Residence Permit Application in Turkey

Obligation to Obtain a Residence Permit

In Turkey, foreigners who wish to stay longer than the duration granted by their visa, visa exemption, or longer than ninety days are required to obtain a residence permit. A residence permit becomes invalid if it is not used within six months from the date of issuance.

Residence Permit Application Procedure

Residence permit applications are filed with the consulates of the country where the foreigner is a national or is legally present.

Foreigners applying for a residence permit must hold a passport or a travel document valid for at least sixty days beyond the requested duration of the residence permit.

If the information and documents required for the application are incomplete, the evaluation of the application may be postponed until the deficiencies are remedied. The missing information and documents shall be notified to the applicant.

Consulates forward residence permit applications, together with their opinions, to the Directorate General. The Directorate General, when necessary, obtains the opinions of the relevant institutions and, after concluding the evaluation, informs the consulate either for the issuance of the residence permit or the rejection of the application.

Applications must be finalized within ninety days at the latest.

Residence Permit Applications Filed from Within Turkey

As an exception, residence permit applications may also be filed with the provincial governorates in the following cases:

a.Pursuant to judicial or administrative decisions or requests,

b.Where it is not reasonable or possible for the foreigner to leave Turkey,

c.For long-term residence permits,

d.For student residence permits,

e.For humanitarian residence permits,

f.For residence permits for victims of human trafficking,

g.For transitions from family residence permits to short-term residence permits,

h.For applications made for children born in Turkey to parents who already hold residence permits,

i.Where the grounds forming the basis of a valid residence permit have ceased or changed, and the foreigner applies for a new residence permit compatible with the new purpose of stay

j.For residence permit applications of diplomatic and consular officers, their families, staff of international organizations’ representations in Turkey whose status is determined by agreements, and those exempted from residence permits,

k.For foreigners who have completed higher education in Turkey, in their transitions to short-term residence permits.

Issuance of Residence Permits

Residence permits are issued for a duration at least sixty days shorter than the validity period of the passport or travel document, depending on the purpose of stay, and separately for each foreigner.

AKL

Your Legal Guide in Turkey