In recent years, Turkey has become a popular destination country for immigration, mainly as a result of its geographical location.
The numbers migrating to Turkey in 2020 were up to 677,042 - an increase of 17.2% compared to the previous year. 54.4 percent of these were men and 45.6 percent were women. Some of these applications were also rejected. So far in 2021, Turkey has issued residence permits to 820,000 people.
1. Turkish Residence Permits: staying longer than 3 months
In Turkey, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit if you plan to stay longer than 90 days or more from the date of any visa expiration. Residence permit applications are made by the person individually or through their legal representative. Those who will apply for a residence permit must be in the country. Currently, it is not possible to apply for a residence permit from the consulates in the country of origin.
Residence permits vary according to the purpose and status of the person. Residence permit types are listed in the relevant provisions as short-term residence permit, family residence permit, student residence permit, long-term residence permit, humanitarian residence permit.
The application file must be documented in detail according to the legal status of the person and the type of permit applied for. Nearly half of the rejected applications in 2020 were rejected due to missing documentation.
2. Social Security and Health Insurance
Health insurance is one of the most important conditions for residency applications. The applicant must have valid health insurance that covers the requested residency period.
Turkey has mutual international agreements with various countries like France and Germany on social security and health insurance. Citizens of countries with mutual agreements with Turkey can benefit from health insurance in their own country by following the appropriate procedures.
The easiest solution for citizens of those countries with no agreement with Turkey is to obtain private health insurance. The cost of private health insurance varies according to all countries and is often high. However, the policies of those who will apply for a residence permit must cover certain conditions and do not have to pay a high price after these policies are checked. It will be beneficial to get help from an experienced immigration lawyer in this regard.
3. Application Process
Applicants must declare their address in Turkey accurately and completely. The residence permit will also provide you with a foreigner identification number. Foreigner identification numbers are just like Turkish citizenship identification numbers. This ID number will be required at all institutions within the country.
It is important when considering making an application for residency in Turkey that only certain persons can make the application for a residence permit, including lawyers in Turkey.
The Immigration Administration does not work with third persons or legal entities in matters regarding foreigners. It has been determined that forged documents are produced by individuals and companies doing business for a certain fee to be used in residence permit applications. Criminal sanctions are imposed in case of forged documents. When applying for a residence permit, working with a lawyer who specializes in residence permits will protect you against all such risks.
