How to Get a Student Residence Permit in Turkey?

Residence permits in general and types of residence permits in Turkey are regulated under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection. One of the types of residence permits is the student residence permit, which finds wide application in Turkey.

As your immigration lawyers in Istanbul, we, Viridis Legal Partners can assist you, as a foreigner to have a student residence permit in Turkey. You can find details of what is a student residence permit, how to apply for a student residence permit in Turkey, eligibility criteria for Turkish student residence permits and required documents for student residence permit applications in Turkey, and other specifications of student residence permits in Turkey in this guide.

What is a Student Residence Permit in Turkey?

Student residence permit can basically be defined as a type of residence permit issued to foreigners who will study for associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees at a higher education institution in Turkey. In addition, a student residence permit may be granted to foreigners who will receive primary and secondary education whose care and expenses are undertaken by a real or legal person, with the consent of their parents or legal representatives, for periods of one year during their education and may be extended.

Student residence permit is regulated in Articles 38 and following articles of the aforementioned Law.

“Student residence permit

ARTICLE 38 – (1) Foreigners who will study associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees at a higher education institution in Turkey shall be granted a student residence permit.

(2) With the consent of their parents or legal representatives, a student residence permit may be issued and extended for one-year periods during their education for foreigners who will receive primary and secondary education whose care and expenses are undertaken by a real or legal person.

(3) A student residence permit shall not confer any right to obtain a residence permit on the parents and other relatives of the student.

(4) If the duration of education is shorter than one year, the duration of student residence permit shall not exceed the duration of education.

(5) (Addendum: 28/7/2016-6735/27 Art.) Foreigners coming through public institutions and organisations to receive education in Turkey may be granted a residence permit for the duration of their education.”

Who Can Apply for a Student Residence Permit in Turkey?

Pursuant to Article 38 of the Law, those who submit the information and documents related to this request from those who request a student residence permit for necessary reasons; those who are not among the foreigners who will not be allowed to enter Turkey, and those who provide the address information where they will stay in Turkey may be entitled to receive a student residence permit.

How to Apply for a Student Residence Permit in Turkey

The first step for applying for a student residence permit is to enrol in the relevant school or university. The second stage of applying for a student residence permit in Turkey is to apply from ikamet. The applicant should first must attend the appointment made upon application in person. Residence permit applications in Turkey cannot be made through consulates at the moment and applications are received by the governorship of the city where the applicant wishes to reside. Applications for residence permits in Turkey are finalised within a maximum of 90 days and this period is also valid for short-term residence permits.

Required Documents For Student Residence Permit In Turkey

Documents necessary for student resident permit application in Turkey are as follows:

1. Residence Permit Application Form 
2. Photocopy of passport or passport substitute document
3. Four (4) pcs biometric photos
4. Statement on having sufficient and regular financial means throughout the stay
5. Document/receipt for the payment of residence permit card fee
6. Valid health insurance
7. Document of Residence (a photocopy of the title deed; a notarized copy of your rental agreement; proof of your stay in hotel, etc.; a document showing that you are staying in the dormitory; the notarized undertaking of the host

These documents would be sufficent for the application of student residence permit of whom receiving education for associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctor’s degree.

For primary and secondary education, also a visa conforming to the reason of stay to be obtained from the foreign representations of the Republic of Turkey should be submitted. Those who receives specialisation training in medicine or dentistry should also submit the documentation of necessary exams such as TUS or DUS.

Renewal of a Student Residence Permit

The renewal of the student residence permit is also subject to the general provisions regarding the renewal or extension of the residence permit and is regulated in Article 24 of Law No. 6458.

Applications for renewal of the residence permit must be made sixty days before the expiration of the residence permit and in any case before the expiration of the residence permit. The document showing that the application for renewal of the residence permit has been made provides the right to legally stay in Turkey even if the residence permit has expired.

The documents required for student residence permit extension applications are the same as those required for the initial application.

Common Reasons for Rejection Of Student Residence Permit

The reasons for the rejection, cancellation or non-renewal of a short-term residence permit are indicated in Article 40 of the aforementioned Law. Accordingly, if the conditions sought for the applicant for the granting of a student residence permit are not met or are eliminated; if there is evidence that the study cannot be continued; if the student residence permit is used for purposes other than intended, or if a valid deportation or entry ban decision is issued for the foreign student granted the permit, the granted student residence permit is canceled, the student residence permit application is rejected or the student residence permit is not renewed.

Appeal Against Student Residence Permit Rejection or Cancellation

If the application for a student residence permit is rejected or if the application for an extension of the student residence permit is denied or if the student residence permit is canceled, it is possible to appeal. The foreigner may apply to the Administrative Court within 60 days after the rejection decision is notified to him/her and file a lawsuit for the cancellation of the residence permit application rejection decision. If this lawsuit is concluded in favour of the foreigner, the rejection decision taken by the administration will be cancelled. Upon the rejection of the residence permit application, the foreigner must leave the country within 10 days after the expiry of the visa or visa exemption. If the foreigner does not have a visa or visa exemption, he/she must leave the country within 10 days from the notification of the rejection decision. Although the lawsuit filed for the cancellation of the rejection decision does not eliminate this requirement, this requirement can be postponed with a stay of execution decision.

Student Residence Permit Fees and Costs

The costs of student residence permits in Turkey consist of two main items: document fee and residence permit fee. The residence permit document fee is 565TL as of 2024. The residence permit fee varies according to the nationality of the applicant. In addition, residence permit applications include extra costs such as health insurance costs, notary fees, translation of documents, and so on.

Rights and Limitations of a Student Residence Permit in Turkey

Under this heading, information will be provided on the privileges provided by the student residence permit and the limitations imposed on student residence permit holders.

Firstly, pursuant to Article 41 of the aforementioned law; ‘Associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students receiving formal education in Turkey may work provided that they obtain a work permit. However, the right to work for associate and undergraduate students starts after the first year and is regulated by the relevant laws and presidential decrees. ‘ Accordingly, student residence does not provide the privilege of working without a work permit. In addition, associate degree and undergraduate students cannot work during their first year in Turkey.

Prior to the amendment made to this Law by Article 27 of Law No. 6735 in 2016, undergraduate and associate degree students had the right to work part-time up to 24 hours per week after completing the first year of their education, but with this regulation, this privilege granted to student residence permit holders has been eliminated.

It should also be noted that a student residence permit does not entitle the student’s parents and other relatives to a family residence permit. Family members of student residence permit holders cannot benefit from the family residence permit and student residence permit holders cannot be sponsored under the family residence permit.