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Residence permit extension
Obtain residence permit in turkey
Step-by-Step Guide
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Why a Residence Permit in Turkey is Needed:
Main Advantages
A holder of a Turkish residence permit has the right not only to stay in the country for an extended period but also enjoys a range of privileges unavailable to ordinary tourists:
- access to treatment in Turkish clinics with insurance;
- obtain a local driver’s license;
- purchase a car, motorcycle, or other vehicles;
- use banking products, including credit facilities;
- enroll children in public schools;
- enjoy various discounts at cultural attractions;
- study the Turkish language for free.
Types of Residence Permit in Turkey:
from Rental to Business
SHORT-TERM
- foreigners arriving for scientific research;
- foreigners owning property in Turkey;
- foreigners arriving for business purposes;
- foreigners attending educational programs;
- foreigners coming for studies or student exchange programs;
- foreigners arriving for tourism;
- foreigners arriving for medical treatment;
- foreigners required to stay in Turkey by request or decision of judicial or administrative authorities;
- foreigners eligible for short-term residence permit after losing family residence permit;
- foreigners arriving to take a Turkish language course;
- foreigners participating in state programs for education, internship, or research;
- foreigners who have graduated from a Turkish higher education institution;
- foreign investors;
- foreigners who are citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
When applying for a short-term residence permit through rental or property purchase, be aware of “restricted” areas in Turkey. The list can be found at https://www.goc.gov.tr/mahalle-kapatma-duyurusu-hk2. In these areas, obtaining a primary residence permit is impossible, and a repeat permit through rental is extremely difficult. The migration office may even refuse to accept documents for consideration.
FAMILY
- foreign spouses;
- minor children of the foreigner and their spouse;
- dependent children of the foreigner and their spouse.
STUDENT
- foreigners without a family residence permit studying in primary or secondary schools;
- foreign students attending Turkish universities for undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral programs, medical specialty training, or dentistry.
LONG-TERM
- foreigners continuously residing in Turkey for 8 years;
- persons with refugee or displaced status.
HUMANITARIAN
- to best protect the interests of a child;
- if, despite Turkish authorities’ ban or deportation decision, foreigners continue to stay in Turkey and cannot leave;
- when filing a claim in a court of general jurisdiction on certain grounds;
- during ongoing procedures related to deportation to the first asylum country or return to a safe country;
- if there are reasons the foreigner is in Turkey due to an emergency or national interest protection but cannot obtain another residence permit;
- in emergency situations.
FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
- foreigners who have become victims of human trafficking;
- foreigners with a genuine fear of becoming victims of human trafficking.
9 Steps to a Residence Permit
Prepare the documents in advance
- marriage certificate;
- child(ren)’s birth certificate(s);
- school certificates and diplomas;
- criminal record certificate.
This list is not exhaustive.
Decide on the type of residence permit
Purchase a Turkish SIM card
It will be needed both for opening a bank account and for obtaining the residence permit, as the SMS about the card readiness will be sent to this number. Three months after purchase, if you do not have a residence permit, the SIM card will be automatically blocked. To unblock it, you need to visit the mobile operator’s store and present your residence permit.
Obtain a Turkish tax identification number
The tax identification number, or Vergi Numarası, is required for obtaining a residence permit and opening a bank account in a Turkish bank. You can get the number by visiting the tax office at your place of residence or rental, or online, by personally filling out the form on the website https://ivd.gib.gov.tr/tvd_side/main.jsp
Get 4 biometric photos
Turkish photo studios are familiar with the migration office requirements, so it is enough to say that you need photos for the residence permit. You can also ask to have the finished photos sent by email or saved directly to a USB drive.
Obtain health insurance
The cost depends on age; pensioners (over 65) and children do not require an insurance policy. The validity of the insurance policy must match the duration for which the residence permit is requested. If the policy is purchased for one year but the applicant applies for a two-year residence permit, this may be a reason for refusal.
Fill out the application form
Go to https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr and fill out the residence permit application form. Applications are accepted only from within Turkey, so you cannot apply from another country.
Prepare the documents
The list of documents depends on the type of residence permit.
Main documents:
Additional documents:
Main documents:
- printed and signed residence permit application form;
- 4 biometric photos taken on a white background;
- tax identification number;
- Turkish health insurance policy;
- original and copy of the passport (photo pages and entry stamp into Turkey required);
- apostilled documents proving family relationship, if applying for multiple family members;
- paid government fee.
Additional documents:
- for a student residence permit, you need to provide an invitation letter from the educational institution with the contract and admission confirmation, proof of income / bank statement, criminal record certificate, rental agreement / letter from the property owner;
- for a tourist residence permit, you may need a statement from a Turkish bank account showing sufficient funds, proof of salary from your workplace or pension statements sufficient to cover living expenses during the residence permit period, rental agreement notarized in Turkey, address certificate (numarataj) from the local administration, copies of TAPU and ID of the property owner;
- to obtain a residence permit based on property purchase, the documents include a copy of TAPU, property appraisal, numarataj, and earthquake insurance policy.
Register
The migration office has 90 days to make a decision on the application. You can track the application status by calling 157 (from a Turkish number) or online at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/Ikamet/DevamEdenBasvuruGiris. If approved, notifications will be sent to the phone number and email provided in the application, along with a tracking number to follow the delivery of the residence permit. The courier will deliver it to your residence or to a PTT (post office) branch. After receiving the residence permit, you must visit the local migration office (Göç) to register your residence and the post office to access the Turkish equivalent of the government services portal.
Residence Permit Refusal in Turkey: What to Do and How to Fix It
In case of a residence permit refusal, the applicant is given 10 days to leave the country, which is confirmed by signing an order issued at the local migration office (Göç). The 10-day period starts from the moment of notification via SMS or email. Moreover, at the border, the applicant may have to pay a fine if, during the waiting period for the appointment and negative decision, the tourist days have expired, resulting in an "overstay." The fine must be paid in cash ONLY at the border. A quick payment discount is available.
If the fine is not paid or payment is impossible, the violator risks being banned from entering Turkey for up to 5 years. If the applicant believes the refusal is unlawful, there is an option to appeal to a higher authority, file a court case, or apply for a different type of residence permit by leaving Turkey and returning within the allowed period. However, it should be noted that when filing an appeal, the foreigner is not allowed to remain in Turkey unless the court suspends the migration office’s decision—a very rare occurrence in exceptional cases. Without such a suspension, the foreigner becomes an illegal resident, which may result in fines, deportation, and a ban on entry. This is logical; otherwise, every foreigner receiving a refusal could appeal, which may take over a year to process, and remain in Turkey, undermining the very purpose of the migration office’s negative decision.
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