The number of foreigners with valid residence permits in Turkey as of December 31, 2025, was 1,151,969, according to statistics from the Presidency of Migration Management of the Turkish Ministry of Interior.
Compared to the end of 2024, the figure increased by 95,337, or approximately 9%.
The structure of residence permits by type in 2025 includes 426,926 short-term permits, 220,434 student permits, 168,455 family permits, and 336,154 permits of other categories.
According to data on distribution by province, more than half of all foreigners with residence permits live in Istanbul – 579,932. Next are Antalya (109,571) and Ankara (73,263).
In terms of citizenship, Ukraine is in the top 10 for short-term residence permits (21,257) and in the top 10 for family residence permits (6,505).
The Migration Directorate reminds that foreigners planning to stay in the country longer than the visa or visa-free regime period, i.e., more than 90 days, must apply for the appropriate residence permit through the electronic system, and reference information can be obtained through the YIMER center (157 within Turkey).
Ukrainians are not among the ten largest groups of foreigners with valid residence permits (RP) in Turkey as of December 25, 2025, according to the latest statistics from the country’s migration service.
According to the agency’s data, as of that date, there were a total of 1,137,023 foreigners residing in Turkey on the basis of a residence permit.
Citizens of Turkmenistan (166,292) and Azerbaijan (90,942) lead the way, followed by citizens of Syria (77,709) and Iran (73,534). Russians rank fifth in this rating (72,548 thousand), which means they have lost their leading position amid the growth of other countries’ share.
In terms of types of residence permits, the migration service indicates that as of December 25, 2025, short-term residence permits amounted to 419,759 thousand, student permits – 216,564 thousand, family permits – 166,539 thousand, and other categories – 333,969 thousand.
The primary source of this data is the current statistics section of the Turkish Migration Service (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) with an update date of 12/25/2025.
Barley exports from Ukraine between July and November of the 2025-2026 marketing year (MY, July-June) amounted to 1.2 million tons, which is 37% less than shipments during the same period of the 2024/25 MY and represents 46% of the projected export potential of grain, according to the information and analytical agency “APK-Inform”.
Experts noted that in November this year, barley exports from Ukraine amounted to 78.2 thousand tons, which is 50% less than in the same period a year earlier.
The main importers of Ukrainian grain in July-November were China, which purchased 42% of all shipments, Turkey with a share of 20%, and Libya (12%). At the same time, Turkey increased its imports of Ukrainian barley by 6.4 times in 2025/26 MY, purchasing 233 thousand tons compared to 36 thousand tons last season. Meanwhile, China and Libya reduced their barley purchases by 31% and 37%, respectively.
“The export potential of Ukrainian barley in 2025/26 MY is estimated at 2.5 million tons, which is 11% higher than last MY. The gross grain harvest is expected to reach 5.3 million tons,” according to APK-Inform’s forecast.
Khorol Mechanical Plant (Ukraine) has begun the process of localizing production in Turkey, according to the information and analytical agency APK-Inform, citing information from Valentin Surmach, director of the technical department at KMP.
“Taking into account the successful experience of joint implementation of complex projects, Izvik Makina Muhendislik Ic Ve Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi has been selected as the main partner in the localization process,” he said at the AgroFood Summit-2025 international conference (Mersin, Turkey).
According to him, the localization stages include large-scale assembly, equipping products with electric motors and gear motors from Turkish manufacturers, and the phased organization of the production of components and parts in Turkey, including on the basis of outsourcing (by mutual agreement).
The plant confirms the warranty for equipment manufactured in the localization process, as well as the technical parameters of the technological lines based on the plant’s equipment, which Izvik Makina offers to its customers.
Khorol Mechanical Plant is a Ukrainian enterprise specializing in the manufacture of equipment for grain storage and cleaning; production of mixed fodder, cereals, flour, oil, seed material; aspiration systems; mechanical grain transportation; production of fuel pellets, briquettes, etc.
Peace talks between Russia and Ukraine may resume in Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in an interview with broadcaster A Haber.
“Well, of course, we cannot go into details for reasons that you will understand, I mean, I think it (the talks – IF-U) could happen in Turkey, it could happen in other places. But this peace not only must happen, it will happen,” the minister said.
Fidan stressed that the war is now at its “darkest moment” and that both sides, according to him, are focused on destroying each other’s infrastructure. He noted that the use of drones and “kamikaze” drones makes it difficult to move around and conduct operations, and that the successes of the Ukrainian and Russian forces come at a high human cost.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), in September 2025, sales of real estate to foreigners in Turkey fell by 7.7% year-on-year to 1,867 properties. The share of transactions with foreigners in the total volume was 1.2%. Most purchases were made in Istanbul (744), followed by Antalya (557) and Mersin (124).
Among foreign buyers, Russians took first place with 267 properties, followed by Iranians with 202 and Iraqis with 146. The top five also included citizens of Germany with 121 and Ukraine with 118. In January-September, foreigners purchased 14,944 properties, which is 12.6% less than a year earlier.
A total of 150,657 residential units were sold on the Turkish market in September, which is 6.9% more than in September 2024.
