Turkish Residence Permit Guide

The Turkish residence permit is a permit for foreigners who want to settle, work, study, make scientific research, or set up business in Turkey.

Foreigners who come to Turkey can stay up to 90 days within 180 days without a residence permit. However, foreigners who want to stay longer than this period must obtain a Turkish residence permit according to their purpose of stay.

An official Turkish permit enables you to reside, study, get married, open a bank account, purchase property, make real estate and other investments in Turkey.

So, this article will be a guide for you to learn how to get Turkey residence permits, types of residence permit in Turkey, and the benefits of Turkish residence permit in every aspect.

What are the Types of Residence Permit in Turkey?

A residence permit document shows that foreigners are legally residing in Turkey. It also includes how long they will stay in Turkey and for what purpose they are here. The authorities have the right to see this document when necessary.

Firstly, if you want to study in Turkey, you must get a student residence permit. Secondly, if you want to work here, you need to get a work permit according to Turkish Laws. Below is a list of details about the types of residence permits in Turkey.

1. Short-Term Residence Permit for Foreigners

Foreigners can get a short-term residence permit for up to 6 months.

A short-term residence permit must be obtained by those residing in Turkey who;

• Want to make scientific research
• Set a business up in business
• Get immovable property in Turkey
• Participate in on-the-job training programs
• Have educational or similar purposes in the framework of student exchange programs such as Erasmus or Farabi
• Invest in the amount determined by the Council of Ministers and their family members
• Have tourism purposes
• Get medical treatment (when there is no contagious disease
• Attend Turkish language courses, internships, education programs
• Citizens of TRNC
• Decided to stay in Turkey by judicial and administrative authorities
• Have completed their higher education in Turkey and passed 6 months since their graduations

If foreigners want to have a short-term residence permit, several requirements can be found below.

• To submit information and documents related to the purpose of the stay in Turkey
• Not to be among the foreigners who will not be allowed to enter Turkey listed in the Law on Foreigners and International Protection
• To have housing conditions by general health and safety standards
• To have a criminal record issued by the authorities of the country of which you are a citizen
• Providing the address details to stay in Turkey

A short-term residence permit may be canceled or not be extended when; the short-term residence permit is misemployed, the foreigner has been abroad for more than one hundred and twenty days in total in the last year, and there is a ban on deportation or entrance to Turkey.

2. Long-Term Residence Permit for Foreigners

If a foreigner has resided in our country for 8 years, she/he can apply for Turkey’s long-term residence permit.

To be able to issue a long-term residence permit in Turkey, several requirements can be found below.

• Submission of information and documents related to the purpose of the stay in Turkey
• When foreigners reside in Turkey for at least eight years continuously, under a residence permit issued by the Turkish Laws, they can apply for a Turkish long-term permit
• The foreigner must not receive social assistance in the last three year
• The foreigner must have sufficient and regular livelihoods and valid health insurance
• Also, the foreigners must not pose a threat to public order and security

A long-term residence permit has certain important points to consider. These points are listed below.

• Refugees, humanitarian residence permit holders, conditional refugees, subsidiary protection status holders, and persons under temporary protection cannot apply for a long-term residence permit.
• A foreigner with a long-term residence permit in Turkey can benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens. Such as military duty, right to vote, and standing for election.
• If a foreigner staying in Turkey with a long-term residence permit has been outside Turkey for more than one year continuously, except for health, education, and compulsory public service in his country, the permit will be invalid.

3. Family Residence Permit

Turkey family residence is a type of short-term residence permit provided to foreign family members to protect family unity.

Not only foreigners who are married to a Turkish citizen, but also foreigners with a legal residence permit in Turkey, refugees, and foreigners married to foreigners with secondary protection can apply.

It is given to foreigners in family status. Besides, the permit is given to the foreigners through the person whom the law refers to as the supporter/sponsor.

According to the Turkish Foreigners Law, the supporter/sponsor must meet certain conditions. When the sponsor does not fulfill the conditions, the application of the foreign national under the family type residence permit in Turkey will be invalid. These requirements include the following list.

