Family Residence Permit

Family Residence Permit (Law No. 6458 Arts. 34-37)

The family residence permit is regulated under Articles 34 to 37 of Law No. 6458. This permit is a residence permit granted to certain family members of a Turkish citizen, Blue Card holder, foreigner holding a valid residence permit, refugee, or person with subsidiary protection status, for the purpose of preserving family unity in Turkey. According to the official definition, a family residence permit may be issued for the following persons:

• Foreign spouse,
• The minor foreign child of the person or of the spouse,
• The disabled/restricted foreign child of the person or of the spouse.

Although polygamy is legal in some countries, under the laws of the Republic of Turkey a person may be married to only one person. This situation arises from public order. For this reason, even if persons may legally be polygamous in their country of nationality, in the case of polygamy a family residence permit may be granted only to the first spouse; however, it is possible to apply for this residence permit for all children.

In applications for children, if the other parent who has joint custody abroad exists, that parent’s consent is also required. A family residence permit may be granted for a maximum of three years each time. However, the permit period may in no way exceed the residence or stay period of the sponsor.

Conditions for a Family Residence Permit

Who Is the Sponsor?

A family residence permit is a type of residence permit that may be obtained depending on a foreigner who has a legal residence permit in Turkey or on a Turkish citizen. In this residence permit type, the person holding a residence permit in Turkey or the Turkish citizen constitutes one of the essential elements; that person’s documents also play a very important role in the application file. The person presented as the basis for applying for a family residence permit is called the “sponsor.”

Conditions Concerning the Sponsor

• Having valid health insurance covering all family members,
• Having sufficient monthly income, not less than one third of the minimum wage per family member and sufficient in total (for 2026, the minimum wage is 28,075 TL),
• Being able to document by criminal record that no crime against family order has been committed within the last five years,
• As a rule, having resided in Turkey for at least one year; this rule is one of the most important conditions in a family residence permit. If the sponsor is a foreigner, having held a legal residence permit in Turkey for the previous one year constitutes one of the most important conditions.
• Being registered in the address registration system.

Conditions Concerning the Applicant (Person Requesting the Residence Permit)

• Submitting information and documents relating to the purpose of stay,
• Showing that they live with the sponsor or intend to live together,
• For spouses, both parties must have completed the age of 18,
• Not being among persons whose entry into Turkey is prohibited under Article 7 of the Law,
• The marriage must not have been entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining a family residence permit.

Required Document List

Documents Required for the Applicant

• Application form
• Photocopy of the passport or passport substitute document
• Birth certificate
• Two biometric photographs
• Receipt for the fee and document/card fee
• Single-entry visa fee receipt, if required
• Marriage certificate; in marriage with a Turkish citizen, a full civil registry record copy or an approved document proving the marriage
• UETS document

In applications made on behalf of a child, the following documents may also be required:

• Birth certificate,
• Custody document in case of divorce,
• If one of the mother or father does not apply for a residence permit, the consent issued before a notary by the non-applying parent,
• Family registration document (document showing the family unity between the child and the parent),
• A notarized undertaking by the sponsor showing that the applicant’s expenses will be covered during the residence permit period,
• Death certificate in the event of the death of a parent.

Although a family residence permit generally covers minor children, there is an important exception on this point. Adult children have the right to obtain a family residence permit until the age of 25 if they are studying in Turkey. In applications made in this way, the adult child’s student certificate must also be added to the residence permit application file.

Documents Required for the Sponsor

• If the sponsor is a Turkish citizen, the original and photocopy of the identity card; if foreign, a passport photocopy and residence/work permit or relevant status document,
• Document showing sufficient and regular income,
• Valid health insurance covering all family members,
• Criminal record certificate,
• Address registration document.

All documents to be brought from abroad must be apostilled and translated into Turkish with notarization.

Citizenship Perspective

With this method, citizenship is possible only through the general application route. The required conditions are as follows:

• Actual and continuous residence in Turkey,
• The applicant’s total stay abroad during the last five years must not exceed 365 days, and during the last one year must not exceed six months,
• Maintaining uninterrupted and legal family residence permit status.

Important note: Frequent and long-term exits abroad may cause the residence period to reset.