FOREIGN residents with the old blue permit book have been urged to wise up and keep an eye on the number of days they are out of the country.

Back in February, the British Embassy released details of a meeting it had with the Deputy Director of the Foreigners Department at the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM).

The meeting related to updates on changes to the residence permit processes. The key issues included:

‘120 day rule’

According to Article 33 paragraph c of Law 6458 ‘Under the following cases a short-term residence permit shall not be granted, shall be cancelled if has been issued, and shall not be renewed when:

c) [the foreigner] lived outside of Turkey for longer than one hundred and twenty days in total during the preceding year’

This rule is now being applied to both short term residence permits issued after April 2014 (new style card) and those issued prior to April 2014 (old blue book style).

If you are out of Turkey for more than 120 days in the previous 12 month period your residence permit will be cancelled on re-entry to Turkey and you must obtain either an e-Visa, or visa on arrival, to cover your stay until you wish to reapply for a residence permit.

You will be able to apply for a new residence permit immediately following cancellation of your existing one.

As an update, Voices has not been made aware of anyone having yet had their permit cancelled.

Also there were further changes:

Long Term Residence Permits

Applications for the long term or ‘indefinite’ residence permit should now be accepted at all Foreigners Departments of the Turkish National Police (TNP) in Turkey.

For eligibility criteria for this type of permit please refer to Articles 42 & 43 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law 6458). The English language version of this law can be found on the DGMM websitewww.goc.gov.tr

First Time applications

Foreign nationals wishing to apply for their first residence permit can continue to do so from within Turkey until further notice. No date has been given for any change to this system.

Opening of DGMM offices in Turkey

There is no timetable as yet for the opening of the regional DGMM offices in Turkey. There are DGMM staff now working alongside TNP staff in the local Foreigners’ Departments.

New rule for property buyers

Anyone wishing to buy property in Turkey who does not hold a residence permit now needs to obtain their Foreigner Identity number (Yabanci Kimlik No.) from the TNP Foreigners’ Department in the nearest city (not local town)in order to proceed with the property purchase. This service is free of charge.

Any issues or questions regarding residence permits should be directed to the DGMM. Their contact details, in English, can be found on the homepage of their website www.goc.gov.tr