If you wish to stay in Turkey after your studies, you must obtain a residence permit or “ikamet” for Turkey. Generally, if you find a job after graduation and stay in Turkey, you can access excellent opportunities. In this article, we aim to explain in more detail the conditions for staying in Turkey after studying. Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about this topic.Continuing Education in TurkeyBefore discussing the topic of staying after studying in Turkey, a brief explanation of the benefits of continuing education in this growing and beautiful country is provided for those seeking educational migration to Turkey. One important aspect of studying in Turkey is that, unlike countries such as Canada, applicants do not need a visa to study. The tuition fees at public and Turkish-language universities in Turkey are almost free, and compared to studying in other renowned countries like the UK, Australia, and Canada, it is much more advantageous for students.Additionally, studying in Turkey offers the benefit of the high recognition of Turkish university degrees, so there is no need for degree equivalency or validation in other countries. Outstanding and eligible students can also benefit from special scholarship opportunities in Turkey, similar to those offered by Canada. Overall, continuing education in neighboring Turkey offers many advantages compared to universities in Iran and even top universities in Europe and the USA.Conditions for Obtaining Residency After Studying in TurkeyTo obtain residency after studying in Turkey, you can either invest, marry a Turkish citizen, or obtain a work permit in Turkey. Most people applying for residency in Turkey after their studies prefer the third option, which is obtaining a work permit, as it is the easiest and fastest route to permanent residency. It’s important to know that there are two ways to apply for a work permit: from within Turkey or from abroad. If applying for a work permit for residency after studying in Turkey from outside the country, the following steps must be followed:
Applicants must visit the Turkish consulate in their home country and submit their work contract, invitation letter, or partnership certificate to apply for a work permit.
The work permit application will be evaluated, and the result will be announced both online and in writing.
After receiving the work permit in Turkey, the applicant must submit it to the Turkish consulate in their home country within 90 working days and apply for a residency permit within 30 days of entering Turkey.
Once the work permit is received and the foreign individual enters Turkey, the employer must visit the Turkish Social Security Administration to insure the individual.
For individuals who wish to apply for a work permit from within Turkey within six months after graduation, the following steps are required:
Initially, the applicant must submit their work permit application online through the club system while residing in Turkey after graduation. They should then send their signed paper application along with other required documents in person or by mail to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
If the foreign applicant receives a positive result, they must apply for a Turkish work residency permit within 30 days.
Reasons for Obtaining Residency After Studying in TurkeyThere are various reasons why individuals may apply for residency in Turkey after their studies. You can apply for residency in Turkey after your studies in the following cases:
Formal employment
Engaging in business or investment
Education at local universities, participating in student exchange programs
Humanitarian reasons, such as being victims of human trafficking or refugees
Providing medical care in clinics
It is important to note that according to the laws of the Republic of Turkey, a foreign citizen who has residency in Turkey after studying and purchasing property has the right to permanent residency in the country. The price and location of the property do not matter; what is important is that the property owner can prove they own Turkish property, meaning they have a TAPU certificate (property title deed).Steps to Obtain Residency in Turkey After StudyingObtaining residency in Turkey after studying is an issue that anyone who wishes to stay in Turkey for an extended period must face. If you understand the process in detail, it won’t be very difficult. The key to obtaining residency after studying in Turkey is having reliable information. Therefore, receiving a post-study residence permit in Turkey allows you to stay legally in the country for a long period. Additionally, with residency after studying in Turkey, you can benefit from the following advantages:
Receive medical care with insurance
Enroll your child in a public school
Apply for the purchase of a car
Apply for higher education
Laws Regarding Obtaining Residency After Studying in TurkeyAfter graduation, international students who wish to migrate to Turkey for further studies can find job opportunities as researchers or employees in universities, especially in those offering programs taught in English. Non-Turkish citizens must obtain a work permit after receiving a job offer. The list of required documents for obtaining a post-study residency permit in Turkey includes:
Printed and signed ikamet (residence permit) application form
International passport with at least 60 days of validity after the expiration of the current visa
Biometric photo, taken in the last 6 months with a white background
Proof of financial means during your stay in Turkey
Health insurance
A document confirming the purpose of your residency after studying in Turkey, such as a certificate from your educational institution, rental agreement, etc., which must be notarized
Payment verification for the government processing fee
Certificate of no criminal record
If you do not present any documents on the day of your appointment or if the immigration officer requests additional documentation, you will be given an extension, and a new appointment will be scheduled, usually within a month. The process of obtaining residency after studying in Turkey requires time and precise information.Methods to Obtain Residency After Studying in TurkeyIf you have completed your higher education at a university in Turkey, there are several ways to apply for residency in Turkey after studying. Below, each method for obtaining post-study residency in Turkey is explained in detail.
