The Republic of Turkey (TR) is a colorful and multinational country in whose territory foreigners live who have emigrated not only from such problematic regions as Iraq and Syria, but also migrants from Germany, Bulgaria, and Russia. Those who have arrived from these countries are actively buying real estate and seeking to obtain a residence permit in Turkey. The procedure for issuing a document takes a little time, requires careful planning and knowledge of Turkish migration legislation.
Documents required for residence in Turkey
For legal entry and stay in the territory of the Republic of Turkey, foreign citizens must obtain a permit. Depending on the purpose and timing of the visit, you can apply for a visa or residence permit.
On the basis of a visa, foreigners have the right to stay in Turkey for no more than 90 days. The visa is issued at the diplomatic office of the TR in the country of which the applicants are citizens.
There are different types of visas: tourist, transit, work, student, business and others.
For a tourist or business trip to Turkey, Russian citizens do not need to apply for a visa if the stay does not exceed 60 days. Citizens of Ukraine can stay in the country without a visa for no more than 90 days, citizens of Belarus and Kazakhstan - no more than 30 days.
The right to stay in the country for more than 90 days is given by a residence permit. In Turkey, this document is called ikamet. The General Directorate for Migration Issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Turkey is in charge of obtaining a permit. The validity period of the document depends on the basis for obtaining, ranging from one year to five years. The residence permit can be extended.
What gives a residence permit
Turkey attracts foreign citizens with its favorable climate, distinctive culture, friendly locals, and a fairly high standard of living. There are flexible migration rules on the territory of the state.
However, before deciding on a residence permit, it is worthwhile to figure out what gives a residence permit in Turkey. Among the advantages:
- the right to stay in the country for a long time;
- the opportunity to use the services of Turkish medical institutions (insurance covers most of the cost of medical services);
- receiving free education in public schools;
- the opportunity to obtain a long-term residence permit or citizenship in 8 years.
Foreign citizens need to know that a residence permit does not give the right to employment. To do this, you need to obtain a work visa, which is processed by the employer.
In the Law No. 6458 "On Foreigners and International Protection" dated 04.04. In 2021, it was agreed what ikamet is, the conditions and rules for obtaining a document were established. Foreign citizens have the right to apply for different types of residence permits. The legislation provides for the issuance of the following categories of ikamet:
- short;
- long-term;
- family;
- student;
- humanitarian;
- victims of human trafficking.
Depending on the validity period
The period for which a short-term residence permit is issued depends on the category of citizens applying for a permit. For example, a residence permit in Turkey for Russians who have real estate in the country is issued each time for a maximum of 2 years. Investors and citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus can obtain a residence permit for up to 5 years.
A short-term residence permit is eligible for persons who:
- came for the purpose of scientific research;
- have real estate in the country;
- open a business in Turkey, establish business ties;
- take advanced training courses, study the Turkish language;
- came to receive education under the student exchange program;
- suffer from diseases that do not pose a danger to others;
- came with a tourist purpose;
- forced to stay in the country by a court decision;
- are investors;
- graduated from the country's university and applied for a residence permit no later than 6 months from the date of graduation;
- are citizens of Northern Cyprus.
To apply for a short-term residence permit, you must provide documents confirming the right to obtain a permit of this category, a police clearance certificate, have living conditions that meet the established sanitary and technical requirements, and provide the address of residence in Turkey.
A long-term residence permit has an unlimited validity period and is granted to foreigners who have continuously resided in Turkey for at least 8 years. Foreigners who have issued this type of residence permit have the right to elect and be elected, go to work in the civil service, and are required to perform military service.
A long-term residence permit can be obtained by persons who:
- have not received social assistance for the past 3 years;
- have a legal livelihood;
- have taken out temporary medical insurance;
- are law abiding.
Depending on the purpose of your stay
Most foreign citizens receive student and family ikamet. According to the General Directorate of the Migration Service of the Republic of Turkey, in 2021, among the foreigners who received a family residence permit, the most migrants are from Azerbaijan, Russia and Ukraine.
A spouse, minor children of Turkish citizens, as well as foreign citizens who have a residence permit in the republic have the right to obtain a family residence permit. A permit document of this category is issued each time for a period of 3 years.
To obtain a family residence permit, the main applicant must:
- reside in the country for at least a year;
- have an income, the amount of which must not be lower than the established minimum wage, while each family member must have at least one third of the minimum wage;
- have a place to stay;
- confirm the absence of a criminal record.
