Turkey Student Visa – Requirements, Application Process

Are you a student planning to study in Turkey? If yes, then you are at the right place. In this article, we will discuss about the Turkey Student Visa eligibility criteria, application process, documents needed, visa appointment, and more for the Turkey student visa. Keep reading this article to know more about it. 

What is the Turkey student visa?

If you want to study in Turkey, you need a student visa. This visa lets you stay in Turkey for your studies, but you cannot use it to work or start a business in Turkey. 

It is like a special document that allows you to live in Turkey temporarily while you study. Turkey student visa is relatively easier to get approved when compared to J1 visa for students to study in the United States of America. 

You can get a Turkey student visa if you are planning to do an internship, go to school, college, or university, or take a course in Turkey.

What are the benefits of a Turkish student visa?

Here are some of the key benefits of a Turkey student visa:

1. Turkey has really good universities, so it is easy for you to get into one.
2. If you get a degree from a Turkish university, it is respected in Europe because they use the same education system.
3. Turkish universities are top-notch. They have great teaching, facilities, and support for their students.
4. It is not too expensive to study and live in Turkey. This is perfect for students who are on a budget.
5. You can get scholarships from some of the best universities in Europe while studying in Turkey.
6. With a student visa in Turkey, you can also work and travel in other European countries.
7. If you have a spouse or kids under 18, they can live in Turkey with you.
8. Once you become a permanent resident or citizen in Turkey, it is easier to travel to Europe and America.
9. If you become a Turkish citizen, you get a special red passport that lets you travel without needing a visa.

What Are The Types of a Turkey Study Visa?

Here are the types of Turkey Student Visa. Let’s have a look at them:

a. Short-term Student Visa

If you are planning to study in Turkey for a short time, like up to 90 days, you will need a short-term student visa. This is best for things like language courses or short exchange programs. 

b. Long-term Student Visa

If you are going for a longer program, like a degree or a more extended course, you will need a long-term student visa. This lets you stay in Turkey when you are studying.

Who Needs a Turkey Study Visa?

If you are a student from another country planning to study in Turkey, you will probably need a student visa. But some students don’t need one. You don’t need a student visa if:

• You are from Northern Cyprus
• Your parents live in Turkey with a work visa and residence permit
• You have a Blue Card

Do You Need IELTS for a Turkey Student Visa?

Turkey is an amazing  place with lots of history and culture. This makes it popular for tourists. It is also becoming a top spot for students from all over the world. 

The government there focuses on giving a good education that is not too expensive. So lots of international students go there to study. But, like in many places, if you want to study in Turkey, you need to be able to understand English. 

Most Turkish universities teach in English, so you will need to speak, read, write, and listen to Basic English. To prove you can do this, you have to take a test called the IELTS. This test checks how good you are at English. 

Some universities want you to get a higher score, while others are okay with a lower one. For example, Yasar University wants you to get a score of 5.0, while Maltepe University wants 5.5. 

Ozyegin University and Izmir University of Economics ask for 5.0 too. But Middle East Technical University needs a score of 6.0.

How to Select the Right Turkey Student Visa?

If you are applying online, you have different education visa options. These include:

• Internship visa
• ERASMUS Internship
• AIESEC Internship
• Turkish Language Course
• Regular Course
• Education Purpose
• Education in Northern Cyprus

Application Process for a Turkey Student Visa

The application process for a Turkey student visa is simple. Here are the steps that you should follow:

1. If you are applying for a student visa, you just need to fill out a form, gather some documents, and go for an interview. 
2. You can start applying 60 days before you plan to go to Turkey and should finish at least 30 days before your travel date. 
3. You can apply at a Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country or use a visa application center nearby.
4. You should apply for your Turkish student visa at the right time to avoid problems. 

What Should You Remember While Applying for a Turkey Student Visa?

When you apply for a Turkish student visa, you should remember these things:

• You need to go to a Turkish consulate near your home
• You cannot get this visa while you are already in Turkey
• Bring a ‘Letter of Acceptance’ from a Turkish university and fill out a visa form
• You can get the visa form from the consulate
• It usually takes about 8 weeks to get your visa after you apply
• Your passport will get stamped for the student visa

Documents Required to Apply for a Turkey Student Visa

To apply for a student visa, you will need these documents:

• Fill out the Student Visa application form
• Your passport should be valid for at least 90 days
• Get two passport-size photos that follow Turkey’s visa photo rules
• An airline ticket
• Proof of health insurance
• Letter of Acceptance from the Turkish school that you will attend
• Proof of payment for your course fees, if needed
• Copies of your past diplomas, transcripts, and certificates
• Bank statements or a letter of sponsorship 
• Proof of accommodation. You can attach a hostel reservation, a letter of invitation from a host, or a rental agreement if you are renting a place

Why do you need an Acceptance Letter?

When you apply to study, intern, or take a course in Turkey, you will need to show proof that you are enrolled. This proof comes in the form of a Letter of Acceptance. 

