Turkish Family Residence Permit: Application and Rules

Obtaining a Turkish Family Residence Permit is a critical legal requirement that allows foreign nationals to legally reside in Turkey with their spouse, children, or dependent relatives. This permit grants families the right to access essential services, enroll children in schools, and establish a long-term presence in the country.

This comprehensive guide explains Family Ikamet Turkey, the costs of applying, the documentation required, and the period of validity, providing guidance for families planning to settle in Turkey.

Table of contents

• Turkish Residence Permit for Families: Benefits and Requirements
• Who is Eligible to Apply for a Family-Based Turkish Residence Permit?
• Turkish Residence Permit (İkamet) Application Process
• Documents Required to Apply for a Family İkamet
• Turkish İkamet (Residence Permit) Photo Requirements
• Get Your İkamet Photo Online
• ID Photo App
• Turkish Family Residence Permit Fees
• Turkish Family Ikamet Validity and Renewal

Turkish Residence Permit for Families: Benefits and Requirements

The Turkish family residence permit serves as a means to maintain family unity, allowing the close family members of Turkish citizens or foreign residents with current residence permits to reside in Turkey. This permit is essential for families planning to move to Turkey, offering multiple advantages and setting out specific eligibility conditions.

Benefits of the family residence permit:

• This permit allows spouses and dependent children under the age of 18 to stay together in Turkey.
• It can be issued for up to three years, matching the duration of the sponsor's residence permit, with renewal options available.
• After residing in Turkey under the family residence permit for at least three years, holders can apply for a short-term residence permit, potentially leading to further residency opportunities.
• Family members can utilize various public services and healthcare, pending valid health insurance.

To apply, applicants must meet specific Turkey family residence permit requirements:

• A legally defined income level must be met.
• Housing conditions must align with standard regulations based on the family’s situation.
• Every family member must have health insurance.
• No criminal convictions for offenses listed by law within specified timeframes.
• If the sponsor is a foreign national, they must legally reside in Turkey for at least one year.
• Enrollment in the address registration system is required.

Who is Eligible to Apply for a Family-Based Turkish Residence Permit?

Applicants must fulfill specific criteria to be eligible for a family residence permit:

Requirements for applicants:

• Applicants must be the spouse or dependent children of the sponsor.
• Valid health insurance covering all applicants must be provided.
• Proof of relationship to the sponsor must be submitted, such as marriage and birth certificates, which must be apostilled and translated into Turkish.

Requirements for the sponsor:

• The sponsor must either be a Turkish citizen or a foreigner with a valid residence or work permit.
• They must demonstrate a stable monthly income sufficient to support all family members, at a minimum equivalent to Turkey’s minimum wage.
• The sponsor should have a clean record, free of family-related offenses in the past five years.

Turkish Residence Permit (İkamet) Application Process

If you're planning to apply for a Turkish İkamet, it's important to begin the process within one month of your arrival in Turkey. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the application:

1. Visit the Turkish Ministry of Interior's e-ikamet website to fill out the necessary online application form. You'll need to provide essential personal information, including your name, date of birth, nationality, and contact details.
2. Once the online form is completed, use the Central Appointment System to set up a meeting at the nearest Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) office.
3. On the day of your appointment, ensure you have gathered and organized all required documents.
4. Attend your scheduled appointment at the DGMM Office, where you'll submit all your paperwork. Double-check to make sure everything is thoroughly completed and accurate.
5. The Ikamet waiting time can differ by location, but typically, it can take up to 90 days from submission.
6. Once approved, you'll be issued a residence permit card, granting you legal residence in Turkey for the specified period.

