For a touristic trip, the Turkish government entitles a maximum of 90 days within 180-day period. When compared to its visa duration with many countries, Turkey comes forward as one of the most tolerant countries worldwide. Moreover, you can apply for a visa directly from your hometown as plenty of countries can attain visa access for a small fee at the airport. To check how much money it takes by relating to your country and see the gap between applying from your homeland and the airport, you can have a look at ‘’How Much is a Turkish Visa’’ for further information.
However, e-visa draws a much more certain path on the validation process because, in case of either any mistake, rejection or lack of paperwork, you remain within an insignificant situation. That’s why e-visa prevents all question marks in advance.
So, what if you exceed the visa expiration date reaching up to 90 days? Then, it requires additional fees for each overstay in the country. To expand your living duration in Turkey, you need to apply for the Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM) to keep accommodation issues stable in the country. Thanks to the law that was implemented in 2013, property buyers are ahead of the game with a year-long residency permit guaranteed by the Turkish Government instead of a 3-month residency permit that was previously as so. In parallel with the attempts of regulations made in residency permits, the number of foreigners and expats has been interested in living in Turkey without facing any difficulty.
How Long does the Validity Maintain?
Depending on your travel preference and purposes, residency permit ranges from 6 months up to a 5-year period. On the other hand, even if you get longer residency periods such as 1-year, 2-year terms and 5-year in time, 6-month residency permit is a common type of issued duration in general. One-year residency permit at the beginning is granted only for people who have properties in the country.
How to Apply for Residency Permit?
Together with no need to be in rush, you can apply with the end of 90-day touristic visa because your following days are identified as a part of applying process when you check in Directorate General of Migration Management (DGMM). In that period, we don’t recommend you to leave the country unless it’s necessary. On the other hand, you can travel inside and out within 15 days as you wish.
1ST Step
With the assurance of an unpenalized period during the application phase, you are expected to visit the Directorate General of Migration Management to activate the whole process by filling the online form that pops up the closest DGMM offices around you.
2nd Step
Since the application papers generally consist of Turkish-base terms and explanations, the following items should be with you and your application process is going to be much more delightful if there is a native person while handling the procedure together with you.
3rd Step
When you arrive at DGMM office, documents and forms that definitely be with you are;
● 6 passport sized biometric photos on the white background (might bring more than required in case something additional may reveal)
● 2 copies of the title deed (TAPU) of your property/properties or rental contract that is an apparent document for how much you are paying and the place you live in.
● 2 copies of passport with the original one
● Turkish Tax Number (you need to get tax number in any case before applying for residency permit)
● Residency book if you are not the first-time applicant
● An official plastic residency folder (due to not accepted only as a folder in some cases)
● A bank statement (to clarify fulfilling your keep in here)
● Marriage & Birth Certificates with similar documents (if the application is about family residency permit)
What’s Happening Afterwards?
When your residency permit process is entirely done, you are going to be free to live and enjoy spending time in the dream country as long as you ask for it. In this way, Turkey takes you into consideration as a partly-citizen of itself and blocks off all strict measures to make you feel as if you are in the second homeland.