What documents do foreigners need for a Turkish residence permit?

Valid passport with certified Turkish translation, biometric photos, address registration, health insurance valid in Turkey, and financial solvency proof. Depending on the permit type, additional documents such as marriage certificate, property deed or university acceptance letter may be required.

Do I need an apostille for my foreign documents in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign documents submitted to Turkish authorities must be apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or consulate-legalised (for non-Convention countries such as Russia, Iran and most Arab countries), and accompanied by a certified Turkish translation.

How do I get my documents translated into Turkish?

Foreign-language documents must be translated by a court-appointed sworn translator in Turkey. Beta Çeviri translates documents from English, German, Russian, Arabic, French, Italian, Persian and other languages into Turkish, with same-day notarisation available.

📌 Hızlı Özet

Beta Çeviri güvencesiyle Residence Permit in Turkey for Foreigners — Document Guide | Beta Çeviri. Complete guide to applying for a residence permit in Turkey as a foreigner. Document translation, apostille requirements and how to get your foreign documents certified in Turkish. Ankara merkezli ofisimizde yeminli tercüme ve resmi onay süreçleriniz aynı gün tamamlanır.

Residence Permit in Turkey for Foreigners — Document Guide

Updated April 2025

Turkey is a top destination for foreign property owners, retirees, remote workers and investors. Getting a Turkish residence permit (ikamet izni) requires submitting both Turkish and foreign documents — and any foreign-language document must be officially translated into Turkish. This guide explains what you need, what needs translating and how to get it done.

Residence permit types

Type	Who applies	Duration
Short-term (kısa dönem)	Property owners, tourism, business, education	1-2 years, renewable
Family (aile)	Family members of Turkish citizens or permit holders	Up to 3 years
Student (öğrenci)	Enrolled in Turkish universities	Duration of study
Long-term (uzun dönem)	8 years continuous legal residence	Indefinite
Humanitarian (insani)	Special circumstances	1 year, renewable

Documents required

Document	Turkish translation	Notes
Passport	Yes — sworn translation	All pages including entry stamps
Biometric photos	—	4 photos, white background
Address registration	—	Notarised rental contract or title deed
Health insurance	Turkish (if foreign language)	Valid in Turkey for permit duration
Financial solvency proof	Yes — if foreign-language document	Bank statement or income proof
Title deed (property owners)	—	Already in Turkish at Land Registry
Marriage certificate (family permit)	Yes — sworn translation + apostille	For spouse applications
Birth certificate (children)	Yes — sworn translation + apostille	For children under 18

Authentication by nationality

Your nationality	Document authentication
Germany, UK, France, US	Apostille + Turkish sworn translation
Russia	Russian consulate in Turkey legalisation + Turkish sworn translation
UAE, Saudi Arabia	Relevant consulate in Turkey legalisation + Turkish sworn translation
Iran	Iranian consulate in Turkey legalisation + Turkish sworn translation
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan	Apostille + Turkish sworn translation

We translate into Turkish

Foreign nationals living in Turkey — particularly Russian, German, Arabic, Persian and English speakers — need their home-country documents translated into Turkish for residence permit applications. Beta Çeviri translates from all major languages into Turkish, with notarisation available the same day from our Ankara office. Documents from Istanbul, Antalya and other cities can be sent by scan or courier.

Get your foreign documents translated into Turkish

Passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate — certified Turkish translations for your residence permit application.

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