Residence Permit in 13 Steps - Page 2 (Istanbul)

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6 Consider opening a bank account and putting money in it. It would appear that this is no longer a requirement for appointments. However, at the discretion of your appointed officer, you may be requested to present proof of financial stability. We’ve kept the following step just in case:

The Turkish government wants foreign residents to demonstrate that they have enough money to live on during their stay. Although the exact amount is not specified on the Migration Department website, it is thought to be US$500 for each month of stay. This is what the amount was during the time that the police managed the system. You have to have that money in a Turkish bank account around one week before your appointment. If you don’t actually have that much money, you can ask a friend to transfer it into your account, ask the branch to print out a statement, and transfer it back when you’re finished.

When the money is in your account, present your bankbook and your ID to the bank teller and say, “Hesap dökümü isterim” or “I would like a printout of my account statement.” Then ask them to stamp it: “Kaşeleyebilir misiniz?”

Note: Slips from exchange offices used to be accepted instead of bank statements, but this is no longer the case.

7) Provide notarized proof of address. The Migration Department does not specify that your rental agreement has to be notarized. However, some people have received emails asking them to bring in a notarized version after sending in un-notarized photocopies. So, just to be on the safe side, get it notarized.

What if my name is not on the lease? Go to a notary with whoever has signed your apartment lease, whether they be a Turkish person or a foreigner. This person will ask for a taahütname, a document verifying that you live with them. He/she must present a valid ID to the notary. Notary prices vary, but you can expect to pay Protected content for this document.

Keep in mind: If the person on the lease is a foreigner, your residency permit can only be valid for as long as his/her residency permit is valid. Moreover, for a foreigner to grant you a taahütname, he/she must present a notarized translation of his/her passport to the notary.

8) Register your address. Take your rental agreement OR a utility bill in your name (Make sure it’s electricity, water, gas. Internet probably won’t count) to the Population Registry Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) of your district (Şişli, Kadıköy, Beşiktaş, Beyoğlu, etc.). Just google Nüfus Müdürlüğü and the name of your district to find the office’s location. Take your ID and your document and ask for an ikâmetgâh (pronounced ikyametgyah). This is a document showing that you have registered your address with this government.

9) Get your Turkish police record. This is a very new step. You must go to the courthouse and obtain a sabıka kaydı form, which is a record of your interactions with the police from the time you enter Turkey. In Istanbul, go to the large courthouse in Çağlayan, near Mecidiyeköy, with your passport. (The easiest way to get there is by metrobus, which has a specific stop for Çağlayan.) Use the main entrance of the courthouse; after entering, the desk to get your sabıka kaydı is on the same floor on the left-hand side. Make sure to get the form stamped and signed.

Some people will advise you to print out your sabıka kaydı using the e-devlet computer system. The Migration Department seems to want something more official looking, so it’s best to get it from the courthouse, as they will stamp and sign it.

10) Prove you haven’t received social aid. Like the sabıka kaydı form, this is a completely new requirement, and whether or not it is mandatory for everyone is unclear. Get it before your appointment if you want to play it safe. An organization called Sosyal Yardımlaşma ve Dayanışma Vakfı (The Foundation for Social Assistance and Cooperation) provides these forms. This organization has offices in every district of Istanbul, so you can use Google to find the bureau nearest you. Bring your passport and tax ID number.

11) Include other documents. Photocopy the front page of your passport (with a certified Turkish translation if it is in non-Latin letters), a photocopy of your most recent entry stamp and your previous residence permit (if you have one).

12) Go to your appointment. Appointments for first-time applicants are now taken at a number of locations in Istanbul depending on the district where you live. Here are the locations according to the poster at the Migration Office:
Beşiktaş, Sarıyer, Kağıthane, Şişli, Beyoğlu—Gönenoğlu Sokak No: 10, Gayrettepe
Beylikdüzü, Büyükçekmece, Esenyurt—Yakuplu Mahallesi, Hürriyet Bulvarı No: 18, Hükümet Konağı, Beylikdüzü
Kadıköy, Üsküdar—Bahariye Caddesi, Kuzu Kestane Sokak, No: 1, Kadıköy
Residents of all other districts will go to the central Migration Office on Vatan Caddis just off the Eminiyet stop of the M1 metro line.