In this post, we shall cover 4 topics:
- How to Apply for Residence Permit
- Documents required to Apply
- Cost of Applying
- Validity of your residence permit
Residence permit, also known as “Ikamet” in Turkish, is a card which will grant you stay in Türkiye for the duration of your study. This card is renewable after expiry. The göç İdaresi (Migration office) is responsible for granting this permit for foreigners. Every city has a migration office, kindly find it on google map for your relevant cities.
Initially, your entry visa covers your stay for the amount of days you are granted. But you should lodge an application for your residence permit 30 days after the entry to Türkiye. You have to keep it in mind that late applications or negligence can cause problems for you with the police.
As you are applying for the first time, please visit the webpage https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ and via the “I lodge an application for the fırst time” section, you can submit your application with the required documents.
These are the documents required for residence permit:
- Residence Permit Application form
- Photocopy of Passport and visa (The original document must be presented on the appointment day)
- 4 pcs biometric photos taken within the last 6 months against a white background. For this, go to any photo shop and tell them you need a biometric photo to apply for Ikamet.
- Scholarship Offer Letter and Signed Scholarship Agreement for scholarship students only
- Receipt for the payment of residence permit fee. (325tl as at September 2023). You can pay this fee on your day of appointment at the counter for payments in the migration office.
- Valid health insurance. For scholarship students, kindly go to the nearest SGK office. Inform them that you are a grantee of Turkiye Scholarship and you need a printout of your health insurance provision for Ikamet application. You will need to take your identity document and scholarship offer with you for this process. For non-scholarship students, you need to get a private health insurance policy. There are several private companies providing these services at varying prices. Kindly type sağlik sigortası on google to see different options, or ask seniors you might know.
- Enrolment/acceptance letter from the university. This is known as Öğrenci belgesi (Student Certificate) in Turkish. For this, please visit the international student office of your university to request it. Make it clear that you need it to apply for Ikamet.
- Document of Residence. This is a document which proves that you are staying in that address. If you are staying in a dorm, you can ask the dorm director, but if it’s an apartment, your landlord can provide you with this document. To be precise, you need your Contract agreement, and/or Bill’s Documents (Water, Gas/Electricity)
For students who will be studying in Turkish Language Centers (Tomer), a residence permit of one year is issued first.
For undergrads, due to reasons which vary from the expiry date on your passport, health insurance provision finishing date, e.t.c, you might be granted 1, 2, or 3 years for your residence permit. Same thing applies to Master’s students and PhD’s.
I wish you a beautiful stay in Türkiye.
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2 Responses
Can we use our TOMER registration certificate to apply for Ikamet because someone school don’t complete your university of until you are done with TOMER
Yes, that’s what we did too. But make sure to ask your international student office first. They know better and they will tell you which document to use.