Residence permit is a permit given to foreigners who want to stay, live and study in Turkey. There are six types of residence permits in Turkey which are; short-term, long-term, family, student, humanitarian and human trafficking victim residence permits.
Foreigners who will stay in Turkey for more than 90 days or for the duration granted by the visa or visa exemption are required to apply for the type of residence permit that they think meet the conditions through the e-residence system.
How to Apply for a Residence Permit?
Residence permit applications in Turkey are made online at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr regardless whether it is the first application or application for extension. The foreigner applying for a residence permit must be present at the Provincial Directorate General of Migration Management with the required documents on the day and time determined according to the appointment given to him via this online system.
The necessary documentation for the residence permit application are listed at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/Ikamet/BasvuruIstenenBelgeler website.
The application fee for the residence permit for 2022 is 160 TL. For different cases other fees may apply. The fee for the residence permit can be paid online by credit card or to any tax office.
Foreigners who want to obtain a residence permit must show an address in Turkey.
Residence permit application results are announced within ninety days at the latest.
Foreigners who have a residence permit are also required to register in the address registration system within 20 working days from the date they received their residence permit.
Can Residence Permit be Extended?
Residence permit is issued for a certain period of time and can be extended. Foreigners must apply for a residence permit extension as of sixty days before the expiration of the residence permit. In any case the application for extension must be made before the residence permit expires. When an extension application is made, an application document that is not subject to any fee is given to the foreigner from the e-ikamet system. This document provides the legal right to stay in Turkey until the extension request is concluded, even if the residence permit period has expired. If foreigners want to leave our country, they must have their application document approved by the Provincial Immigration Administration in the province they are in.
There is a register where the population records of foreigners residing in Turkey are kept. Accordingly, population events are recorded in this log. For example: topics such as birth, death, marriage, divorce are covered.
You can find the Regulation on Keeping Population Records of Foreigners Residing in Turkey here:
I Have Work Permit Do I Need a Residence Permit?
No. If a foreigner has a work permit in Turkey, there is no need to obtain a residence permit separately.
I Obtained Residence Permit. When at the Latest Do I Need to Enter Turkey?
If the residence permit is not used within six months from the start date, it loses its validity.
What is Interruption of Residence?
When calculating the residence period; except for compulsory public service, education and health reasons, stays outside of Turkey exceeding a total of six months in a year or exceeding a total of one year in the last five years are considered as interruption of residence.
When calculating uninterrupted residence permit periods, half of the student residence permit period and all other residence permit periods are counted.
What is Short Term Residence Permit?
Short term residence permit is a residence permit issued for foreigners who want to stay in Turkey longer than the visa or visa exemption period. For more information please see:
What is Long Term Residence Permit?
Long term residence permit can be issued to foreigners who have resided in Turkey for at least 8 years without interruption. Different conditions may apply for long term residence permit applicants. For more information please see:
What is Student Residence Permit?
A student residence permit is for foreigner who wish to study in Turkey. The foreigner themselves, their legal representatives or their parents can apply for the student residence permit. For more information please see:
What is Family Residence Permit?
Spouses, minors and dependent children of Turkish citizens, foreigners with Blue Cards, refugees, foreigners who have a residence permit and have stayed in Turkey for at least 1 year with this permit can obtain a family residence permit in Turkey. For more information please see: