ADDRESS REGISTRATION FOR FOREIGNERS
How to register my adress in Türkiye ?
Address registration for foreigners is carried out by the Migration Administration and the Civil Registry Office. The process must always start with the Migration Administration — you cannot apply directly to the Civil Registry Office.
How the Process Works
Step 1: Apply to the Migration Administration (Göç İdaresi)
Step 2: If required, proceed to the Civil Registry Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü)
When Do You Need the Civil Registry Office?
If no one is registered at your address → ✔ Your address is registered directly by the Migration Administration.
If there are already people registered at the address(old tanent may be there) → ✔ After your application to the Migration Administration, you must apply to the Civil Registry Office.
DETAİLED EXPLANATİON!!!
⚠️ Clear knowledge. Real solutions.
With the information here, you can register your address on your own. The required documents and special circumstances are listed below
What is the legal basis for registering a foreign person in the address system?
Persons who have obtained a residence permit or residence permit from abroad must apply to the immigration office and register in the address registration system within 20 days at the latest from their entry into Turkey.
Obtaining a residence permit and registering your address are two completely different things. Even if you have obtained a residence permit, you have not registered your address
How to Register an Address for Foreigners?
Foreigners must first have a foreign identity number in order to register their address. After obtaining their residence permit documents, foreigners can go to Migration Administration(Göç İdaresi) with appoitment and register their addresses there.
“Obtaining a residence permit and registering your address are two separate processes.” First, we obtain a residence permit and then, once the residence permit card arrives, we register our address in migrant office.
Required Documents for Address Registration (Update date by lawyers 17.04.2026)
1- RENTAL AGREEMENT (LEASE)
A lease agreement issued directly at a notary public (not just notarized/approved). Please refer to the sample below.
Note: In cities outside Istanbul, a notarized (approved) lease may also be accepted—this should be confirmed with the relevant immigration office.
Important: With the e-lease system introduced by Ministry of Treasury and Finance, lease agreements created via the e-Devlet system are also valid. However, some landlords may refuse to use this system to avoid tax obligations.
How to create a lease contract via e-Devlet?
2- UTILITY BILL
A utility bill issued in the name of the person who will register the address (electricity, natural gas, or water).
Important Update (since December 2025): If natural gas is centrally shared and a bill cannot be obtained, internet bills are now accepted.
3- RESIDENCE PERMIT OR WORK PERMIT
Original and photocopies are required.
All photocopies must be prepared in advance.
4- TITLE DEED & DASK INSURANCE
Copy of the title deed and valid compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK).
IMPORTANT NOTE:
*A Foreigner Accommodation Undertaking (Taahhütname) is no longer accepted by the immigration authority for residence permit applications or address registration.
Regardless of the situation, a lease agreement is mandatory:
*Registering at someone else’s address → Lease agreement required
*Renting a full apartment → Lease agreement required
*Renting just a room → Lease agreement required
The undertaking letter (taahhütname) is only valid for first-degree relatives (father,mother and children).
These documents are generally required; the required documents vary in cases such as if the person is a student, if the person will stay with a friend, or if the person will stay with his/her spouse. You can find the answer that suits you from one below headline, the frequently asked questions tab below or from the comments and ask your questions to us.
Exceptions to address registration for foreigners?
THE INFORMATION LISTED UNDER THIS HEADING HAS BEEN PREPARED BASED ON İSTANBUL. IN OTHER PROVINCES, PRACTICES REGARDING ADDRESS REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS MAY VARY AND MORE FLEXIBLE RULES MAY BE POSSIBLE.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Immigration Authority (Directorate General of Migration Management) no longer accepts a Foreigner Accommodation Undertaking. For all procedures, only a rental agreement is accepted.
(Update date by lawyers 17.04.2026)
1- I want to register with a friend (A) who is a tenant?
To summarise what is written below, your friend will most likely have to sign a new tenancy agreement
You have a friend (A) who lives in rent (foreign or Turkish citizen does not matter) and you want to register yourself next to this friend.
In this case, first of all; The house/flat must be suıtable for the number desired to be recorded and not crowded at home. In other words, in the house/flat you want to register, there should be a link for you to live in humanitarian conditions. Immigration officers will not register you at this address if there are enough people staying at home.
Secondly: In the rent contract, your name must appear in the tenant section, together with the name of the person with whom you are registering the address.
-No, you cannot have a lease agreement between yourselves, you must have a notarized lease agreement. This rule is not for legally married spouses, siblings, mothers, and fathers.
-No, Engagement is not recognised as a marital status; your fiancé is regarded as your friend.
