Student Visa, Residence Permit and Health Insurance in Turkey

After your acceptance letter, three things make your stay legal: the right visa to enter, a student residence permit, and health insurance. Here is the order, the costs and the deadlines.

By Burak Ünal, Director of University Admissions · 19 October 2026

Figures are typical values for the current academic year, checked against the official sources listed at the end. How we research and update our guides

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Step 1: The student visa

With your acceptance letter, apply for a student (education) visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate responsible for where you live; some use a visa application centre. Expect to provide your passport, acceptance letter, photos and the application form, and the consulate may ask for proof of funds or other documents. An e-Visa is for tourism and business and is not valid for study. If your nationality can enter Turkey without a visa, you may enter visa-free and apply for the residence permit within the visa-free period.

Step 2: Register at your university

Bring your original documents, with apostille or legalisation and sworn Turkish translations, and the equivalence certificate if required. Since a 2023 protocol between YÖK and the Presidency of Migration Management, a student residence permit application is required for enrolment, so universities guide you through the next step straight away.

Step 3: The student residence permit

How it works:

Fill in the online form on e-İkamet while your visa or visa exemption is still valid
Hand in your documents as your university instructs; many universities collect them centrally and set their own deadline
Give fingerprints at the provincial migration office if you are asked to
Pay the residence permit card fee (964 TL in 2026) and any fee e-İkamet calculates for your nationality
The card arrives by post at your registered address; keep your address up to date
Renew before the permit expires, as long as you remain enrolled

Step 4: Health insurance

The residence permit requires valid health insurance. International students can join the public General Health Insurance (GSS) run by the Social Security Institution (SGK) by applying in writing within three months of first enrolling, usually with a student certificate; in 2026 the premium is 1,321.20 TL a month. If you miss the three months, you cannot join GSS during your studies and need a private health insurance policy that meets the permit's requirements.

Mistakes that cause problems

The most common, and how to avoid them:

Letting your visa or exemption expire before applying: apply in your first days
Missing the three-month GSS window: register as soon as you enrol
Not updating your address: your card and official letters go to the old one
Forgetting to renew: apply before your permit expires to avoid fines and entry bans
Working without a work permit: it can cancel your residence permit

How Turquoise Education helps

We prepare your student visa file, check your documents before you travel, and handle your residence permit application and yearly renewals, so you stay legal from the first day.

Student Visa, Residence Permit and Health Insurance in Turkey: frequently asked questions

Can I study in Turkey on an e-Visa?

No. An e-Visa is for tourism and business. You need a student visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate, or entry under a visa exemption if your nationality has one, followed by a student residence permit.

When do I apply for the student residence permit?

On e-İkamet while your visa or visa exemption is still valid, as soon as you are enrolled. Your university will also give you a deadline for handing in the documents.

How much does the student residence permit cost?

The residence permit card costs 964 TL in 2026, plus any fee e-İkamet calculates for your nationality, and you also need health insurance.

Can international students get public health insurance?

Yes. Apply to SGK for General Health Insurance in writing within three months of first enrolling; the premium is 1,321.20 TL a month in 2026. After three months you need private insurance instead.

Official sources

Rules, fees and quotas are set by these institutions and change every year. Check them, or ask us, before you rely on a figure.