Residence Permit in 13 Steps - Page 1 (Istanbul)

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Residence Permit
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First things first: who exactly needs a residence permit? Anyone who enters Turkey as a tourist can usually stay for up to 90 days without a residence permit. If you plan to stay longer than that, you need it. Otherwise, you will pay a fine when you leave the country and be barred from Turkey for some time. It’s best to make your appointment as soon as you have decided to stay in Turkey.

Types of Permits:
Short-term Residency: For anyone not married to a Turkish citizen and living in Turkey for less than eight years. Will be valid for up to one year for first-time applicants. Two year permits are available for renewals, under certain conditions.
Long-term Residency: For anyone not married to a Turkish citizen and living in Turkey for at least eight years without interruption. Indefinite validity.
Family Residency: For those married to a Turkish citizen and/or foreign minors dependent on a Turkish citizen or a residence permit holder.
Student Residency: For those studying in associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree programs in Turkey.

The following steps apply to short-term, long-term and family residence permits. We advise those applying for student residence permits to consult with their university about the most up-to-date requirements. If too stressful, we do also have an arrangement for our readers with a local agency that takes care of the process for you.

1) Get your tax ID number. You will need this number to open a bank account and get insurance. Look online to find the nearest tax office (vergi dairesi) and go there with your passport. Tell them “Vergi numarası başvurusu yapmak isterim.” They will help you write a short petition called a dilekçe, which is a formal requirement for them to do anything for you. Sign it and they will produce a little card with your tax ID number written on it.

2) Get your insurance. The easiest and most affordable way to fulfill this requirement is to get a private insurance plan that you pay in one shot. All insurance companies offer a special plan specially designed for the residence permit that meets all of the requirements. The plans range greatly for one year of coverage depending on the insurance company, your age and a number of other factors, so shop around. These plans cover 100% of emergency services and around 60% of inpatient and outpatient coverage. No coverage for check-ups is provided, but you can go for a more comprehensive plan if you would like that. Yabangee has partnered up with Securance Sigorta to offer affordable packages to the readership (starting for as low as Protected content .

Turkish Residence Permit Health Insurance
Get a color copy of your policy OR a black-and-white copy that is stamped and signed by the insurance agent issuing it to you. Ensure the dates on your insurance policy cover a full year (your residence permit will end one day before your insurance coverage does). Additionally, the policy should include the following statement: Işbu poliçe 06.06. Protected content ve 9 sayılı Ikamet Izni Taleplerinde Yaptırılacak Özel Sağlık Sigortalarına Ilişkin Genelge’ de belirlenen asgari teminat yapısını kapsamaktadır.

3) Get your biometric picture taken. You will need to scan and attach it to your application. You will also need to send four hard copies of the photos. Go to any photo studio and tell them you need a vesikalık, which is basically a passport photo.

4) Apply online and print out your application forms. Go to Protected content and click on the e-ikamet link towards the middle of the page. Click on first application and the type of residence permit you wish to obtain (most people will select short term, but if you are a student, are married to a Turk or have lived here for eight years continuously, see below). After you fill out the application forms, you will be able to download PDF copies of your documents. Save and print them in color.

Note: In larger cities like Istanbul, appointments can be difficult to obtain, and when an appointment does become available, it is often for a date that is months away. So we recommend that you plan accordingly.

5) Pay the fees. After concluding your application, there is the option to pay with a Turkish credit card. Or, you can go to Ziraat Bank, Halk Bank or Vakıflar Bank and tell them “İkamet harçları yattırmak istiyorum.” This means, “I want to deposit residence permit fees.” Your fee will be listed in dollars on your documents and the bank will convert it to a lira amount for you. They only accept TL. You also have to pay 58.50 TL for the physical card. Say, “Kart harcı da yattırmak istiyorum.” This is deposited by the bank, as well, and you will get a separate receipt for it.

Note: Not all banks are totally familiar with this procedure, so it is important that you bring your documents with you to the bank.