Since 2017, the number of foreigners with a residence permit in Turkey has increased by 2.5 times to 1.35 million people. Most of the time, to move, they get a short-term residence permit that lasts from a few months to two years and can be extended. In Turkey, a residence permit is called an ikamet.
The cost of a residence permit starts at $200. The amount varies depending on the duration of the permit, the citizenship of the applicant, and his age. There are a few extra costs that are listed below.
Foreigners must pay state duties, medical insurance, notary fees, and interpreter fees to obtain a residence permit in Turkey.
The residence permit card fee is 565 TRY, or $20. A residence permit card replaces a foreigner's internal passport and lets you open a Turkish bank account or enroll a child in school.
The residence permit fee for applying for a residence permit depends on the foreigner's country of citizenship and the time frame for which they want to stay in the country. How much the fee is:
from 5 to 25 $ for the first month;
from 0.5 to 5 $ for each subsequent month.
The governmental fee for a one-year residence permit in Turkey is $25 for Russian citizens and $80 for Kazakh, British, and Americans. The citizens of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Kosovo, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Turkmenistan are tax-free.
Fee for consideration of an application for a residence permit in Turkey for citizens of different countries
Country | Duty |
---|---|
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, USA Total 153 countries |
$25 First month $5 Every month thereafter |
Tajikistan, Israel, Japan Total 9 countries |
$14 First month $3.5 Every month thereafter |
Belarus, Spain, Malta Total 10 countries |
$9 First Month $2.5 Every month thereafter |
Russia, Hong Kong Total 5 countries |
$7 First month $1.5 Every month thereafter |
Montenegro, Egypt Total 6 countries |
$5 First month $0.5 Every month thereafter |
Serbia, Norway Total 4 countries |
$140 First Month $30 Every month thereafter |
Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Kosovo, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan | No duty |
Notarial services. To obtain a residence permit, a foreigner must have a lease agreement for real estate, an income certificate, and a notarized birth certificate for each child under 18. Turkish sworn translators are available to translate and certify foreign-language documents.
Notary and Translation fee cost around 1,800 TL on average, while apostille certification fees may be required at a rate of 89.23 TL per page.
A bank statement or certificate proves income. Lawyers from Ikamet recommend showing a regular income of at least $850 per (TL 25,503) person per month, and the minimum account balance for a residence permit for a year will be ~$10,000. A notarized translation of a bank statement costs roughly $30 per page.
To get a residence permit based on the lease, it must be notarized. This kind of service costs $100. Some notaries ask for a translation of the tenant's passport signed by a notary public, while others sign the contract without a translation. A foreigner living with family or friends must show a notarized undertaking to live instead of a lease agreement.
A foreign passport and a notarized translation of the child's birth certificate are needed to get a residence permit for a child under 18. Only a certificate with an apostille, which is a unique stamp (apostle) that proves the document is legal overseas, will be accepted for translation. A notarized translation costs $100.
For a foreigner to get a residence permit, it costs $30 to get health insurance. It gives coverage of at least 50,000 TRY per year, which is about $2,650. Up to 80% of the cost of medical services is paid for by insurance.
The cost of the policy depends on the insurance company, the insured person's age, the amount of coverage, and the list of services and diseases covered by the policy. Extended private insurance costs about $1,500 a year and can cover dental care, a psychologist's services, or an annual checkup.
Insurance can be bought at a branch of the insurance company or on the app.ikamet.com/sigorta website.
Expenses for obtaining a residence permit in Turkey:
- State taxes for consideration of an application for a residence permit - from $10 to $80, depending on the citizenship of the foreigner;
- State taxes for issuing a residence permit card - TL 565 / $20;
- Medical insurance - from $50, depends on several factors, the amount of coverage and the list of services;
- Notarized translation of a bank statement to confirm sufficient income – $50 per page;
- Notarization of the lease agreement or undertaking, if there is no title deed (real estate) - $100;
- Notarized translation of birth certificates for children under 18 years of age or marriage certificate - $100.
What types of residence permits are issued in Turkey
In Turkey, there are six types of residence permits, each for a different reason and length of time:
- Short-term: valid from six months to two years for property owners, tourists, entrepreneurs, and eleven more categories of foreigners.
- Family: for up to three years for foreigners married to a Turkish citizen.
- Student: for the duration of training in a Turkish university.
- Humanitarian: for up to one year for those who cannot return to their homeland, for example, because of a natural disaster.
- International protection: for victims of trafficking in human beings - for one month with the right to renew for three years.
The residence permit can be changed to a different type of document if the reason for getting it has changed. It can also be extended an unlimited number of times.
If a residential property in Turkey has a cadastral value of $200,000 or more, its owner can obtain a residence permit through real estate investment. Until April 26, 2022, regardless of its value, any residential property owner can obtain a residence permit.
