Student Residence Permit in Turkey

admin·04/03/2022·Guide, Residence Permit, Student·4 min·

What is Student Residence Permit?

A student residence permit is a document that allows a foreign student to live in Turkiye while studying there. It is regulated in Articles 38 to 41 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection and in Articles 35 to 39 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.

Who are the foreigners who can be issued a Student Residence Permit?

Foreigners who do not have a family residence permit who will receive primary and secondary education (Foreigners with a family residence permit who will receive education at the primary and secondary level can continue their education without the need for a residence permit until the age of 18. However, those who are over the age of 18 and still continue their education at the secondary education level. students must obtain a residence permit.),
Foreigners who will receive education at associate degree, undergraduate, graduate, doctorate, Medical Specialization Education (TUS), Specialization Education in Dentistry (DUS) levels in a higher education institution in our country,
student residence permit can be issued.

Student residence permit only provides the right to support the spouse and children of the student in family residence permit applications. It does not provide any right to other relatives to obtain a residence permit.

How Many Years Can a Student Residence Permit Be Issued?

If the education period of the foreign student is less than one year, the duration of the student residence permit cannot exceed the education period.

Foreigners who will come and study in Turkey through public institutions and organizations can be granted a residence permit during their education.

For foreigners who will receive primary and secondary education, whose maintenance and expenses are undertaken by a real or legal person, a student residence permit may be granted and extended for one-year periods during their education with the consent of their parents or legal representatives.

What are the Student Residence Permit Conditions?

To obtain a student residence permit, foreign students must meet the following requirements:

Provide supporting information and documents related to the purpose of their stay in Turkey, as specified in Article 38 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.
Not be subject to the provisions of Article 7 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.
Disclose the address where they will be staying in Turkey.

These requirements are outlined in Article 39 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection.

Health Insurance in Student Residence Permit

According to the provisions of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law, health insurance is not required from foreign students who make a request to become a general health insurance holder within three months from the date of their first registration. However, those who lose their right to be covered by general health insurance by not making an application within three months from the date of registration are asked to take out private health insurance.

The Procedures to be Followed in the Change of University, Faculty or Department of Higher Education Students

In case of a change of faculty or department in the same education institution, and in the case of a change of education institution in the same province, the current residence permit remains valid, provided that the student is not interrupted and notification is made in due time. If the residence permit is shorter than the education period, it is extended by the education period from the date of the end of the permit.
In case of continuing education in a different province, the current residence permit is terminated by the governorship of the province where the education will continue and a residence permit is issued for the duration of the new education period.

Students’ Right to Work

Associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate students who receive formal education in Turkey can work provided that they obtain a work permit. However, the right to work for associate and undergraduate students starts after the first year. Work permit applications are made to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

What are the reasons for the Student Residence Permit to be Rejected, Canceled or Not Extended?

The conditions required for the issuance of a student residence permit are not met or eliminated,
Evidence that she cannot continue her education,
Determining that the student residence permit is used for purposes other than the one for which it was issued,
There is a valid deportation decision or a ban on entry to Turkey,

In such cases, a short-term residence permit is not granted, if it is granted, it is canceled, and those whose duration has expired are not extended.

What are the Required Documents for Student Residence Permit?

Student Residence Permit Requested Documents (Common)

STUDENT RESIDENCE PERMIT REQUESTED DOCUMENTS (COMMON)

Residence Permit Application Form (must be signed by foreigner and/or his/her legal representative.)
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.)
Four (4) pcs biometric photos (must have been taken within the last 6 months, against a white background and biometric)
Statement on having sufficient and regular financial means throughout the stay (shall be stated in the Application Form. Administration may request supporting documents from applicant.)
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.)
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
- 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
- Private health insurance (Please submit the signed and stamped/sealed original of your insurance policy during application!)
Document of Residence (One of the following document is considered sufficient.)
- 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;
- If you are staying at a hotel, etc. proof of your stay in these places;
- 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

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.

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)

For more information about residence permits in Turkey, please visit the following page.

Information about Turkish Residence Permit