Required Documents for Student Residence Permit

Note: Migration Offices do not work with third parties, and this information is based on feedback from students for guidance purposes. Document requirements may vary according to each Migration Office’s policies, and additional documents may be requested by the Migration Office.

Visa requirements differ for each country. Some students from specific countries need to obtain a Student Visa before arrival. For example, Azerbaijani citizens can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days without a visa. (Click here for information on visa regulations). Students must get an application from https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ and send the required documents to the Provincial Migration Offices by universities to stay in the Republic of Turkey beyond their visa duration.

Depending on the volume of applications at the Migration Office, your Residence Permit card will be sent to your address by mail approximately 45 days after document submission. The legal processing period for Migration Offices is 90 days; however, since student residence permit applications are usually reviewed faster, students who do not receive any SMS notification within 60 days are advised to contact the Migration Office.

Many documents required by the Migration Office must be obtained from your home country before entering Turkey, while some documents can be obtained within Turkey. To obtain a residence permit, applicants must enter Turkey with a passport. Those entering with a national ID card must exit from the Turkiye border and re-enter with a passport.

Once the documents are complete, they must be submitted in full to the international student affairs offices at universities without waiting for the appointment date, by the protocol between Yok and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Turkey dated 29.11.2023. Document submission is entirely the student’s responsibility. The main required documents are as follows:

1. Passport

Passports with information in English do not require additional notarized translation. The passport should have a validity of at least one year. The Migration Office issues the residence permit up to two months before your passport's expiration date. For example, if your passport is valid until 23.08.2025, the residence permit will be granted until 26.06.2023. Therefore, the longer the validity of the passport, the more convenient it will be for applicants.

2. Residence Address

For students to obtain a residence permit in Turkey, a permanent residence address must be officially provided.

If the student’s residence is:

a. In a dormitory, the dormitory manager must provide a signed and stamped document.
b. In a rental property, the lease agreement must be notarized and in the student’s name. (Only the landlord can obtain this document, not the student). If the student’s name is not on the contract, the residence permit will not be granted.
c. In a property owned by the student, a title deed (tapu) and the Title Deed Continuity Document from the title office are required, along with a numeration document from the local municipality.
d. In the home of a friend or relative, a notarized declaration of residence (taahhütname) from the friend or relative in Turkey confirms that the student will stay with them.
e. In a hotel, hostel, or apartment, a signed and stamped document from the manager is required.

Note: For those applying for a extension who have not changed their residence, obtaining a place of residence document from E-Devlet is sufficient. You must have your residence permit/Turkish ID number and an E-Devlet password. If your address document does not appear in E-Devlet, you should contact the Provincial Migration Office to update your address registration.

3. Student Certificate / Document from the University

This document is different from a standard student certificate, and each university may issue it in a unique format. You should request a Student Certificate specifically for the Migration Office from your university’s student affairs office. The following information must be included in the certificate:

a. Temporary ID number provided by YÖK, starting with 98.
b. Full name, including the father’s name.
c. Year of registration at the university.
d. Student’s class.
e. Student ID number.
f. University stamp and signature of the responsible official (these may also be in electronic format).
Confirmation that the student is actively enrolled

4 Biometric Photos

Biometric photos must have been taken within the last 6 months, be 5x6 cm in size, and have a white background. When taking biometric photos, make sure to ask the photographer to send you an electronic/digital version via email or WhatsApp. Do not take the photo yourself, as the system will not accept it.

5. Health Insurance Covering Your Residence Duration

SGK (state insurance) can be obtained within 2 months from the date of university enrollment (not the migration application or course registration dates) after receiving a residence card from the Migration Office. Although expensive, it is valid in all hospitals. The Migration Office does not require your insurance document at the time of application but allows a grace period. If you fail to provide your insurance within this period, your residence permit will be canceled. Students who do not enroll in SGK in their first year cannot benefit from it in subsequent years.

Private health insurance is much cheaper than state insurance, valid in specific private hospitals, and primarily covers emergencies, as detailed in the policy. Private insurance must include a barcode; if there is no barcode, it must have a stamp and signature. The following statement must be included: “This policy covers the minimum coverage structure determined in the Circular dated 16.06.2021 and numbered 2021/8 regarding Health Insurance for Visa and Residence Permit Applications.” This insurance must be uploaded to the Migration Office system by the insurance companies. Insurance not uploaded to the system will not be accepted when filling out the application form, preventing the completion of your application.

6. Application Form

The application form is only available on the official website: https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/. Beware of similar fraudulent sites that may take your money without providing any service. Ensure you use only the official website above.

Fill out the form carefully and completely, as your residence permit will be issued based on the information provided. After filling out the form, some Migration Offices allow you to select an appointment date, while others assign one to you automatically (such as in Ankara and Istanbul).

As of 29.11.2023, students do not need to wait for the appointment date and can submit their documents directly to the relevant department at their university. However, selecting an appointment date is required to obtain the application form. After filling it out, download the form as a PDF and print it. There’s no need to print it in color; you may print it in black and white and double-sided to save paper.

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7. Pink Folder

A pink-colored folder available at stationery stores is used to hold your documents. It is not required in some places.

8. Tax Payment/Receipt Document

The Migration Office does not charge a fee for students but requires a card fee. For 2024, this fee is 565 TL. You can obtain the payment receipt after completing your application form by paying at Tax Offices (Vergi Dairesi) in cash, through the online Tax Office website with a card, or at the payment counters of the Migration Office. Be sure to keep a copy or photo of the receipt until your residence card arrives.

9. Only for Students Under 18 Years Old

For students who are not yet 18, unfortunately, the process is complex. It’s essential to bring the following documents from your home country, as preparing these in Turkey is costly, time-consuming, and challenging. For students who will turn 18 within their visa duration, it is recommended to wait until they are of age before applying. You can obtain the following documents from notaries:

Birth Certificate - A translated and notarized version with an apostille.
Parental Consent - A notarized permission letter (known as a Muvafakatname) from both parents, allowing the student to live independently. If prepared in your home country, this document must also have an apostille. This is not the same as a border-crossing consent form.
- If one parent is deceased, the surviving parent must provide the document, along with an apostilled and translated death certificate for the other parent.
- In case of parental separation/divorce, only the custodial parent needs to provide consent. The court order assigning custody also needs to be translated, notarized, and apostilled. Court orders and death certificates must be apostilled in your home country, as this cannot be done in Turkey.

Recently, many Migration Offices have required that the consent form be given to a third person who is either a Turkish citizen with a T.C. ID number or a foreigner over 18 with a Turkish residence permit. This document has the same format as mentioned in point 2, with the addition that it states, “Consent is given to 1234567891011 T.C. ID number holder Filankes Filankesov, instead of the student living alone.” This document, if prepared in your home country, must be apostilled.

11. OTHER DOCUMENTS.

As previously mentioned, Migration Offices may require additional documents depending on the city.

Ankara: Requires that documents apostilled in the home country are also translated and notarized again in Turkey.
Bolu: Requires a criminal record certificate, which can be obtained from the Bolu courthouse. Additionally, any documents apostilled in the home country must be translated and notarized again in Turkey.
Balıkesir: Requires that documents apostilled in Azerbaijan are also translated and notarized again in Turkey.
Izmir, Istanbul, and Denizli: Require that consent forms are granted to a third person, not solely to the student (see point 9, section 3).

10. UETS Form (Only for Extension Applications)

As of April 15, 2024, the National Electronic Notification System (UETS) form is required for all types of applications. You can obtain it physically from PTT branches or online if you have an e-Devlet account. Click here for information on how students can obtain it.