Residence Permit in Turkey

1. Short-Term Residence Permit.

There are many different types of short-term residence permit options. Each type of short-term residence permit is valid for a particular circumstance. These are:

1.1. Touristic Residence Permit

A short-term residence permit for tourism purposes and does not give the right to work in Turkey.

Highlights, Requirements

• Residence permit validity for up to six month.
• Applicant must be over eighteen (18) years.
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Property ownership documents or rental contracts in Turkey. Documents must be in Turkish and notarised by Turkish Noter.

Note: In case the application is made with the title deed, a document showing that the title deed is up-to-date should be obtained from the (Tapu Office) General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre.

Note: If the rental contract is presented, your landlord’s Turkish ID and title deed of the property is required to be submitted along with your rental contract.

• Local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support the applicant and any dependent family members (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).

Note: Financial independence is defined by Turkish immigration as proof of funds equivalent to the Turkish minimum wage index (currently $500 USD per month of stay).

• Residence application form completed and signed by the applicant. If you have appointed a lawyer to submit your documents, your lawyer must be issued with a limited power of attorney stamped by the notary office. Applicant must be physically present at the notary office to arrange power of attorney (as your signature will be required). Applicant must present a passport. Once the passport is translated into Turkish, the power of attorney can be processed and issued the same, or the next day.
• Original passport, photocopy, and original notarized passport or travel document (by Turkish Notary).

Note: If the passport contains a Latin alphabet, a notarized Turkish translation is not required.

Note: If the passport does not include a date of birth, the applicant needs an approved birth certificate. Notarized Turkish translation is required for this document.

• Four (4) biometric passport photos for each applicant. Must contain a white background and meet biometric requirements.
• When applying for a spouse or dependent child (under eighteen years) submit sworn Turkish translations of the child’s birth certificate and spouse marriage certificate. A birth certificate and marriage certificate may need an apostille(if your country has an agreement) or a stamp from your country’s Turkey consulate. This can take some time and requires an appointment. Basically, you have to go personally but any person who holds a power of attorney can go on to the appointment on your behalf to complete the procedure. The original power of attorney has to be presented at the time of the appointment at the Consulate and Foreign Ministry to act upon your behalf.
• Police clearance certificate (If you are getting your residence permit for the first time in Turkey, the applicant may submit their criminal record obtained from his / her own country. But if the applicants are applying for a renewal and have lived in Turkey for a short or long period, they have to obtain a criminal record from the Turkish Government too).

If these documents have been obtained from Turkish Authorities they must be e-signed/signed and stamped/sealed; if obtained from foreign countries, they must be apostilled and have notary public certified translations. If the applicant is a citizen of a state that is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, said documents must be approved by the relevant state’s authorities (consulate approval and by Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Competent Turkish Authorities authorized therefor).

Getting a Short-Term Residence Permit with a Rental Agreement

Foreigners may get a residence permit related to the law nr 6458, Foreigners and International Protection Law. If you are a foreigner coming to Turkey for the first time, you can get a residence permit by a rental agreement. Despite the procedure goes fast and effective, there is a critical point which you should be aware of; This residence permit is valid for half year. It cannot be extended with a rental agreement. Rental agreement residence permits do not give you the right of obtaining Turkish citizenship after 5 years.

1.2. Obtain Residence Permit

A short-term residence permit to allow the applicant to explore business ventures, visit suppliers/buyers, conduct market research, trade shows, and conferences, and incorporate a business, etc.

Highlights, Requirements

• Residence permit validity for up to one (1) year.
• Applicant must be over eighteen (18) years.
• Valid health insurance. This condition is not required for foreigners who are under eighteen (18) years old or over sixty-five (65) years old.
• Evidence of financial independence and the ability to support yourself and each dependent family member (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).

2. Long-Term Residence Permit

Applicants who have lived in Turkey can apply for long-term residence if they meet the following requirements:
• Resided in Turkey for a minimum of eight (8) years consecutively and consistently. Short-term absences are permitted, but any time over six (6) months within one (1) year or more in total shall forfeit the right to apply for long-term residency.
• Financially self-sufficient and has not received any financial support from the Turkish Government in the last three (3) years.
• The policyholder of valid private health insurance.
• No criminal record, or any record or incident posing a threat to the public or a compromise to public security.

How to Apply?

