STUDENT VISA AND RESIDENCE PERMIT

Visa

According to the new regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a student visa is not necessary for residence permit application. However, we recommend all Erasmus+ incoming students to consult their situation to Turkish Missions.

Student Visa, if needed, is available only through Turkish Embassies or Consulates outside of the Republic of Turkey and should be obtained before the student plans to arrive. Incoming students are recommended applying for the visa at least two months prior to the date of departure.

For education visas, students must submit documents as:

  • A letter of acceptance given by the university in Turkey,
  • Original passport (valid for at least one year),
  • A completed visa application form,
  • Recent passport-size pictures
  • A non-refundable processing fee for the Turkish Consulate.

STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMIT

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS (COMMON)

  1. Residence Permit Application Form (must be signed by foreigner and/or his/her legal representative.)
  2. Photocopy of passport or passport substitute document (pages containing identity information and photo and pages processed) (The original document must be presented on the appointment day.)
  3. Four (4) pcs biometric photos (must have been taken within the last 6 months, against a white background and biometric)
  4. Document/receipt for the payment of residence permit card fee (For those who study at international organization, embassy and consular schools, a residence permit fee document/receipt shall also be required.)
  5. Valid health insurance (Insurance period must cover the duration of the intended residence permit. One of the following document is considered sufficient):
    • E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document to be obtained from provincial social security units which states that the foreigner is benefiting from the health services in Turkey within the scope of bilateral social security agreements      o E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed provision document to be obtained from the Social Security Institution-SGK (Provision documents to be obtained from SGK must cover both the sponsor and family members for family residence permits.)
    • E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document regarding the application made to the Social Security Institution to become a general health insurance holder o Private health insurance (Please submit the signed and stamped/sealed original of your insurance policy during application!)
  6. Document of Residence

(One of the following document is considered sufficient.)          o If you are staying in your own home, a photocopy of the title deed; (“residence document” is sufficient for extension applications.)

  • If you are staying in a rental house on a rental agreement, a notarized copy of your rental agreement;  o If you are staying at a hotel, etc. proof of your stay in these places; o If you are staying in a student dormitory, e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped

document showing that you are staying in the dormitory.

  • If you are staying in a third person’s residence, the notarized undertaking of the

host (if the host is married, also the notarized undertaking of the spouse)

DOCUMENTS ACCORDING TO THE REASONS OF STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMIT STAY 

Primary schoool (1 year)

  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education) Secondary school (1 year)
  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education) High school (1 year)
  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education) Military High Schools (1 year)
  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education)

Those studying in schools not affiliated with MEB (1 year) (international organization, embassy and consulate schools) (subject to fee)

  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education) Associate’s degree (2 years)
  • Common Documents

Bachelor’s Degree (4 years)

  • Common Documents

Bachelor’s Degree – Dentistry/Pharmacy/Veterinary Faculties (5 years)

  • Common Documents

Bachelor’s Degree – Medical Faculty (6 years)

  • Common Documents

Military Academies (4 years)

  • Visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey (only for primary and secondary education)

Master’s Degree (2 years)

  • Common Documents

Doctor’s Degree (3 years)

  • Common Documents

Those Who Receive Specialization Training in Medicine/Exam for Specialization in Medicine (TUS) (3 years)

  • Document proving TUS

Those Who Receive Specialization Training in Dentistry/Exam for Specialization in Dentistry (DUS) (3 years)

  • Document proving DUS

Those who are directed to a Turkish course by their university (1 year)

  • E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document proving the education to be taken from the institution or organization authorized to provide Turkish language course (duration of the course must be specified)

Students arriving within the scope of Erasmus Programme (1 year)

  • E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document proving “the exchange program” to be taken from the education institution

Those arriving within the scope of other international exchange programs (1 year) 

  • E-signed/signed and stamped/sealed document proving “the exchange program” to be taken from the education institution

EXPLANATIONS

  • In case students request, valid health insurance shall not be requested as they are covered by general health insurance within three months from the date of registration, but they must notify the administration after taking out general health insurance within three months.
  • Upon the request of the administration, e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped student documents to be obtained from the institution where the education is received, or from the e-government system must be submitted.
  • If you could not graduate during the normal education period, a residence permit for a maximum of 1 year could be issued at a time for each year upon the submission of a student certificate proving that you could actively benefit from student rights.
  • During your residence permit period; in case you continue to study in a different faculty/department of the same university or transfer to a different university in the same province, you must report your situation to the provincial directorate of migration management within 20 working days in order to update your information, provided that there is no interruption in your student status.
  • If there is a change of university, faculty or department in a different province, you must apply for a residence permit to the provincial directorate of migration management in the province where your new university is located within 10 days. All your procedures shall be concluded by the provincial directorate of migration maagement in the province where your new university is located.

 

  • For children
  • If the mother and father could not be determined from passport or passport substitute document or national identity card, a certified birth certificate shall be requested.
  • In the absence of either mother or father, a certified deed of consent shall be requested. (In case of death of one of the parents, the other spouse is required to submit a certified death certificate.)
  • In case of divorce, a certified custody document of the child shall be requested.

(These documents must be e-signed/signed and sealed/stamped if obtained from Turkish authorities; they must have a notarized Turkish translation and an Apostille if obtained from abroad. It is required to be a citizen of a country which is a party to the Apostille Convention; or if there is no Apostille on the document even if the country is a party, the documents in question are required to be approved by the relevant country authoties (approval by the consulate/embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Turkish Authorities authorized on this issue).

  • If the foreigner in question is under eighteen years old, a certified deed of consent by mother/father abroad or legal representative, and a notarized undertaking by real or legal persons in Turkey, provided that it is specified in the deed of consent, shall be requested. v For transfer applications

Photocopy of the previous residence permit document shall be attached to application document. (The original document shall be submitted to the administration on the appointment day)