapshot of the 2022–2025 System

At the peak of the system, 1,169 neighborhoods in 58 cities were off-limits for new permits. The list covered big spots like Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya. If your address fell in these zones, the state would not give you a first-time residence permit. That list no longer applies: the quota was lifted on 10 June 2026.

If you need a closer look here, see Restricted Neighborhoods (Closed Areas).

If you need a closer look here, see New Residence Permit Regulations in Turkey.

In Antalya, popular places like Alanya and Konyaaltı were on the list. These spots filled up fast because so many people wanted to live by the sea. Because they hit the 20% limit, the government stopped new applications there to keep the local balance — until the June 2026 lift.

Istanbul Under the Old System: Whole Districts Were Closed

Istanbul had the tightest rules because it was so popular. Before June 2026, the government stopped giving first-time permits in many whole districts, not just single streets. The restricted districts included:

• Fatih and Esenyurt
• Avcılar and Bahçelievler
• Bağcılar and Başakşehir
• Esenler and Küçükçekmece
• Sultangazi and Zeytinburnu

These closures ended on 10 June 2026 — today you can apply from any Istanbul address through e-ikamet. If density rises again, the same districts could be closed once more by an administrative decision, so it is still wise to confirm your address is accepted before you commit.

Impact on Property Owners and Renewals: What Stayed and What Changed

Under the old rules, existing residents were protected: if you already had a residence permit in a restricted area, you could usually renew it. New arrivals were the ones blocked.

Buying a home in a closed zone did not help — you could own the house and rent it out, but you could not use it as your official address for a new residence permit. Since 10 June 2026 this restriction no longer applies, and every address is accepted again. The history matters only if the quota returns.

Can You Still Buy Real Estate in Turkey?

You can still buy property anywhere in Turkey — that was true under the quota and remains true after its removal. The old law only limited the right to get a residence permit in certain zones; it never blocked ownership.

And if you are going for citizenship by investment, the neighborhood quota never applied to that route. If you spend $400,000 on a home, you can apply for citizenship no matter where the house is. Citizenship gives you the right to live anywhere in the country without worrying about neighborhood limits.

How to Check Your Address Today

The quota was lifted on 10 June 2026, but the status can change again. Before you sign any papers, do two checks: start your application on the official e-ikamet portal to confirm your address is accepted, and ask a lawyer who knows Turkish immigration law to verify the current status of your neighborhood. If the administration reintroduces closures, the lists will be published by the authorities.

You can find more details on closed neighborhoods in other cities too — the historical guides still explain how the system worked.

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