Documents Required to Apply for a Family İkamet

You'll need to gather and prepare the following family residence permit documents:

• Each family member must have a valid passport.
• Provide four biometric photos of each family member taken within the last six months.
• Documented proof of health insurance coverage is needed.
• Submit evidence showing financial resources, such as bank statements.
• For Ikamet, marriage and birth certificates are required to demonstrate family ties.
• Obtain an address registration document through e-devlet.
• Provide proof of payment for the residence permit tax and card fee.
• Documents from the sponsor:
  • Documentation proving the sponsor's Turkish citizenship or valid residence permit.
  • Bank statements or employment contracts verifying the sponsor's ability to financially support the family.
  • Address Registration Document (Yerleşim Yeri Belgesi). This can also be acquired from e-devlet.
• Additional documents (if applicable):
  • If the sponsor is a Turkish citizen, a birth certificate may be needed.
  • If the sponsor holds a work permit, extra documents related to social security may be required.

Please remember that any foreign documents should be translated into Turkish and may need to be notarized.

Turkish İkamet (Residence Permit) Photo Requirements

When applying for a Turkish residence permit, your photo needs to adhere to specific criteria. Here are the main requirements:

• Your photo should be taken within 120 days of your application.
• The Ikamet photo size must be 5×6 cm, matching the size required for Turkish passport photos.
• Ensure the face is 34 mm wide and centrally positioned in the photo.
• Use a plain white backdrop for your photo.
• Maintain a neutral expression—no smiling, frowning, or squinting. Aim for a calm and relaxed appearance.
• Remove headwear, except for religious purposes.
• Avoid flashy accessories or bold makeup to keep the photo professional.
• The image must be sharp and clear, free from blur or imperfections.
• Print the photo on matte paper, not glossy.

For online İkamet applications:

• Digital photo size should not exceed 300 KB.
• Photos must be in JPEG format.
• Ensure the background remains plain white.

Here is the example:

Get Your İkamet Photo Online

Streamline your Ikamet biometric photo process with Visafoto.com, a professional service boasting a 99.7% approval rate. Since 2013, Visafoto has specialized in processing images for passports, visas, driving licenses, and other official documents globally.

Simply take your picture against a plain white backdrop using your phone or digital camera, then upload it to Visafoto.com. The service will adjust the background, correct the resolution and colors, and crop the photo to the required dimensions. If you're unhappy with the outcome, we'll replace the photo at no cost. Plus, if officials reject your photo, we offer a full refund.

You'll receive a digital copy for online submissions and a version ready for printing.

First take a photo of yours which will look like this one:

Visafoto.com provides two versions of your photo: a digital copy for online submission and a template for printing.

ID Photo App

Introducing the 7ID App by Visafoto.com, an excellent solution for creating biometric photos from your smartphone, whether it's for IDs, passports, or visas. The app is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices.

Using the 7ID App is easy: upload your photo, select your document type and country, and the app will automatically adjust the image to meet official standards, including size, format, background color, and correct positioning of the face and eyes.

You'll get a digital copy and a print template that fits common paper sizes like 10×15, A4, A5, or B5. Our technical support team is available 24/7 to assist you.

Turkish Family Residence Permit Fees

When applying for a residence permit in Turkey, foreign nationals need to cover specific fees. Residence permit fees in Turkey are generally divided into three categories: the residence permit card fee, the residence permit fee itself, and a potential single-entry visa fee. Here's a summary of the applicable costs for 2024:

• Residence Permit Card fee
  The cost for the residence permit card is standard at TL 565 (approx. USD 16).
• Residence Permit fee
  This varies based on the applicant's nationality and the length of stay, typically ranging from USD 10 to USD 80 in state duties linked to the application, dependent on the individual's country of origin.
• Single-entry visa fee (when necessary)
  If you are entering Turkey without a visa, you might be required to pay a single-entry visa fee of TL 5476 (approx. USD 156).

Turkish Family Ikamet Validity and Renewal

The Turkish Family İkamet is valid for up to three years. If you wish to remain in Turkey beyond this period, you'll need to apply for a renewal. The renewal process should be initiated at least 60 days before the current permit expires.

How to renew Turkish residence permit? — To renew your Ikemt, you'll need to complete a new application process, similar to the original one. This involves submitting required documentation and scheduling an appointment with the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM).