Types of Residence Permits in Turkey and Ways to Get Them

Residence permits in Turkey are issued by the Presidency of Turkish Immigration , as it is the authority responsible for regulating the affairs of foreigners, conducting the procedures for obtaining citizenship, and sending them to all relevant ministries and institutions.

What are the types of residency in Türkiye? And what is the difference between them? And how do you get them? What are the papers required to obtain residence permits in Türkiye?

Types of residence in Türkiye:

Residencies are official licenses that allow the holder to stay in Turkey legally. Residency in Turkey is specified for a certain validity period and must be renewed or leave the country. Because of the variety of reasons for living in Turkey, the relevant authorities have suggested several types of residency:

• Tourist residence in Türkiye
• Student residence in Türkiye
• Humanitarian residence in Türkiye
• Real estate residence in Türkiye
• Family residence in Türkiye
• Work residence in Türkiye
• Permanent residence in Türkiye

Tourist residence in Türkiye:

It guarantees a longer stay compared to the grace period of the entry visa to Turkey, whether this visa is advance, electronic, or granted at the airport.

The authorities aim to grant them to attract those wishing to study the Turkish market or those who come for the purpose of tourism, noting that they are granted for a period of one or two years, subject to renewal.

Advantages of tourist residence in Türkiye:

• Submit an application for a work permit in Türkiye.
• Facilitating travel procedures for trade, businessmen and investors.
• Travel and return to Türkiye at any time within the duration of the stay.
• Opening a bank account in Turkish banks.
• Establishing all kinds of companies in Türkiye.
• Subscribing to electricity, gas, water, telephone and internet services.
• Obtaining a driving license.

Documents required to obtain a tourist residence permit in Türkiye:

• A valid passport and a copy thereof, translated into Turkish and certified.
• A copy of the last entry stamp to Türkiye.
• 4 personal photos.
• Interview appointment form.
• Health insurance in Türkiye.
• Real estate lease contract certified by a notary.
• Tax Number.
• Receipt of payment of application fees.
• A copy of the previous residence permit, in case the request is for residence renewal.

Fees and costs of tourist accommodation in Türkiye:

• The residence card has a value of 125 liras, but the price changes annually due to the high taxes in Turkey.
• Entry visa fees, the value of which varies according to the nationality of the applicant, noting that it is required of nationalities who are entitled to come to Turkey without a visa.
• Agency fees for receiving the tourist residence card when it arrives at the Turkish post, and its value ranges between 350 and 400 Turkish liras.

Steps to obtain a tourist residence permit in Türkiye:

• Go to the residence application website and choose the preferred language.
• Write down the required information in the boxes and save it.
• An email will be sent to the applicant's email containing a link with the verification code.
• The site directs you to a page to choose the type of residence application in Türkiye.
• The system selects a date for submitting the residence permit application.
• Print the appointment sheet.

Student residence in Türkiye:

This type of residency is granted to students wishing to study in Turkey based on a letter issued by the university in which the international student was registered, whether governmental or private.

Documents required to obtain residency:

• The student’s document, which is called “öğrenci belgesi” in Turkish, and is granted by the university in which the student is registered.
• Personal Photos.
• A passport and a copy thereof, translated and certified.
• A copy of the entry stamp to Türkiye.
• A residence document extracted from the E-Devlet website after confirming the residence in Turkish souls according to the student’s document.
• Tax Number.
• Health insurance in Türkiye.
• A letter from the university requesting the Turkish Immigration Presidency to grant the student a student residence permit.
• Appointment sheet.
• Residence fee payment notice.

Steps to obtain a student residence card:

The application for obtaining a student residence permit is submitted in cooperation with a legal advisory office to arrange and prepare the student’s papers and then deliver them to the International Student Affairs Office at the concerned university, which in turn sends the file to the Presidency of Turkish Immigration.

Advantages of student residence in Türkiye:

• Traveling and returning to Türkiye during the semi-annual student vacations and at the end of the year.
• Opening a bank account in Türkiye.
• Conduct official transactions legally.

Humanitarian residence in Türkiye:

It is granted to Syrians residing in Turkey who have tourist residency in the event that their residency has expired and they are unable to renew their passports, which is a prerequisite for granting residency in Turkey.

Turkish law grants the right to obtain humanitarian residence for refugees who wish to reside on its lands legally and under certain conditions.

Conditions for obtaining humanitarian residence in Türkiye:

• Inability to return to the home country.
• Not being able to renew the tourist residence permit.
• Refugee commitment to Turkish laws.
• The applicant for humanitarian residence should not be involved in terrorist acts.

Documents required to obtain humanitarian residence in Türkiye:

• Passport.
• Last entry stamp to Türkiye.
• Real estate lease contract in Türkiye.
• Birth data for children translated into Turkish.
• 4 personal photos.
• Humanitarian residence application form in Türkiye.

Real estate residence in Türkiye:

Owners of Turkish real estate have the right to obtain this residence permit, which is granted to the owners of all types of residential real estate “apartment – ​​villa – chalet…” and its duration ranges from one to two years, subject to renewal.

Conditions for granting real estate residence in Türkiye:

• Buying a residential property worth at least $75,000.
• Availability of a real estate title.
• Earthquake insurance policy in Türkiye DASK for real estate.
• A passport valid for at least 6 months.
• A family statement that includes the names of the property owner, his wife and children, and it must be translated into Turkish and duly certified.
• Health insurance in Türkiye for all family members.

Family residence in Türkiye:

• A special type of residency, which is granted in one of the following cases only:
• If one of the parents has a work permit in Turkey, he can grant the rest of the family family residence.
• Marriage of a foreign citizen to a citizen of Turkey, or vice versa, then the foreigner obtains the family residency for the applicant and the children, noting that its holder is entitled to obtain the nationality after 3 years of marriage.

Work residence in Türkiye:

It is considered one of the best types of residence permits, as it allows its holder to apply for Turkish citizenship after 5 years have passed since its issuance and annual renewal, provided that the period of leaving the country does not exceed 180 days in one year.

Advantages of obtaining a work permit in Türkiye:

• Ease of applying for a European (Schengen) visa.
• Issuance of family residence permits for family members of the work permit holder in Türkiye.
• Submitting a request for naturalization (Turkish citizenship) after 5 years have passed since the issuance of residency.
• Social security and insurance with the employer, as the residence holder is entitled to obtain discounts in private hospitals and receive free treatment in government hospitals.

Conditions for granting work residency in Türkiye:

• Provide a valid tourist residence for a period of not less than three months.
• 5 Turkish citizens are required to be employed for every foreign employee in the company.
• The employer must have established a company in Turkey with a budget of at least 100,000 Turkish liras.
• Payment of fees and taxes incurred by the company.

Permanent residence in Türkiye:

• It is a golden opportunity, as it enables its bearer to renew residence in Turkey annually or every two years, in addition to ensuring the exercise of all rights in Turkey.

Conditions for obtaining permanent residence in Türkiye:

• Iqama for a period of 8 years, legally connected, meaning that Iqama is issued for the first time and renewed annually.
• Proof that the resident in Türkiye has not received any aid during the last 3 years.
• Having an income in Türkiye.
• health insurance.
• The applicant should not pose a threat to Türkiye.
• Not to be a refugee or hold a temporary protection or humanitarian residence card in Turkey.

Benefits of permanent residence in Türkiye:

• The holder of permanent residence in Turkey enjoys the majority of the rights of a Turkish citizen, except for running for government positions and jobs and being elected.
• Permanent residence in Türkiye is valid for life.
• Its holder can own all types of Turkish real estate.
• Establishing companies in Türkiye.
• Submit an application for Turkish citizenship.