• To apply, applicants who meet the above criteria must visit their provincial security directorate or the immigration office they reside with their current passport and Turkish ID.
• The long-term residence permit is valid provided the beholder does not reside outside of Turkey for more than one (1) year. Exceptions to this rule include exiting Turkey for more than one (1) year for reasons of health, education, or compulsory public service in the beholder’s native homeland.
• Long-term residence permit holders have the same rights as Turkish Citizens with the exception of the following:
• Compulsory military service.
• The right to vote and be elected.
• Entering public service.
• Exemption from customs duties when importing vehicles.

3. Family Residence Permit

This category of residence permit is predominately reserved for foreign national spouses and/or relatives of Turkish citizens who wish to bring their families to Turkey. The family residence permit allows dependent children under the age of 18 to continue their education without obtaining a student residence permit.

Highlights, Requirements

• Residence permit validity for up to three (3) years.

TIP: Before you start your online application to renew your residence permit, be sure to have your biometric photo (with a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.

• Includes applicants within the scope of Article 28 of law number 5901, including foreign nationals holding a residence permit, refugees, and minors.
• Evidence of Turkish private health insurance for applicants between the age of eighteen and sixty-five.
• Property ownership documents or rental contracts in Turkey. Documents must be in Turkish and notarised by Turkish Noter.

Note: If the rental contract is presented, your landlord’s Turkish ID and title deed of the property is required to be submitted along with your rental contract.

• Local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support the applicant and any dependent family members (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).

Note: Financial independence is defined by Turkish immigration as proof of funds equivalent to the Turkish minimum wage index (currently $500 USD per month of stay).

• Resident application form completed and signed by the applicant. If you have appointed a lawyer to submit your documents, your lawyer must be issued with a limited power of attorney stamped by the notary office. Applicant must be physically present at the notary office to arrange power of attorney (as your signature will be required). Applicant must present a passport. Once the passport is translated into Turkish, the power of attorney can be processed and issued the same, or the next day.
• Original passport, photocopy, and original notarized passport (by Turkish Notary).
• Four (4) biometric passport photos for each applicant. Must contain a white background and meet biometric requirements.
• When applying for a spouse or dependent child (under eighteen years) submit sworn Turkish translations of the child’s birth certificate and spouse marriage certificate. A birth certificate and marriage certificate may need an apostille(if your country has an agreement) or a stamp from your country’s Turkey consulate. This can take some time and requires an appointment. Basically, you have to go personally but any person who holds a power of attorney can go on to the appointment to your behalf to complete the procedure. The original power of attorney has to be presented at the time of the appointment at the Consulate and Foreign Ministry to act upon your behalf.
• Police clearance certificate.

If these documents have been obtained from Turkish Authorities they must be e-signed/signed and stamped/sealed; if obtained from foreign countries, they must be apostilled and have notary public certified translations. If the applicant is a citizen of a state that is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, said documents must be approved by the relevant state’s authorities (consulate approval and by Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Competent Turkish Authorities authorized therefor).

Note: If the foreigner who will apply for Family Residence Permit has more than one spouse, only one of the spouses may benefit from this permit. However, all children of the head of the family may be granted a Family Residence Permit.

4. Student Residence Permit

Residence permit granted for tertiary studies for the duration of the course taught at an approved Turkish educational institute.

Requirements and Documents:

• Completed and signed resident application form.
• Letter of acceptance from Turkish educational institute mentioning the type of the course, duration of the course, starting and the finishing date of the course, location of the course, name of educational institute offering course, and capacity studying at course: post-graduate studies, research, internship, etc.
• If the applicant is under eighteen (18) years of age, a letter of consent from parents to attend a course in Turkey.
• Passport copy notarized by the Turkish Notary. (Passport will need to be translated by a sworn translator at the Turkish Notary office.)
• Four (4) biometric photos (against a white background) on your computer to upload during your online application. Note that your biometric photo should not be older than six (6) months.
• Evidence of Turkish private health insurance for applicants between the age of eighteen and sixty-five.
• A financial self-sufficiency declaration (that you declare in the application form). However, Directorate for Immigration may request a local Turkish bank statement evidencing financial independence and ability to support the applicant and any dependent family members (spouse and children under the age of eighteen (18) years old).
• Police clearance certificate.

If these documents have been obtained from Turkish Authorities they must be e-signed/signed and stamped/sealed; if obtained from foreign countries, they must be apostilled and have notary public certified translations. If the applicant is a citizen of a state that is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, said documents must be approved by the relevant state’s authorities (consulate approval and by Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Competent Turkish Authorities authorized therefor).

Note: financial independence is defined by Turkish immigration as proof of funds equivalent to the Turkish minimum wage index (currently $500 USD per month of stay).