Costs of Immigration to Turkey

Turkey is a bridge connecting the Eurasian continent, allowing foreigners to experience the integration of Eastern and Western civilizations. It's an amazing country, and Istanbul and Ankara are popular choices for expats looking for residency and work. Migration can be for many reasons: education, citizenship, retirement, better standard of living, and more. If you are reading this blog, you must be planning to move to Turkey for some reason and have a hundred questions. This article contains a lot of information about immigration to Turkey, residence permits and related fees.

Fees for applying for a visa

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched e-Visa. It is an excellent facility for tourism and business purposes, allowing visitors to apply and obtain visas online. Fees range from $78.50 to $61.50. However, Türkiye visa fees depend on your nationality.

Total Fee = Government Fee + Processing Fee (+ Expedited Processing/Expedited Processing).

If you need a Turkey e-Visa urgently, the cost will be higher depending on how quickly you want your application processed. Your application will be considered first. For urgent processing, you need to fill out the application form like a normal visa (only basic information is required). You just need to choose the required processing time according to the urgency of your visa.

Notes:

• Cash payments are not accepted.
• Payment for Visa services can be made by debit or credit card, or by PayPal or UnionPay.
• The fee must be paid before submitting the visa application form.
• This fee is non-refundable regardless of whether your visa is approved by the Turkish government.

Turkish residency by investment

Turkish citizenship by investment is the fastest and very popular way of obtaining Turkish citizenship. All you have to do is invest at least $400,000 in real estate. This entitles you to obtain a Turkish passport in less than four months after application. There are many benefits to obtaining Turkish citizenship by investment program. Some of them are:

• Live, work and study in Türkiye
• single nationality
• moving with family
• Simple Schengen Visa
• Get E2 Visa Easily
• dual citizenship
• Profitable Long-Term Investment
• Visa-free travel to 110 countries

To obtain Turkish citizenship by investment program, applicants must:

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must not enter Türkiye illegally
• All taxes and fees for the process must be paid

Turkish citizenship by investment route 

• buy real estate
• Create jobs in Türkiye
• Funds transfer (minimum $500,000 in bank, bonds or stocks)

What is the procedure for obtaining Turkish residency?

Foreign entrepreneurs who intend to start a business in Turkey and stay temporarily in the country need a short-term residence permit, valid for a maximum of one year. After this period, they must extend their period or obtain a long-term residence permit to extend their stay.

Short-term residence permit

It is issued to foreigners who own property or operate a business in Türkiye. You have to send some documents to the provincial immigration authority and follow commercial regulations: 

1. Registration form
2. Original and copy of passport
3. Four photos (passport size)
4. Declare that they have the necessary means to stay in Turkey for a maximum of one year and submit any supporting documents if necessary
5. Proof of Turkish property ownership (if any)
6. Health insurance.

Long-term residence permit 

Foreign citizens wishing to extend their stay in Turkey and obtain a long-term residence permit must provide the following documents to the Turkish authorities:

1. Registration form
2. Original and copy of passport
3. Two passport photos
4. Documents proving that the applicant has not received social assistance from Turkish authorities
5. Declare that they have the necessary means to stay in Turkey for a maximum of one year and submit any supporting documents if necessary
6. Proof of ownership in Türkiye (if any)
7. Previous residence permit
8. Health insurance
9. Police records

Residence permit applications can be submitted directly online to the Directorate General of Migration Management. First-time applicants must appear in person at USCIS and present the required documents. A residence permit is required for stays longer than 90 days. It can work for singles, families, students, charity housing and more.

Accommodation fee (2022)

Thanks to the sun, sea and atmosphere, many foreigners dream of staying in this hospitable country for months or years.  In 2022, legislation in the jurisdiction grants foreigners the right to stay in Turkey for 30 to 90 days, depending on their home country. The standard period of stay for residents of most countries is 90 days.

Many citizens have fallen in love with the country or want to take advantage of the favorable business environment. You are seeking a residence permit, which can be extended (even indefinitely) if necessary.

How much will it cost to get a Turkish residence permit (İkamet) in 2022?

• The fixed price of İkamet card in 2022 is about 160 TRY.
• The annual amount for a residence permit in Turkey is currently between TL 326 and TL 7,280, but may increase due to the large influx of immigrants.
• Health insurance costs range from 500 TL to 1800 TL, depending on the age of the foreigner.
• Notarization and translation fees start at TL 450 (maximum) and apostille costs approximately TL 89.23 per page (if required).

The cost of private health insurance

Türkiye's healthcare system is not like that of Europe or the United States. There is no family doctor. Any citizen or legally resident resident can contact the relevant medical specialist directly if necessary. Medical services in Turkey are also recognized as many private clinics in Istanbul and Ankara employ English-speaking doctors who have received international training and practiced abroad for many years.

Healthcare in Türkiye is cheaper than in Europe. If you have lived in Turkey for one year, you can apply for universal health insurance. You can get all medical services for a monthly fee (approximately TL 850) which varies every year. Likewise, you can get private health insurance by paying a monthly fee to the insurance company.

All adult foreigners under the age of 65 must purchase health insurance. There is no standard fee for health insurance in Turkey, ranging from 500 to 1,800 Turkish lira. Insurance costs are lowest for school-age and preschool children.

State Department License Fee

Apostille is an international legal system for authenticating documents from official authorities in other countries. Only after the apostille is approved, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will legalize the given document. The fee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is approximately TL 60 per document. Each country charges a different fee for each legalization approval document. Fees also vary by document. It is cheaper to approve documents such as diplomas than company documents.

How do I pay the Turkish residence permit fee at the immigration office?

For a residence permit application, the Migration Authority charges a fee of 125 TL. You can pay the fee online, at the Tax Office or at Ziraat Bank.

When you arrive at the tax office or bank, you will be asked for your tax ID number. If you have a residence card, you can use it. If not, you can obtain a tax number from the tax office by presenting a copy of your passport.

If you pay online, you must have a printed receipt with you. If you pay at the tax office, please keep the original payment receipt for future use. When you pay your bank, ask for a signature and stamp on the receipt.

 Are you planning to immigrate to Türkiye? You can rely on Property Supervisors to help you have a competitive portfolio of quality properties in Turkey. If necessary, our legal experts will also support you in all important matters.