Mikato handles residence permits,
address registration, and paperwork in Turkey.

Book an appointment through randevu.goc.gov.tr - walk-ins have not been accepted since June 2024. Address registration for foreigners is handled at the Göç İdaresi (Migration Administration), not the Nüfus Müdürlüğü. If the address already has someone registered there, you may need a second appointment at the Nüfus Müdürlüğü as well. You have 20 business days after receiving your residence permit to complete this.

Your passport, residence permit card, a notarized lease (düzenleme şeklinde - drawn up by the notary, not merely certified) or an e-devlet lease, a utility bill in your name (electricity, gas, water, or internet), DASK earthquake insurance policy, and a photocopy of the property's TAPU (title deed). You also need an appointment printout from randevu.goc.gov.tr.

For residence permits, through e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. You fill out your application online, upload your documents, and the system gives you an appointment date. For address registration and other procedures, book through randevu.goc.gov.tr. Expect about a 15-day wait in Istanbul. Smaller cities are usually faster.

You can also register a lease through e-devlet, which does not require the landlord to visit a notary in person. However, a notarized lease (düzenleme şeklinde) remains the most widely accepted option. If neither option works with your landlord, you may need to find a different rental.

The fully closed districts are Esenyurt, Fatih, Küçükçekmece, Bağcılar, Başakşehir, Sultangazi, Esenler, Avcılar, Bahçelievler, and Zeytinburnu. Districts like Arnavutköy, Sultanbeyli, and Sancaktepe are partially closed where the foreign population exceeds 20%. Check before signing a lease.

On top of the standard documents (passport, insurance, notarized lease, photos, fees), you need an apostilled and translated marriage certificate or birth certificate, a copy of your sponsor's residence permit (or their Turkish ID card if they are a Turkish citizen), proof that your sponsor meets the income threshold, and your sponsor's yerleşim yeri belgesi from e-devlet.

The card fee is 964 TL. The residence fee (harç) varies by nationality, roughly 2,000 to 5,000 TL. Some nationalities also owe a single-entry visa fee of 9,376 TL. Add notary fees (1,500–3,000 TL for a düzenleme lease) and health insurance (3,000–8,000 TL for one year).

Find an apartment in an open district, get a notarized lease (düzenleme şeklinde) or register one through e-devlet, buy health insurance, apply for your residence permit through e-ikamet, and then register your address at the Göç İdaresi within 20 business days of receiving your permit. Each step depends on the one before it.

Mikato is a concierge service for foreigners in Turkey. You can ask us anything about permits, registration, or daily life for free. When you need someone to handle paperwork, go to appointments, or deal with government offices on your behalf, that's our concierge service - fixed price, quoted before we start.

Guidance is free. We don't think information about how to live in a country should cost money. The concierge service - where we do the work for you - has a fixed price that we quote upfront.