How much money do I need in the bank to get a residence permit?

What the rules say

Financial means are covered by article 22(6) of the Implementation Regulation of Law No. 6458:

• Your own statement is normally enough. You declare that you have sufficient means, and in most cases that is accepted.
• If proof is asked for, one person needs at least the net minimum wage for each month.
• For a family, the means must be at least one third of the minimum wage for each family member, and at least one minimum wage in total.
• Guarantees: a guarantee from a third party alone is not accepted.

The office can still ask for proof, so keep your documents ready even if you only give a statement.

The e-İkamet touristic list: 1.5 times the minimum wage

The official e-İkamet document list for short-term permits (updated 18 March 2025) is stricter for touristic stays. It asks for at least 1.5 times the net minimum wage per month for one person, and one minimum wage per family member for a family. Income counts as regular when it covers the last 3 months.

The Regulation sets the legal floor. The e-İkamet list is official guidance from Göç İdaresi for touristic applications, so if you apply for a touristic permit, plan for the higher figure. The minimum wage can change, so check the current amount before you apply.

Other permit types

• Family residence permit: the sponsor must have a monthly income of at least one minimum wage in total and one third of it per family member, plus housing and health insurance for everyone. See our family residence permit guide.
• Student residence permit: if proof is asked for, a scholarship letter showing the monthly amount, or bank statements showing regular support, can serve as evidence. Students at Turkish schools pay no harç.
• Long-term residence permit: you need 8 years of uninterrupted residence permits, sufficient and regular income, and no social assistance in the last 3 years (Law 6458, article 43).
• Property-based permit: the USD 200,000 home value is a separate condition from financial means. See residence permit through property investment.

Documents that prove your income

The office looks for money that reaches you regularly or funds you can clearly use for your stay. The most common proofs are:

• Bank statements stamped or signed by the bank, in your name, showing your balance and regular deposits over the last 3 months.
• Pension: the pension award letter and statements that show the monthly payments.
• Salary: an employment contract or employer letter and recent payslips.
• Rental income: the lease and bank records of the rent payments. Note that a home you rent out cannot also support a property-based permit.
• Scholarship: an official award letter that states the monthly amount.
• Business or investment income: tax documents and statements showing regular income, interest or dividends.

Documents in a foreign language may need a Turkish translation by a sworn translator, certified by a notary. Ask the migration office which form it accepts for statements from a foreign bank.

Common mistakes

• A sudden lump sum. A large deposit just before the appointment does not show regular income. Show the last 3 months instead.
• Relying on a relative's letter. A third party's guarantee alone is not accepted, so add your own documents.
• Old figures. Amounts tied to the minimum wage change, so do not rely on older guides.
• Numbers that do not match. The amounts on your contract, payslips and bank deposits should agree.

For the full application steps, see our residence permit application guide and the short-term residence permit guide. For costs, read our residence permit fees guide, and for other common questions, the residence permit FAQs.

Official sources: Implementation Regulation; e-İkamet short-term document list; Law No. 6458; Göç İdaresi residence FAQ.