The program titled “Work and Procedures of the Student Residence Unit” was held by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management. In the program held at Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, Sinan Kaya, Provincial Migration Expert and Head of the Student Residence Working Group, and Lütfiye Temel, Assistant Provincial Migration Expert, made presentations. Participants were informed in the program, which was attended by 46 universities.
Sinan Kaya: “Those who enter conditionally must submit their applications within 10 days.”
Sinan Kaya, Provincial Migration Expert and Head of the Student Residence Working Group at the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, who spoke about who can obtain a student residence permit, stated: “Residence permit applications must be made within the visa period, and those who enter conditionally must submit their applications within 10 days. Student residence permits are not granted for reasons such as guest student status, special student status, open education, or distance learning. Foreigners who are university students and will receive preparatory education in English, Arabic, or another language as required by their registered department can initially be issued a student residence permit for 1 year, and after completing their preparatory education, for the normal study period of their registered department. After successfully completing the preparatory department, they can obtain a residence permit for the duration of their education if they renew their registration.”
Information provided on student residence permit
Kaya, sharing information about the student residence process, said: “For student residence permits, the student’s passport validity date, the graduation date specified in the student certificate, and the insurance validity date are taken into consideration. If a notification stating that an application will be made to the Social Security Institution within 3 months from the date of initial school registration is signed, a residence permit for the duration of the study can be issued. Otherwise, the private health insurance period is taken into account.”
“Associate and undergraduate students can obtain a residence permit for the duration of their education, excluding the time spent in preparatory courses.”
Kaya, speaking about the procedures associate, undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students must follow to exit Turkey, stated: “Associate and undergraduate students can obtain a residence permit for the duration of their education, excluding the time spent in preparatory courses. If the residence permit expiry date is shorter than the probable graduation date, students must apply for an extension. If the residence permit expiry date is longer than the probable graduation date, students can graduate and exit Turkey after diploma procedures. If students continue their studies, they must make a new appointment within 90 days at the latest from the graduation date. If studies are not continued, they must make a new appointment suitable for their purpose of stay within 10 days at the latest from the graduation date. Otherwise, they cannot exit Turkey. The same conditions apply to master's and doctoral students, but if the residence permit expiry date is shorter than the thesis defense examination date, students must apply for an extension. If the residence permit expiry date is longer than the thesis defense examination date, students can graduate and exit Turkey after diploma procedures. Students receiving specialization training in Medicine and Dentistry are required to submit an e-signed or signed and sealed/stamped document indicating that they are within the scope of TUS and DUS and showing the duration of their training.”
Cancellations of residence permits and address registration procedures discussed
Finally, Sinan Kaya provided information on the cancellations of residence permits and address registration procedures, stating: “If the required conditions are not met or cease to exist, if there are indications that the student cannot continue their education, if it is determined that the residence permit is used for purposes other than its intended use, if there is an entry ban decision against the student, or if there is a valid deportation decision against the student, a student residence permit is not issued; if issued, it is canceled, and its duration is not extended. Furthermore, address registration procedures, previously carried out by the Directorates of Population, have been handled by our Directorate as of 2022. For foreigners who come to our country to learn Turkish on their own will without university enrollment, and for students directed to Turkish courses without university enrollment, a visa for the purpose of a Turkish language course has become mandatory. A short-term residence permit can be issued a maximum of two times under clause 31-1(h), provided they submit a document showing that they are a course participant and the duration of the course program.”
The program concluded after participants' questions were answered.