RESIDENCE PERMIT

1. WHAT IS A RESIDENCE PERMIT?
A residence permit is a permit issued to foreigners who wish to stay in Turkey. Foreigners who intend to stay in Turkey for more than the period allowed by a visa or visa exemption, or for more than ninety days, are required to apply for the type of residence permit they believe meets the requirements through the e-ikamet system. Foreigners who complete their application must appear at the provincial/district migration management office in the province they intend to reside on the appointment date determined by the system. Foreigners who fail to appear at the provincial/district migration management office on the appointment date without a valid excuse are considered to have not submitted an application. The administration may request certain information and documents to determine the valid excuse. Applications for residence permit extensions are generally processed using the same procedure.

Residence permits are divided into six main groups.

These residence permits are:

1. Short-term residence permit,
a. Touristic residence,
b. Foreigners who hold a title deed,
c. Foreigners arriving for medical treatment,
d. Foreigners with ongoing court cases
d. Foreigners attending Turkish courses
e. Those who have completed university education in Turkey

2. Long-term residence permit,
3. Family residence permit,
4. Student residence permit,
5. Humanitarian residence permit,
6. Residence permit for Victims of Human Trafficking.

2. HOW TO OBTAIN A RESIDENCE PERMIT AND WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED FOR APPLICATION?
Foreigners who will stay in our country for more than the period allowed by a visa or visa exemption, or for more than ninety days, are required to obtain a residence permit. Residence permit applications can be made in person by the foreigner or through their legal representative or lawyer.
3. E-RESIDENCE SYSTEM
To obtain a residence permit, foreigners must first make an online residence appointment with the Immigration Administration. They must be present at the Immigration Administration on the appointment day with the required documents. The documents required for a residence permit vary depending on the type of residence permit.
4. INITIAL, EXTENSION, AND TRANSITION APPLICATIONS
For initial and transition applications, foreigners must apply for a residence permit through the E-Ikamet system and go to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in their province with the required documents on the given appointment date and time (https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/Ikamet/IstenenBelgeler). Residence permit extension applications are submitted sixty days prior to the expiration of the residence permit, and in any case, before the expiration of the permit.
5. WORK PERMIT CONSIDERED A RESIDENCE PERMIT
Under the aforementioned law, a work permit replaces a residence permit. Therefore, a work permit holder has the right to stay in our country without obtaining a residence permit for the duration of the work permit.
6. HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
Valid health insurance must cover the duration of the residence permit.
7. RESIDENCE PERMIT FEE
The residence permit fee is regulated by Law No. 492 on Fees, and foreigners are charged a fee pursuant to this Law. If an extension application is not submitted after the residence permit expires, the residence permit fee is charged at a double rate for periods spent in Turkey without a residence permit, in accordance with Article 83 of Law No. 492 on Fees.
8. ADDRESS OF STAY IN TURKEY
Foreigners are required to provide their address information in Turkey. The address where the foreigner will stay in Turkey can be a fixed address or the address of an accommodation facility. However, in all cases, the foreigner must provide accurate and complete address information. Furthermore, for the residence permit document to be delivered to the address, the address, telephone number, or email address must be up-to-date.
If the address information changes during the residence permit period, the necessary documents must be submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management and the Provincial Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs within 20 (twenty) business days.
9. DOCUMENTS THAT CAN BE USED AS PROOF OF ADDRESS

• If you are staying in a rented house, a notarized copy of your contract.
• If you are staying in a hotel, motel, guesthouse, or similar establishment, a document proving your stay in these places.
• If you are staying in student dormitories/institutional guesthouses, an e-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document proving your stay in the dormitory/guesthouse.
• If you are staying with an acquaintance/relative, an address registration document for the person(s) you are staying with (with a notary commitment).

10. WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT?
The required document list varies for each application. Therefore, you must determine the type of residence permit you will be applying for and obtain the required documents for that residence permit type.
11. CONCLUDING THE RESIDENCE PERMIT
According to Article 21 of the aforementioned law, residence permit applications are finalized within ninety days at the latest.
Furthermore, according to Article 22 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, the ninety-day period begins on the date all information and documents are fully submitted to the competent authority. If the period is extended, the foreigner is informed.
Trainee, Attorney Abdullah Gencal
U&T Law - U&T Law and Consulting