TurkeyResidence permit

Family residence permit in Turkey

A permit for the spouse and dependent children of Turkish citizens or holders of a Turkish residence permit. The sponsor must provide income and health insurance for the whole family. The marriage must not have been entered into solely in order to obtain the permit. Spouses must be of full age and must confirm that they live together.

Source: Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı)

Who is granted a family residence permit

The family residence permit is granted to the sponsor's family members on various grounds. The requirements differ according to the relationship with the permit holder.

Spouse of a Turkish citizen or of a residence permit holder

At least 18 years of age
The marriage is officially registered and was not entered into for the sake of the permit
Health insurance covering both spouses
Financial support from the sponsor

Minor and dependent children

Must be dependent on one of the parents — the sponsor
Included in the sponsor's health insurance policy
Available where one of the parents holds a residence permit
Proof of the family relationship and of living together is required

When this programme will not suit you

Both partners are foreign nationals and neither is a Turkish citizen or a residence permit holder

Standard visas (tourist, work) depending on the purpose of the stay

The marriage was entered into mainly in order to obtain a residence permit

The application is refused; proof that the marriage is genuine is required

The sponsor cannot prove the minimum required income

A temporary visa or another type of residence permit

The sponsor has no health insurance covering the family members

Arrange insurance before applying, or consider a different type of residence permit

Documents to gather

Originals and notarised translations into Turkish must be prepared (except for documents issued by the Turkish authorities).

Valid passport (at least 60 days beyond the period of the permit applied for)
Criminal-record certificate (apostille + notarised translation into Turkish) for the past five years
Marriage certificate (apostille + notarised translation) — for spouses
Children's birth certificate (apostille + notarised translation) — for dependants
Documents proving the sponsor's income (bank statement, employment contract, pension certificate, tax certificate)
Copy of the health insurance policy covering all family members
Four biometric photographs (the size and requirements are given when applying through e-İkamet)
Police certificate confirming the absence of convictions for offences against family members (for the sponsor)

How the process runs

Filing and consideration take between one and two months from the moment all the required documents are submitted.

1
Registering in the e-İkamet system on the Migration Management portal
online, 15 minutes
Create an account at www.goc.gov.tr/e-ikamet, complete the form and upload scans of the documents. The system checks that the information is complete and reports any errors.
2
Paying the state fee
within 5 working days
After the online form is submitted, the system calculates the amount of the fee. Payment can be made through a bank, the tax office or by electronic payment on the portal. The receipt will be needed at the office visit.
3
Attending the Migration Management office
1-2 weeks after payment
Attend on the appointed day with the originals of all the documents (passport, criminal-record certificate, insurance policy, payment receipt). The staff check the documents, take biometric data and hold an interview to confirm that you live together.
4
Consideration of the documents
up to 90 days
Migration Management checks the sponsor's income, the insurance and the criminal-record certificate and carries out other checks. You will be notified of the status by email or text message.
5
Collecting the permits
1-3 days after the decision
Come to the office to collect the permits. You will be issued the residence permit (a sticker in the passport). Address registration (MERNIS) is also completed at this stage.

Who you can bring with you

The family residence permit is granted to the family members of the sponsor, who must be a Turkish citizen or the holder of a valid residence permit.

Spouse of the applicant

Must be over 18. The marriage must be officially registered and must not have been entered into solely in order to obtain the permit. Both spouses must confirm their intention to live together in Turkey.

Minor children (biological or adopted)

Must be dependent on the sponsor. Included in the health insurance policy. Proof of the relationship is required (birth certificate or court adoption order). They must live with the sponsor.

Adult children (in exceptional cases)

May be included if they are wholly dependent on the sponsor (students, people with disabilities, those not working). Documentary proof of dependency is required.

