Essence
It's a residence permit for foreigners who want to stay in Turkey for a relatively long period and maybe eventually move there. It's a plastic card with your photo and personal details. According to the new rules, you can get an ikamet only in those regions that are open to foreign residents.
The document enables you to use most of the local services and opportunities, such as benefitting from healthcare and education institutions or getting loans from banks. The key exception is that you won't be allowed to get employed locally – but you can work remotely for foreign companies.
Difference from the Turkish Cimlik
Cimlik is an ID card that is similar to a passport. All locals get it mandatory. Foreigners can obtain it if they meet any of these criteria:
- Invest in local business, capital, or real estate
- Spend at least 5 years in the country legally
- Prove their Turkish origin
- Marry a Turkish partner
When buying property, it's necessary to spend at least $400,000. It's the easiest and the most popular route.
A cimlik grants its owners a wide range of rights, compared to an ikamet. In particular, you'll be able to work in the country and run for elections.
Ikamet Varieties
Ikamet is available in two varieties: short-term and long-term. Let's explore the specifics of each one in detail.
Short-Term
Its target audience is foreigners who would like to spend over 90 days in the country with one of the following goals:
- Business meetings. If you meet a business partner, be ready to show the invitation that they sent to you.
- Higher education or scientific research. Both private and public universities qualify for this purpose. If the educational program is in Turkish, you'll be required to complete a language test first.
- Medical treatment. It's mandatory to show your contract with the medical provider and the paid bills.
- Tourism. Be ready to share the exhaustive details of your trip: full itinerary, plane and train tickets, hotel bookings, and so on.
- Real estate transaction. It can be purchase or lease for at least 12 months. Your spouse and kids can apply together with you.
If you change the purpose of the trip during your stay in Turkey, don't forget to update your ikamet variety accordingly.
The validity period of the document can depend on the goals of your stay. For instance, if your purpose is medical tourism, the ikamet will be issued precisely for the duration of your treatment. For studies, it is usually one year with the possibility of prolongation if you perform well.
Long-Term
Ikamets that remain valid for three years are issued to:
- Family members of professionals who signed contracts with Turkish employers. In three years, they can prolong their permits or move to another state.
- Foreigners who marry locals. In three years, they can apply for citizenship.
As for the others, in eight years after relocating to the country, they might become eligible for a long-term residency. During this period, you should spend abroad no more than 90 days per year. Plus, you should have no tax debts. This document will be issued to you once and forever.
After you get a long-term ikamet, be ready to spend most of your time in Turkey. If you spend over 12 months abroad for purposes not related to studies or medical treatment, you might lose your resident status.
Algorithm of Getting an Ikamet in Turkey
Here is the scheme that applicants should stick to if they buy a property or rent it for at least one year. In all the other cases, the process will be largely similar and vary only in detail:
- Buy a local SIM card.
- Buy or rent the property.
- Get local health insurance for at least a year.
- Translate the documents that are necessary for your case and make them apostilled.
- Prepare four passport-style photos.
- Apply in person at a Migration Service office or online. In the former case, it's mandatory to make an appointment in advance. After you select the day and the time, you won't be allowed to reschedule the meeting. If your dearest and nearest are planning to live in Turkey together with you, all of them should be present at the office, including underage kids.
- Complete an interview with an authorities representative. Explain to them the purpose of your stay. If you don't know Turkish, you'll be able to speak English or invite an interpreter. If you fail to turn up for the interview, your application will end up being rejected.
- Get a local tax number.
- Wait until the authorities send your ikamet to you by regular mail.
It should be convenient for you to track your application status online. All the above-listed stages normally take from 30 to 90 days.
Paperwork
The list of documents that you should prepare includes:
- Application
- Passport copy
- Taxpayer number
- Four biometric photos
- Proof of having enough money
- Health insurance
- Documents that prove you meet the eligibility criteria
The list of the required papers might vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Limitations
Foreigners might fail to obtain an ikamet if they tick one of these boxes:
- Don't obey the laws
- Lack health insurance
- Lack sufficient income
- Have relied on social assistance for the previous three years
If the authorities reject the application, the foreigner has the right to appeal it in court. If the court doesn't help them, they will have to leave the state in 10 days.
Prolongation
If you respect the local laws during your stay, you should be able to prolong your ikamet for an unlimited number of times. Just prove that you'll have a reason to stay longer in the country.
FAQ
Is it difficult to obtain an ikamet?
Not at all. You can get it by buying a property in Turkey, leasing for at least one year, using medical or educational services in the country, having business meetings there, or for tourism purposes. The most important thing is to apply correctly and prove that you have enough funds for the goal of your trip.
Should I get an ikamet or a cimlik?
The answer depends on your goals. If you are not planning to relocate to Turkey or work there but want to spend over 90 days there, it's enough to get an ikamet. A cimlik is for those who'd like to live and work in the country permanently.