Which countries are exempt from the ikamet harç (residence permit tax)?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
Under the mütekabiliyet (reciprocity) principle, citizens of the following countries are exempt from paying the ikamet harç:
- Czech Republic (Çekya)
- Denmark (Danimarka)
- Ireland (İrlanda)
- Kosovo (Kosova)
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Syria (Suriye)
- Turkmenistan (Türkmenistan)
- KKTC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)
- Palestine (Filistin)
These applicants still pay the 964 TL Belge Bedeli (document fee) — only the harç itself is waived. See money-04 for the Belge Bedeli rule.
Watch-outs
- "Exempt" means the harç tax only. It does not waive the Belge Bedeli, the SGK GSS premium, or any other related fee.
- Reciprocity-based exemptions are reviewed by the Hazine ve Maliye Bakanlığı and can shift when bilateral relations change. The list above is current as of mid-2026 — verify before assuming it still holds.
- The exemption applies to all residence permit types (Kısa Dönem, Aile, Öğrenci, and others) for citizens of these countries. It is per-passport, not per-permit-type.
Next step
Confirm your country's status with Göç İdaresi at application time. Published lists are updated mid-year via new Tebliğ, and a slip between "last I checked" and "today" can change what you owe.
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