Changing a Student Visa to a Work Visa
If you plan to stay in Turkey after you study for further education, you will need a student visa. This visa will expire once your course is completed. In such cases, changing your student visa to a work visa can be a way to obtain residency in Turkey. After six months of graduation, you can apply for a short-term residency, which can last up to one year.Please note that to obtain a work visa, the job position you intend to pursue in Turkey will be evaluated. If approved, you will be granted the work permit. For example, if you plan to work in engineering, you will need to submit your academic credentials to the relevant organization.
Obtaining Residency Through Investment
Another way to obtain residency in Turkey after studying is through investment. You can acquire permanent residency and even citizenship in Turkey by investing a substantial amount of money, either in dollars or Turkish lira. Investment is another method for obtaining post-study residency in Turkey, and you can do so through the following methods:
Purchasing or pre-purchasing property worth $400,000
Starting a business in Turkey and employing at least 50 people
Having a minimum of $500,000 in one of Turkey’s reputable banks
Buying shares in a Turkish real estate investment fund worth $500,000
Owning residential property worth $75,000 and using it for residential purposes (not as an office or commercial property, etc.)
Post-Graduation Residency in Turkey: Obtaining Family Residency
After studying in Turkey, you can benefit from the country’s family residency option. This can be applied to after marrying a Turkish citizen. This type of residency post-study in Turkey applies to Turkish nationals, holders of secondary protection, foreigners, and refugees with permits. To obtain family residency in Turkey, the following conditions must be met:
The family’s total income must be at least equal to the minimum wage set by the Ministry of Labor. The share of each family member should not be less than one-third of the income of the applicant.
Housing must meet health and safety standards, considering the size of the family.
All family members must have insurance coverage.
The applicant must have at least one year of residency in Turkey (this condition does not apply to those who have married a Turkish citizen).
Registration in the address registration system.
Costs for Obtaining Residency After Graduation in TurkeyThe cost of obtaining residency after graduation in Turkey depends on various factors, which are outlined below. Please note that these amounts may change over time, but as of 2024, the following are the estimated living and residency costs for students in Turkey:
1,040 TRY for the residency permit fee
Health insurance costs, depending on the applicant’s age, range from 500 to 1,750 TRY
450 TRY for notary office and translation services
23 TRY for apostille certification per page
SummaryThere are three common methods for obtaining residency after graduation in Turkey. If you plan to work as a graduate in Turkey, you can convert your student visa to a work visa and apply for residency. Alternatively, you can obtain permanent residency through investment in Turkey.Real estate purchases, entrepreneurship, financial investments in Turkish banks, stock purchases, and ownership of immovable residential properties are some of the investment methods available. Additionally, family residency can be obtained through marriage to a Turkish citizen. For more information about residency conditions after graduation in Turkey and to receive a free consultation, you can contact our experts at Elm Vira Migration Institute.
Conditions for Obtaining Residency After Studying in Turkey
To obtain residency after studying in Turkey, you can either invest, marry a Turkish citizen, or obtain a work permit in Turkey. Most people applying for residency in Turkey after their studies prefer the third option, which is obtaining a work permit, as it is the easiest and fastest route to permanent residency. It’s important to know that there are two ways to apply for a work permit: from within Turkey or from abroad. If applying for a work permit for residency after studying in Turkey from outside the country, the following steps must be followed:
