Good news — you can now stay in any mahalle in Istanbul

## 🎉 What's the good news?

A neighborhood in Türkiye is called a mahalle. Before, some mahalles in Istanbul were closed for foreigners. If you tried to register your address there, Göç İdaresi would say no.

That rule is gone now. You can choose any neighbourhood (mahalle) you like, in any part of Istanbul.

## ⚠️ But there's one new thing you must do

Before you go to Göç İdaresi for your address registration, you need a notarized rental contract.

In Turkish: noterleştirilmiş kira sözleşmesi.

What this means in simple steps:

• You sign a rental contract with your landlord (ev sahibi). This is the normal first step.
• Then you go to a notary (noter) (notary office) with your contract.
• The noter checks the contract, stamps it, and signs it. This is notarizing.
• Now your contract is "notarized". This is what Göç İdaresi wants to see.

The noter fee is small — usually around 200 to 500 TL depending on how long the rental is. You only do this once.

## ✅ What if you don't pay rent?

Maybe you live with a friend, or a family member, and there's no rental contract.

In this case, ask Göç İdaresi about a taahhütname. This is a notarized letter from the person whose home you live in. They sign it at a noter. It says: "Yes, this person lives in my house."

Different appointments may ask for slightly different paperwork. Always call Göç İdaresi to be sure for your case.

## 🔎 Why these two changes matter for you

These are the two biggest reasons students get turned away at their address-registration appointment:

1. They picked a closed mahalle. ✅ Not a problem anymore. 2. They came without a notarized contract. ⚠️ This is now even more important.

If you miss either of these, your appointment is wasted. You wait 4 to 8 weeks for a new one. Some students lose their permit timing because of this.

## 🕐 We are still checking

So far, one source has told us about this change: Atasa Danışmanlık, a Turkish consultancy, on YouTube.

We are sharing it now because some of you may have appointments this week. But until a second source — Resmî Gazete, Göç İdaresi directly, or another consultancy — confirms it, please:

• Bring a notarized rental contract anyway. Even if the closed-mahalle rule didn't actually change, having the contract still helps you. It costs little. It protects you from a wasted day.
• Call YİMER (157) to be sure if you are unsure about your specific case.

We will update this page the moment a second source confirms. If something here is wrong, please tell us.

## ✅ What to do today

• 📅 Check your Göç İdaresi appointment date on the e-randevu system
• 📜 Visit a noter and notarize your rental contract before your appointment
• 📞 Call YİMER (157) from inside Türkiye, or +90 312 157 11 22 from outside