What is a family residence permit in Turkey and who is it issued to?
A family residence permit in Turkey is a residence permit issued to all family members provided that there is a consenting party, and the person granting this exemption is either a Turkish citizen who can grant residence to family members who have not yet acquired Turkish citizenship or a person who is a citizen of the Republic of Turkey. Having a work permit in Turkey, they can legally grant regular residence permits to family members. You can grant a family residence permit in Turkey to spouses and children who have not reached the age of eighteen, and this period depends on the duration of the work permit if the granting person has a work permit and is not a Turkish citizen. Types of residence in Turkey
A family residence permit or family residence permit is regulated in Articles 34 and 37 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection. These articles are short-term residence permits issued to foreign persons or persons for the purpose of preserving and continuing family unity. It is recognized for foreign citizens with family status.
Conditions for granting a family residence permit in Turkey:
According to Turkish law, the person granting a family residence permit must always meet the following conditions:
The donor’s monthly income must not be less than the minimum wage in Turkey.
The donor must be able to provide housing that is suitable for general living conditions in Turkey.
All family members must be insured with health insurance or “sigurta” in Turkish.
The donor must prove that they have not violated the family system by committing a misdemeanor in the last five years from the date of application for the family residence permit.
The foreign donor must prove that they have resided in Turkey for at least one year.
The person granting the family residence permit must have an address registered with the Population Directorate for the duration of the family residence permit, indicating that the family residence permit is valid for three years from the date of issuance and is subject to renewal.
Documents requested from the applicant for family residence in Turkey:
Make an appointment from the relevant website (you can get help from us on this issue), then come on the appointment day
Four passport photos
Copies of the following pages of the passport: the page with the applicant’s photo, the stamped page containing the last entered data, and the page showing the validity and expiration dates of the passport
If the applicant is over 18, health insurance is not requested from the spouse and children under 18.
A document from the Population Office proving your real address of residence.
Documents requested from the donor for family residence:
2 passport photos.
It is a non-judgmental document, you can obtain it from the judicial authorities.
Health insurance covering the whole family (SGK Provision) that you can get from the Social Tax Branch.
A certificate of spirituality proving your current address of residence.
Bank statement.
Photo of your ID.
Marriage declaration approved by the Consulate.
The rental agreement is certified by the judicial authorities (required in case of absence of a population registry document).
A signature authorization document (signature circular) and obtained from the bank.
A document showing your financial income or a document showing that you have paid the Ministry of Labor and Social Security fees.
After preparing these documents, go to the Immigration Office and apply for family residence.
Steps to obtain family residence in Turkey:
Fill out the electronic form on the website designated for residence in Turkey
You need to make an appointment for an online face-to-face interview with the Turkish Immigration Department.
Go to the Turkish Immigration and Foreigners Affairs Presidency branch on the specified date and bring all the necessary documents.
Pay the family residence card fees at the designated window at the Immigration Department Presidency branch.
Attach the fee receipt to the family residence application file.
Send the file to the authorized employee, but before that, you should make sure that all signed and stamped documents are present to prevent the application from being rejected.
The applicant receives a tracking number from the employee to track their application via the website by entering the necessary information and knowing the status of the application.
Approval is given within a period ranging from 7 to 90 days, and the tracking number indicates that the family residence card has been printed and will be sent to them via the Turkish Postal Service (PTT) to the address specified in the application.
Features of family residence in Turkey:
A family holding a family residence acquires Turkish citizenship three years after pregnancy due to the fact that the head of the family is Turkish.
If the family is not working, they receive free health insurance in Turkish state hospitals.
Ease of conducting various transactions in government offices and conducting these transactions similar to those conducted with Turkish citizens.
Children are provided with free education in Turkish state schools and universities.
Travel and return to Turkey during the validity period of the family residence permit.
Are all family members entitled to benefit from family residence?
According to the provisions of Turkish law, the persons entitled to benefit from family residence are parents aged 65 and over, as well as spouses and children under the age of 18.
Those married to Turks (of both sexes) have the right to benefit from family residence for 3 years, after which they can apply for Turkish citizenship provided that the marriage is due to family reasons.
Family residence permit application period:
The foreigner must apply for a family residence permit without exceeding the visa or visa exemption. Foreigners who enter with a visa exemption can stay in Turkey for a maximum of 90 days and must start their first family residence application process before this period is exceeded.
Duration of family residence and how to renew it:
The duration of family residence in Turkey is estimated to be a maximum of 3 years, renewable, since the electronic residence system does not accept applications with 60 days left, and the law imposes a renewal obligation on beneficiaries before the legal periods expire. Therefore, the person applying for family residence must have the renewal date within the legal periods.
It should not be forgotten that if the information of the person applying for family residence in Turkey changes, he/she must immediately inform the Immigration Office before applying for residence renewal.
How is the family residence permit renewed?
In the family residence permit renewal application, the foreigner’s passport period, as well as the income and insurance status of the supporting spouse or sponsor, are evaluated. If there are less than 120 days left until the expiration of the family residence permit, a renewal application must be made. Applications made after the expiration of the family residence permit are accepted as new applications.
Reasons for family residence permit rejection, cancellation or non-extension:
It is determined that the family residence permit is used for purposes other than its purpose,
The conditions required for obtaining a family residence permit are not met or are canceled,
It is not possible to obtain a family residence permit in the event of a valid deportation decision or entry ban. Existing residence permits are canceled or not extended.
What should a person whose residence permit is rejected do?
Foreigners who leave the country after the decision to reject a family residence permit may enter the country later. If you wish to re-apply within 180 days following the notification of the rejection decision for your residence permit application, you must apply for a different residence permit than the previous one. In order to re-apply for the same residence permit after the rejection decision is notified to the foreigner, a period of 6 months must be completed from the date of notification of the rejection decision.
Finally, the family residence permit is subject to very detailed conditions. All documents that prove the existence of these conditions must be submitted in full. If the application is made incorrectly or incompletely, the family residence permit will not be granted, and if the application period is missed, the process may be extended. In order to reduce these disadvantages, it is recommended that you consult a lawyer specialized in foreign relations.
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