Legal Guide · June 2026
New to the process? Start with our complete guide to ikamet, Turkey’s residence permit for foreign buyers, which covers the $200,000 property rule, documents and renewal in full.
Istanbul Ikamet Zones 2026 — A Major Change Just Happened
In June 2026, Turkey removed neighbourhood-level residence permit restrictions for almost all districts. Here is what that actually means, what still applies, and what every buyer needs to verify before choosing a location.
Bottom line: As of June 2026, Turkey’s Migration Management Authority removed the “closed neighbourhood” (kapalı mahalle) restriction system that had blocked foreigners from obtaining residence permits in over 1,100 neighbourhoods across Turkey. The system-level change means most previously blocked addresses are now processable through the e-ikamet portal. Two districts in Istanbul — Fatih and Esenyurt — reportedly remain restricted. Everything else should be checked directly on e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr before you act on old information.
Background
How the Neighbourhood Restriction System Worked
Since 2021, Turkey’s General Directorate of Migration Management (GİGM) operated a “closed neighbourhood” (kapalı mahalle) system. When foreigners exceeded 20% of the registered population in a given mahalle, that neighbourhood was closed to new residence permit applications. The restriction applied only to the ikamet application — not to property ownership rights.
By July 2022, 1,169 neighbourhoods across Turkey were on the closed list. The system expanded further through 2023, particularly affecting Istanbul, where nine additional districts were brought into the restricted category.
June 2026 Update
What Actually Changed
In June 2026, the restriction system underwent a significant structural shift. Multiple sources — including immigration lawyers, the Türkiye Today publication (June 6, 2026), and practitioners reporting live system checks — confirm that the e-ikamet portal now processes applications from addresses that were previously blocked.
The practical effect: foreigners who were previously unable to register a residence permit at their property address due to neighbourhood closures can now, in most cases, proceed through the e-ikamet system without receiving a block notification.
What is still restricted
Based on reporting as of June 2026, two Istanbul districts reportedly remain restricted:
- Fatih — has been restricted since 2021 and remains closed
- Esenyurt — partially or fully restricted; practitioner reports are mixed on exact mahalle status
District Overview
Istanbul Districts — Current Status Guide
The table below reflects the best available information as of June 2026. Given the recent system change, statuses may differ from what you have seen elsewhere. Always verify your specific address on e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr — district-level summaries are a starting point, not a guarantee.
| District | Side | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Başakşehir | European | Open | Consistently open. Strong foreign community, international schools. |
| Beylikdüzü | European | Open | Large Iranian and Arab expat community. Well-established. |
| Eyüpsultan | European | Open | Previously had some closed mahalles. Verify your specific address. |
| Esenyurt | European | Verify | Reportedly still partially or fully restricted. Must check e-ikamet. |
| Fatih | European | Restricted | Closed since 2021. High foreign density. Likely still restricted. |
| Maslak / Sarıyer | European | Open | High-end residential and corporate. Open across most mahalles. |
| Bahçelievler | European | Likely Open | Previously closed. Recheck — system change may have reopened. |
| Bağcılar | European | Likely Open | Previously closed. Recheck after June 2026 system change. |
| Küçükçekmece | European | Likely Open | Previously closed. Recheck after June 2026 system change. |
| Sultangazi | European | Likely Open | Previously closed. Recheck after June 2026 system change. |
| Gaziosmanpaşa | European | Likely Open | Previously closed. Recheck after June 2026 system change. |
| Kadıköy | Asian | Open | Popular with European nationals. Higher price point. |
| Ataşehir | Asian | Open | Istanbul’s growing financial hub on the Asian side. |
| Ümraniye | Asian | Open | Residential, less tourist-heavy. Strong rental demand. |
| Üsküdar | Asian | Open | Central mahalles had partial restrictions. Recheck now. |
| Kartal | Asian | Open | Coastal development underway. Good value Asian side. |
| Pendik | Asian | Open | Near Sabiha Gökçen airport. Growing expat interest. |
| Maltepe | Asian | Open | Sea-view properties, family-oriented. |
| Beşiktaş | European | Open | Previously partial. Recheck — likely cleared by system change. |
| Şişli | European | Open | Previously some mahalles closed. Recheck. |
Source: GİGM announcements, Türkiye Today (June 2026), immigration practitioner reports. Verify at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr before any property decision.
Buying vs. Residing
Does Zone Status Affect Your Property Purchase?
No — and this has always been the case. Zone restrictions apply only to residence permit applications. Your legal right to purchase property in any Istanbul district is unaffected by ikamet zone status.
In practice, this means:
Verification
How to Check Your Specific Address
Zone status operates at the mahalle (neighbourhood) level — not at the district level. Two apartments on the same street can be in different mahalles with different statuses. This remains true even after the June 2026 change.
HERMAVA VERDICT
The June 2026 change is significant. If you were previously blocked from a specific address or told a district was off-limits, it is worth going back to e-ikamet and checking again — most of those blocks appear to have lifted at the system level.
That said, the situation is still settling. Fatih appears to remain restricted. Esenyurt’s status is unclear and practitioner reports are mixed. The formal GİGM press release has not yet been published as of the time of writing.
Our advice: treat this as good news, but verify your specific address before making any decision. Do not let optimism replace a two-minute check on the official portal.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
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