Turkish Residence Permit
When you arrive to live in Turkey full-time, you can fall back on seeing out your 90-day holiday visa before you need to act. But when that finishes, what happens next? To stay for an extended time in Turkey, you'll need to apply for a Turkish residence permit. This comes in many forms but the most popular, and the one we'll address in this article, is the 1-year residence permit. Other options are from a minimum 6-months permit, a 2-year one, a family permit and one that is a lifetime permit. However, the lifetime permit, which you can only apply for once you have completed eight years or more residence in Turkey.
What's Needed For a 1 Year Permit
You'll need a bit of patience as you weave through certain mini-challenges to get your permit.You will have to fill in an application form on the Turkish Government website: https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ but our advice is to get all your paperwork in hand before you even attempt this element. Here's a breakdown of what you need:
Confirmation of Address: Freely available from your local Nufus Ofis (Population branch). This is usually at your Governor's Office. Produce a current bill or tapu (title deed)/rental agreement indicating your address. You'll receive a piece of paper (Adres Kaydi)
Bank Account: A photocopy of your Turkish bank account showing a minimum of 19, 236TL per person. This can be obtained from your bank, free of charge, and should be dated as close to your chosen application date as possible.
Passport: One that has more than six months left on it. You'll need to obtain a colour photocopy of the personal picture page.
Four Biometric Images: You'll need to obtain four biometric photographs that measure 3.5cm by 4.5cm - and are within six months of application. Scan one into your laptop as this is required for the online application.
Health Insurance: You need to obtain health insurance - either private or the government insurance SGK. This needs to cover you for at least 12 months at the point of application. If you hold SGK, the form the officer will want to see is the Provizyon Sorgulama Cevap.
Either of those documents:
Tapu: For those that own their properties, they will have had a title deed (Tapu) issued at the point of sale. Across Turkey, there are some variances - the officer at the point of application may be content to see your original and a photocopy. Or you may have to obtain a Tapu Kaydi which is free from your local Tapu office.
Rental: For those who are renting, they will require a rental agreement, signed by themselves and their landlord. This form then needs to be notarised at a local notary office.
Online Application
As part of the application form process at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ you will need to keep your mobile phone handy as you will receive a text that will receive a code for the application activation.
During this, you need to confirm an application date. On this date, visit the GOC office which handles Residence Permit applications. Remember to print off the form.
Date of Application
On the date of the application, take all your documents (originals and photocopies), and present them to the relevant officer. Once he is satisfied with the paperwork, he will instruct you to attend the local Tax Office where you will have to pay $80 (or the equivalent in Turkish Lira) for the one-year application fee and 72TL for the permit card.The tax office will hand over a receipt which needs to be taken back to the GOC Idaresi office and added to your application documentation. In return, you will receive a form that allows you to travel outside Turkey for a maximum of 15 days while the application process is on.
Finality
There is no average time length to the arrival of your permit, but be prepared to wait. You will receive a text message from the Post Office (PTT) confirming the permit has been issued and will be delivered to your address, usually within a few days.
Istanbul
