Residence permit for foreigners in any country is crucial to maintain their residency in the country from where they reside and settle with multiple entries. Residence permit is important for several reasons:
A residence permit grants you the legal right to live in a foreign country for a specific duration. Without a valid permit, your stay could be considered illegal, leading to potential fines, deportation, or other legal consequences.
Having a residence permit often enables you to access various services within the country, such as healthcare, education, and social services, just like a resident.
If you plan to work in the host country, a residence permit is often a requirement for obtaining a work permit. It legitimizes your employment and ensures you're protected by labor laws.
A residence permit provides stability and security, allowing you to plan your life more effectively while residing in the country. It's especially important for individuals planning to study, work, or establish a business.
For non-European Union citizens residing in a Schengen Area country, a residence permit often grants the ability to travel within the Schengen countries without needing separate visas for each country.
Holding a residence permit can aid in your integration into the host country's society and culture. You can participate in community activities, events, and local initiatives.
Many financial institutions may require a valid residence permit to open bank accounts, apply for loans, or engage in other financial transactions.
Residence permits provide a level of legal protection for your rights as a resident. If you face any issues, you can refer to the local authorities and institutions for assistance.
In many countries, your tax status and obligations may be linked to your residence status. A residence permit could impact your tax liability.
Your residence permit affects your immigration status and can influence your eligibility for permanent residency or citizenship if you plan to stay in the country for a long-term.
Anyone moving to live and reside in Turkey with the aim of staying for more than three months must obtain a Turkey Residence Permit upon arrival. However, if you stay in Turkey more than 3 months without a residence permit, then your stay in Turkey will be considered illegal.
Depending on your visa type, the purpose of your application, and the length of time you want to stay in Turkey, you can apply for one of the following residence permits:
Among all residence permit types, Turkish short-term residence permit is the most sought after. This residence permit can be obtained for any of the following purposes:
- For conducting scientific research
- Business and commercial purposes
- Involving in an in-service training program
- Seeking education in exchange programs.
- Tourism purposes
- Seeking a medical treatment with non-threatening diseases.
Long-term residence permit is valid for you when you have lived in Turkey for at least eight years continuously under a residence permission issued by the Turkish authorities. If you meet this condition, then you can apply for a Turkish long-term permit with indefinite validity.
However, the categories of conditional refugee, or secondary protection status holder, humanitarian residence visa holder, or temporary protection holder, are not eligible for long-term residence permit.
Student residence permit is eligible for students who are seeking for primary, secondary school, or associate degree, bachelor's degree, master's degree, doctorate, speciality training in medical fields.
However, students who hold a family residence permit are exempted from applying for student residence permit.
Humanitarian residence permit is eligible for those who are seeking to stay in Turkey as an alternative because they do not hold a valid visa and they cannot return to their home countries due to emergency reasons. Provided that they are unable to renew their passports.
Those people are eligible to apply for a Humanitarian residence permit.
Categories that are eligible for family residence permit are Turkish national's foreign spouse, minor children, and dependent foreign kid. However, to guarantee the approval, the sponsor must have enough income to sustain the applicants.
Submit your residence permit application to the local Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) office or through the online application system.
On the day of your appointment for applying for a residence permit, you must present several documents to the local Directorate General of Migration Management office.
The following documents are necessary for any type of Turkish residence permit:
The application form of residence permit.
4 biometric photographs size based on Turkey requirements.
Original passport.
Notarized copy of the passport or travel document.
Evidence of substantial and long-term financial resources for the duration of the stay. You must show that you have at least €500 in your bank for each month you spend in Turkey, or that you will receive that amount on a monthly basis.
Health Insurance proof.
Schedule a biometric appointment at the DGMM office or Turkish consulate/embassy in your home country (if required).
Attend the appointment for biometric data collection and submit your application along with the required documents.
Pay the residence permit fee, which varies based on the duration and purpose of your stay.
The processing time for your application may vary, but you will typically receive a temporary residence permit document that allows you to stay legally in Turkey while your application is being processed.
Once your application is approved, you'll receive a residence permit card. This card should be collected from the PPT office or other designated collection points.
Residence permits are typically issued for one year and can be renewed. You have to renew your residence permit before it expires. Renewal requirements and procedures are similar to the initial application process.
However, the process may vary slightly based on the type of residence permit you're applying for (tourist, student, work, etc.).
The duration of residence permit varies depending on its type:
The validity of residence permit in Turkey is determined by the type of permit as following:
Long-term resident permit has permanent duration .
Short-term resident permit usually lasts for 6 months
The duration of a student residence permit is determined by the schooling program duration.
The duration of a family residence permit is at most 3 years at a time.
The duration of humanitarian residence is for one year.
