Family Residence Permit

What is Family Residence?

Family residence, regulated in the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, is a short-term residence permit granted to foreign nationals through a supporting person with whom they have a family relationship.

Who can and cannot buy it?

First, the requirements for the sponsoring family member, known as the family member, must be considered when applying for a family residence permit. The sponsoring person must be a Turkish citizen, a foreign national with a residence permit, a refugee, or a foreign national with subsidiary protection status.

To briefly summarize these statuses, there is no difference in terms of obtaining a family residence permit between having Turkish citizenship by birth and acquiring citizenship later. The so-called refugee status is a special status granted to member states of the Council of Europe. For non-member states of the Council of Europe, conditional refugee status exists. However, in cases of mass migration, such as the Syrian civil war, conditional refugee status is not granted. The same applies to subsidiary protection status; that is, it is not possible to obtain this status in cases of mass migration. Refugee and subsidiary protection status are only valid in individual cases.

The sponsor who meets these conditions;

• To his foreign wife,
• To his or his spouse's minor child
• It may be granted to the dependent foreign child of the sponsor or their spouse, for a period not exceeding 3 years. However, the residence permit period may under no circumstances exceed the residence permit period of the sponsor.

It is important to note that if a person is married to more than one person in a foreign country, a family residence permit can only be obtained for one of the spouses. However, it is possible to obtain family residence permits for children from other spouses.

Application Process:

The application process is two-phased. First, a preliminary application must be submitted via the e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr ​​website. If all documents are complete and meet the requirements, an appointment is made with the Directorate of Migration Management in the province where the foreigner resides, and the remaining procedures are carried out. The foreigner must apply before exceeding their visa or visa exemption period. The visa-free stay in Türkiye is 90 days.

Application fees vary from country to country. There are also costs for foreign health insurance, various notary fees, and other application-related expenses. The processing time for applications varies depending on the workload.

Required Documents:

From the Applicant Himself;

• Residence Permit Application Form
• Photocopy of your passport or equivalent document (The original document must be brought with you on the day of your appointment.)
• Four biometric photographs (taken within the last 6 months, with a white background)
• Receipt showing payment of residence permit fee and card fee
• Marriage certificate or document proving you are married (The original document must be brought with you on the day of your appointment.)

The child who submitted the application also has the following:

• If the parents cannot be identified from the documents, a certified birth certificate is required
• If custody is joint, a certified consent form from the other parent is required; if divorced, a certified custody document is needed
• If one of the parents has passed away, a certified death certificate

From the sponsor; (Must be present at the application)

• Identity card

-If they are a foreigner;

• Passport or document replacing a passport
• Residence/work permit, blue card, refugee or subsidiary protection status identification documents

Moreover;

• A document proving that you have sufficient financial means for the duration of your stay
• Valid health insurance covering all family members
• Criminal record certificate (to be obtained from Turkish judicial authorities/e-government system if residing in Turkey for the last five years; from the authorities of one's own country if not residing in Turkey for the last five years.)
• Document showing registration in the address registration system (Detailed Population Registration Certificate if the sponsoring citizen, otherwise Residence Certificate)
• Document showing your place of residence (If you are staying in your own home, a photocopy of the title deed; if you are renting, a notarized copy of the rental agreement; if you are staying with a third party, a notarized undertaking from the person you are staying with).

 

 

Can Family Residence Permit Holders Work?

This residence permit is not sufficient for a foreigner to work. They must also obtain a work permit along with the residence permit. However, to be able to work with only a family residence permit and without a work permit, an Exceptional Work Permit is required. This permit is granted to individuals with specific qualifications (highly educated skilled workers), foreigners known to be of Turkish descent, citizens of EU member states, those considered qualified investors due to their investment in Turkey, foreigners with scientific, sporting, or artistic achievements, and foreigners with temporary protection, conditional refugees, or stateless persons.