• General health insurance covers the sponsor himself and the person who will obtain a residence permit
• The supporter’s monthly income must be at least 1/3 of the minimum wage per person
• There must be proof showing that the sponsor has not committed a crime against the family in the last 5 years
• The sponsor must be residing in Turkey for at least one year
• Besides, spouses must be at least eighteen years old. Also, if the foreign supporter has more than one spouse, only one of the spouses can get a family residence permit.

A family residence permit in Turkey may be canceled or not be provided when the conditions mentioned above are not fulfilled, the family residence is misemployed, and there is a deportation decision or entry ban for foreigners.

4. Student Residence Permit

Student residence permit in Turkey is provided to those who do not have a family residence permit, receive primary and secondary education, will receive higher education such as bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, specialization in medicine, and specialization in dentistry.

Those who want to acquire a student residence permit in Turkey must;

• Submit the requested information and documents regarding studentship
• Not to be one of the foreigners who will not be allowed to enter our country
• Submit the address information to stay in Turkey

Here are some significant points consider about student residence permit Turkey.

• When you already have a family residence permit, you will not need a student residence permit.
• Students who come to the country for educational purposes and whose visa or exemption period is not sufficient must have a student residence permit in Turkey.
• The permit is canceled when there is some evidence that the education process is failed.
• The Turkish Government gives student residence permits only during the education process.

5. Humanitarian Residence Permit

The type of residence permit given to people who need to stay in the Republic of Turkey for humanitarian reasons is a humanitarian residence permit.

Humanitarian residence permit Turkey is issued in the following cases.

• For the benefit of the child
• If the foreigner cannot leave Turkey or if it is not reasonable or possible to leave Turkey, although a decision to deport them or to ban them from entering Turkey has been taken
• If it is not possible to deport the foreigner
• In the continuous process of the applicant’s return to the first country of asylum or a safe third country
• When foreigners who need to enter and stay in Turkey for urgent reasons or the protection of the country’s interests, public order, and public security, are not able to obtain one of the other residence permits due to their situation that prevents the issuance of a residence permit
• In emergencies

Turkey’s humanitarian residence permit requirements can be found below.

• Presence of at least one of the situations in Article 46 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection
• The payment of the application fee
• Preparing the necessary documents
• Approval of the permit

6. Residence Permit for Victims of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is the detention of a person by force, kidnapping, deception by using or threatening to use force. The Turkish Government grants the right of residence for victims of human trafficking. The conditions of a residence permit for victims of human trafficking are different from the other permits.

Who Needs a Turkey Residence Permit?

Getting a residence permit in Turkey is obligatory for foreign citizens who want to live in Turkey for more than 3 months for their purpose of stay.

Why Do You Need a Turkish Residence Permit?

If a foreigner does not have a residence permit according to their purpose of stay, it means that they are illegally staying in Turkey.

How to Apply for Residency in Turkey?

You can apply for a residence permit through the official website of the General Directorate of Migration Management. When making your application, make sure that you apply from the official site. You also need to prepare some necessary documents. Furthermore, these documents may depend on the types of residence permits in Turkey.

• Passport (Travel Document)
• Biometric Photography in ICAO Standards
• Application on behalf of a Foreign Person
• Student Certificate
• Proof of Income
• Health Insurance
• Address of Accommodation
• Criminal Records
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate

Required Documents for a Turkey Residence Permit?

To obtain a residence permit, an application is made in the digital environment via e-residence. The application is made to the Directorate of Migration Management with the appointment created as a result of the application in question. At this stage, the necessary documents are submitted to the Directorate of Migration Management.

The documents to be submitted may vary depending on the type of residence permit to be obtained. The documents classified according to the type of residence permit to be obtained are as follows.

Documents required for a short-term residence permit in Turkey:

• Residence permit application form,
• Original and photocopy of passport or similar document,
• 4 biometric photographs,
• Original receipt showing the fees and card fees paid from a tax office cashier. (Copies are not accepted.)
• The statement that the financial amount sufficient to make a living during the residence permit is in the bank account,
• Health insurance.

These documents are common to all short-term residence permits as standard. Authorized institutions may also request other documents depending on the reasons for obtaining a residence permit for those who will obtain a short-term residence permit. The signed documents to be obtained from other authorized institutions by foreign nationals regarding the purpose of their arrival in Turkey must also be declared at this stage.

