Residence permit status in Türkiye: how to check it and what happens next
After the appointment, the waiting begins, and most questions are the same: where is my file, how long is normal, and how will the card arrive. This guide explains where the status is shown, how to read it, and which steps are yours while the Directorate decides.
Where to see the status
Sign in to the e-ikamet portal with the details used for the application and open your application record. The record shows the application number, the permit type and the current stage. Keep the application document (müracaat belgesi) from the appointment: it is your proof that the application is pending and carries the number you will quote to YIMER (157).
What the stages usually mean
Stage names change over time, so read the text on screen rather than relying on a list. In general the file is received, then reviewed by the provincial Directorate, and then a decision is recorded: approved, refused or documents requested. A request for a missing document comes with a deadline; the clock runs from the notice date, not from the day you read it.
How long is normal
The regulation allows up to about 90 days for the examination, and many files are decided sooner. The period does not stop you living in Türkiye while the application is pending, and the application document allows travel abroad and return within 15 days. Longer absences are risky, so check the rule for your permit type before you book a ticket.
Card delivery and address
An approved card is normally sent by PTT to the address registered in the address system. If you moved, update the address first: the guide on address change explains the 20-working-day rule. If the courier cannot deliver, the card may be returned to the Directorate and you collect it there; the office page or YIMER confirms the procedure in your province.
If nothing changes
If the stage has not moved after about 90 days, ask in writing through YIMER or the provincial office and keep the reply. If the answer is a refusal, the dates in the decision start the objection period; see our guide on refusals. Do not let the existing permit lapse while you wait without confirming what the office says about your stay.
Sources
- e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr — application record, status and application document
- goc.gov.tr — Presidency of Migration Management: procedures
- mevzuat.gov.tr — Law No. 6458 and the Implementing Regulation
- yimer.gov.tr — Foreigners Communication Centre (YIMER, tel. 157)
Questions
Can I speed up the decision?
No. The decision belongs to the Directorate, and we cannot promise a date or an outcome. You can make sure the file is complete and that the address is correct.
Does the status show on the app or only the website?
The record is in the e-ikamet portal; availability of other channels can change, so check the portal and YIMER (157).
What if the card is delivered to an old address?
Contact the Directorate and YIMER at once, update your address in the address system and ask how to collect the card.