Student residence is an identification card that gives its holder the right to reside and study in Turkey legally. It contains personal information such as the student’s name and date of birth in addition to gender (male / female) and nationality (country of domicile), along with the personal photo of the card holder.
A foreigner residing in Turkey with a short-term (tourist) or family residence and not over the age of eighteen has the right to study in Turkish and international schools in Turkey without a student residence. When the student reaches the age of 18, the student’s residence becomes compulsory by law.
It is also obligatory for foreigners wishing to study in Turkish institutes and universities (higher studies: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.).
Student residence in Turkey gives you many advantages, such as:
Residing legally in Turkey for the duration of the study
Freedom of movement within Turkey
The ability to exit and return to Turkey without the need for a new entry visa
The student has the right to obtain a reduced transportation card that is suitable for all public transportation (except for taxis, minibus, and dolmus) within the state in which he resides.
The holder of the study residence card also has the right to work in Turkey, but a work permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Labor. If the student is at the undergraduate level, he can work after completing the first academic year
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Details of the student’s residence in Turkey (the first time)
Documents required for student residence in Turkey
“Öğrenci Belgesi Student Data” document, which is a letter issued by the educational institution to which the applicant will attend stating that the educational institution in question has granted him the right to study there
Residence application form (signed by the applicant or his legal representative)
The original copy of your passport (or travel document)
A copy of the passport (or travel document): the pages containing the applicant’s data + passport or document number + date of issuance and expiry of the passport or document + entry stamp and visa (Visa)
A tax number, you can get it for free from any tax department
4 colored personal photo on white background, no more than 6 months old
Valid health insurance covering the entire period of stay
Address verification:
Resident with a lease contract: A copy of the lease contract signed by the applicant, certified by the notary public.
In the event that the applicant is not the tenant, a residence document issued by the Department of Souls to which the place of residence belongs must be estimated
A copy of the application fee payment receipt
Steps to apply for student residence in Turkey
Extract all the required documents and prepare them before proceeding to the next step (except for the application form and receipt of payment of fees)
Fill out the application form on the Immigration Department’s website in the “first time” section, be sure to mention the reason for applying for residence is to study
The site will book an interview appointment at the earliest date, and the interview venue, date and time will appear on the page (keep this information, it is very important)
Print the application (the site will save the application as an electronic PDF file) You can print this file
Gather all required documents together, including the “Student Document”
Ensure that the documents are complete and that the form is signed by the applicant
Collect all documents in one workbook to present them together at the interview
At the interview, you can request a translator for free
After accepting the documents from the responsible employee, you will be required to pay the fees at the treasury office (in the same building). When you pay the amount, you will get a receipt from the treasury employee. Return this receipt to the first employee and he will give you a document that proves your application and makes your status legal until the residence card is issued
Notes
Make sure to apply before your visa expires
The passport (or travel document) must be valid for more than 6 months
The interview date issued by the Immigration Department is a personal appointment for the applicant, and the date of the interview is very important
The minor applicant is accompanied by the parents or legal guardian
Payment of fees is only cash and local currency (bank transfers and credit cards are not accepted), so be sure to bring enough cash to pay the application fee
Make sure that your proof of application document is stamped by the Immigration Department before you leave
The residence card is issued within 30 to 60 days from the date of submitting the application and is valid according to the type of study and as indicated in (duration of study stay).
If the passport (or travel document) is valid for less than the period of study, the validity of the residence permit is the validity of the passport minus 60 days
In the event that the documents are not complete, the employee will inform you immediately, or if the Immigration Department requests additional documents after receiving the application, the applicant will be notified via an SMS text message. In both cases, the applicant will be given a period of 30 days to submit the additional documents