Humanitarian Residence Permit in Turkey and Conditions for Obtaining It
The humanitarian residence permit (Humanitarian Residence Permit) continues to be one of the most exceptional and sensitive instruments of Turkish migration law. In recent years, and particularly after 2025, the migration authorities have begun to examine such applications much more strictly. Nevertheless, this special residence permit based on humanitarian grounds is still applied in cases where a foreigner cannot benefit from any other type of residence permit.
Within this framework, this article explains who may obtain this type of residence permit after 2025, which grounds are considered valid, and which mistakes most frequently lead to rejection.
What Is a Humanitarian Residence Permit in Turkey?
This exceptional residence permit applies to situations that fall outside standard residence permit categories such as tourism, family, employment, or education. It is designed exclusively for extraordinary circumstances.
Generally, this permit becomes relevant when:
Applying for another type of residence permit is objectively impossible,
Leaving Turkey would pose a serious risk to the foreigner’s life, safety, or fundamental rights,
The situation is temporary but critical in nature.
The Directorate of Migration Management reviews each application on a case-by-case basis and exercises full discretionary authority. Therefore, this permit does not constitute an automatic right.
Legal Basis After 2025
After 2025, residence permits granted on humanitarian grounds continue to rely on the following legal framework:
Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection,
Implementing regulations issued under this Law,
Administrative practices and internal guidelines of the Directorate of Migration Management.
However, it is important to emphasize that this residence permit is not an alternative to tourist or family residence permits. For this reason, the applicant’s personal preference alone is never sufficient.
Situations in Which a Humanitarian Residence Permit May Be Granted After 2025
1. Objective Impossibility of Leaving Turkey
This ground represents one of the most fundamental justifications in practice.
For example, such situations may arise if:
The foreigner cannot physically enter their country of nationality,
Borders are closed or the country refuses to admit the applicant,
The foreigner cannot obtain valid travel documents through no fault of their own.
By contrast, overstaying a visa alone does not constitute sufficient justification.
2. Risk to Life or Safety in Case of Departure
If a foreigner leaves Turkey and faces:
A serious threat to their life,
A real risk of torture or inhuman or degrading treatment,
Lack of effective state protection,
the authorities may consider granting this special type of residence permit.
However, abstract or general statements are not enough. The applicant must demonstrate these risks with concrete and documented evidence.
3. Health and Humanitarian Grounds
After 2025, the authorities examine health-related grounds far more strictly.
In particular, the following situations may be accepted:
Life-threatening medical conditions,
Situations where interrupting treatment is not possible,
Cases where treatment is not effectively accessible in the applicant’s country of nationality.
In such cases, the applicant must submit official medical reports and supporting documentation.
4. Best Interests of the Child
In applications involving minors, the authorities show heightened sensitivity.
For instance, relevant circumstances may include:
The risk of separating a child from their legal guardian,
The possibility that the child’s fundamental rights cannot be protected in the country of return,
Ongoing custody, protection, or administrative proceedings.
In these situations, the best interests of the child always take priority.
5. Ongoing Judicial or Administrative Proceedings
In certain cases, the authorities may grant this special residence permit on a temporary basis.
For example, this may occur if:
A lawsuit has been filed against a deportation decision,
An entry ban or residence permit cancellation is under judicial review,
Leaving Turkey would render effective legal protection impossible in practice.
What Has Changed in Practice After 2025?
Recent practice highlights several important developments:
Oral statements alone are no longer considered sufficient,
Authorities assess documentation in a holistic manner,
Applications based on templates or generic wording are frequently rejected,
Permit durations are generally short and subject to regular review.
Rights Not Granted by This Residence Permit
This type of residence permit:
❌ Does not grant an automatic right to work,
❌ Does not provide a direct path to citizenship,
❌ Is neither permanent nor guaranteed,
❌ May be cancelled if the underlying grounds cease to exist.
Most Common Reasons for Rejection
In practice, authorities most frequently reject applications for the following reasons:
Attempting to replace a tourist residence permit with this exceptional permit,
Failure to submit official and supporting documentation,
Describing risks in abstract or overly general terms,
Situations arising from the applicant’s own fault.
Practical Recommendations
First and foremost, a residence permit based on humanitarian grounds should be considered a last resort.
At the same time, applications must rely on legal reasoning rather than emotional arguments.
Otherwise, submissions made without professional legal support carry a high risk of rejection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, residence permits granted on humanitarian grounds remain possible. However, the authorities apply them only in cases involving exceptional and well-substantiated reasons. The Directorate of Migration Management reviews each case individually and requires strong supporting evidence.
For this reason, legal advice and professional representation are of critical importance in applications based on humanitarian grounds.