Third: Your friend (A) will come with you to the immigration office and sign.
Fourth: Last two months’ bill (water,natural gas or electric) and settlement certificate(yerleşim yeri belgesi) in the name of your friend (A)
Fifth: Photocopies of ID cards for both people going to the immigration office.
Sixth: Dask certificate for the house / flat and deed paper (TAPU fotokopisi)
2- I have a friend (A) who owns a house/flat and I want to register with him – next to hım ?
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Immigration Authority (Directorate General of Migration Management) no longer accepts a Foreigner Accommodation Undertaking. For all procedures, only a rental agreement is accepted.
Under this heading, here’s what we’re doing: you have a friend who lives in hıs/her own home(She is owner,not tanent) , and their address is that home. We’re explaining how to register you at your friend’s address. A summary of the points below: “your friend is going to let you rent his/her flat and he will provide you with a tenancy agreement(from notary ofcourse)”
Steps and Required Documents:
1-Landlord’s Address Registration
The landlord must already be registered at the address of the property. Your landlord/friend must prepare a rental agreement either at a notary public or via e-Devlet.
2- Joint Application
The landlord and the applicant must go together to the Immigration Office to complete the address registration.
3- Utility Bill & Residence Certificate
A utility bill (issued within the last two months) and a residence certificate (yerleşim yeri belgesi) in the name of the person whose address will be used (owner of flat name)
4- ID Copies
Photocopies of identification documents for both individuals attending the Immigration Office.
5- Population Registry Record
A full population registry record (with detailed information) of the landlord. (Vukuatlı nüfus kayıt – e devlet)
6- Property Documents
Copy of the title deed and valid DASK (compulsory earthquake insurance) for the property.
Note1: You need to pay attention to the closed address rule. Closed areas.
Note2: For the Wife/Husband of a Turkish citizen, the closed area and the requirement of having a name on the lease contract at the notary is not required. You can register with your marriage certificate or a document proving your marriage and other documents.
3- Spouse of a Turkish citizen (officially marriage)
The documents listed above are not required in this case. A Turkish citizen can register his/her spouse at an open or closed address. The Turkish citizen must go to the Migration Administration(Göç İdaresi) with his/her spouse and take the following documents with him/her;
a) Certificate of Settlement(Yerleşim Yeri Belgesi) of the Turkish citizen –What is a certificate of settlement?
b) Bill on behalf of a Turkish citizen (Water, electricity, Doğalgaz or internet)
c) Marriage certificate or a document proving that he/she is married (If obtained from a foreign country, apostille, then Turkish translation, then notary approval)
d) Photocopies of identity cards of spouses(both)
e) TAPU photocopy (deed certificate of flat) and DASK
4- What should I do if I want to register my address in the student dormitory?
Procedures if foreign students want to register their address in the student dormitory;
a) You need to go to the student affairs directorate of the dormitory where you are staying and tell them that you will register your address at the Immigration Administration(Göç İdaresi) and you need to get a “Certificate of Staying in the Student Dormitory” from the dormitory where you are staying. They will posible have experience and will understand you.
b) Student certificate must be obtained from e-devlet (need new)
c) Photocopy of identity card (ikamet card)
With these documents, students can register their address at the immigration office. They can register in closed areas.
5- I want to register with my foreign spouse? (Both side not a Turkish citizen)
My foreign spouse is in Turkey legally and has a work permit or residence permit. Her/His address is also registered and her/his registered address appears in the e-devlet. How can I register with my spouse?
a) Certificate of residence (yerleşim yeri belgesi -eDevlet), on behalf of the sponsoring spouse. What is a certificate of settlement?
b) Last two months’ bill (water, elektrik or doğalgaz or İnternet) on behalf of the sponsoring spouse.
c) Marriage certificate (notarized translation after apostille approval)
d) Photocopies of your and your spouse’s identity cards
e) TAPU photocopy (deed certificate of flat) and DASK
You will go to the migration office with your spouse and your spouse will register you with him/her. If your spouse does not have time to come to the Immigration Office, you can register your spouse by giving a power of attorney to a lawyer. The lawyer will be able to represent your spouse at the Immigration Office with the power of attorney given.
Clear knowledge. Real solutions; We have tried to help you with very high quality information
Assistance from a lawyer : BaltaşGlobal law office supports you in address registration. If you want to register your address with the help of a lawyer, you can get a price quote from our office contact information. Please do not ask detailed questions for free. We have tried to help you with very high quality information.
