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Family residence permit

TurkeyFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Turkey Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

A family residence permit may be granted to the foreign spouse, to foreign children or foreign minor children of the spouse, and to dependent foreign children or dependent foreign children of the spouse. Where the marriage is polygamous under the law of the country of citizenship, only one spouse is issued a family residence permit, although children from other spouses may still be granted one. For a family residence permit issued to a child, the consent of the mother or father who lives abroad and shares custody is sought.

See recorded sources

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The sponsor may be a Turkish citizen, a person within the scope of Article 28 of Law No. 5901, a foreigner holding one of the residence permits, a refugee, or a subsidiary protection beneficiary. The sponsor must have been residing in Türkiye for at least one year on a residence permit, be registered with the address-based registration system, and submit a criminal record certificate proving no conviction for a crime against the family in the five years preceding the application.

See recorded sources
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    of Turkish citizens, persons within the scope of Article 28 of Law No 5901 or, foreigners holding one of the residence permits as well as refugees and subsidiary protection beneficiaries.
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    The foreigner is required to fulfill the conditions stipulated in Article 35 of the Law No. 6458 to have family residence permit.
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    (the sponsor is required to have a valid health insurance covering all family members; have a monthly income in any case not less than the minimum wage in total corresponding not less than one third of the minimum wage per each family member; submit proof of not having been convicted of any crime against family during the five years preceding the application with a criminal record certificate; have been residing in Turkey for at least one year on a residence permit and have been registered with the address based registration system)

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The applicant must submit supporting information and documents regarding the reason of the stay, assert that they live or intend to live together with the specified persons, be over 18 years of age in the case of each spouse, not fall within the scope of Article 7, and not have entered into the marriage for the purpose of obtaining a family residence permit. Where the permit is issued to a child, the consent of a mother or father living abroad who shares custody is sought. The official page does not list the specific civil-status documents required to prove the relationship.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not list the specific civil-status documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, custody order) required to prove the relationship.
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    The foreigner is required to fulfill the conditions stipulated in Article 35 of the Law No. 6458 to have family residence permit.
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    (to submit supporting information and documents regarding the reason of the stay,, to assert that they live or intend to live together with specified persons, to be over 18 years of age for each spouse, not to fall within the scope of Article 7, not to have entered into the marriage for the purpose of obtaining a family residence permit)
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    For family residence permits issued to children, if any, the consent of the mother or the father who lives abroad and who shares custody shall be sought.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The financial and insurance responsibilities sit with the sponsor. The sponsor must have valid health insurance covering all family members and a monthly income in any case not less than the minimum wage in total, corresponding to not less than one third of the minimum wage for each family member. The sponsor must also have been residing in Türkiye for at least one year on a residence permit and be registered with the address-based registration system.

See recorded sources
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    The foreigner is required to fulfill the conditions stipulated in Article 35 of the Law No. 6458 to have family residence permit.
  • Section 2 FAMILY RESIDENCE PERMIT
    (the sponsor is required to have a valid health insurance covering all family members; have a monthly income in any case not less than the minimum wage in total corresponding not less than one third of the minimum wage per each family member; submit proof of not having been convicted of any crime against family during the five years preceding the application with a criminal record certificate; have been residing in Turkey for at least one year on a residence permit and have been registered with the address based registration system)

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Residence permit applications are made through the e-residence system and are lodged with the governorates. A family residence permit is issued for a maximum of three years at a time and can never exceed the duration of the sponsor's residence permit. It entitles the holder to education in primary and secondary institutions until 18 without a student residence permit. The status can become independent: holders may apply for a short-term residence permit after divorce where the foreign spouse of a Turkish citizen resided on a family residence permit for at least three years (not required where a court establishes the spouse was a victim of domestic violence), on the sponsor's death where the spouse held a family residence permit depending on the sponsor, or where a foreigner reaching 18 has resided on a family residence permit for at least three years. The permit is refused, cancelled or not renewed where its conditions are not met or no longer apply, where it is used outside its purpose, or where there is a current removal decision or entry ban. The official page does not state whether the holder may work.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not state whether a family residence permit holder may work.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/general-information41
    It is obligatory for foreigners who want to stay in our country for more than the allowed time of visa, visa exemption or ninety days to apply for a residence permit type that they believe they meet the requirements of through the e-residence system.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/general-information41
    Till the adoption of this procedure, applications for residence permits shall be lodged with the governorates.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    - A family residence permit issued for a maximum duration of three years at a time.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    - Family residence permit cannot exceed the duration of the sponsor’s residence permit under any circumstances.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    Family residence permits shall entitle the holder right of education in primary and secondary educational institutions until the age of 18 the without obtaining a student residence permit.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    In the cases of following statements family residence permit holders may apply to short-term residence permit: - In the event of divorce, if the foreign spouse of a Turkish citizen resided on a family residence permit for at least three years (if it is established by the relevant court that the foreign spouse has been a victim for reasons of domestic violence, the condition for three years residence shall not be sought)
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    - In the case of death of the sponsor if the spouse resides on a family residence permit depending on the sponsor, - If the foreigner reaching the age of 18 has resided on a family residence permit for at least three years
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
    Under the following cases a family residence permit shall not be granted, shall be cancelled if has been issued, and shall not be renewed when: - Conditions set out for family residence permit are not met or no longer apply, - it is established that the residence permit is used outside the purposes of those it is issued for, - there is a current removal decision or an entry ban to Turkey in respect to the foreigner

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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