Family Reunification Visa, or Visit Visa, to Turkey:

Many Syrians and other foreigners, whether residing in Turkey or holding Turkish citizenship, are currently seeking to reunite with their families by applying for a family reunification visa or family visit visa. Holders of a temporary protection Kimlik, a tourist residence permit, a work residence permit, or Turkish citizenship are entitled to apply for a visa for their families to come to Turkey. In this article, we will detail everything related to family reunification to Turkey, with the content organized as follows:

-What Procedures Are Required to Reunite with My Family (Priority Given to First-Degree Relatives)

-The Invitation to Visit Turkey

-The Documents Required to Apply for the Visa-Frequently Asked Questions

-What Procedures Are Required to Reunite with My Family (Priority Given to First-Degree Relatives)?

1-The Invitation to Visit Turkey:

This is done by the person legally residing in Turkey or the person holding Turkish citizenship. It is initiated at the notary in Turkey, and it's preferable to have it certified by the governor (vali) or district governor (kaymakam) of the city they reside in. The notary will ask the inviting person for their passport, translated and certified at the notary, their residence permit of whatever type, copies of the passports of the people they wish to invite, which Turkish consulate or embassy they wish to apply at, and some personal information such as phone number and email. A Kimlik holder only needs the Kimlik, provided it was issued in the same city where they wish to make the invitation from (for example, an Istanbul Kimlik submits its invitation in Istanbul), while a citizenship holder's national ID card is enough to submit the invitation.

The content of the invitation states that the inviting person undertakes to cover the invited persons' medical treatment and healthcare, accommodation, transportation, and everything related to them in Turkey. Accordingly, they will later need to attach documents confirming their financial capability when applying for the visa (a bank statement or a salary statement).

2-The Documents Required to Apply for the Visa:

The invitation is one of the documents required to obtain the visa, and is not a visa in itself, as many people believe. We list first the documents required from the inviting person:

• The invitation from the notary.

• A civil registry record from Turkey, if they are a Turkish citizen, showing the differences in the name before and after obtaining Turkish citizenship.

• A copy of the Kimlik or residence permit along with the passport, translated and certified at the notary.

• An address registration record or proof of residence from the local muhtar (neighborhood headman) or from the government's e-Devlet application.

• A bank statement or a salary statement from the company where the inviting person works.

• Proof of social security, known as sigorta.

• A rental contract certified at the Turkish notary.

• If the invited person is the husband or wife, proof of marriage must be attached, such as the marriage certificate, or a family statement if it's for the wife and children.

• A consent and no-objection statement from the father for his wife, or vice versa, must be prepared if the visa application is for children under the age of eighteen.

• Travel insurance specific to the visa, for each of the invited persons.

• A flight reservation matching the Turkish visa application date and the entry date to Turkey.

• A certificate of no criminal record for the inviting person, obtained from the e-Devlet electronic portal.

As for the documents required from the invited persons, they are as follows:

+A family registry record certified by the foreign ministry of the country it was issued from, to show the family relationship.

+A certificate of no criminal record certified by the foreign ministry of the country it was issued from — this is for persons over the age of eighteen, not for children.

+A salary statement, a title deed (tapu), or leave approval from work (these serve as proof of reason to return).+4 biometric personal photos specific to the visa.+Passports, valid for a minimum of one year.

+Filling out the form designated for obtaining the visa.

+A round-trip flight reservation matching the visa appointment date and the entry date to Turkey.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Can family reunification to Turkey be done through land border crossings?Answer: Unfortunately, at present this cannot be done through land border crossings, and is exclusively done through air crossings and airports — meaning you must apply for the visa at the Turkish embassies and consulates abroad and obtain the visa first, and entry into the country takes place through airports.

Question: Must the original documents of the inviting person and the invitation be sent, or is a color copy sufficient?

Answer: Previously, a color copy of the documents was sufficient; however, currently the original documents must be sent by courier to the invited person so they can submit them among the visa application documents.