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How to Get Utility Bills (Water, Natural Gas, Electricity) in Your Name
Utility Bills Requirement for Address Registration
In order to complete address registration, foreigners must have at least one utility subscription registered in their own name (electricity, natural gas, water, or internet).
As of November 2025, internet bills are also accepted for address registration.
✔ At least one of these bills must be in your name
⚠️ Application Order (Very Important)
1- Natural Gas (İGDAŞ) – First Step
2- Water
3- Electricity
You must start with natural gas.
Why Natural Gas Comes First?
In Istanbul, electricity and water subscriptions require an existing address registration.
✔ If you do not have an address record →
You cannot register electricity or water in your name.
✔ Therefore →
You must first obtain a natural gas subscription, which is accepted for address registration.
📌 Although internet bills are now accepted, in practice natural gas remains the primary and most reliable first step.
How to Get a Natural Gas Subscription?
To apply, you need the installation number (Tesisat Numarası).
You can apply by visiting İGDAŞ with the following:
*Old natural gas bill (if available)
*Rental contract
*Required documents (listed below)
📌 Important:
The subscription contract is sufficient for address registration. You do not need to wait for the bill to arrive.
Required Documents (For Foreigners);
*Notarized rental contract
*Photocopy of title deed
*Old bill or meter/installation number
*ID photocopy (residence permit or work permit card)
Summary;
✔ At least one bill (including internet) must be in your name
✔ Start with natural gas (İGDAŞ) for a smooth process
Example of natural gas bill;
The translation of the following article lists the documents required for electricity subscription:
1- Certificate of residence(yerleşim yeri belgesi)
2- DASK insurance and flat title deed
3- Old bills no.
4- Ikamet card photocopy
A sample of a rental contract drawn up at a notary (people should not make a rental contract among themselves and have it notarized, Migration Administration (Göç İdaresi) want rental contracts drawn up in a notary public. Must be written by notary officers. Must be in the notary template
Important!!!
With the documents listed above, address registration can be made by making an appointment with the provincial immigration authorities during working hours in Istanbul.
Foreigners are required to make an appointment through the migration administration appointment system for address registration.
Appointment can be made at the relevant address; https://randevu.goc.gov.tr/#/
Read and learn how you can make appoitment from online ; Guide to making an appointment
In the complex where I live, bills such as natural gas bill and water bills are common. How do I get an invoice in my name?
❗IMPORTANT – Documents received from building managements as of DECEMBER 2025 are not accepted on their own. İnternet bill we can give the Göç İdaresi. İt started to accepted.
⚠️ I DONT HAVE NATURAL GAZ ON BUILDİNG , I CAN NOT HAVE İT
I am a foreigner, I cannot receive an invoice in my name (electricity, water or natural gas) in the building I live in. How can I solve this problem?
Important Update on Address Registration. 22.04.2026
Previously, address registration could be completed with a document obtained from the apartment management. This method is no longer valid.
As of November 2025, the Migration Administration no longer accepts documents issued by building or apartment management.
✔ A valid internet utility bill is now required for address registration, İf you dont have gas,electric and water bill
✔ The address must be verified using this internet subscription document.
Where to Register an Address for Foreigners?
Unlike Turkish citizens, foreigners must first apply to the Provincial Immigration Administration(Göç İdaresi) for address registration. Provincial Immigration Administrations(Göç İdaresi) can only register to empty addresses. Namely; If the place where the foreigner wants to register an address has already been registered on behalf of a person, then the provincial immigration administrations(Göç İdaresi) cannot register the address by deleting the previously registered names, and in this case, it is necessary to go to the population directorate to register the address.
In summary, people have to go to the provincial immigration administrations(Göç İdaresi) first. GÖÇ İDARESİ will check your address and if there are people registered at your address, they will tell you to go to the District Population Directorate (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) where your address is located. In this case, you need to go to the District Population Directorate (nüfus müdürlüğü) and change your address. It is necessary to make an appointment separately when going to the district population directorate. You cannot apply directly to the district population directorates.
An appointment must be made from the population office(Nüfus Müdürlüğü).
Appointments should be taken from https://randevu.nvi.gov.tr/ – other population events tab (Diğer Nufus Olayları).
What happens if you do not register your address?
The penalty for not registering an address is an administrative fine (need to pay money for goverment). If it is determined that the person has not registered his/her address, he/she will be penalized with an administrative fine.
In addition, it is not possible to make transactions in banks or government institutions in Turkey without registering your address. When it is time to extend your residence permit, you will not be able to extend your residence permit if your address is not registered. Among the residence permit extension documents, the settlement certificate required after address registration is required.
Do you have any questions? Please feel free to contact us from the contact section. Your questions are answered confidentially and quickly.
Places Closed to Address Registration
On 19.10.2022, the Provincial Immigration Administration published a new announcement in addition to the above-mentioned list, making some districts in Istanbul completely closed to residence permits.
Districts Closed to Foreigners Address Registration:
*Avcılar
*Bahçelievler
*Bağcılar
*Başakşehir
*Esenler
*Esenyurt
*Fatih
*Küçükçekmece
*Sultangazi
*Zeytinburnu
Exceptions;
Persons who already have a residence permit and are still residing in closed districts can continue to reside at their registered addresses. In addition, people who have a residence permit before and reside in closed districts can apply for an extension at the same address within the legal period.
Foreigners who have come for treatment in Turkey can write closed district addresses if they give the hospital where they will stay. People who will be treated have to document that they will be treated in the hospital.
In addition, there is no difference between short-term residence permits and short-term residence permits in terms of ARTICLE 31/1-j. “Purchase of a house for at least 400.000 USD”. Foreigners who will purchase a house worth at least 400,000 USD and apply for a short-term residence permit before applying for citizenship are exempt from this address restriction.
Residence permit applications of students studying at universities in the closed counties are exempt from this address restriction.
For detailed information about adress closed areas ; https://www.baltasglobal.com/en/closed-addresses-for-foreigners/
Address Registration Appointment
Persons who will register their address must make an appointment at https://randevu.goc.gov.tr/#/. It is no longer possible to go to the immigration authorities without an appointment.
How will you take your appoitment from Göç İdaresi : https://www.baltasglobal.com/en/migration-management-appointment/
The paper on the side is taken from the wall of the migration administration centers.
In summary, it says that you are only entitled to 1 appointment in 30 days.
Which immigration office will you be registered?
UPDATE!!! – With the change made on 05.10.2024, you can now register your address by going to any immigration office in Istanbul. Example: A person living in Fatih can register their address by making an appointment at Pendik Migration Management.
The lists of immigration authorities that we have given below are no longer valid.
Maximum number of foreigners can register in the same flat?
In cases where foreigners do not rent a flat in their own name in Turkey, they can register their address with a friend or a relative. However, there are some situations that should be considered when registering an address with other people. At the beginning of these, it should be checked how many foreigners are registered in the house where the address registration will be made.
The article of law or regulations do not specify how many people can be registered in the flat. In other words, there is no written rule regarding how many foreigners can be registered in a flat. Authorised persons who register addresses at the Immigration Administration are authorised to take initiative and make an assessment on this issue, and immigration officers will evaluate the situation of the person who will register.
In practice, a maximum of 3 foreigners are registered in the same house. However, if the house has 4 rooms, 4 foreigners can also be registered. However, the registration of 4 foreigners in a flat with 3 rooms is not done by the Migration Management Officers. In any case, if there are more than 5 registered persons living in a flat, foreigners are not registered in this house. When registering a foreign address, the immigration officers look at the number of people living in the flat from the system and make an assessment according to how many rooms the flat has.
Attention All Foreigners Registering Address
It is a legal obligation to register your address within 20 days after obtaining a residence permit. If you do not register your address within 20 days, there is no sanction in practice. However, you cannot extend your residence permit, open an account at the bank, or register your child for school without registering your address in Turkey.
When you register your address, do not register at an address where you will never live. Do not rely on those who find you a fake address and register your address to unreal addresses where you will never live.
Approximately 2 months after you register your address, the police will check your home and check whether you are really at the address.
We share the warnings made by the Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) with you. These posters were prepared by the Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) , not by BaltasGlobal:
FAQ?
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ
Lawyer Cihat BALTAŞ graduated from Police College in 2006, Police Academy in 2010, Yalova Law Faculty in 2016 with a degree and has worked and specialised in foreign law throughout his professional life. Cihat BALTAŞ, who is currently working as a lawyer in Kadıköy, Istanbul, is the founder of BaltaşGlobal law and consultancy office.
Does it have to be an empty house? I have a rental contract and two other people are also living there and registered already. Immigration has not been able to register me – and the Nufus also has not been able to. So must I rent an empty apartment or can I continue with my current rental agreement?
I don’t think you should rent a new house. You need to provide more detailed information to understand your situation. You can get more detailed information about your question by sending a message to our Whatsapp contact number.
Hi,
I was denied last week of address registration at the Provincial Administration of Immigration as my lease contract was dated September 2021 although there is stipulation of automatic renewal. They still wanted me to submit a new contract but our landlord refuses to issue a new written one.
