A new period has begun in Turkey for some areas long considered closed for foreigners' residence and address registration. According to updated information shared within migration consultancy and real estate circles, residence procedures have become possible again in many neighborhoods and districts that previously posed obstacles on application screens.
This development is closely followed especially by foreigners planning to rent housing, purchase real estate, or settle long-term in Istanbul. Due to the closed area policy, new residence applications could not be made at certain addresses, and even foreigners owning property faced systemic restrictions in some districts.
1,169 neighborhoods were closed in 2022
In an announcement dated June 30, 2022, the Directorate General of Migration Management stated that the number of closed neighborhoods was increased to 1,169 as of July 1, 2022, due to the high concentration of foreigners. This decision covered temporary protection, international protection, residence permits, and residence province changes, except for newborns and core family reunifications.
In Istanbul, districts such as Fatih and Esenyurt, along with Avcılar, Bahçelievler, Başakşehir, Bağcılar, Esenler, Küçükçekmece, Sultangazi, and Zeytinburnu, were among the areas previously closed to new residence permit applications.
Signs of changes in application screens
As of June 2026, industry sources report that the application process has resumed for many areas previously marked as closed in the e-residence system. According to a report by Turkey Today, applications have become accessible again in most restricted areas, with Fatih and Esenyurt in Istanbul standing out as exceptions.
This change could expand options for those wishing to apply for residence based on property ownership, families planning long-term settlement, and foreigners seeking housing for investment purposes in Turkey. Applicants who previously could only show addresses in limited areas may now reconsider their housing preferences where the system has reopened.
Official verification remains critical
However, a comprehensive official announcement detailing the scope of this new period has not yet been published. Therefore, applicants need to verify the current status through the Migration Administration, the e-residence system, and authorized consultants before selecting an address, signing a lease, or completing title deed transactions.
The relaxation of the closed neighborhood policy may lead foreign buyers in the real estate market to explore a wider range of locations again. Nevertheless, since residence permits, address registration, and citizenship processes depend on different conditions, each application must be evaluated within its own legal and administrative framework.
