Visa and Residence Permit

Student Visa

Newly admitted international students must receive a student visa from the nearest Turkish Embassy in their country of residence by submitting their acceptance letters issued by Istanbul Gedik University and other documents required by the related Embassy.

Student visa is usually valid for one month after arrival in Turkey, and students must finalize registration procedures at the university within this period and apply to get the residence permit.

Residence Permit Applications

Residence Permit First Application

All students’ residence permit applications are required to be delivered to the International Office in 30 days after arrival, as we are required to deliver the applications to the Immigration Office instead of students. We bring application files to the Immigration Office once a month. Follow the steps below:

1st : Make an Application
  • 1. Go to the following website to make an application: e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr
  • 2. Click “I lodge an application for a residence permit for the first time”
  • 3. Click “I would like to lodge a new application”
  • 4. Fill the application form (Make sure you write all the information right.) (Make sure you enter all required information correctly)
  • 5. After finishing the application, get an appointment date.
2nd: Submit the application file to the International Office

Prepare all the required documents and submit them to the International Office.

Required Documents:
  • 1. Online application form (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr)
  • 2. Copy of your passport (Page/Pages containing ID information)
  • 3. Photocopy of The Last Entrance Stamp
  • 4. Photocopy of The Visa (a printout if it is electronic. If the applicant is from a country that does not require visa, this process is not required.)
  • 5. Photocopy of The Previous Residence Permit (for the extension and the transfer applications)
  • 6. 4 biometric photograph
  • 7. Health insurance
  • 8. Students Certificate (You can take it from Student Affairs. Please do not forget to mention that you take it to apply for residence permit.)
  • 9. Receipt of the Payment for residence card - 125TL (You can either pay it online by credit card or go to any tax office.)
  • 10. SGK Declaration (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)
  • 11. Notification Document (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)
  • 12. Address Form (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)

In case you are under the age of 18, the following additional documents should be attached to your application;

  • • A consent signed by your parents (If the document issued in İstanbul, it has to be stamped from the Embassy of your country and any Governorship in İstanbul.)
  • • Birth Certificate (Should be stamped by the Embassy)

After submitting your application to the International Office, it may take from 1 month up to 3 months to receive your residence permit. You will receive an SMS saying that your residence permit has been sent to the address.

3rd: Take your residence permit

After receiving SMS from the PTT, you will receive the residence permit at your address.

Important Notes:
  • • Legal action is taken against students who do not follow the procedures.
  • • You do not need to obtain a visa to enter Turkey during the period your residence permit is valid. To illustrate, upon returning to Turkey from a visit to your country during a semester break, you may present your residence permit. However, if the expiry date of your residence permit is close, you are recommended to contact the authorities not to face a last-minute problem at the airport.
  • • For first time applicants, Tax number is required to be taken from the tax office to be able to make payment.
  • • Migration Management takes into consideration the online application date. In any circumstances, you need to take an appointment before your residence permit or visa expires.
  • • The address you give while you are applying for a residence permit should be correct and complete.
  • • In case of change of passport, marital status or address, you must inform Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management within 20 working days.
  • • There should be no erasures or scrapes on the residence permit. In case of loss, the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management should immediately be notified.
  • • The list of students who are in statuses: registered, not registered, non-registration, on leave, disciplinary punishment or Erasmus-Exchange is sent to the Migration Office every semester. Information about those who have graduated, have left with their own will or have withdrawn their registration is sent to the related unit in about one week. Therefore, those must follow their residence procedure carefully.
  • • The student residence permit of the students whose status is "on leave" or "not registered" for any reason is canceled by the Migration Office. Please pay attention to this point while you are freezing your studies or getting leave for one or more semesters. Therefore, those who will stay in Turkey for any reason need to apply for a short-term residence permit. (Do not wait to see your leave request to be defined to the Student Information System, but make your online application for a transfer to a short-term residence permit as soon as you submit your leave request to your department.)
  • • If you are planning to stay in Turkey while you are not registered in any program (for the graduation ceremony, for graduate program application, etc.) you need to apply for a short-term residence permit before your residence expires.
  • • Undergraduate students need to leave the country within 10 days after graduation. This period is two months for the students graduating from graduate programs. (For undergraduate students, the graduation date is the date of the grade announcement. For graduate students, the date of the submission of the printed thesis to the Graduate School). Those who will stay longer must apply for a short-term residence permit before their residence expires, as stated above.
  • • The student residence permit does not make the parents and other relatives of the student eligible for a residence permit automatically.
  • • Students who wish to work may do so by obtaining a work permit. However, for undergraduate students, the right to work commences after their first year of education and may not be more than twenty-four hours a week. Those who want to get a work permit need to apply to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
  • • If a student exits Turkey without a residence permit, s/he can return to Turkey only with a new “student visa”.
  • • The following links are the tutorial videos for student applications.

Residence Permit Extension Application

All students’ residence permit applications are required to be delivered to the International Office, as we’re required to deliver the applications to the Immigration Office instead of students. We bring application files to the Immigration Office once a month. Follow the steps below to extent your resident permit:

1st : Make an Application
  • 1. Go to the following website to make an application: e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr
  • 2. Click “I apply for the extension of the duration of residence permit”
  • 3. Click “I would like to lodge an application for renewal”
  • 4. Fill the application form (Make sure you write all the information right.) (Make sure you enter all required information correctly)
2nd: Prepare the Required Documents
Required Documents:
  • 1. Online application form (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr)
  • 2. Copy of your passport (Page/Pages containing ID information)
  • 3. Photocopy of The Last Entrance Stamp
  • 4. Photocopy of The Visa (a printout if it is electronic. If the applicant is from a country that does not require visa, this process is not required.)
  • 5. Photocopy of The Previous Residence Permit (for the extension and the transfer applications)
  • 6. 4 biometric photograph
  • 7. Health insurance
  • 8. Students Certificate (You can take it from Student Affairs. Please do not forget to mention that you take it to apply for residence permit.)
  • 9. Receipt of the Payment for residence card – 125 TL (You can either pay it online by credit card or go to any tax office.)
  • 10. SGK Declaration (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)
  • 11. Notification Document (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)
  • 12. Address Form (You should fill in sections about you in Turkish.)

In case you are under the age of 18, the following additional documents should be attached to your application;

  • • A consent signed by your parents (If the document issued in İstanbul, it has to be stamped from the Embassy of your country and any Governorship in İstanbul.)
  • • Birth Certificate (Should be stamped by the Embassy)
3rd: Submit your application

You should submit your file to the International Office..

4th: Take your residence permit

After receiving the e-mail, please go to the International Office to your residence permit.

It may take from 1 month up to 3 months to receive your residence permit. Firstly you will receive an SMS saying that your residence permit has been sent to the address. Then when the university received it, you will be notified via student e-mail.

Important Notes:
  • • You have to make an application within the validity of your residence permit period.
  • • You have to make an application within the validity of your residence permit period.
  • • In case of change of passport, change of marital status or change of address, you must inform Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management within 20 working days
  • • You must arrange a resıdence extensıon appoıntment 2 months before your resıdence permıt expıres. Otherwıse, you wıll be asked to leave the country ınstead of payıng a fıne.
  • • The following links are the tutorial videos for student applications.

International Research University With Applied Studies