You must have this letter before you can move forward with your visa application. It does not matter what you are applying for – this letter of acceptance is a must. So, please make sure you have it before you do anything else with your visa application.

Turkey Student Visa Appointment

Here are some tips to follow during Turkey Student Visa Appointment:

1. Before your interview, you should gather and organize all your documents according to the embassy’s rules. You will need to bring them with you on the interview day. 
2. The embassy will let you know when your interview is scheduled. 
3. Be ready to go to the embassy or consulate in your area on that day. 
4. During the interview, a consular officer will ask you questions about your trip and studies.
5. It is super important to have all the necessary documents for your Turkey visa application. If you forget even one, your application could get rejected right away. If that happens, you will have to apply all over again. 
6. You should make a good impression during the interview. Your performance during the interview session can decide if your visa application gets approved or not.
7. It usually takes around 15 days for the visa approval process. But this can vary. It depends on which country you are applying from. In some places, you might get an answer within just three days.

Post-Arrival Process in Turkey

After you arrive in Turkey with your Student Visa, here are the steps that you should follow:

1. You must visit the nearest local police department and register yourself. 
2. You will need to apply for something called a residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration.
3. Once you have your residence permit, which they call ikamet in Turkish, you can live in Turkey and you can open a bank account. 
4. You should renew your ikamet before it expires. It is best to apply for renewal about six weeks before it runs out.

Can You Work with a Turkey Student Visa?

Turkey has become more welcoming to international students in recent years. But,  the language barrier is the main challenge in Turkey for international students.

Turkish is the main language. That is why many international students come from places where Turkish is spoken, like parts of China, Azerbaijan, and others.

To study in Turkey, you need to do the following things: 

1. You need to get accepted by a school or university there. 
2. You will need to show your acceptance letter when applying for a Turkish student visa.
3. If you get a Student Residence Permit, you can work legally in Turkey. 
4. If you are in an undergraduate or two-year associate program, you can only start working after the first year of study. 
5. If you are in a two-year associate program, there is a limit of 24 hours of work per week.
6. If you apply for a student visa online, it usually takes around 24 hours. 
7. If you apply through a consulate or foreign representative, it can take up to 90 days.

Will You Get a Work Permit after Study in Turkey?

Turkey is a popular choice for students worldwide because of its affordable education and high-quality living standards. The courses at Turkish universities prepare students well for jobs globally.

If you are applying for a Turkey student visa, it is simple. This can be done online. If you have all the right documents, you can get your visa in just 24 hours. While studying, you can even work if you are in an undergraduate or two-year associate program.

After graduating, you can apply for a work permit to stay and work in Turkey legally. You will need a job offer letter to apply for this permit. Once you have it, you can work with the company that hired you and even move to Turkey for work.

Here are some things to remember when applying for a work permit after graduation:

• Apply within 6 months of graduating
• The permit can last up to 1 year
• You can only get this permit once
• You will need your diploma or a document proving you graduated to apply

Life as an International Student in Turkey

Working in Turkey with a student visa is against the law. But if you get a special permit called a Work Permit for Students, then you can work legally. 

Finding a part-time job in Turkey is tough because most jobs need you to speak Turkish well. And the pay is usually lower than in the USA, Canada, or other European countries. To find a good job, you will need to do lots of research and know the right people.

According to a new rule in Turkey, only students in formal degree programs can work legally. But, the students who are in short courses or undergraduation programs cannot work in Turkey. Once you have a work permit, you can stay in Turkey for a longer time. 

If you graduated from a Turkish university, you can apply for a work permit. But you must do this within a year of graduating. If you are having a bachelor’s degree, it is not enough. 

Even if you had a scholarship or a residence permit during your studies, it does not count. You need a higher degree to qualify for a work permit.

What to do If Your Turkey Student Visa gets Denied?

Here are the simple steps that you should follow if your Turkey student visa gets denied. Let’s have a look at them:

1. If your visa application is rejected because of mistakes on the form, don’t worry. You can fix the errors and apply again. 
2. You can reapply the day after they tell you it’s rejected. If everything is right this time, you might get your visa in just three days.
3. If you think they said no for no good reason, talk to the Turkish Embassy or Consulate where you live. It might take a while to get an appointment with them, even weeks or months. 
4. When you visit the embassy or consulate, bring all the papers that show why they should say yes to your visa.
5. If you cannot go in person, that is okay. Write them a letter explaining why you think they were wrong to reject you. 
6. You should include proof to support your story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Turkey is a great place for students from other countries because its is affordable to live in Turkey as compared to Europe and America. When you have less financial stress, you can easily concentrate better on your studies.

You have the chance to get scholarships from top European universities while studying in Turkey. With a Turkey student visa, you can even work and travel in other European countries. 

In this article, we discussed different types of visas, documents required, the application process and more. By following these simple steps, you can easily get a Turkey student visa and start studying in Turkey.