Known for its diverse culture and great tourist spots like its mosques and breathtaking natural sceneries, Turkey is also a famous study destination. Yearly, a lot of foreign students choose Turkish universities to level up their education. Turkey is known for having high-class universities that provide education to international students.
If you’re planning to study in Turkey, you’ll need to get a permit, which is a Turkey student visa. Applying and processing this document is much required for you to study in Turkish universities and colleges legally. Getting a student visa might require a lot of papers, effort, and time, but it’s easy and uncomplicated.
Let’s discuss the documents you need to prepare before applying for a student visa in Turkey and the fees you should pay. Lastly, let’s walk through the steps in applying for a student visa for a smoother process.
What documents do you need to apply for a student visa in Turkey?
If you’re an international student planning to study in Turkey, start preparing the documents that the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires in getting a student visa. Since the visa application is made by appointment, kindly complete all the requirements beforehand for a smoother process.
Here are the requirements needed:
- Visa application form (Click on the “visa form,” it will automatically download)
- Your passport
- Two copies of your personal photo (passport-sized)
- Letter of acceptance, indicating the duration of your stay in Turkey
- Proof of your travel insurance
- Proof of your health insurance
- Documents stating your financial resources to support your studies in Turkey. It can be your bank statements, scholarships (if you have one), or other letters from your sponsors.
- Proof of accommodation – It can be a letter from your dormitory, relatives, or apartment stating your duration
- Payment for the visa processing fee (Keep your receipt)
- Proof of booked flight tickets to Turkey
- Transcript of records, certificates, and diplomas from your previous educational institutions.
How much money do you need for Turkey’s Student Visa?
The cost of a student visa to Turkey varies depending on your country and the purpose of your visit. Usually, the amount ranges from 15 to 80 US Dollars. Some countries are exempted from paying Turkish visas. You can check the complete list of countries with their corresponding visa fee here.
Check Also: Available Programs for International Students
Steps on Applying for a Student Visa in Turkey
Not all international students going to Turkey needs a student visa. You are exempted from getting a student visa if you’re a blue cardholder, a citizen of the Northern Republic of Cyprus, have parents with a working visa and residence permit, and have finished your secondary and bachelor’s degree in Turkey.
If you don’t meet any of these conditions, you need to apply for a Turkish student visa. The Government of Turkey encourages international students to apply 60 days before their intended flight.
Here are the steps in getting a student visa in Turkey:
1. Get accepted into a Turkish University
One of the requirements that you need to present during your visa application is the letter of admission from your chosen Turkish university. So you really need to be accepted first in a university before processing your Turkey student visa.
Currently, there are more than 200 universities in Turkey, and they offer various programs for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. If you’re looking for universities and courses available in the country, you can visit Turkey’s Council of Higher Education website. In, here, you’ll find the institutions, programs, and how to apply for a Turkish university. Information regarding scholarships and other education-related questions is also here.
Additionally, your chosen program will determine what type of student visa you should get. So make sure to get a letter of acceptance and other related documents in your chosen university.
2. Make an appointment online
All Turkish visa applications are made online through their website. You need to schedule an appointment in your home country’s nearest embassy or consulate. In their online pre-requirement system, you will answer some forms, and once completed, you’ll be able to book an appointment for your Turkey student visa. (You can directly start your pre-application and appointment)
When you open the website, kindly click the “Make Appointment,” and they’ll ask you to choose the nearest Turkish embassy in your country. If you are not yet done with their online pre-application, they have the option to save and continue another time.
3. Attend your appointment and bring the requirements
Prepare the requirements beforehand, and make sure to present complete documents on the day of your appointment. Make sure that all pieces of information shown are valid and up to date. If one of these documents is false or missing, you can be denied, and you’ll start the process all over again.
During your appointment, there will be a short interview conducted by a consular officer. They will be asking and verifying the information that you presented. Since interviews play a significant role in approving a Turkey student visa, you should present yourself nicely.
4. Processing and waiting for the results
After your visa application appointment, it’s time to process and wait for the results. Usually, the processing time varies per country, but it may take from 3 to 15 working days. One of their website’s advantages is that you can track your visa application.
A Turkish student visa is valid for one year, and it is renewable.
5. Fly to Turkey and get a residence permit
Upon arriving in Turkey, you need to get a residence permit. This document is different from a Turkey student visa because it will allow you to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days or three months. A residence permit is valid for one year, and you should renew it six weeks before its expiry.
You can apply for a residence permit in the nearest Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration and present some documents such as an application form, a copy of your passport, and visa. You should also bring a copy of the university’s location and some passport-sized pictures.
We hope that this article on how to apply for a student visa in Turkey was helpful. To know more information like this, check out the Available Programs for International Students!
