The term of the residence permit is at most five years. This term may be increased or decreased by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, upon consulting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in accordance with the “reciprocity principle”. The permit can be extended for only four times; but this stipulation in the statute concerns the permit as a document. Therefore, foreigners can have a new one then and their new permit can extend for four times more. 

Foreigners should apply to the authorities of security within 15 days of the expiry date in their residence permit. It is also possible to apply before the expiration. 

In the case of a lost residence permit, the permit shall be replaced by a new one which will be valid until the same expiry date which was listed in the previous document. 

No visa is necessary for foreigners who have gone abroad and returned before the expiry dates in the permits. It is necessary and sufficient to submit their residence permit during their entry into Turkey. 

When moving from one place of residence in Turkey to another, foreigners who possess residence permits are required to inform and register, either in person or by mail within 48 hours the police or the gendarme headquarters in both the neighborhood they left and in the neighborhood they moved to. 

Besides, foreigners who have residence permits must report any changes in their marital status by a signed statement to the security authorities in their district within 15 days of the change. All the declarations are free of charge.