Turkey Denies Canceling Tourist Residency, but Confirms: “There Are Changes”

An official source in the Turkish government denied media reports claiming that tourist residence permits in Turkey will be stopped in 2026.

The source confirmed that there is no official decision to cancel tourist residency, and that the system is still open to accept applications.

However, the source explained that what actually happened is a major change in how applications are evaluated.

It was revealed that a rental contract alone is no longer enough. The Migration Authority is now asking for strong proof that the stay is really for tourism, such as:

1. A clear travel plan (hotel bookings, transportation, etc.) showing that you are a real tourist and not someone living in Turkey long-term without a job.

2. A real bank statement proving you have a regular income from outside Turkey that can cover your expenses, without working illegally inside the country.

It is also noted that renewals are almost stopped. For people who have been staying for years under the same tourist permit, renewal has become very difficult, and thousands of applications have been rejected due to the lack of a “convincing reason” to stay as a tourist for many years.

At the beginning of this year, concern spread among Arab and foreign residents in Turkey after rumors circulated about the complete cancellation of the tourist residence permit (Turistik İkamet İzni) for 2026.