What are the suitable areas for property residency in Istanbul in 2023?

Istanbul, the beloved city for foreigners and preferred by investors due to its vibrancy, life, and business opportunities.

Istanbul is considered one of the most populous cities in Turkey, with a population of 15.9 million people. Additionally, there are over 1.3 million foreign residents living in the city, and finally, there are approximately 3 million temporary visitors, both from other Turkish cities and foreign countries.

This city, with its diverse climate, geography, and even history, is bustling with life in its central neighborhoods and enjoys a peaceful life in the northern and outlying areas, whether on the European or Asian side.

Restrictions on foreigners obtaining property (touristic) residency permits have been introduced since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have gradually increased to cover the areas marked in red on the map below:

As for the areas marked in green, they still welcome foreigners who are interested in owning properties and obtaining property residency permits for themselves and their families.

Some neighborhoods within the green areas are also restricted, but they are few in number. Additionally, after the neighborhoods in the red areas, the remaining neighborhoods are open for residency. At the end of this article, we will provide a detailed list of the prohibited neighborhoods.

What is the reason behind the closure of certain areas for foreign property residency?

Despite the beauty and diversity of Istanbul, foreigners tend to concentrate in specific areas. This has led to the establishment of businesses tailored to their tastes and cultures, such as fashion, restaurants, and services.

Consequently, closed communities have formed in these neighborhoods, with their own distinct culture and traditions that do not easily integrate into Turkish society. This, in turn, poses a danger to the structure of Turkish society, considering that Istanbul is a city inhabited and visited by a large number of foreigners.

The Turkish government has decided to address the escalation of this issue in the future by identifying certain areas with high foreign density and prohibiting property residency permits in those areas. The aim is to encourage those interested in living in Istanbul to choose other areas where foreigners are not concentrated, thus avoiding the problem of closed communities in any part of Istanbul.

This measure ensures that Istanbul remains a desirable city for foreigners, accommodating a mix of different nationalities, but always with a Turkish majority.

Can new areas in Istanbul be closed off?

It is certainly possible for new areas to be designated and restricted if there is a high density of foreign population in a specific neighborhood. If you are interested in buying property in Istanbul, you can simply contact our team, and they will guide you to the most suitable areas for you.

Does this measure affect real estate investment?

Yes, this measure does impact real estate investment, but in a positive rather than a negative way, contrary to what some may claim. However, these regulations have been implemented with the aim of protecting the overall character of the city and preparing it to accommodate more foreigners in the future.

Does this measure affect Turkish citizenship through investment?

Any new property in Istanbul that has a ready title deed, and no legal issues is suitable for obtaining Turkish citizenship through investment, as specified by the Turkish government, with a minimum investment amount of $400,000.

This investment can be made in any area of Istanbul, and the investor and their family will become eligible for Turkish citizenship. Therefore, they can choose the area they prefer to reside in if they wish to do so.

It is worth noting that this exception does not affect the main law, as the number of individuals interested in obtaining Turkish citizenship is lower than those interested in purchasing property for property (or tourist) residency. Additionally, most investors who have obtained Turkish citizenship are residents outside of Turkey.

Here is a list of neighborhoods where property residency is prohibited: