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The type of residence permit is determined based on the purpose of your stay in Turkey: tourism, property ownership, medical treatment, education, family reunification, or long-term residence. Each type is subject to its own conditions, and changing the purpose of your application requires filing a new application.

A short-term residence permit can generally be issued for a maximum of two years at a time. Being a citizen of a particular country does not, in and of itself, guarantee a specific duration; the purpose of the application, the validity of the passport, and the authorities’ assessment are the determining factors.

A family residence permit may be issued to the foreign spouse, minor child, and dependent child of Turkish citizens, holders of eligible residence permits, Blue Card holders, refugees, and holders of subsidiary protection status. It is issued for a maximum of three years at a time and cannot exceed the duration of the sponsor’s permit.

A family residence permit grants legal residency but does not grant the right to work. To work, you must also obtain a work permit or a valid exemption.

The application is submitted through e-Residence, and the documents are submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management on the appointment date. Submitting the application and scheduling an appointment through the system are free of charge; fees, card charges, and any consulting fees are billed separately.

Your passport or travel document must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the duration of the residence permit you are applying for.

Address registration is an integral part of the application. A change of address within the same province must generally be reported to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management within 20 business days; initial address registration, a change of city, and entry procedures for work visas are subject to different timeframes.

Documents such as a lease agreement, property deed, letter of commitment, or dormitory certificate—which demonstrate the right to use the address—are submitted as proof of address. It should not be assumed that a single type of document is accepted in every province and for every case; supporting documents, such as an internet bill, may not be sufficient on their own.

Whether an address is open for registration depends on the neighborhood, the type of permit, and the scope of any exceptions. Rather than relying on information such as “the entire district is open” or “the entire district is closed,” you should confirm the current status with the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management before submitting your application.

Documents are uploaded via e-Residence, and you must have the originals with you on the day of your appointment. The following general documents are required for all short-term, student, and family residence permits; additional documents may be required depending on the purpose of your stay.

Depending on your living situation, you must also include proof of address: if you are renting, a notarized copy of your lease; if you are staying at a hotel, a certificate of accommodation; or if you are staying in a dormitory, a signed and stamped document from the dormitory. If you will be staying with a third party who is not a relative, you will need a notarized commitment letter from that person (and their spouse, if married).

Since students are covered by general health insurance within three months of their enrollment date, health insurance is not required as part of the application; however, you must notify the administration once you have obtained insurance. All documents obtained from abroad must bear an Apostille and a Turkish translation certified by a sworn translator or a notary. If your country is not a party to the Apostille Convention, the document must be certified by the relevant authorities in your country and by a Turkish consulate. Documents issued by Turkish authorities must be either digitally signed or signed and stamped/sealed.

A long-term residence permit grants foreign nationals who meet the requirements the right to reside in Turkey indefinitely and is issued for an indefinite period. The right to work does not arise automatically; a separate work permit is required to work. However, significant exemptions from work permit criteria may apply to foreign nationals with this status.

Simply completing eight years is not sufficient on its own: the period must have been spent continuously and with the appropriate types of leave. Staying abroad for more than one year without interruption—except for force majeure—may result in the revocation of long-term leave.

An application for an extension must be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the permit expires and before the permit expires.

If you need to travel abroad before your residence card arrives, you may do so with an application form approved by the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management and your fee receipts; you must return within 15 days each time. It is recommended that you confirm your status before traveling.

The rejection decision is served; the legal rights and departure deadline specified in the decision are binding. It should not be assumed that the same number of days applies to every rejection case—the timeframe stated in the notice must be carefully reviewed.

The Presidency of Migration Management states that you cannot reapply for the same purpose of stay within six months of a rejection. If your legal right to stay continues, you may be able to apply for a different purpose of stay.

Initiating a new proceeding does not automatically suspend the departure period specified in the notice. The grounds for denial, the right to appeal or file a lawsuit, and, if applicable, the purpose of the stay must be evaluated together.