The certificate of ownership, or TAPU, says how much a piece of land is worth, not the amount written in the contract to purchase it. With a property worth at least $400,000, an investor can become a Turkish citizen in 6 to 8 months.
Tourists can get a short-term residence permit if they rent a place to live for six months and can prove they have enough money, which is about $675 per month. A bank statement or a work certificate can show proof of income. A tourist residence permit doesn't let you work for a Turkish company or do business there. However, it doesn't stop you from working remotely for a foreign company or setting up a business in Turkey.
To get a residence permit after February 2022, you must show a notarized lease agreement. The property owner signs the lease agreement for the residence permit, and the renter is present at the notary.
Some areas will stop giving out residence permits so that foreigners don't make up more than 25% of the population in those areas. Under the restrictions were the parts of Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya, Turkey's most popular cities for foreigners. There is a list of places where you can't get a residence permit on the Migration Service of Turkey website.
A foreigner may not get a residence permit if their stay does not match the reason for getting a residence permit. Tourist residence permits, which freelancers and digital nomads use, are usually turned down.
Entrepreneurs who want to do business in Turkey and property owners have a better chance of getting a residence permit. Families can get Turkish residency or citizenship if a family member owns property in Turkey with a cadastral value between $50,000 and $400,000. There are some conditions.
How to get a residence permit in Turkey
The Presidency of Migration Management, also known as GÖÇ, gives out residence permits. It takes between one and three months to finish. You can only apply for a residence permit in Turkey. Documents cannot be sent to consulates outside of Turkey.
- From 1 day: Prepare documents, get a TIN, buy medical insurance;
- 1 day: Apply and make an appointment with Immigration;
- 1 day: Attend an interview at Migration Management;
- 1—3 months: Get approval and residence permit card.
After submitting a preliminary application via the website e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr, applicants are invited to an interview - rendezvous - at the Migration Management. The system will automatically schedule the interview date and the office address of Migration Management for document submission.
On the website for Migration Management, you can also check the status of an application for a residence permit. After the residence permit is approved, a temporary residence permit is downloaded and replaces your internal passport until your card arrives.
The list of documents for a residence permit in Turkey:
- Application for a residence permit - print out from the online application.
- Passport and its copy.
- Birth certificate for children under 18 – apostille, notarized translation.
- Biometric color photos — 4 pcs.
- A certificate of income or an account statement is a notarized translation if the statement is not from a Turkish bank.
- Receipts for the payment of state taxes for issuing a residence permit and a residence permit card.
- Foreign health insurance.
- Proof of residence. Property owners provide a TAPU certificate, tenants - a notarized lease agreement, TAPU certificate, and numerataj from the landlord. Applicants who stay with relatives or acquaintances have a notarized undertaking to reside.
- Additional documents depending on the type of residence permit. For example, for a tourist residence permit, a travel plan is provided for the entire period of validity of a residence permit, and a residence permit for entrepreneurs, an invitation from an individual or a company with which the foreigner plans to cooperate.
An interview at Migration Management takes about 15 minutes, but waiting in line for an appointment can take one to three hours. The people who work in migration speak Turkish and not much English. The applicant can hire an official interpreter at the Migration office, if available, or bring one or use an online electronic translator, if necessary.
If a foreigner applies for a residence permit through the e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. The state fee can be calculated and paid either online or in person at the tax office. Along with the main list of documents, the payment receipt is brought to the interview place for GÖÇ.
A foreigner needs to get a Turkish TIN (Vergi Kimlik Numarası) to pay the state duty for a residence permit in person. TIN can be obtained from the tax office for a fee or online through the dijital.gib.gov.tr website.
In 2024, the One Time Entry Fee (Tek Giriş Vize Harç Bedeli) for Turkey is 5476,80 Turkish Lira. This fee applies to nationals from numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, America, Canada, and most European countries. To verify if your country is on the list requiring payment, please visit the visa calculator at www.evisa.gov.tr/en/apply/. If needed, paying this fee in person at the tax office before your interview is advisable, as this specific tax cannot be paid online. Remember, this fee is obligatory only for first-time applicants and is not applicable for renewals.
How to extend a residence permit, get permanent residence, and Turkish citizenship
At least 60 days before the permit expires, it must be renewed. The steps are the same as for getting a residence permit: get paperwork, make sure you have medical insurance, and apply to Migration Management. Now, a copy of a valid residence permit card and a utility bill are also on the list.
After eight years of living uninterrupted in Turkey with a residence permit, you can get permanent residency, also called a "long-term residence permit." A foreigner won't be able to apply for long-term if he spends more than a year outside the country during this time.
To get a permanent residence permit, the applicant must show, among other things, a residence permit:
- A certificate that he did not receive social benefits for three years before applying for permanent residence.
- Certificate of no criminal record in Turkey and the country of citizenship.