Documents required for a residence permit of students who will study in Turkey:

• Residence permit application form,
• Original and photocopy of passport or similar document,
• 4 biometric photographs,
• Original receipt showing the fees and card fees paid from a tax office cashier. (Copies are not accepted.)
• The statement that the financial amount sufficient to make a living during the residence permit is in the bank account,
• Health insurance,
• Document stating that you are an active student,
• Required additional documents are requested by the government agency, depending on the situation.

Documents Required for Long Term Residence Permit:

• Residence permit application form,
• Original and photocopy of passport or similar document,
• 4 biometric photographs,
• Original receipt showing the fees and card fees paid from a tax office cashier. (Copies are not accepted.)
• The statement that the financial amount sufficient to make a living during the residence permit is in the bank account,
• Health insurance,
• The original sealed and signed document certifying that the person has not received social assistance in the last 3 years,
• Documents certifying that they are in the address registration system. This document can be obtained from the civil registry offices,
• Required additional documents are requested by the government agency, depending on the situation.

Documents Required for Family Residence Permit:

Documents to be submitted by the resident:

• Residence permit application form,
• Original and photocopy of passport or similar document,
• 4 biometric photographs,
• Additional documents to be requested by the official institution depending on the situation,

Documents to be submitted by the reference person:

• Original and photocopy of passport or similar document,
• Original and photocopy of identity card,
• The statement that the financial amount sufficient to make a living during the residence permit is in the bank account,
• Health insurance for all family members applied for,
• Original and photocopy of residence permit document, if any, or a document with equivalent,
• Criminal record showing the person’s possible criminal record,
• Documents certifying that they are in the address registration system. This document can be obtained from the civil registry offices,

If the person who wants to obtain a residence permit is the spouse of the person who will be the reference, in addition to the documents mentioned above, a marriage certificate or an equivalent document is also requested. If the reference person will obtain a residence permit on behalf of his or her child under the age of 18, a birth certificate and custody certificate are requested in addition to the documents mentioned above.

How Long does it Take to Get a Residence Permit in Turkey?

The results of the applications are announced within 90 days at the latest. The residence permit document prepared by the official institutions is sent to the registered address of the person through the contracted cargo company.

What is the Cost of Turkish Residency?

Residence permit documents are valuable papers according to Turkish Laws. Fees and amounts may depend on the country of origin. You can also visit the official website of the General Directorate of Migration Management to learn more about Turkish residence permit fees.

What are the Required Documents for Turkish Residency?

The following documents below are required for a residence permit in Turkey.

• Recent photos of the applicant
• Translation approved by a sworn translator or official authorities
• Birth certificate for the foreign child
• A proof document if your expenses are covered by public institutions
• If the person is under eighteen years old; a letter of consent given by his/her mother/father or legal representative

What is the Validity of Turkish Residence Permits?

The validity of a Residence Permit in Turkey depends on the type of permit. The details are listed below.

• Turkish short-term residence permits, for or a maximum of two years at a time. (TCKN Citizens and foreign investors are apart from it.)
• Turkish long-term residence permits have an indefinite validity
• Turkish student residence permit varies on the period of study
• Family type Turkish residence permits, for not more than three years at a time
• Humanitarian residence permit Turkey, for a period not exceeding one year
• The residence permit for the victims of human trafficking, for thirty days

Can You Work with a Residence Permit in Turkey?

Yes, foreign nationals who want to obtain a work permit to get legal income in Turkey must fill out a work permit application form. Following the approval of the work permit application, they can work legally. Members of the Press and Media are exempt from work permits.

Is It Possible to Get Residency by Investment in Turkey?

Yes, you can get residency by real estate investment in Turkey, even for the whole family. Moreover, if you want to set up a business and make other kinds of investments in Turkey, you can also get residency.

Is It Possible to Get Citizenship by Investment in Turkey?

Yes, you can get Turkish Citizenship by real estate investment. Buy property with a minimum value of US$400,000 worth of real estate. You can take consultancy from Realty Group representatives.

What is the Cost of Living in Turkey?

Lastly, it is one of the most significant questions if you are thinking of residing in Turkey. For instance, household bills, taxes, food and beverage prices, transportation costs… Besides, it will be to your advantage to know the prices of education and health services, electricity, gas, water and internet connection costs. If you want to know more about it, take a look at our article about the cost of living in Turkey.