-Short-Term Tourist Residence Permit (for Tourism Purposes)

Turkey is the only country in the world that grants this type of residence permit, due to the tremendous diversity of tourism in Turkey — one that cannot be covered within the relatively short duration of a tourist visa, given the many distances, cities, regions, exhibitions, museums, islands, and mountains that are well worth visiting. So what are the requirements for obtaining a tourist residence permit? Below we detail the process for obtaining a tourist residence permit, following the order of this table of contents:

- Online appointment

- Mandatory health insurance for the tourist residence permit

- Tax number

- Certified passport translation

- Payment of residence permit fees

- Personal photos

1. Online Appointment

This can be obtained through the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management website. Important notes from Hallak Turkey that no one else will tell you: pay close attention to the accuracy of the information in the application when booking your appointment. First, write your first and last name exactly as they appear on your passport — this is especially important for nationalities whose names are written in a compound, multi-part format, where the names must be distributed between the "first name" and "last name" fields so that, when combined, they exactly match your passport name. Correcting a name after the residence permit has been issued is costly and very difficult, and will cause problems opening bank accounts or dealing with the notary due to the mismatch. Use a recent biometric photo (less than 6 months old) — some residence applications have been rejected because of the photo. Declare your source of income and your ability to support yourself while living in Turkey, stating an accurate figure for your income in Turkish lira and its source. Filling in the occupation field is very important. State the date you moved to your address in Turkey so that it matches the rental contract date as closely as possible, or the date of property ownership. Link your health insurance number and its date to the appointment request accurately. Double-check that your passport number and its start and end dates are entered correctly, or you will not be able to complete the application. Enter a valid Turkish phone number and a correct email, or you will not be able to complete and follow up on your application later. Attention, attention, attention: do not book a residence appointment before entering Turkish territory, whether this is a first-time residence application or a renewal — booking an appointment before entering Turkish territory is a major reason for residence permit rejection. The website offers three options: first-time application, meaning you are applying for the first time while holding a valid, unexpired visa; the second option, extension or renewal of residence, in case you already hold a residence permit and intend to renew it as the same type for a second time; and changing the type of residence, in case you hold a residence permit — for example a tourist one — and want to change it to a family residence permit or another type.

You can request the online appointment booking through Hallak Turkey.

2. Mandatory Health Insurance for the Tourist Residence Permit

This is mandatory for individuals between the ages of 18 and 65. For those younger than 18 or older than 65, health insurance is not a requirement for obtaining residence; otherwise, it is required. To obtain health insurance, only 4 pieces of information are needed from the person: a copy of the passport or residence permit, a detailed home address in Turkey, and the start date of the health insurance — preferably matching the date the residence appointment application is submitted if this is a first-time application, or matching the expiry date of the current residence permit if it is a renewal. Health insurance prices vary by age and gender. You can click the link to get health insurance prices. Hallak Turkey is an official agent and partner of dozens of private insurance companies. With Hallak Turkey, you will get the best prices and the best quality — yes, you are in the right place.

You can request health insurance through Hallak Turkey.

3. Tax Number

This is implicitly required in order to pay the residence fees mentioned below, and it can be obtained through the Tax Office's website. Hallak Turkey recommends paying close attention to the information and entering it correctly, matching your passport exactly, since correcting it later consumes a great deal of time and effort. After obtaining the tax number, you can save it on your phone or on paper, as you will need it later in many procedures until the residence permit is issued.

You can request the tax number through Hallak Turkey.

4. Certified Passport Translation

The notary in Turkey (known as "Noter") requires a translation and certification of the passport into Turkish, due to differences in naming conventions between the Turkish system and other countries. Hallak Turkey advises you to keep a copy of the translated and notarized passport, as you will need it in many subsequent transactions in Turkey.

You can request the sworn translation and notary certification through Hallak Turkey.

5. Payment of Residence Permit Fees

These fees/taxes are divided into three categories and vary depending on nationality, the requested residence duration (one year or less, or two years), and the exchange rate of the US dollar against the Turkish lira, since the fee is originally set in dollars and converted to Turkish lira at the time of payment.

Hallak Turkey breaks down these fee categories as follows: the cost of printing the residence card, which as of 2022 is a fixed 160 Turkish lira with no variation by nationality or residence duration; the fee related to nationality, residence duration, and the dollar-to-lira exchange rate, which ranges from about 200 Turkish lira up to around 2,000 Turkish lira; and a third fee, specific to nationalities that enter the Republic of Turkey without a visa, called the visa-fee equivalent, which ranges from $60 to $150 or its equivalent in Turkish lira. You can pay the fee through the website or by visiting your nearest tax office. A piece of information Hallak Turkey shares with you exclusively: the visa-fee equivalent cannot be paid through the website and must be paid manually at the tax office. Tax offices do not accept payment by bank card. Tax offices accept payments in Turkish lira only. The official website only accepts bank cards issued by Turkish state-owned banks.

You can request tax payment through Hallak Turkey.

6. Personal Photos

A recent biometric photo (less than 6 months old); 4 photos are required whether the application is a first-time residence or a renewal. Hallak Turkey advises you to request a digital copy of the photos via WhatsApp or email for later use when booking the online appointment.

- A copy of the passport, the visa, and the latest entry stamp into the Republic of Turkey.

7. Rental Contract

The rental contract must list the names of all adults over the age of 18, with each person's signature on the contract, along with the property owner's (the landlord's) information and signature. A very important note regarding the rental contract: under the new version, it is now required — and has become mandatory as of 2022 — for the tenant(s) to appear in person with their passports, and for the property owner to appear with their national ID if they are a Turkish citizen (or their legal representative may attend on their behalf), before the notary to draw up the rental contract. The copy must be an original in the file of every adult over 18 years old; a non-original copy is sufficient in the files of children under 18. In the case of a renewal application, an address registration document — known as "Adres Kayıt" — can be added instead, which replaces the rental contract only for residence renewal cases.

You can request everything related to the rental contract through Hallak Turkey.

A Quick Fact from Hallak Turkey:

If one of my children is under the age of 18, what documents should be included in the residence file?

Answer: the online appointment confirmation, personal photos, the original tax payment receipt, a copy of the rental contract, a copy of the child's passport with the latest entry stamp and visa, a translated and certified copy of the family register or family statement (a birth certificate for the child certified by the home country's foreign ministry and that country's embassy in Turkey may be requested, depending on nationality, followed by certification from the local district governor's office, then translated and certified by the notary), official guardianship documentation and consent from the absent parent if either the father or mother is absent, a copy of the father's and mother's passports, and a copy of the first page of the father's and mother's residence appointment confirmation.

You can request everything related to translation through Hallak Turkey.