What Does Letter (e) Mean on Turkish Residence Permit? (2024)

Discover the meaning of the letter (e) on your Turkish residence permit card and learn how the Immigration Administration categorizes different residency types.

Understanding Turkish Residence Permit Card Codes

You need an İkamet İzni if you stay in Turkey longer than your visa allows. This document is a legal requirement under Law No. 6458. It lets you live here for a set time and reason. In 2021, the government changed how these cards look. Now, you'll see letters in parentheses on the back. These residence permit card codes show why you are in the country. They also define what you can and cannot do while you're here.

If you need a closer look here, see Turkish Residence Permits: Understanding Declaration Forms.

If you need a closer look here, see Are documents received from e-government valid for residence permit applications?.

What Does the Letter (e) Mean?

The letter (e) is the most common code you'll see. It stands for a short-term permit for tourism. If your card has this letter, you applied under Article 31 of the law. Most people with this code are tourists staying longer than 90 days. You can't work or study at a university with this permit. But you can open a bank account or sign a rental deal.