Alanya Reopens Neighborhoods for Residence Permits in 2026: Updated Restrictions Guide

In June 2026, residency registration restrictions were lifted in Alanya: Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargicak, and Avsallar are once again open for initial residence permit (ikamet) applications. This is not a nationwide decision across Turkey: in Antalya city, Mersin, and many other provinces, neighborhoods on the restriction list remain closed, and reports of lifting restrictions in Istanbul come only from legal professionals without confirmation from the immigration authority. "Closed neighborhoods" refers to mahalle (districts) where, since 2022, foreign nationals have not been able to register new residence permits because the proportion of foreigners exceeded the threshold. The General Directorate of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi) has not published a separate announcement on its goc.gov.tr website, and pages listing the original 2022 restrictions remain accessible, so verify your address in e-İkamet before applying—especially if your property is not in Alanya.

What are closed neighborhoods (kapalı mahalleler)

In Turkey, a "neighborhood" in everyday speech often refers to an ilçe (administrative district, such as Alanya), but restrictions were introduced at the level of mahalle—a district within a municipality. As a result, between 2022 and 2026, even within Alanya itself, some neighborhoods were closed while others remained open.

According to the official announcement from Göç İdaresi, the following were suspended in closed neighborhoods:

• issuance of residence permits (ikamet izni) for a new address;
• registration of persons under temporary and international protection;
• change of province of residence for foreign nationals holding ikamet or protection status.

Exceptions explicitly named in the announcement were newborns and family reunification of "core" family members (spouses and children). Property purchase and title deed (Tapu) registration were not included in this list: closed neighborhoods restricted residency registration, not real estate transactions themselves.

The origin of the 25% and 20% rule

The measure was called "thinning out" (seyreltme): authorities wanted to prevent a concentration of foreign nationals in particular neighborhoods. Initially, the threshold was set at 25% foreigners of a neighborhood's population, then it was lowered to 20%.

In the same 2023 press release, it stated that analysis of foreign population density is conducted periodically. In other words, the list was intended as subject to change, not a one-time decision.

Official list: what is currently published

goc.gov.tr still hosts the announcement from 30.06.2022 with a link to an Excel file titled "Kapalı Mahalleler." According to file metadata, it was last modified on 31.08.2022 and contains 1,162 rows (the announcement mentions 1,169 neighborhoods) from 63 provinces. The highest number of closed neighborhoods are in Şanlıurfa (170), Gaziantep (162), Hatay (109), Kilis (83), and Adana (75); Istanbul has 54.

We did not find a more recent nationwide revision of the list on the Göç İdaresi website. This does not mean the list has not changed: in 2023, the authority stated it was reviewing the list based on foreign population density analysis. However, no published new version exists.

Status in 2026: Alanya is open, other provinces vary

In June 2026, restrictions were lifted in Alanya. This is evident from daily practice: applications for initial ikamet at addresses in Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargicak, and Avsallar are being accepted again. There is no nationwide solution for all of Turkey: restrictions continue to apply by province and specific neighborhood, and in most provinces listed in 2022, they were not lifted.

• Antalya (city). Liman, Hurma, and Sarisue in Konyaalti; Topçular in Muratpaşa; two industrial zone neighborhoods in Döşemealtı. According to our information, these neighborhoods remain closed.
• Mersin. The list includes 63 neighborhoods across eight districts: Anamur (27), Tarsus (18), Silifke (6), Mezitli (5), Toroslar (3), Yenişehir (2), Gülnar, and Erdemli (Kızkalesi)—one each. Restrictions in Mersin have not been lifted.
• Istanbul. The list includes 54 neighborhoods, with the most in Fatih (13), Beyoğlu (10), and Esenyurt (8). Some Istanbul legal professionals report that as of June 10, 2026, the restriction in Istanbul was lifted, but Göç İdaresi has not confirmed this—verify your address before proceeding with a transaction.
• Other provinces. The highest number of closed neighborhoods are in Şanlıurfa, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, and Adana; there is no information about their reopening.

Important caveat: the decision was not formalized in a separate public document. As of 26.10.2026:

• goc.gov.tr — in the "Haberler," "Duyurular," and "Basın Açıklamaları" sections, there is no separate announcement of the lifting of restrictions, and the page with the 2022 announcement and list remains accessible;
• antalya.goc.gov.tr — the site still displays a page from 01.07.2022 listing closed neighborhoods in the province;
• Resmî Gazete — the closure was introduced by administrative decision rather than regulation, and there is no publication about its reversal.

Outdated pages with old lists are a common source of confusion: they are still cited as current. Rely on whether an address is accepted in e-İkamet at the time of application. In its 2023 press release, Göç İdaresi stated it regularly reviews foreign population density, so if the proportion of foreigners increases again, individual neighborhoods could theoretically be closed once more.

Who is affected by the restriction

In Alanya, restrictions have been lifted, but in other provinces they remain in effect. The table below is useful if you are buying or renting property in Antalya, Mersin, or another city on the list, and also to understand past rejections in Alanya.

General rules for obtaining residence permits in Turkey, including grounds and required documents, are discussed in the article Residence Permit in Turkey.

