Residence Permit (İkamet Permit) Costs in Türkiye in 2026: How Much Does a Residence Permit Cost for Foreign Nationals?
Residence Permit (İkamet Permit) Costs in Türkiye in 2026: How Much Does a Residence Permit Cost for Foreign Nationals?
The cost of obtaining a residence permit in Türkiye depends not only on the permit type. The final amount is affected by nationality, duration, age, family status, reason for residence, health insurance, and the number of documents that require translation and notarization.
The same one-year residence permit may cost different amounts for citizens of different countries. Some nationalities pay a small fee calculated in U.S. dollars, while others are subject to a more expensive fee formula based on Turkish lira. Certain nationalities and categories of foreigners are exempt from permit fees, but even in those cases, applicants still pay for the residence permit card, insurance, and supporting documents.
All calculations below are based on rates effective as of May 2, 2026. For dollar-based calculations, an indicative exchange rate of 1 USD ≈ 45.19 TL has been used. Actual amounts in Turkish lira may vary slightly depending on the exchange rate applied on the payment date.
Components of Residence Permit Costs
Residence permit expenses generally consist of five main categories:
Residence Permit Card Fee
In 2026, the residence permit card costs 964 TL.
Every applicant must pay this fee, regardless of nationality.
Residence Permit Fee
The permit fee depends on nationality and permit duration.
For some nationalities, the fee is calculated in U.S. dollars but paid in Turkish lira. For others, a Turkish-lira formula applies. Certain nationalities and applicant categories are exempt.
One-Time Visa Fee
In 2026, the one-time visa fee is 9,376.40 TL.
This fee does not apply to all foreigners or all situations. It is usually relevant for first-time applications when the applicant's nationality is not exempt and the system assesses the fee. It is generally not charged again during renewals.
Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for applicants aged 18 to 65.
The cost depends on:
Age
Coverage period
Insurance company
The older the applicant, the higher the premium.
Documents
Documents are often a significant hidden cost.
These may include:
Photos
Translations
Notarizations
Rental documents
Family documents
Property documents
Educational documents
Medical documents
Business-related documents
These expenses frequently add several thousand Turkish lira to the overall budget.
Government Fees in 2026
The residence permit card fee is fixed at 964 TL.
Permit fees vary by nationality group.
Group A
1 year: USD 80
2 years: USD 140
Group B
1 year: USD 52.50
2 years: USD 94.50
Group C
1 year: USD 36.50
2 years: USD 66.50
Group D
1 year: USD 23.50
2 years: USD 41.50
Group E
1 year: USD 15.50
2 years: USD 16.50
Countries Subject to the General Turkish Lira Formula
For some nationalities, permit fees are calculated according to a general Turkish-lira formula.
In 2026:
First month: 384.10 TL per day
Minimum first-month fee: 653.70 TL
Maximum first-month fee: 3,359.90 TL
Each additional month: 2,232.30 TL
As a result:
1-Year Residence Permit
Government fees including the card: 28,879.20 TL
2-Year Residence Permit
Government fees including the card: 55,666.80 TL
Some nationalities and categories are exempt from permit fees. In such cases, applicants only pay for:
Residence permit card
Insurance
Supporting documents
Example: Russian Citizens
Russian citizens fall into Group D.
Residence permit fee:
1 year: USD 23.50
2 years: USD 41.50
Russian citizens generally do not pay the one-time visa fee in standard applications.
1-Year Residence Permit
Permit fee: approximately 1,062 TL
Card fee: 964 TL
One-time visa fee: 0 TL
Total government fees: approximately 2,026 TL
2-Year Residence Permit
Permit fee: approximately 1,875 TL
Card fee: 964 TL
One-time visa fee: 0 TL
Total government fees: approximately 2,839 TL
Typical Budget for One Russian Adult
1 Year
Government fees: approximately 2,026 TL
Insurance: 3,000–10,000 TL
Photos: 500–600 TL
Translations, copies, notarization, address documents: 1,500–5,000 TL
Estimated total: 7,000–18,000 TL
2 Years
Government fees: approximately 2,839 TL
Insurance: 7,000–27,000 TL
Photos: 500–600 TL
Documents and notarization: 1,500–6,000 TL
Estimated total: 12,000–36,000 TL
Estimated Costs by Nationality Group
Group A
1 Year
Permit fee: approximately 3,615 TL
Card: 964 TL
Without visa fee:
4,579 TL
With visa fee:
13,956 TL
2 Years
Without visa fee:
7,291 TL
With visa fee:
16,667 TL
Estimated full budget:
9,500–30,000 TL
Group B
1 Year
Without visa fee:
3,336 TL
With visa fee:
12,713 TL
2 Years
Without visa fee:
5,234 TL
With visa fee:
14,611 TL
Estimated full budget:
8,500–29,000 TL
Group C
1 Year
Without visa fee:
2,613 TL
With visa fee:
11,990 TL
2 Years
Without visa fee:
3,969 TL
With visa fee:
13,346 TL
Estimated full budget:
7,500–27,000 TL
Group D
1 Year
Without visa fee:
2,026 TL
With visa fee:
11,402 TL
2 Years
Without visa fee:
2,839 TL
With visa fee:
12,216 TL
Estimated full budget:
7,000–27,000 TL
Russia belongs to this group, although the one-time visa fee generally does not apply to Russian citizens.
