For work
Working in Türkiye: how long to residence and citizenship
The thing a visa list won't tell you
Unusual shape: citizenship is assessed at five years while long-term residence takes eight — here, citizenship can arrive before permanent residence.
Your ladder
- 5 years
Work permit
✓ counts toward citizenship
Permanent residence at
8 years
Citizenship assessed at
5 years
Still to serve after these rungs
0 years
Sources
- · Work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (2026)
- · Long-term residence permit after 8 years' uninterrupted legal residence
- · Naturalisation after 5 years' legal residence
Keep going
- All study and work routes →
- Studying in Türkiye instead →
- How to find a regulated immigration lawyer in Türkiye →
- What buying a home in Türkiye actually costs →
Not immigration advice. Orientation only. Immigration rules change often and decisions are discretionary — nothing here is a promise of residence or citizenship. Check your case with a licensed immigration adviser. Rules reviewed 2026-07. (2026-07)