Foreign citizens can apply for a short-term residence permit in Turkey when buying real estate. As a rule, such a residence permit is issued for one year and then renewed. The owner of the property is obliged to provide a tapa (title deed).
Turkish authorities willingly issue ikamets to foreigners wishing to start a business. You will need an invitation from a partner (individual or legal entity), documents confirming registration with the tax service.
The student residence permit is intended for foreigners who receive primary and secondary education in Turkey at their own expense. The residence permit is granted for one year or for the period of study, it can be extended. Parents and other relatives of a student are not eligible for a student residence permit.
Foreign students studying in higher educational institutions of the country are required to apply for a student visa. Persons who come to take language courses, for internships, are engaged in scientific activities, participate in student exchange programs, can apply for a short-term residence permit.
It is not possible to obtain a special residence permit for pensioners in Turkey. If a foreign citizen of retirement age wants to stay in the country for more than 3 months, he can apply for a short-term ikamet as a real estate owner. In a situation where the apartment is not owned, you can rent it for a year and provide an appropriate contract.
If the purpose of your stay in Turkey is medical tourism, and the treatment period exceeds the period during which you are allowed to stay in the country without a visa, you must obtain a residence permit. It is necessary to provide a medical opinion on the appointment of treatment in accordance with the diagnosis.Based on the recommendations of doctors, the period of validity of the residence permit is determined.
The Turkish state helps foreigners who are victims of human trafficking. This category of migrants is issued a residence permit for a period of 30 days. The authorization document can be extended up to 6 months if a person needs long-term treatment after suffering shocks.
Stateless persons who have documentary evidence of this status can obtain a residence permit on a general basis. Refugees are not provided with a long-term residence permit.
Persons forced to stay in the country by the decision of the judicial authorities are required to have in their hands a document on the need to stay on the territory of Turkey.
Take a sociological survey!
[yop_poll id = ”14 ″]
What steps need to be taken
Those who understand how to obtain a residence permit in Turkey need to carefully prepare. The preparatory stage consists of the following stages:
- Buying or renting a home. You can use the services of a realtor or through friends to find a suitable option.
- Drawing up a lease agreement or obtaining a certificate of ownership of real estate (tapu).
- Medical insurance for the entire period of stay in the country (the start date of the residence permit will be the date of purchase of the insurance).
- Photographing. You will need 4 biometric photos, electronic photos are needed to submit an online application.
- Buying a local SIM card (to get a tax number).
- Obtaining a tax number at the office of the Turkish Tax Service (Vergi Dairesi). Issued free of charge subject to availability of a place of residence, you will need an original and a copy of your passport.
- Online application for ikamet. Issued through the electronic system e-ikamet on the official portal of the Turkish Migration Service. It is necessary to fill in all the fields of the form, select the date and time to visit the Migration Service.
- Payment of the fee and the cost of the document. You can pay by credit card through the virtual POS terminal of the system, at tax offices, cash offices of the Ministry of Finance or at banks that have an agreement with the Ministry of Finance. It is advisable to have a receipt in duplicate.
In order to obtain a residence permit, it is necessary to appear at the office of the Migration Service on the appointed day and time to submit documents. You need to be ready for an interview, as well as the fact that an employee of the institution may require additional papers: an extract on the state of a bank account opened in a Turkish bank, a copy of the passport of the owner of the apartment.
List of documents
Detailed information on what documents need to be prepared is posted on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Internal Affairs. The list of papers depends on the reasons for obtaining a residence permit. The standard package of documents should include:
- completed and signed application for ikamet;
- foreign passport (original and copies of pages containing a photo and any marks);
- 4 biometric photos taken no later than 6 months;
- declaration (statement) on the availability of permanent income sufficient for living during the entire period of validity of the residence permit. They may be required to present supporting documents, for example, a statement on the state of bank accounts, including the availability of funds on a Turkish card, a document on the appointment of a pension, a letter from the place of work;
- medical insurance for a residence permit, valid for the entire period of residence;
- a document containing the current address of residence in Turkey: paper confirming hotel accommodation; if the housing is rented, then a notarized copy of the lease agreement, a copy of the certificate of ownership of real estate, a copy of the passport of the owner of the apartment;
- a receipt for payment of the residence permit fee (no receipt is required when paying via a virtual POS terminal by credit card);
- folder "Dossier", which will contain all the documents of the applicant.
