Short-term residence permit for foreigners in Turkey
1-Foreigners to conduct a scientific study:
If a foreigner applies for a residence permit to conduct a scientific study and if the scientific study in question is subject to a preliminary consent, that consent should be obtained from the relevant institution or authority; if it is not subject to such consent, a statement describing the subject of the scientific study should be given.
2-Foreigners owning a real estate in Turkey:
If a foreigner who owns a real estate in Turkey applies for a residence permit, the real estate should be a residential structure and be used for residence purposes. Furthermore, if the real estate is co-owned by the applicant and any member of his/her family, that member may apply for a residence permit too.
3-Foreigners to establish business contacts or to start a business:
If a foreigner who intends to establish business contacts or to start a business applies for residence permit longer than three months, he/she should give a letter of invitation written by such business contact persons or businesses or any other similar document.
4-Foreigners to attend a training program:
Residence permits are issued to foreigners who will attend a training program with reference to the information and documents proving the content, term and location of that training program to be taught by an institution or business.
5-Foreigners to educate in Turkey under conventions or student exchange programs to which Turkey is a signatory:
Foreigners who apply for a residence permit to study here should give the information and documents issued by the relevant institution.
In this case the term of the residence permit will not exceed the term of the relevant education.
If a foreign student arriving under a student exchange program applies for a general health insurance card within three months as from his/her enrollment date, no additional private health insurance cover will be required. If such student does not apply for such card within the said three-month period, he/she will have to buy private health insurance cover.
6-Foreigners to stay for tourism purposes:
If a foreigner applies for a residence permit for tourism purposes, he/she should give a statement describing his/her travel plan. In this case he/she may be asked to give further information or document.
7-Foreigners to undergo medical treatment for any disease except for those considered threat to the public health:
If a foreigner arrives in Turkey to undergo any medical treatment, he/she should check in a public or private hospital. If such foreigner proves that he/she paid up the treatment price in full, he/she will not be required to buy health insurance cover.
Term of the residence permit will equal to the treatment period.
If a foreigner’s accommodation, catering and healthcare costs will be paid by a public institution or agency during the treatment term, he/she will not be obliged to prove his/her financial status or to buy health insurance cover.
Authorities may ask the relevant hospital or public institution or agency for information or document about the treatment given to the foreigner.
Residence permit formalities for persons who accompany foreigners arriving in Turkey to undergo medical treatment under any of the existing healthcare cooperation agreements are subject to the general rules governing residence permits.
Basic Healthcare Services Law No. 3359 orders that maximum two persons who accompany foreigners arriving in Turkey to undergo medical treatment can apply for a residence permit without having to buy health insurance cover.
8- Foreigners to stay in Turkey upon demand or order of a judicial or governmental authority:
Terms of residence permits to be issued to such foreigners will be determined with reference to the term of stay stated in the relevant demand or order.
9-Foreigners no longer eligible for the family residence permit status and changing to the short-term residence permit status:
10-Foreigners to attend a Turkish language course:
If a foreigner enrolls in an institution licensed to teach the Turkish language and applies for a residence permit, he/she may be given such residence permit maximum twice.
If the course term is shorter than one year, the term of the residence permit will not exceed the course term. In this case the institution teaching the course will be obliged to notify the starting date and attendance status of the student to the local area directorate of the Ministry of National Education.
11-Foreigners to attend a training course, research, internship work or course in Turkey through a public agency
Term of residence permits for the above mentioned purposes will not exceed one year. If such foreigner’s accommodation, catering and healthcare costs will be paid by a public institution or agency during the training etc. term, he/she will not be obliged to prove his/her financial status or to buy health insurance cover. In this case the relevant public agency may be asked to give information and documents.
12-Foreigners who complete their higher education in Turkey and apply for a residence permit within six months as from their graduation date
If a foreigner completes his/her higher education in Turkey and applies for a residence permit within six months as from his/her graduation date, a residence permit valid for a maximum term of one year may be issued once for all.
13-Foreigners not working in Turkey, but intending to make an investment in Turkey complying with the scope and value determined by the Council of Ministers, their foreign spouses, and their foreign minor or dependent children:
If a foreigner applies for a residence permit for the above mentioned purpose, a residence permit valid for a maximum term of five years may be issued more than once to him/her.
14-Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus citizens:
If such citizen applies for a residence permit for the above mentioned purpose, a residence permit valid for a maximum term of five years may be issued more than once to him/her.
Duration of short-term residence permits:
Short-term residence permits may be issued to foreigners described above, excluding the ones described in Section 13 and 14 above, for a maximum term of two years each time.
Conditions governing short-term residence permits:
To qualify for a short-term residence permit, a foreigner must meet the qualifications specified in Section 32 of the Foreigners and International Protection Law.
1-Giving information and documents supporting their purpose of stay in Turkey,
2-Not falling in the scope of Section 7 of the above mentioned law,
3-Living in an accommodation meeting the general hygiene and safety standards,
4-Giving a certificate issued by the relevant authority of the country of which he/she is a citizen or where he/she officially resides, proving that he/she does not have any criminal record, upon demand,
5-Notifying the address where he/she will live in Turkey.
Legal grounds to refuse, cancel or not to renew short-term residence permits:
1-The foreigner failing to fulfill or losing any or some of the eligibility conditions required for the short-term residence permit,
2-Finding out that the foreigner uses the short-term residence permit for a purpose other than the purpose it was issued for,
3-The foreigner having a valid deportation order or a valid exclusion order adjudged against him/her,
4-If a foreigner violates the rule governing the duration of stay abroad, no short-term residence permit will be issued to him/her, or his/her short-term residence permit will be revoked or not renewed.
TERMS AND CONDIDITIONS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER
Information given in this website only contains general information and opinions, does not substitute legal recommendation or professional legal service, and may not be used as legal recommendation or professional legal service. You are highly recommended to receive professional legal service and opinion for each case depending on its peculiar circumstances.
Lawyers employed by Gulis Law and Counseling Office are definitely not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information given here. Given that information, laws and stare decisis may abruptly change, the information given here may not be undertaken or guaranteed to be current. You are recommended not to make a business decision based on any part of the information given here, and to buy professional legal service for each case depending on its peculiar circumstances.
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