You’ll likely need a student visa to study in Turkey if you are an international student. The only students who do not require a visa to study in Turkey are:
Students from the Northern Cyprus Republic and Blue Card-holding students whose parents reside in Turkey with a work visa and resident permit.
To obtain a student visa, you must submit an application in person at the Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country. You must possess your student visa prior to entering Turkey. Once you are in Turkey, you must apply for a residence permit that allows you to stay in Turkey for greater than 90 days.
Turkey student visa process
Here are the actions that must be taken to obtain a Turkish student visa:
- You cannot apply for a visa before you have received a letter of acceptance from a Turkish university.
- Make an appointment with your local consulate: You must submit your application in person at the Turkish embassy or consulate closest to you. Appointments should be able to be scheduled online.
- Complete your application and provide supporting documentation: When you attend your visa appointment, you must complete, sign, and submit a visa application together with the necessary documentation (listed below).
- Watch for a decision: On occasion, you can track your application’s status on the Turkish consulate’s website.
- Put your application for a residence permit: Within one month of your arrival in Turkey, you must apply for a residence permit.
Turkish student visa requirements
- When applying for a student visa for Turkey, you must present the following documents:
- Your passport, valid for a minimum of ninety days
- A completed and signed application for a Turkish student visa. Two passport-sized photographs.
- Acceptance letter from your university detailing the length of your stay
- Proof of travel insurance for the duration of your trip to Turkey
- Evidence of health coverage
- Documentation of scheduled flights to Turkey
- Evidence of adequate income to support your studies and living expenses in Turkey
- The visa processing fee can vary based on the applicant’s nationality.
- Accommodation documentation in Turkey
- Previous certificates or diplomas in education
- Duration of Turkish student Visa Processing; The processing time for your visa application can range from three to fifteen days, depending on the embassy or consulate you visited. Even though the processing time for a Turkish student visa is very quick, it is highly recommended to apply early. If you apply at the last minute, unanticipated delays or missing paperwork could prevent you from receiving your visa on time.