Papers for obtaining different types of ikamet
Depending on the type of residence permit, you need to provide additional documents for a residence permit in Turkey:
- Persons who come for scientific, archaeological research - a visa of the appropriate category and an official paper indicating the time and place of research.
- Participants of training programs, persons who are undergoing internships, university students - a certificate from an educational institution, a document on training (internship), an agreement on admission to a university.
- Owners of real estate in Turkey - a certificate of ownership of real estate.
- Tourists - travel program and confirmation of hotel or other accommodation booking.
- For businessmen - an invitation from a partner or other document (notarized certificate of activity, tax certificate, trade register bulletin).
- Citizens undergoing treatment - a certificate issued in a public or private medical institution, with information about the beginning, period of treatment. The document must be signed by the head physician and the attending physician, certified by the seal.
Costs and processing time
The main costs of obtaining a residence permit in Turkey are the costs of preparing documents and paying fees. You will have to take out medical insurance, the cost of which depends on the age and state of health of the applicant. It is necessary to rent an apartment, buy a local SIM-card, pay for the services of a notary, a realtor.
When planning expenses, you need to take into account that the cost of renting housing depends on the city, district, and area of the apartment. For example, it is cheaper to rent an apartment in Alanya than in Antalya and Istanbul.
The amount of the fee depends on the country of origin of the applicant, as well as on the category of residence permit. For a tourist residence permit you will have to pay about $ 30. The exact amount is calculated by the electronic system when the application is submitted.
Foreign citizens who have submitted documents are issued a certificate of application for a residence permit. On the basis of this document, you can legally stay on the territory of the Republic of Turkey for 90 days from the date of receipt of documents.
By law, applications for a residence permit in Turkey are processed within 3 months. After submitting the documents, it is allowed to leave the country for up to 15 days, but before the trip you need to visit the Migration Service with a passport, tickets, a certificate of application for a residence permit and an explanation of the reasons for leaving.
Reasons why they may refuse
When deciding on the refusal to issue a residence permit, it is taken into account what family ties a foreigner has in Turkey, whether there are children, length of residence, the situation in the country of origin. According to Turkish law, persons who:
- have no reason to receive ikamet;
- submitted an incomplete package of documents;
- provided false information, false information;
- use a residence permit of a certain type for other purposes;
- have been deported or have been banned from entering Turkey.
A foreign citizen is given 30 days to provide the missing documents, otherwise the application will be canceled. In case of refusal, the foreigner has the right to appeal.
What to do if the residence permit expires
If the residence permit expires, you need to apply for the extension of the residence permit in Turkey using the e-ikamet system on the website of the Turkish Migration Service. Then it is necessary to send the package of documents by registered mail or Cargo service to the relevant department of the Migration Service within five working days.
It is important to indicate the address of residence correctly so that migration officials can contact the applicant in the absence of the necessary documents.
In the process of extending ikamet, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- no need to send the original of the foreign passport, a copy is provided;
- paper must be enclosed in a large A4 envelope;
- documents sent by regular mail are not considered;
- the package of papers must contain a receipt for payment of the fee and the cost of the document;
- no need to put money, checks in an envelope;
- a package of documents for each applicant should be sent in a separate envelope.
How is life in a country with a residence permit?
It will not be difficult to obtain a residence permit in Turkey for Ukrainians or Russians. To do this, you need to prepare documents and submit an application. If the applicant has met all the requirements, the ikamet will be issued within 90 days.
Persons who have received a residence permit in Turkey must be prepared for the fact that:
- you can stay outside the country no longer than three months within six months, otherwise the ikamet will be canceled;
- a residence permit does not give the right to work, the permit must be issued additionally;
- Turkey is not part of the Schengen zone, therefore, you cannot visit European countries without a visa;
- there is a language barrier, many Turks do not know English;
- Russian-language and English-language schools are paid;
- citizens who are in Turkey for more than 6 months a year are its tax residents;
- apartment owners are required to pay tax on the acquisition of real estate (the standard rate is 4% of the cadastral value, until March 31, 2021, a reduced rate of 3% was applied for registration of tapu). If housing is rented, you must pay tax when renting the property.
It is important to remember that a person who has received a residence permit in Turkey has not only rights, but also obligations.