Turkish Citizenship: A person can become a naturalized citizen instead of a permanent resident after living in Turkey for five years with a real-estate residence permit. Before you apply, you can't have been out of the country for more than a month at a time or for more than a year in total during this time. The person also needs to pass a test on how well they know the Turkish language.
In exchange for investments of at least $400,000, investors can get Turkish citizenship in 6 to 8 months. There are six ways to put money to work:
- Buy real estate with a cadastral value of $400,000.
- Buy units of the investment fund in the amount of $500,000.
- Buy government bonds in the amount of $500,000.
- Invest in a new or existing company from $500,000.
- Open a deposit in a Turkish bank in the amount of $500,000
- Employ 50 Turkish citizens
To gain Turkish citizenship, nine out of ten investors opt to buy real estate. The Turkish real estate market is liquid and profitable. The cost per square meter of residential real estate in Turkey is the lowest in Europe, at approximately $700 per square meter, increasing by 3.5 times over the past five years.
The main thing about residence permits in Turkey
- The Turkish residence permit is valid from six months to two years with the possibility of extension.
- Residence permits are issued to property owners worth $50,000, entrepreneurs, as well as tourists who want to stay in the country longer than 90 days a year or 60 days in a row.
- Obtaining a residence permit in Turkey costs from $200 per year and depends on the duration and country of citizenship of the foreigner.
- To obtain a residence permit, a foreigner pays a state tax for a residence permit and a residence permit card, buys medical insurance, pays for a notarized translation of a certificate of income or a bank statement. If necessary, pays for the notarization of the lease agreement and the notarized translation of birth certificates of children.
- After 8 years of living in Turkey, you can get an indefinite residence permit - permanent residence.
- Turkish citizenship by naturalization can be obtained after five years of living in the country. Investors receive Turkish citizenship in 6-8 months in exchange for investments of $400,000. Some conditions apply*
Find out more about Ikamet's yearly membership that includes residence assistance by clicking on the link provided here.
Conclusion
Obtaining a residence permit in Turkey involves various costs, including state duties, medical insurance, and notarization fees, starting at $200. The specific fees depend on the applicant's citizenship and the permit's duration. Additional expenses may include notarized translations and lease agreement notarizations. To navigate the ever-changing government rules and requirements for Turkish residency and citizenship, Ikamet offers comprehensive assistance and expert guidance. For detailed information and personalized support, visit Ikamet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a residence permit give in Turkey?
A residence permit in Turkey allows you to live there for longer than 90 days a year or 60 consecutive days and freely leave and enter Turkey. A residence permit doesn't let you work for a Turkish company or do business in the country - for this, it is necessary to obtain a work permit. It doesn't prevent you from working remotely for a foreign company or starting a business in Turkey.
How much money do I need for a residence permit in Turkey?
A residence permit in Turkey can be bought for as little as $200 per year. The amount depends on the person's age and the length of their residence permit. A residence permit can be given for a few months or up to two years. To get a residence permit, a foreigner must pay a state fee, buy medical insurance, and pay for a notarized translation of their bank statement.
How to get a residence permit in Turkey?
The Presidency of Migration Management is in charge of giving out the residence permit. To get a residence permit, you need to prepare the following documents: a copy of your passport, 4 biometric photos, a notarized translation of your income certificate, a receipt for paying state taxes, a medical insurance policy, and proof of your reason for staying in Turkey and where you live there.
A person with a property worth at least $50,000, an entrepreneur, or a tourist can get a residence permit. Freelancers and digital nomads use a tourist residency permit to live in Turkey and work remotely in another country. A person may not get a residence permit if they can't explain why they want to stay in the country.
It takes between one and three months to complete it. Online, they fill out a preliminary application. At an interview with Migration Management, they bring their documents and if approved, they get a residence card.
How long do I need to live in Turkey for permanent residence?
Permanent residence - an indefinite residence permit in Turkey can be obtained if you live there for at least 8 years and do not spend more than a year outside the country.
To obtain a permanent residence permit, a foreigner needs to provide the following documents:
- Application for permanent residence.
- Passport and its copy.
- Residence permit card and its copy.
- Biometric color photos - 4pcs.
- Certificate of income or account statement.
- Receipts for payment of state taxes for issuing a residence permit and residence permit card.
- Foreigners health insurance
- Proof of residence.
- Certificate of no criminal record.
- Certificate that he has not received social benefits for the last three years.
How to obtain Turkish citizenship?
Foreigners can become citizens of Turkey through investments, naturalization, marriage, or special achievements. Investing $400,000 is the fastest way to become a citizen. The process will take between six and eight months. A person who wants to invest can buy real estate, shares in a mutual fund or government bonds, open a savings account, or put money into a Turkish company.
After five years of living in Turkey with a real estate residence permit, you can become a citizen by naturalization. At the same time, you can't spend more than one month a year or one year total outside of Turkey. The applicant must prove that they have enough money and pass a Turkish language test.
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