In the summer of 2026, Turkey effectively relaunched its rules for registering foreign residents. The vast majority of areas that had been closed to residence permit applications for years are now accepting new submissions, and the e-ikamet system is once again running without its previous restrictions across almost the entire country.
Content:
- Why Areas Get "Closed" in the First Place
- What Changed by June 2026
- Where Applications Are Currently Open
- Where the Status Is Uncertain
- What Remains Closed
- What This Means in Practice
Why Areas Get "Closed" in the First Place
To understand why this is significant, it helps to know how the restrictions work. Turkey doesn't close cities or even whole districts to new residence permit applications — it closes at the neighbourhood level, known as a mahalle. Once the share of registered foreign residents in a given mahalle exceeds a set threshold — around 25% nationally, or 20% in Istanbul — the immigration authority stops accepting new applications and address registrations there.
Two things often catch buyers off guard:
- Restrictions apply to residence permits, not property ownership. You can buy an apartment and register the title deed (TAPU) in any area, regardless of its status. Being "closed" only affects your ability to register your address and apply for a residence permit (ikamet).
- A location's status is checked at the time of application, not at the time of purchase. Any list you find online is essentially a snapshot of a specific date — and it can change.
What Changed by June 2026
The headline news from early June: Turkey reopened almost all previously restricted areas for residence permit applications. According to the latest reports, only two major Istanbul districts — Fatih and Esenyurt — remain closed to new applications. At the same time, the e-ikamet system began accepting submissions without its earlier restrictions across nearly the whole country.
The first areas to reopen were those most popular with Russian-speaking buyers. Notably, several neighbourhoods in Alanya reopened, followed by signs of broader restrictions being lifted in Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar, and Kargıcak. It's worth noting that the reopening initially looked more like a gradual, practice-driven process rather than a single, across-the-board official announcement.
Where Applications Are Currently Open
Based on the latest reviews, the following areas are confirmed as open:
- Alanya — Central district (Merkez), Oba, Türkler, and a number of previously closed neighbourhoods
- Antalya — Kepez and Altıntaş are most frequently cited as accessible; this doesn't mean the entire city is open without exceptions
- Istanbul — Avcılar, Beylikdüzü, Şişli, Beyoğlu, Küçükçekmece, and several other districts
- Mersin, Izmir, Ankara — Most districts remain broadly open, though individual mahalles still need to be checked case by case
Where the Status Is Uncertain
Some areas have effectively reopened in practice, but without a single confirmed official list. These require an address-by-address check:
- Alanya — Mahmutlar, Kestel, Avsallar, Kargıcak. Reopening was reported in early June, but the information came through application practice and local sources rather than an official registry
- Istanbul — Specific mahalles within otherwise open districts: even within a formally accessible district, an individual mahalle may still be closed — and this is determined at the address level
- Antalya — Certain parts of Konyaaltı and Muratpaşa, which periodically appear as disputed in updated lists
What Remains Closed
- Fatih (Istanbul) — Consistently listed in recent reports as closed to new applications
- Esenyurt (Istanbul) — Also regularly cited as unavailable for new submissions
- Individual mahalles across Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, Mersin, Izmir, and Ankara — Restrictions operate at the neighbourhood level, not across entire districts
What This Means in Practice
Details are still being clarified for certain districts and application types. Even with the general reopening, nuances remain: rules can differ depending on whether you're applying for a first-time permit, renewing, applying under different grounds, or whether you own the property versus renting. Owners of lower-value or older properties especially shouldn't assume the matter is settled — local checks haven't gone away.
The most reliable approach right now: check the specific mahalle and permit type — not just the city. Before buying or submitting an application, verify the current status of your exact address directly through the immigration authority's portal, rather than relying solely on news coverage. The overall trend toward reopening is clear and consistent — but the final word on any specific address comes from the official e-ikamet system.