Renewal and the grace period

The family residence permit is granted for a maximum of three years at a time, but it cannot exceed the validity of the sponsor's own permit. The renewal is filed 60 days before the current permit expires. On renewal it must be confirmed that the sponsor still meets all the conditions (income, insurance, no offences against the family). Notice of a change of address must be given within 20 working days, otherwise the permit may be cancelled.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The long-term residence permit is granted after 8 years of continuous residence on residence permits. Stable income, health insurance and no social assistance over the past 3 years are required.

Route to citizenship

Naturalisation on the general terms — after 5 years of continuous residence in Turkey.

Frequently asked questions about Family residence permit

What is the minimum income the sponsor must have?

The sponsor must have a monthly income of at least the minimum wage in Turkey plus one third of the minimum wage for each family member (spouse, children). For example, if the minimum wage is 13,000 TRY and there are two dependants in the family, the required income is 13,000 + (13,000 ÷ 3) × 2 = roughly 21,667 TRY per month. Income is evidenced by bank statements for the past 3-6 months, an employment contract, a tax certificate or a pension document.

How much does the family residence permit cost?

The exact amount of the state fee is calculated dynamically in the e-İkamet system according to the number of family members, the period applied for (1, 2 or 3 years) and the current rates. The fee is not charged at the moment of online registration, but only after the preliminary form has been reviewed. The system issues an invoice, which must be paid through a bank, the tax office or by electronic payment on the portal. Consulates and third parties also often charge a commission for help with the application (usually 10-20% of the state fee).

How long does it take to decide a family residence permit application?

Processing times range from 30 to 90 days from the filing of the full set of documents and payment of the fee. Most applications are decided within 45-60 days. You will be notified by email or text message at each stage of the process (receipt of documents, start of checks, ready for collection). The timeline may be longer if further information or checks are required.

Is a family residence permit possible if the sponsor has lived in Turkey for less than a year?

No. The sponsor must have lived in Turkey continuously on a valid residence permit for at least one year before applying for a family residence permit for family members. If the sponsor arrived in Turkey recently (less than a year ago), they can apply later, once a year of continuous stay has passed. That year must be evidenced by stamps in the passport, extracts from the address registration system (MERNIS) or a certificate from Migration Management.

What health insurance is required for the family residence permit?

A single health insurance policy covering all family members (the sponsor and the dependants) at the same time is required. The policy must be valid at the time of the application and remain active throughout the period of the permit. Acceptable options are state insurance (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu, SGK) or private insurance from a Turkish or international company. A copy of the policy is submitted with the documents. On renewal of the permit, confirmation that the insurance has been extended is required.

What happens if the sponsor loses their income or insurance?

If the sponsor loses their income or the insurance expires, this may lead to cancellation of the residence permit for the whole family. The law requires the conditions to be met at all times. If income falls below the minimum or the insurance expires without being renewed, Migration Management may withdraw the permit. You must report a change in your financial situation immediately and restore the income or the insurance. In some cases it is possible to have the permit reinstated, but this depends on the reason for the breach and how long it lasted.

What is the criminal-record certificate and where can it be obtained?

The criminal-record certificate is a document confirming that the sponsor has no convictions for offences against family members over the past five years. It can be obtained from the police in the sponsor's country of nationality or through the relevant authorities. The document must bear an apostille (if the country has signed the Hague Convention) and be translated into Turkish by a notary. For Turkish citizens the certificate is issued by the Turkish police. The certificate must be dated no more than 6 months before the application is filed.

How do you move from a family residence permit to the long-term residence permit (LTRP)?

After eight years of continuous residence in Turkey on a residence permit (including a family residence permit) you may apply for the long-term residence permit (LTRP). This requires proof of stable and sufficient income, valid health insurance and no state assistance over the past three years. The LTRP is granted for an indefinite period and gives rights almost the same as those of Turkish citizens, except military service, voting and certain public offices. Applying for the LTRP is a separate procedure that requires a personal visit to the migration office.

Other ways to move to Turkey

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Turkey.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.