Alanya and Antalya Province: what was closed and what is open now

According to a list published by Antalya İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü on 01.07.2022 and aligned with the national file dated 31.08.2022, Antalya province includes 10 neighborhoods:

Downtown Alanya, Oba, Cikcilli, Tosmur, Konakli, Payallar, as well as Gazipasha and Manavgat were not included in this list. As of June 2026, Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargıcak, and Avsallar have reopened for initial residence permits: applications for addresses in these neighborhoods are being accepted. For buyers, this is the year's major change, as Mahmutlar and Kestel are among Alanya's most sought-after neighborhoods by international investors. The neighborhoods in Antalya itself from the same list—in Konyaalti, Muratpasha, and Döşemealtı—have not reopened according to our information: the lifting of restrictions applies only to Alanya.

How to verify an address before purchasing or renting

1. Get the exact neighborhood name. It's listed in the Tapu or in your rental agreement. The residential complex name or "district" from the listing is not sufficient.
2. Don't rely on the old list. The file on goc.gov.tr and on the provincial office website is dated 2022 and only shows whether a neighborhood was previously closed.
3. Check current practice. Call or visit İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü (for Alanya—the Antalya provincial office) and ask whether applications are being accepted for that address. The Göç İdaresi helpline is YİMER 157.
4. Start filling out your application in e-İkamet (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr) before signing any contract: the address is entered in the application form. Based on applicant experience, the system or inspector at the office will notify you if an address is closed before you pay any fees, though this is not an official function. If your address is accepted and an appointment is confirmed, the restriction no longer applies.
5. Document the condition in your contract. For rentals, you can include a clause allowing cancellation if the residence permit is not approved for that address. For purchases without such protection, the risk falls on the buyer.

Remember about address registration as well. When moving within the same province, you must notify the provincial migration office of your new address within 20 working days. When moving to another province, you must submit an application for a new ikamet within the same timeframe—and this is where the restriction on changing provinces to a closed neighborhood takes effect.

What to do if your address is still rejected

In Alanya after the restrictions were lifted, this happens rarely, but in Antalya, Mersin, and other provinces with closed neighborhood lists—it's quite possible. If e-İkamet or an inspector rejects your address, you have several options.

• You are a property owner. Apply for residence permit based on real estate ownership. Property owners were included in the exceptions mentioned by the minister, but the property must be residential and used for living—this is a requirement of Göç İdaresi for residence permits based on real estate.
• You already have an ikamet at this address. Apply for renewal in advance: no earlier than 60 days before expiration and in any case before the deadline expires. Don't change your address unless necessary.
• You are a renter without a residence permit. You can apply for residence permit at a different address: another neighborhood in the same district is often just a few minutes away.
• You've already been denied. You can resubmit an application with the same purpose of stay only after 6 months, but while your legal stay remains valid, you can apply on a different basis. Learn more in the article Residence Permit Denial in Turkey.
• Do not register at a "false" address. Fictional registration in an open neighborhood while actually living elsewhere is a violation that surfaces during address checks.

Frequently asked questions

Were restrictions on closed neighborhoods lifted in 2026?

In Alanya—yes, in June 2026: applications for initial residence permits at addresses in Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargıcak, and Avsallar are being accepted again. The restriction has not been abolished across Turkey. There is no separate announcement on goc.gov.tr, so verify your address in e-İkamet before applying.

Are neighborhoods closed in Antalya, Mersin, and Istanbul?

In Antalya (Konyaalti, Muratpasha, Döşemealtı) and in Mersin, neighborhoods from the 2022 list remain closed according to our information. Regarding Istanbul, lawyers report that restrictions were lifted from June 10, 2026, but there is no official confirmation. In any city other than Alanya, verify your specific address before the transaction.

Which Alanya neighborhoods were closed and are they open now?

According to the official 2022 list, Mahmutlar, Kestel, Kargıcak, and Avsallar were closed. As of June 2026, all four are open again for initial residence permits.

Can you buy an apartment in a closed neighborhood?

Yes. The restriction applies to residence permits and registration, not transactions. However, if a residence permit is your goal for the purchase, verify the practice at the provincial migration office in advance.

Does the ban apply to residence permit renewals?

Officially, renewals were not mentioned separately. In practice, renewals without changing address were usually not blocked, but there is no confirmation on the Göç İdaresi website.

Does a closed neighborhood affect investment citizenship?

No. Citizenship is processed through a separate procedure, not through ikamet.

Sources

• Göç İdaresi: Mahalle Kapatma Duyurusu, 30.06.2022 (1169 neighborhoods from 01.07.2022)
• Göç İdaresi: list of closed neighborhoods (file from 31.08.2022)
• Göç İdaresi: Mahalle Kapatma Duyurusu, 16.05.2022 (781 neighborhoods)
• Ministry of Interior of Turkey, 11.06.2022: threshold reduced from 25% to 20%
• Ministry of Interior of Turkey, 08.10.2022: Istanbul districts and exceptions
• Göç İdaresi: press release from 16.07.2023
• Antalya İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü: announcement from 01.07.2022
• Antalya İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü: list of closed neighborhoods in the province
• Göç İdaresi: frequently asked questions about ikamet (address, renewal, denial, real estate)
• Göç İdaresi: announcements section (verified 26.10.2026)