If you are looking for information about the requirements for student residence in Turkey, you will find in this article everything you need to know. We will mention the most important requirements for this residence, accompanied by an extensive explanation of it, its advantages, and its cost.
In addition, we will discuss the living costs that meet your basic needs as a student in Turkey, and finally, we will provide a section that answers frequently asked questions about this topic.
Skyline Education wishes you an enjoyable follow-up and a beneficial read.
What are the Requirements for Student Residence in Turkey
Student residence, or as it is called in Turkish "öğrenci ikamet izni", is a legal residence document that allows foreign students in Turkey to reside in the country while studying at Turkish universities or secondary institutions. To obtain it, you must provide the following requirements:
- A travel visa to Turkey.
- An online appointment booking from the Immigration Office of the region where you will reside.
- Health insurance.
- A copy of your passport.
- A housing contract or proof of accommodation.
- Between 4 and 8 biometric passport-sized photos.
- A copy of the student document (which you can obtain from your university).
- Payment of the required fee, which is only 10 dollars.
After confirming that you meet the requirements for student residence in Turkey and preparing the required documents, you can then go to the Immigration Office and submit your file to the responsible officer who will grant you a short-term residence permit until your official residence permit is sent from the capital, Ankara.
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What are the Advantages of Student Residence?
Continuing our discussion on the requirements for student residence in Turkey, it is important to understand the benefits of this residence. Foreign students, upon obtaining their student residence in Turkey, enjoy a set of advantages such as:
- Legal residence in Turkey throughout the duration of their studies.
- Freedom of movement within Turkish provinces without any restrictions.
- The ability to travel to and from Turkey without needing to obtain an entry visa upon return.
- Access to a transportation card that offers significant discounts on various public transport modes.
- The right to work in Turkey if a work permit is obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Labor under certain conditions.
- Discounts on health insurance.
It is also worth noting that one of the advantages of student residence in Turkey is that it is not mandatory at any stage; it is not a requirement for accepting a foreign student in Turkish universities. Therefore, students have the freedom to choose whether to obtain it or not, and they can study on a tourist or work residence if available.
What is the Living Cost in Turkey for Students?
After learning about the requirements and advantages of student residence in Turkey, we will now inform you of the expected cost of living for a student in Turkey, which is generally very affordable relative to the student's financial capacity and is among the lowest compared to many European countries and even some Arab countries.
1- Cost of Housing:
The Turkish government supports students by providing them with student housing affiliated with the universities they attend, which is estimated to cost about 50 dollars per month with two meals provided daily. In contrast, private student housing costs range between 150 and 250 dollars per month with daily meals included.
Additionally, students can certainly choose to live in a private apartment, the monthly rental cost of which varies based on several factors such as the province, location, size, and amenities; however, it generally does not exceed approximately 300 dollars.
2- Cost of Food:
As mentioned, student housing provides meals for students. However, if you choose to purchase your own food, you will find that the cost of food in Turkey is very low. For example, you can buy bread for 2 Turkish Lira, while the price per kilogram of vegetables and fruits ranges between 1 and 10 Turkish Lira. Similarly, the cost of rice and pastries per kilogram ranges between 1 and 4 Turkish Lira.
3- Cost of Transportation:
Regarding transportation costs, students enjoy a significant discount of up to 70% off the regular fare for an average person. Moreover, students can save even more by obtaining a monthly transportation subscription within the city, which offers 180 trips for 50 Turkish Lira per month.
4- Cost of Access to Entertainment Centers:
Most resorts and tourist centers offer special discounted prices for students that are much lower than the regular price. These venues include cinemas, parks, gardens, and all other entertainment spots in Turkey. For instance, a student can enter a cinema for 15 Turkish Lira per person, and attend concerts with a ticket priced at only 35 Turkish Lira.
How Can the Student Residence Be Renewed?
Two months before your student residence expires, you must begin the renewal process to avoid issues with the unavailability of soon appointments.
The procedures begin by submitting a residence renewal request via the official website of the General Directorate of Migration Management. Then, you must go to the directorate corresponding to your area, submit the required documents along with the renewal request, and you will be given a temporary document until your renewed residence permit is sent to your address by Turkish post.
Additionally, when renewing the student residence in Turkey, you must provide the following:
- The student document, or “Öğrenci belgesi”, which is issued to university students to prove that they are enrolled in that university.
- The residence application form printed from the Immigration Directorate's website after booking an appointment, signed by you or your legal representative.
- A copy of your current residence permit.
- The original passport.
- Passport-sized photos with a white background.
- A document from the civil registry (Nüfus kaydı) indicating that you are currently residing at the specified address.
- Valid health insurance.
- A copy of the fee payment receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Residence in Turkey:
Many students have various questions regarding the requirements for student residence in Turkey or about student residence in general. We will now attempt to answer the most important and frequently asked questions:
-How long can a holder of a student residence permit stay outside Turkey?
A student can stay outside Turkey for an open period until the residence permit expires. However, they must return to Turkey before it expires; otherwise, if it expires while they are abroad, they will have to apply for a new visa.
-How long does it take to obtain a student residence permit in Turkey?
Obtaining a student residence permit in Turkey takes approximately between 15 and 30 days, starting from the date you receive the temporary paper permit.
-Can a tourist residence be converted into a student residence?
A student can convert their tourist residence into a student residence once they enroll in a Turkish private or public university. This is done by going to the Immigration Office, presenting the student document, and then the office will process the conversion of the tourist residence into a student residence.
-Can a student be naturalized through this residence permit?
The student residence permit grants its holder the right to apply for Turkish citizenship if they have held it for 5 years, regardless of their status.
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This brings us to the conclusion of the Skyline Education article, which covered the topic of student residence requirements in Turkey along with other important information.
For more articles related to all the information that matters to students, please visit our website. You can also contact us if you have any inquiries, as we are always ready to provide consultations and services.
This article was prepared by the editorial team at Skyline Holding, which is affiliated with Skyline Education.