List of closed districts for foreigners in Istanbul

Why have a number of areas in Istanbul been closed to foreigners?

The Turkish authorities have taken official decisions to close some areas and neighborhoods in Istanbul to receiving more foreign residents. This means that no new addresses for foreigners are registered in these areas at the civil registration offices, and therefore it is not possible to obtain or renew a legal residence permit within the country.

The reason for these decisions by the Turkish authorities is the significant increase in the number of foreigners residing in these areas, along with a continuous rise in demand for housing there, which has led to an imbalance in the demographic distribution in the announced areas, resulting in the foreign population outweighing the number of Turkish citizens.

Therefore, the decision to close some neighborhoods and areas to further foreign residents in Istanbul is a measure by the government to control and regulate the proportion of foreign residents in these areas, prevent concentration of foreigners in specific locations, and direct those wishing to reside in Turkey to other areas in Istanbul to facilitate integration with the Turkish people and avoid any unexpected problems in the near or distant future.

What are the restricted areas in Istanbul for foreigners?

The number of residential areas completely closed (all their neighborhoods) to receiving more foreign residents in Istanbul has reached 10 central districts, where all neighborhoods in these areas are now closed to any foreigner wishing to reside there.

According to the announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Migration Management, these areas are shown in the following table:

Learn more about the top Istanbul districts, their features, and how to live there in 2023.

Additionally, specific neighborhoods within certain districts in Istanbul have also been announced as included in the closure decisions for foreign residents, as shown in the following table:

Can foreigners acquire property in closed neighborhoods in Istanbul?

According to the official decisions by the Turkish government, the closure instructions and restrictions on foreigners residing in certain areas and neighborhoods of Istanbul do not apply to foreigners wishing to acquire and purchase property in those areas. Foreign investors can purchase property in the restricted areas (where residence by foreigners is prohibited by lease contract) in Istanbul.

The relevant Turkish authorities have also clarified that there are several special cases exempted from the decision to close some areas or residential neighborhoods in Istanbul to foreigners, including foreign real estate investors.

Read more in our article Buying Property in Turkey with prices and apartment specifications.

Do foreigners who acquire property in closed neighborhoods obtain a real estate residence permit?

Foreigners who have purchased and acquired property in closed areas or neighborhoods in Istanbul do not obtain a real estate residence permit.

Are foreigners who acquire property in closed neighborhoods eligible for Turkish citizenship?

Turkish law grants foreign investors Turkish citizenship in several cases, including real estate investment in the country. This requires foreign investors wishing to obtain Turkish citizenship by purchasing property (or more) in the country with a value of not less than $400,000 USD, and the property must not be sold for 3 years. The property price must also be transferred from outside the country to one of the Turkish banks.

These conditions apply to foreigners who purchase and acquire properties in closed areas and neighborhoods in Istanbul. That is, a foreigner who acquires property in these areas and meets the conditions of the law granting Turkish citizenship by purchasing property becomes eligible for citizenship. All family members of the investor (spouse and children under 18) also obtain Turkish citizenship if the investor is granted it.

Are there exceptions for foreigners living in closed areas?

The decisions related to the closure of some areas and residential neighborhoods in Istanbul to foreigners include some exceptions for certain cases, and accordingly the decision does not apply to them.

The exception cases are as follows:

• If the foreigner is a university student who has obtained a seat at a Turkish university located in that area
• If the foreigner has purchased a house and acquired property in the area
• Foreigners can be registered in these closed areas in cases of family reunification
• If foreigners have obtained a work permit in Turkey and their workplace is in one of the closed areas, they can register their address in the work area
• If the matter is related to a health issue concerning family safety

Want to acquire property in a closed neighborhood? Consult Imtilak Real Estate

With the expertise of Imtilak Real Estate in the Turkish real estate market and its knowledge of the laws related to the purchase and acquisition of real estate by foreigners Properties in Turkey, the company provides its advisory, field, and executive services for foreigners acquiring real estate in both closed and open areas in the country.

Accordingly, the company offers integrated real estate services, including providing the best available real estate opportunities at the best possible prices, tailored to the purchasing objectives of foreign investors.

Edited by: Imtilak Real Estate