First residence permit in Türkiye: the arrival checklist in the right order
You submit your first application yourself through e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr and attend the appointment in person. We prepare the documents, check them, coach you through every screen and go with you — and before any of that, we put the six arrival steps in the order that actually works. We do not file on your behalf.
Arrival Pack — price for one person
The notarial tariff is paid by you directly to the notary. We are not a notary and receive no remuneration from any notary.
Last verified: 24.10.2026 · source: Göç İdaresi — goc.gov.tr/belge-bedeli-ve-harc-miktari; Harçlar Kanunu (2) sayılı tarife 2026 — gib.gov.tr; 2026 Noterlik Ücret Tarifesi — higm.adalet.gov.trPilot price, valid until 31.12.2026, incl. KDV. Spouse and children arriving together: ₺2,500 each additional person.
What you buy from us is preparation and coaching, not an application. Your e-ikamet account is yours; receipts are in your name; no one "submits for you".
The six steps, in order
| # | Step | Where | State cost | What we do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potential tax number (vergi kimlik numarası) | İnteraktif Vergi Dairesi online, or any tax office with your passport | ₺0 | Step cards for the online form; we check the number arrived and the name matches the passport |
| 2 | Address — lease and nüfus registration | Landlord → notary (where the district requires a notarised lease) → nüfus müdürlüğü | Notary harç ₺233.80 per signature if notarised; registration ₺0 | Lease checklist (landlord ID copy, tapu copy, DASK), closed-mahalle check, notary booking and accompaniment, registration appointment coaching |
| 3 | Health insurance | Licensed broker / insurer | Premium to insurer | Introduction to a licensed broker; we check the issued policy's wording and period against the Göç İdaresi circular before you submit |
| 4 | e-ikamet first application | e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr — by you | ₺0 to submit | Field-by-field step cards in your language; document checklist; photo check; appointment selection |
| 5 | Pay the state and attend | Tax office / bank for fees; provincial directorate for the appointment | Card ₺964 + harç if applicable | Payment references explained; appointment pack in the officer's order; accompaniment where permitted; status coaching afterwards |
| 6 | Bank account | Bank branch of your choice | ₺0 (bank's own fees apply) | Document pack (tax number, address proof, permit or application document, income source documents); which banks currently open for which nationalities from real outcomes; branch accompaniment with a sworn interpreter at tariff if needed |
Why this order: the notary and the landlord ask for a tax number; the insurer asks for an address; e-ikamet asks for the policy and the registered address; the bank asks for the permit or application document. Reverse any two and you lose a week.
What you bring from home
- Passport valid well beyond the permit period you want (a permit is cut 60 days short of passport expiry)
- For families: marriage and children's birth certificates, apostilled in the issuing country — Türkiye cannot apostille a foreign document. Translation and notarisation are done here through our document chain.
- Proof of means: bank statements, pension letters, employment or sponsorship documents
- Diplomas if you plan to study, work or have a diploma recognised later
- Criminal-record extract from your country, apostilled, if your permit ground asks for it
- Recent biometric photos are easier to take here to the Turkish specification
Timeline and what can go wrong
A disciplined first application takes 2–4 weeks from arrival to appointment; the directorate's decision commonly 30–90 days after. Common failures:
- Applying from a closed neighbourhood — the directorate rejects or refuses to register. Check before signing a lease; we check for you.
- Insurance bought from a street agent that does not meet the circular. Rejected at the counter.
- Lease without landlord ID and tapu copy — the notary will not certify it; the nüfus office will not register it.
- Letting the visa-free period lapse before submitting. Submit inside the lawful stay; the application document then covers you.
- Bank first, permit later. Most banks will not open without an application document or permit; going early wastes a morning.
Questions
Can I apply for a first permit while on a tourist visa or visa-free stay?
For most short-term permit grounds, yes — the e-ikamet application must be submitted before your lawful stay ends. Once submitted, the application document lets you remain while it is processed. Some grounds (work, some family cases) require a visa from a consulate first; we check this in the interview.
Do you sell the health insurance?
No. Insurance may only be sold by licensed insurers and brokers. We introduce you to a licensed broker, check that the policy you buy matches the current Göç İdaresi circular, and receive no commission.
Which comes first — the lease or the tax number?
Tax number first: landlords and notaries ask for it. Then the lease, then address registration, then insurance, then e-ikamet. Doing these out of order is the main reason first applications stall.
I was refused before, or I overstayed. Can you help?
We will tell you honestly what the rules say and then tell you to retain a lawyer directly — see legal information. Refusal, overstay and deportation history are legal matters, not document preparation.
Related: renewal guidance · apostille · bank account opening for companies · our standard · back to residence guidance
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