Zero to Hundred Student Residence Permit in Turkey 2025
Who is Eligible to Receive a Student Residence Permit in Turkey?
Foreign individuals who do not have a family residence permit and need to study in middle school and high school can reside in Turkey with a family residence permit until the age of 18. But if they are over 18 and in middle school or high school, they must obtain a residence permit. Individuals who have completed one of the degrees (Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate) in various fields including medicine and dentistry at a higher education institution in Turkey can obtain a residence permit. Students with a student residence permit can only obtain a residence permit for their spouse and children under 18 years old, and other close relatives must apply for an independent residence permit. Note that for applying for a family residence permit, the physical Turkish residence card (Kimlik) of the applicant must have been issued.
Therefore, it is important to comply with the duration of the legal stay and not exceed the permitted period. For this reason, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit within the specified time to have the right to legal residency in Turkey under all circumstances.
A student residence permit for foreign individuals who come to Turkey through state organizations and institutions to study will be granted to them during their study period. If foreign individuals are studying in primary or secondary education in Turkey and all their expenses are covered by a natural or legal person, and there is legal consent from their parents, they can receive their residence permit for one year.
If your stay in Turkey is longer than the visa exemption duration, you must apply for a Residence permit within 30 days of entering Turkey. This rule particularly applies to students, and they must apply for their residency within this deadline.
What are the conditions for obtaining a student residence permit?
To obtain a student residence permit in Turkey, you must first enroll in one of Turkey’s educational centers or universities. After obtaining admission and receiving registration documents, you can proceed to apply for a student visa. If you are in Iran, you can apply for a student visa through the Turkish embassy in Iran with your admission documents. A student visa is considered one of the best types of visas, and its students are under government support and have special medical insurance.
How Will Health Insurance Be with a Student Residence Permit?
To obtain a student residence permit in Turkey, you must first enroll in one of Turkey’s educational centers or universities. After obtaining admission and receiving registration documents, you can proceed to apply for a student visa.
If you are in Iran, you can apply for a student visa through the Turkish embassy in Iran with your admission documents. A student visa is considered one of the best types of visas, and its students are under government support and have special medical insurance.
Right to Work for Students
In Turkey, students in official Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees can work with a work permit. Associate’s and Bachelor’s students can obtain a work permit starting from their second year of study and submit their work plans to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
The Turkish research visa is required for researchers who want to conduct academic research in this country. To apply for this visa, researchers must submit a letter from a Turkish higher education institution or museums supporting the research, along with the application form. The research proposal must also be sent to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, so that after approval, the relevant letter for the visa application is issued.
Conditions for a Turkish student visa are:
1. Passport valid for at least 90 days.
2. Completed and signed visa application form.
3. Two passport-sized photos.
4. Admission letter from the chosen university specifying the duration of stay, type of study program, and language of the program.
5. Proof of travel and health insurance.
6. Proof of flight ticket reservation to Turkey.
7. Documents proving sufficient financial capability to support the costs of study and living in Turkey.
8. Payment of the processing and review fee for the student visa application.
9. Proof of residency in Turkey.
10. Previous academic certificates or transcripts.
The student visa application must be submitted within 30 days of entering Turkey.
When is the time to apply for a student visa in Turkey?
It is recommended to submit your Turkish student visa application between 60 days before departure and one month before travel to avoid any issues. Due to the lengthy application processing time (approximately 90 days), start your procedures promptly to prevent potential problems and rectify documents if necessary.
What are the conditions for obtaining a Turkish student residence permit?
For stays longer than 90 days in Turkey, after the expiry of your student visa, you must apply for a student residence permit from the provincial Directorate General of Migration Management. Required documents include:
– Application form
– Passport
– Student visa
– University documents
– Four photos
The student residence permit is issued for one year, but you can extend it up to 60 days before its expiry.
Advantages of Student Residency at University
The advantages of student residency in Turkey include high quality of education, international recognition of university degrees, reasonable costs of study and living, a friendly and multicultural environment, a diverse and attractive culture, job opportunities after graduation, and access to rich cultures and history.
Academic Level and Educational Facilities
Turkey is recognized as a top educational hub globally due to significant investments in higher education, an increasing number of reputable private, public, and international universities, and offering a wide range of academic programs to students. The selection of experienced and foreign faculty, provision of educational and laboratory facilities, and offering student dormitory services are among Turkey’s attractions for international students. Currently, Turkey is recognized as one of the top ten educational hubs in the world, and the number of international students in this country has significantly increased. Students can proceed for further studies in countries under the ECTS agreement and present their academic degrees without needing equivalency in most European countries. Turkey has 22 universities ranked among the top 50 universities in Europe and Asia.
Credibility of University Degrees
Studying in Turkey increases the credibility and value of students’ degrees because there are reputable universities like Bilkent, Hacettepe, Koç, Sabancı, Boğaziçi, Istanbul Technical University, and others. University degrees from Turkey are quickly accepted globally due to their high credibility and the popularity of reputable universities. This credibility allows students to have a higher chance of pursuing further education or obtaining jobs in other countries, especially the USA, Canada, and the UK. Also, degrees from Turkey are more valued than degrees from Iran and are confirmed by the Iranian Ministry of Science. This provides more opportunities to enter the job market in Turkey and other countries.
What to do if a Turkish student visa application is rejected?
In case of a student visa application rejection due to incomplete documents, the applicant must quickly complete the missing document and reapply for a Turkish student visa as soon as possible. The applicant can submit a new application even 24 hours after the initial rejection. If all information and documents provided by the applicant are correct, the probability of success in obtaining a student visa will be very high. In case of disagreement with the initial decision of the authorities, the applicant can contact the Turkish embassy or consulate in their country and book a new appointment. In this appointment, the reasons for the unfair rejection of the visa must be explained, and any supporting evidence must be provided. Due to the high sensitivity of this issue, it is recommended to take these steps in the early stages of travel to have fewer time-related difficulties.
Possibility of Student Work and Strengthening the CV
One of the advantages of student residency in Turkey is the possibility of working up to 30 hours per week. This allows students to cover their study and living expenses and strengthen their work resume. Note that this possibility is not available for Associate’s and Bachelor’s students in their first year of study, and only Master’s and Doctorate students can work in their field of study. It is also worth mentioning that foreign students need a permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to work in private and public institutions in Turkey. Also, these students can travel to other countries during the summer holidays and work there. These facilities contribute to the development of experienced workforce with strong resumes in Turkey.
After graduating from Turkish universities, the individual may return to their home country and find a suitable job there or work internationally in various fields in Turkey. The most important point is having credible degrees from Turkish universities, which allows the individual to work in their desired field anywhere in the world without problems. Job opportunities for graduates from Turkish universities often align with the needs of the global job market. Given Turkey’s economic progress, having a strong work resume and earning a suitable income are valuable advantages that can be gained from working and studying in this country.
Residency in Turkey After Graduation
One of the significant advantages of student residency in Turkey is that after completing their studies, individuals can stay in the country. These individuals can extend their residency by continuing their education at higher levels or seek job opportunities in international companies with a strengthened resume. These actions are legally possible, and through this, legal residency in Turkey can be maintained. Documents such as proficiency in Turkish and English, a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and suitable educational degrees and resume are among the requirements for obtaining residency.