Would be grateful for an advice on how to proceed.
Thanks.
Hı, I can actually give you information by examining your documents. You can send us your documents via our Whatsapp.
I am in the same situation. I have a rental contract dated May 2024 for one year, renewable, and I haven’t updated my residence address since then. Is it an obligation for the contract date to be within the current year? I haven’t taken an appointment yet.
We still dont know you are same situation. Göç İdaresi will ask just noterized contract. If the contract is from a notary, then they will not ask you for a new one. Asking a notary to make a contract is not the same as what you said. If your contract dated 2024 is from a notary, you will not have any problems.
Hello, I am a foreign student and I had registered my address in Edevlet two years ago. This year I renewed my ikamet and it came positive but the address has been removed from my edevlet account! What should I do to get it back? I am living in the same apartment and I have also have a bill on my name.
Hello,If everything is normal,you will re-register your address.
Make an appointment with the migration office. You can go with your rental contract, utility bill and ID card to register.
Your lease must be notarized.
We can only find out from the migration office why your registration was deleted. If the police came to your home and could not find you, it may be difficult to register again.
Hello, i want to ask if i need taahatütname or not ,my student id will finish soon and i changed my adres , the new house is under my friend (turkish, egyptian) name so does she needs to go with me to the noter and make this paper or i can go directly with her to change the adres and take nufus to reapply for kimlik, because i did this before with my turkish flatmate and we didn’t need to go notarized any paper.
Hello
There is new rules about adress registration. Your friend cant give you taahhütname in thıs situation. You need to put your name the contract with your friend.Taahhütname is okey when your friend is owner of flat. And your friend need to come with you.
Hi, I have a question and a comment.
Question: how long does it typically take for Immigration Directorate to send address change notification to Population Directorate; how will an applicant know when this process is complete?
Comment: I understood change of address notification as a legal requirement but only to inform after the fact (ie göç website states “no less than 20 days after..”), not to seek prior approval; however, there are severe restrictions on appointments and long waiting times, while the inability to obtain electricity or water subscriptions for up to a month or maybe even longer places the foreign resident in danger of health issues, and restricts basic human rights such as access to potable water, while risking breach of immigration rules regarding accommodation being required to offer appropriate living standards. Additionally, prospective landlords may not be prepared to wait until the tenant has jumped through all these hoops before they can move in.
All foreigners in İstanbul should have been alerted to these changes beforehand in my opinion. My life has been turned upside down for the past 3 weeks all because I had no idea about any of this nonsense despite having lived here more than 5 years.
I hope someone with deeper pockets than mine will take the Immigration Department to court!
Hı, Thank you for your comment.
Immigration Directorate (Göç İdaresi) sends a paper to Population Directorate(İlçe Nüfus Müdürlüğü). And this paper says “… person will come and please make her/hım adress registiration” and generally after sent thıs paper, you can make appoitment from Population Directorate(İlçe Nüfus Müdürlüğü) and go there and registered your adress. Generally it depends about time, but generally after sent paper you can go Population Directorate(İlçe Nüfus Müdürlüğü) one week later. And when you go to Population Directorate(İlçe Nüfus Müdürlüğü), if your document is full, you can complete the registeration.
This progress not an application, it is ended in one day.
for more information please feel free to ask questions via our whatsapp number.
My landlord hasn’t registered my flat, so I am unable to register my address. He doesn’t want to register it either. His most recent suggestion was for me to sign a new contract for a room-based tenancy in his own (registered) flat, which for obvious reasons, I’m uncomfortable with. What should I do?
Yes ı understand situation. You need to make more press hım about it. He should help you. When you registered your adress it is possible the police will come to check your adress. And if police will write negative report about your adress registiration after this you will have more big problem. My advise you should register your adress where you live.
Hi, I saw this comment on your site: UPDATE!!! – With the change made on 05.10.2024, you can now register your address by going to any immigration office in Istanbul.
Could you send the link of the law that can prove this statement? I want to be sure, that when I go to Pendik immigration office to register my address in Gaziosmanpasa, they won’t send me away.
Thank you.
İt is not written on law and it doesnt need to be in law, it is practice of Göç İdaresi.
We can advise you, before go to migrant office, you can call official number of Göç İdaresi, check it. YİMER 157 phone line you can call.
Hello , I was living with a friend and we signed our contract together but now he is out of turkey and is not coming back how can I delete his name from the address
Hello,
He needs to give petition and the nüfus müdürlüğü will search and delete.