What is 'ikamette kesinti' (residence interruption), and how does it affect long-term residency eligibility?
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 Law 6458 Article 28, for the purposes of counting continuous residence (which matters for Uzun Dönem 8-year eligibility), three categories of absence do not count as interruption:
- Mandatory public service abroad (zorunlu kamu hizmeti).
- Education abroad (eğitim).
- Health-related absences (sağlık nedenleri).
Everything else does. Absences totalling more than 6 months in any one year, or more than 1 year cumulatively across the last 5 years, count as residence interruption and break your continuous-residence record.
Watch-outs
- Frequent travel home in cumulative excess of these limits resets your Uzun Dönem clock. A summer here, a winter there, a long Ramadan — they add up.
- Document the reason for any extended absence. The health and education exceptions need evidence, not a casual claim. Keep medical records, enrolment letters, or assignment orders.
- Short, frequent trips accumulate quietly. People think only single long absences count; the cumulative cap is the one that catches people unaware.
Next step
If you're aiming for Uzun Dönem after 8 years, track every Türkiye exit and entry from now. Keep receipts for any health- or education-related extended absences. A simple spreadsheet of in-out dates today saves a reconstruction headache at year 8.
All sources (1)
- Resmî Gazete — Law 6458 Art. 28 ↗
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