There are many necessary procedures and immigration requirements in order to immigrate to Turkey and build a stable life in it.
Immigration procedures to Turkey
Whatever country you come from, or the reason that drives you to Immigrate to Turkey, you undoubtedly need a valid passport, as its remaining validity period should not be less than three months (90 days).
Rather, it is preferable to renew it even if 6 months may remain until the end of its term. As for the rest of the immigration procedures to Turkey, they are as follows:
Visa to Turkey
The first step you to immigrate to Turkey is to obtain a suitable visa that allows you to stay in Turkey for a long period of more than 90 days.
Apply for a suitable visa from the Turkish embassy in your home country, and be sure to do so several months before your scheduled travel date, as the procedures for approving your application and then issuing the visa may take several months.
The main types of Turkish visas that enable you to immigrate and reside there for a long time are:
Work visa
You must apply for a work visa in Turkey at least two months before your scheduled travel date.
At the same time, the Turkish business owner must send specific documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security, and thus work begins on issuing both the work visa and the work permit at the same time.
Residence visa
If you want to immigrate to Turkey or live or stay for a period that exceeds what the tourist visa allows (which has a duration of only 90 days), you can apply in this case for a residence visa or a residence visa. It is worth noting that this visa does not allow you to work in Turkey, so you must submit documents that show your ability to support yourself financially during your stay there.
Student visa
It is intended for students wishing to enroll in Turkish universities or Turkish language programs. In order to apply for this visa, you need to attach a letter from the university or academic institution in which you have enrolled proving your registration in it. This visa cancels one year and allows you to leave Turkey and return to it an unlimited number of times.
After your application is approved, you can then pay the visa and work permit fees, and you must then apply for residency within 30 days of your arrival in Turkey.
You are not allowed to start work unless you obtain all of these permits (visa, Work permit, residence permit).
The other types of visas are:
Tourist visa
It is often given upon arrival in Turkey.
Research visa
It’s given for researchers.
Film visa
It’s given to those wishing to shoot movies and advertisements in Turkey.
Work permit in Turkey
In order to be able to work legally in Turkey, you must apply for a work permit.
You can apply for a work permit, whether in your country, when you apply for a work visa, and you can also apply for it while in Turkey in case you have obtained a residence visa and a valid residence permit for at least six months.
As for those who enter Turkey with a tourist visa, they are not eligible to apply for a work permit.
Work permit extension
The work permit is usually valid for one year. In order to renew your permit, you must apply for an extension two and a half months before the expiry date of your current permit. If approved, your new work permit will be extended for a period of two years, and if you extend it for a third time, the new permit will be valid for three years. After 8 years of working in Turkey legally, you can apply for an unspecified work permit, which (as its name indicates) does not need to be renewed.
Independent work permit
In the event that you have worked in Turkey legally for a period of 5 years without interruption, you can apply here for an independent work permit, as this permit allows you to work for your own account, which is an important step in case you want to establish your own project in Turkey.
Residency in Turkey
As explained above, in order to live and work in Turkey, you need to obtain a work permit and a residence permit, and you are not allowed to work unless you have these three documents. We have previously talked about visas and work permits, and below we will talk about residence permits.
Types of residence permit
First of all, there are several types of Turkish residency, as follows:
- Short-term residence permit.
- Residence permit for students.
- Family residence permit.
- Long-term residence permit.
- Residence permit for victims of human trafficking.
- Humanitarian residence permit (for refugees)
Documents for residence permit
In order to apply for a residence permit, you must submit the following documents:
- Passport size photos (4 to 8 photos).
- A passport that is valid for at least 60 days from the expiration date of the residence permit you are applying for.
- Application to apply for a residence permit.
- Entry visa to Turkey.
Of course, you may need other documents depending on the type of residence you are applying for. The duration of the permit ranges from 6 months to five years, while the cost of issuing it is 80 dollars.
Renewal of the residence permit
If you want to renew your residence permit in Turkey, you must do so at least 60 days before the expiry date of your current residence. During this period, you will be given a document stating that the new residence permit is in effect.
Long-term residence permit
You can apply for a long-term residence permit in Turkey, if you meet the following conditions:
- Having an adequate and stable income to support yourself (and your family).
- Spend 8 continuous years in Turkey.
- She has not received social assistance for the last three years.
- Have valid health insurance (for applicants under the age of 65).
- As for the procedures for obtaining this permit, it is the same as the rest of the residence permits in Turkey.
- They do not pose a threat to the security or stability of the country.
Citizenship in Turkey
After you spent several years in Turkey, and in case you did not intend to leave the country, it may be time to apply for Turkish citizenship and become a Turkish citizen with all the rights and privileges available to Turks.
Conditions for Turkish citizenship
The conditions that qualify you to immigrate to Turkey and obtain Turkish citizenship are very simple and clear, as follows:
- You must have resided in Turkey for no less than five years, with an average stay abroad of no more than 6 months. This period decreases to 3 years if you are married / married to a Turkish / Turkish citizen, or if you were born in Turkey.
- You have reached the legal age (as stipulated in the laws of your country).
- To be in good health
- Ability to speak Turkish.
- Provide evidence of having the financial ability to live in Turkey.
- Not have a criminal record.
Documents to apply for Turkish citizenship
When applying for Turkish citizenship, you will need the following documents:
- A medical certificate proving that you are mentally and physically healthy.
- A valid passport.
- A document explaining the relationship between you and your partner and your children, if any (family book or equivalent).
When submitting these documents to the municipality council in the city in which you live, you will be required to fill out a number of forms and application requests, and you will also have to pay the application fee, in order for work to begin on the procedures for granting you citizenship, where you will be informed of the result by e-mail.