Getting a residence permit in Turkey

What you need for a residence permit

• Passport and photocopies of the pages with your photograph and your last entry stamp
• Previous residence permit (if renewing)
• A recent bank print out showing you have sufficient funds in Turkey. Approximately 900 USD per year. Alternatively, currency exchange receipts.
• Cash. You need about 150 Lira per person for the blue residence permit booklet (first time and when it is full). Citizens of most OECD countries need about 80 USD per person for a one year residence permit. You will pay in Turk Lira based on the daily exchange rate. Citizens of different countries may have different fees. Children enrolled in schools are free.
• Passport sized photographs. At least 5 or 6. For renewals less are required. Tell the photographer they are for an ikamet so they give you the right size.
• Any visas or paperwork related to your visa (work permit, proof of educational enrollment for students, etc.)
• Two forms. Both are available from the foreigners department desk and ask similar information - Your Name (as in your passport), Your parents' names, Passport information, Place and Date of birth, Nationality, Religion, Previous residence permit information, Address, Telephone, Email, Reason for requesting residence.
• Marriage certificate (for married couples) translated into Turkish. This was required previously, but this year it was not required.
• Birth certificate (for a foreign baby born in Turkey applying for their first residence) in Turkish

What happens during the process

1. You may need to wait a long time in a queue. The office may be full of people, but there will be only two or three who can actually help you with the application. The Izmir office recently installed a queue system similar to the banks, where you get a number and wait until is is displayed on a screen. Before you visit or while you are waiting, fill in the forms and present all your documents to the foreigners department desk.
2. You may be sent to another desk to get a printout of information about your latest entry from your passport. Take this back to the foreigners department desk.
3. They will check you have all the required paperwork and will send you to another office get it dated, stamped and signed. You may be asked for more paperwork. At this point they may ask for money for the blue residence permit book (first time). They may also give you a slip of paper for the cashier.
4. Go and get the stamps and signature.
5. Take the stamped documents back to the foreigners department desk. They will keep your passport and documents and they will give you a slip of paper for the cashier.
6. Go and pay the cashier the amount on the paper and collect the receipt. You will need your tax number for the cashier.
7. Hand over the receipt to the foreigners department desk. They will give you a slip of paper with your name and the date. Keep this safe because you need to bring this back to collect your permit next week.
8. One week later. Return to collect your residence permit and passport. You need to sign a couple of forms to indicate you have received them.
9. A few days later. Expect a visit at home from a local police officer to confirm your residency. They may ask your neighbors about you. If you are not home, they will leave a note and you will need to go to your local police station to answer questions about your residency.