Group E
1 Year
Without visa fee:
1,664 TL
With visa fee:
11,041 TL
2 Years
Without visa fee:
1,710 TL
With visa fee:
11,086 TL
Estimated full budget:
6,500–26,000 TL
Health Insurance Costs
There is no fixed official price for private health insurance.
Estimated annual premiums:
Age | 1-Year Insurance |
|---|---|
Under 18 | 3,500–5,500 TL |
18–25 | 3,000–6,000 TL |
26–35 | 3,000–6,500 TL |
36–45 | 4,500–8,000 TL |
46–55 | 5,500–10,000 TL |
56–60 | 7,500–15,000 TL |
61–64 | 10,000–16,000 TL |
65+ | From 16,000 TL |
For applicants over 55, health insurance often becomes one of the largest expenses.
Photos, Translations, and Notarization
Photos
A set of four biometric photos typically costs:
500–600 TL
Translations
Simple document translations generally cost:
500–1,500 TL per document
Notarization
Basic notary fees in 2026 include:
Minimum notarial action: 58.82 TL
Per-page fee: 80.68 TL
Notarized translation fee per page: 667.67 TL
For one adult applicant with straightforward documents, it is reasonable to budget:
1,500–5,000 TL
For a family:
5,000–12,000 TL
Complex family situations involving marriage, divorce, child custody, parental consent, or powers of attorney may increase costs further.
Short-Term Residence Permit
Short-term residence permits include:
Tourism
Property ownership
Medical treatment
Business purposes
Language courses
Scientific research
Other eligible grounds
Government fees depend on nationality, not on the specific short-term permit category.
Typical total cost for one adult:
Russia
7,000–18,000 TL
Countries with low permit fees and no visa fee
7,000–20,000 TL
Countries subject to the one-time visa fee
16,000–30,000 TL
Countries under the general Turkish-lira formula
34,000–48,000 TL
Family Residence Permit
Each family member is charged separately.
There is no single family fee.
Example: Family of Two Adults and One Child (Russian Citizens)
Government fees: approximately 6,078 TL
Insurance: 9,500–18,000 TL
Photos: 1,500–1,800 TL
Family documents, translations, notarization: 5,000–12,000 TL
Estimated total: 22,000–38,000 TL
If the one-time visa fee applies, add:
9,376.40 TL per applicant
For a family of three, this increases the budget by:
28,129.20 TL
Student Residence Permit
Students enrolled in Turkish educational institutions are generally exempt from residence permit fees.
Typical annual budget:
Card fee: 964 TL
Permit fee: 0 TL (if exempt)
Insurance: 3,000–6,500 TL
Photos: 500–600 TL
Documents and translations: 500–2,000 TL
Estimated total: 5,000–10,000 TL
Tuition fees are not included.
Long-Term Residence Permit
Long-term residence permit holders are exempt from permit fees.
Typical costs:
Card fee: 964 TL
Photos: 500–600 TL
Insurance or proof of coverage
Supporting documents
Estimated budget:
2,000–5,000 TL
If new insurance is required, especially for applicants over 55, the total may increase to:
10,000–30,000 TL
Work Permit as an Alternative
A work permit is not a residence permit, but it replaces the need for one during its validity period.
Government fees in 2026:
Up to 1 Year
Permit fee: 12,574.90 TL
Card: 964 TL
Total: 13,538.90 TL
1–2 Years
Total: 26,113.80 TL
2–3 Years
Total: 38,688.70 TL
Indefinite or Independent Work Permit
Total: 126,766.20 TL
A work permit cannot be compared directly with a tourist residence permit because it provides legal authorization to work in Türkiye.
Conclusion
The cost of obtaining a Turkish residence permit in 2026 is calculated using the following formula:
Residence Permit Card + Nationality-Based Permit Fee + Possible One-Time Visa Fee + Health Insurance + Photos + Translations & Notarization + Costs Related to the Residence Basis
For Russian citizens, government fees remain relatively low:
Approximately 2,026 TL for 1 year
Approximately 2,839 TL for 2 years
However, after adding insurance and documentation expenses, the realistic budget for one adult is usually around:
7,000–18,000 TL for 1 year
12,000–36,000 TL for 2 years
For other nationalities, the final amount depends heavily on the nationality group and whether the one-time visa fee applies. In countries subject to the general Turkish-lira formula, the total cost can exceed 34,000–48,000 TL per adult per year, while a family of three may easily exceed 100,000 TL.
