What Is A Turkish Student Visa? How To Obtain One?
Turkey Student Visa
Students who have been accepted to study at any higher education institution in Turkey must obtain a “student visa” before coming to Turkey. The student visa is issued by the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in the foreign student’s country of citizenship or country of residence. Foreign nationals applying for a student visa must submit a “Letter of Acceptance” from the university in Turkey to the Turkish Diplomatic Mission. The student visa must be stamped in the student’s passport. Individuals who arrive in Turkey without a student visa, visa exemption, or other type of visa will not be registered.
Foreign students who come to Turkey on a student visa and enroll at a university must apply for a residence permit for educational purposes. The duration of the student visa issued by the Turkish Embassy varies depending on the country. Student visas are issued for 30 or 90 days. Foreign students must apply to the Provincial or District Directorate of Migration Management where they reside before the end of this period to obtain a residence permit for educational purposes.
Documents Required for a Student Visa
Student Visa Application Form;
Passport valid for at least 1 year;
Letter confirming the foreigner’s acceptance to the university;
1 passport-size photo;
Visa fee.
The documents required for student visa applications vary depending on the country of your nationality. In general, the required documents are as listed above.
Student visas are single-entry visas, and after entering the country with a student visa, the foreigner must apply for a residence permit for educational purposes. If the foreigner leaves Turkey without applying for a residence permit for educational purposes, their visa will be canceled. Even if the foreigner whose visa has been canceled re-enters Turkey under the visa exemption, they will not be able to obtain a residence permit for educational purposes. In this case, the foreigner will need to return to their country and obtain a student visa. Attention must be paid to these issues to avoid any inconvenience.
Persons Not Required to Apply for a Student Visa
A student visa is not required if the foreign national meets one of the following conditions.
Foreign students who are Blue Card holders under Law No. 5203;
Foreign students who are children of parents residing in Turkey with a work permit or residence permit;
Foreign students who have completed their secondary and higher education in Turkey and have started their undergraduate and/or graduate education without taking a break of more than one year;
Foreign students who are enrolled in a higher education institution in Turkey, have previously obtained a student visa, and reside with a residence permit for educational purposes are not required to apply for a student visa if they change their department without taking a break.
Foreign students who have previously enrolled in any university program and subsequently change their department or university are not required to apply for a new student visa. However, if these individuals make changes within the same province, they must submit their new student documents to the Provincial or District Immigration Directorate. If they have changed provinces, they must apply for a residence permit at the Immigration Directorate of the province where they reside.