I shall try to explain a few facts relating to residency permits in this week’s The
Didymian Paper. Please bear in mind that the information given below is just for U.K and Irish citizens, other nationals should seek further professional advice.
As we all know, there are many U.K and Irish citizens living in this town and I am often asked questions related to this matter. U.K and Irish citizens usually enter Turkey with a 90 day visa and they could stay in Turkey until the end of this period. However, if you want to stay here longer than that period, you have to obtain a residency permit from the Central Police Station in Aydin and of course the application for the permit has to be done before your visa has expired.
In order to make an application you have to be at the Aydin Central Police Station personally with the documents stated below;
- A Passport with valid visa
- An application form which you will get from the Central Police Station.
- 5 Passport Pictures
- A Bank statement or any other document proving that you have got sufficient funds to live in Turkey.
- A fee, which depends on the duration that you wish to obtain.
- An address that you will live in for duration of the permit.
This process is usually an easy task to finish but in most cases you will have to go to Aydin twice.
In the light of the above explanation, one might ask what would happen if your residency permit expires? In this case, you have to extend your residency permit within 15 days of its expiration; for example; your residency permit expired 01/06/2008, in this case, you will have to extend your visa before 5pm 15/06/2008. If you are late making this application, you will be fined. Although, should you plan to leave the country during this 15 days period, you will be allowed to do so and not fined at the borders.
Extending the residency permit can be done four times, after four extensions; you will have to get a new residency permit certificate.
During your stay in Turkey with your residency permit, if you decide to leave the country for more than six months, bear in mind that you will have to apply for new residency permit, as your permit shall be deemed ‘interrupted’ by the official bodies. However, if your reason of leaving the county is related to medical treatment or study purposes, you will be asked for proof, such as a medical report or school registry document. Provided that you have got such documents,
your residency permit shall not be accepted as interrupted.
What
happens if you lose your
residency permit? In this
case, you must
immediately get a replacement one from the same office you had obtained the previous permit. However, you will have to pay a fee for the remaining period, from the time you have lost the document until the expiry date. In addition, your residency permit is your identification in this county, as they have been granted by the Government. If your document falls into the wrong hands, you may end up in big trouble. Therefore, please do not delay in getting a replacement.
