Bring Your Family to Turkey
Reunite with your spouse and children under Turkey’s family residence permit
Turkey’s Family Residence Permit (Aile İkamet İzni) allows the spouse and minor children of foreigners with a valid Turkish residence permit to join them in Turkey. Spouses of Turkish citizens also have a clear pathway to legal residence and eventual citizenship.
Path 1: Family of Foreign Resident (Aile İkamet İzni)
If you already hold a valid Turkish residence permit, your spouse and children under 18 (up to 21 if enrolled in education) can apply for a Family Residence Permit. The permit is issued for up to 3 years but never exceeds the duration of the sponsor’s permit. Your family members will be able to live in Turkey legally and access public services.
Path 2: Spouse of Turkish Citizen
Spouses of Turkish citizens follow a simpler process: they apply for a short-term residence permit initially, and after 3 years of continuous marriage with a genuine union, they can apply directly for Turkish citizenship. No income threshold applies (Turkish citizen spouse’s income is considered). This is Turkey’s fastest citizenship pathway for foreigners.
Sponsor Requirements
- Must hold a valid Turkish residence or work permit for at least 1 year
- Must demonstrate sufficient and regular income (minimum 1/3 of net minimum wage per family member per month)
- Must not have received any social assistance in Turkey
- Must provide valid health insurance for each family member
- Must have a suitable accommodation address in Turkey
Who Can Be Included
- Legally married spouse
- Children under 18 (up to 21 if in full-time education)
- Adopted children who are legally recognized
- Stepchildren with legal custody arrangements
Required Documents
- Sponsor’s valid residence/work permit
- Marriage certificate with apostille and certified Turkish translation
- Birth certificates of children with apostille and certified translation
- Proof of income (payslips, bank statements, employer letter)
- Health insurance for each applicant (covering Turkey)
- Biometric photos of each applicant
- Valid passports for all applicants
- Evidence of shared accommodation (rental contract or title deed)
Application Process
Prepare documents abroad
Obtain apostilles on all official documents (marriage, birth certificates). Have them translated by a certified translator. This takes 1–3 weeks.
Sponsor applies online
The permit holder (sponsor) applies on behalf of the family at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. Complete the application form and upload documents.
Pay fees and book appointment
Pay the application and card fees at ivd.gib.gov.tr or an authorized bank. Book an appointment at the Provincial Migration Directorate.
Attend appointment in Turkey
Family members must be in Turkey for the appointment. Bring all original documents. Biometric data is collected on-site.
Receive ikamet cards
Decision is typically made within 30–90 days. Physical ikamet cards are mailed within 2–6 weeks of approval. Family members may stay in Turkey during processing.
Costs & Fees
Residence permit fee: USD 50–80 per person (varies by nationality). Ikamet card fee: 356 TRY (~USD 10) per person. Health insurance: USD 100–300/year per adult, USD 50–150/year per child. Document apostille and translation: USD 50–200 per document. Total estimated cost per family member: USD 400–800.
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