Campuses

Visa and Residence Permit

Visa

Visa is a compulsory condition for registration. Before you come to Turkey, you must apply for visa in the closest Turkish Embassy in your country with the documents below:

  • Letter of Acceptance
  • Visa Application Form
  • Visa Fee

Note: The documents which are required for visa may differ. Please check the website of the Consulate. 

Residence Permit

First Application: 

Newly admitted students, after registration to the University, before the expiry of the visa or visa exemption period (this period is 10 days for those who enter the country with the conditional entry form of residence permit), must apply for a residence permit online (from www.goc.gov.tr). Within 30 days from the date of the application following documents should be submitted to the International  Office (applications with the missing document will not be accepted). Those who have missing documents will be given 7 days to complete them. Those who do not complete the documents within this time period must submit their documents to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management.

Required Documents:

  1. e-ikamet Online application form (taken from www.goc.gov.tr)
  2. A valid passport and copy (copy of last entry page and the visa page, if any) 
  3. 4 biometric photos
  4. Health insurance (You can apply for General Health Insurance conducted by the Social Security Institution or you can have private health insurance. Those who are planning to apply for the General Health Insurance after getting the national id number can sign a statement in our office and submit the insurance document to the Migration Management later. Those who have health insurance valid in Turkey based on a bilateral agreement do not need to have health insurance)
  5. Document showing your address 
  6. Residence permit card fee receipt (125 TL)
  7. For those who are younger than 18 ( By the date of application to e-ikamet)
    1. Letter of consent* (If the foreign mother and father officially reside in Turkey, this document is not needed.)
    2. Birth certificate (This document is needed in case the mother and/or father of the student cannot be identified from the given identification/passport)

*These documents are not requested from those who enter the country with a student visa taken from our foreign missions. 

 Extension:

Students who are continuing their education need to make an online application (from www.goc.gov.tr) and get an appointment. 

Required Documents:

  1. e-İkamet online application form (taken from www.goc.gov.tr)
  2. A valid passport and copy (copy of last entry page and the visa page, if any)
  3. 4 biometric photos
  4. Health insurance (You can apply for General Health Insurance conducted by the Social Security Institution or you can have private health insurance. Those who have health insurance valid in Turkey based on a bilateral agreement do not need to have health insurance)
  5. Residence permit card fee receipt (125 TL)
  6. Letter of consent (for those who are younger than 18)
  7. Presentment of the previous residence permit

 Important Notes:

  • Legal action is taken against students who do not follow the related procedures.
  • You do not need to obtain a visa to enter Turkey during the period your residence permit is valid. To illustrate, upon returning to Turkey from a visit to your country during a semester break, you may present your residence permit.
  • Migration Management takes into consideration the online application date. In any circumstances, you need to take an appointment before your residence permit or visa expires.
  • The address you give while you are applying for a residence permit should be correct and complete.
  • In case of any change in name/surname, marital status, address, passport or department/program, etc. the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management should be notified immediately.
  • There should be no erasures or scrapes on the residence permit. In case of loss, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management should immediately be notified.
  • The list of students who are in statuses: registered, not registered, non-registration, on leave, disciplinary punishment or Erasmus-Exchange is sent to the related unit every semester. Information about those who have graduated, have left with their own will or have withdrawn their registration is sent to the related unit constantly. Therefore, those must follow their residence procedure carefully.
  • The residence permit of the students whose status is "on leave" for any reason is canceled by the Migration Office. Please pay attention to this point while you are freezing your studies or getting leave for one or more semesters. Therefore, those who will stay in Turkey for any reason need to apply for a short term residence permit.
  • If you are planning to stay in Turkey while you are not registered in any program (for the graduation ceremony, for graduate program application, etc.) you need to apply for a short-term residence permit before your residence expires.
  • Undergraduate students need to leave the country within 10 days after graduation. This period is two months for the students graduating from graduate programs. (For undergraduate students, graduation date is the date of the grade announcement. For graduate students, the date of the submission of the printed thesis to the Graduate School). Those who will stay more must apply for a short-term residence permit before their residence expires, as stated above.
  • The residence permit does not make the parents and other relatives of the student eligible for a residence permit.   

It is the students’ responsibility to be aware of and act according to the rules and regulations about residence permit. Please pay attention in order to avoid any serious legal problems and financial penalties in the future.

Provincial Directorate of Migration Management carries out the residence permit procedure. Therefore, in case of any rule and regulation change/update, please keep in touch with the below-mentioned managements and follow their website.

For your questions:

İstanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management

Hırka-i Şerif Mahallesi Adnan Menderes Bulvarı No:64, 34091 Fatih/İstanbul

E-posta: istanbul@goc.gov.tr

Tel        : 0212 499 40 00

Fax       : 0212 499 40 05

E-mail : istanbul.duzenli@goc.gov.tr

Foreigners Communication Center (YİMER) Call Center: 157

NOTE: Please do not leave Turkey before you take your residence permit or renew it!