A foreign business owner’s company registration date is not necessarily the start of the residence period used for a citizenship application. The applicant’s valid residence and work-permit history, and the time spent outside Türkiye, must be reviewed together.
Does a work permit count as a residence permit?
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security says a work permit generally gives the holder the right to work and reside in Türkiye during its validity and is treated as a residence permit under Article 27 of Law No. 6458. The Ministry identifies exceptions for certain protection statuses. A permit is therefore relevant to the residence record, but a person should still confirm how their own permit dates and status are treated. See the Ministry’s work-permit FAQ.
Working in your own LTD has its own criteria
Company ownership does not itself authorize a foreigner to work. Under the Ministry’s published company-partner criteria in force in 2026, applications for a foreigner opening or joining a company can require at least TRY 500,000 in paid-up company capital, a foreign partner’s capital contribution of at least TRY 500,000 and a shareholding of at least 20%. The workplace is generally expected to employ at least five Turkish citizens; for a first permit issued with a condition, this employment requirement applies from the beginning of the seventh month. A stated exception applies to foreign partners with a capital share of at least USD 100,000. The Ministry evaluates the specific application, and criteria can change. Check the current work-permit evaluation criteria before forming or restructuring a company.
Keep the five-year record continuous
For the general citizenship route, the five years are assessed immediately before the application, alongside the other statutory conditions. Keep copies of permits, passport pages, entry and exit records, address records and company documents. NVİ’s application guide says time abroad during the qualifying period is limited; check the current guide and your personal travel history rather than relying on an approximate calendar count. NVİ’s general naturalisation application guide.
In Alex’s example, the LTD and work permit support a real plan to live and work in Alanya, but citizenship is only an option to apply for after the qualifying residence and other conditions are met. Start with the Alanya company-owner overview, then use the five-year application checklist.
This is general information, not individual legal or tax advice. Confirm current criteria with the relevant authorities and qualified advisers.
For the practical property and company example, read our guide to buying a home, forming an LTD and paying taxes in Alanya.
