Foreigners in Istanbul: Latest 2024 Residency Statistics

The Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management has released official data regarding the number of foreign nationals legally residing in the city.

Official Statistics on Foreigners in Istanbul

The Istanbul Migration Office just shared new data about foreigners in Istanbul. Their report shows that 1,294,124 people live in the city legally. This update helps clear up a lot of public confusion.

This data splits these people into two main groups. You'll find 746,016 people with a valid residence permit. Another 548,108 Syrians live here under temporary protection. These numbers include everyone with a legal right to work, study, or stay in town.

The Gap Between Official Data and Mayor's Claims on Foreigners in Istanbul

These numbers came out after Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu shared different views. He claimed the real count of people was closer to 2.5 million. He argued the city is seeing a massive shift in migration.

But the Migration Office stood by its records. They explained that their data only counts people who registered through the official system. If someone isn't in those records, they don't have legal status.

Legal Framework for Foreigners in Turkey

Every rule for people from abroad comes from Law No. 6458. This law covers how people enter, stay, and leave the country. It also lists the rights you get if you have legal status.

If you have a legal permit, you can use public services like schools and hospitals. But the office warned that illegal immigrants can't get these benefits. Police are now working harder to find people without permits.

Enforcement and Deportation Statistics

The government is checking papers more often now. Since January, officials have caught 94,708 illegal immigrants in the city. They want to keep things orderly and make sure everyone follows the law.

Here is what happened to those people:

19,032 illegal immigrants were sent home directly from Istanbul Airport.
66,524 people were moved to removal centers in other cities.
The rest are still waiting for their cases to finish.

The central migration office handles all deportations. This helps them send people back to their home countries quickly.

Regulation of Foreign-Owned Businesses

Migration rules also affect local shops. Officials are checking business signs to make sure they follow Turkish law. They want foreign businesses to fit in better with the local economy.

So far, they've checked 7,975 signs on foreign-owned shops. They fixed 5,768 of them to meet the rules. Another 2,207 businesses are still working on their changes. These checks keep the city's shopping areas looking uniform and legal. Knowing the official count of foreigners in Istanbul helps everyone understand the city's changing face.

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