All You Need to Know About  Turkish Student Visa Requirements in 2024

Turkey student visa permits an overseas student to visit the country for educational purposes. The visa also allows the student to apply for a temporary residence permit and settle in the country for some time. Only the Northern Republic of Cyprus nationals do not require this visa. All other students need the permit. Those interested in applying for a Turkish student visa must know the visa requirements. It will be useful to organise your visa application correctly. This blog covers the Turkish Student Visa requirements in detail. Keep reading to know about them.

Who Needs a Turkish Student Visa?

Any international student wanting to study in Turkey needs a Turkish student visa. The only Northern Republic of Cyprus nationals are exempt from this requirement. The exemptions from the  student visa rules are provided below:

• Individuals who are holding a Blue card do not have to meet the student visa rules
• Similarly, children of people living in Turkey with a residence permit or a work visa, do not have to meet the visa rules 
• International students who have previously completed their secondary/high-school education in the country and now want to pursue a BA or MA degree from Turkey do not need to meet the visa rules.

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Types of Student Visas for Turkey 

Those who are applying online will find that there are a range of student visa options. This includes the following. Applying for any of these visas requires you to meet the Turkish student visa requirements.

• Internship ERASMUS
• Internship visa
• Internship AIESEC
• Course Purpose
• Turkish Language Course Purpose
• Education in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Education Purpose

Turkey Student Visa Requirements 

The following are the Turkish student visa requirements. You must present these documents to obtain a Turkish visa.

• A passport that is valid for a minimum of 90 days
• Duly filled in Turkish student visa application form
• 2 photographs (passport size)
• Provide proof of travel insurance for the entire stay in the country
• Obtain medical insurance and provide proof of the same 
• Present proof of travel insurance for the entire duration of the stay
• Proof that you have booked flights to Turkey 
• Provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover your education and living expenses
• Provide visa processing fees. ( varies based on your nationality)
• Proof of accommodation 
• Provide educational documentation or diplomas 

Click here to download the official PDF of Turkish student Visa requirements 

Turkish Student Residence Permit Requirements 

Those wanting to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit. The application for a residence permit is sent to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration. The Turkish student residence permit requirements are as follows:

• Passport 
• Copies of student visa
• Application form
• Proof of university acceptance 
• 4 passport-size photographs

Note: The residence permit is generally valid for 1 year. You can renew this permit 60 days prior to the expiry date. For this, you can meet the local authorities in Turkey, and complete an application form for renewal.

When to Apply for a Turkish Student Visa?

You can apply for a Turkish student visa at a  Turkish diplomatic mission in your home country. For example, a consulate or embassy. To apply, you must meet the Turkish student visa requirements. The right time to apply for the visa is provided below:

Particulars	When to Apply
Earliest application	60 days before departure to Turkey
Latest application	30 days or 1 month before the intended date of travel to the country

Turkey Student Visa Application Process 

Now that you know about the Turkey student visa requirements, you can apply for the visa. The application process for the same is provided below:

• First, apply for a program in Turkey and receive the acceptance letter. 
• Next, arrange an appointment with the local consulate. Book an appointment for the same online. You will have to visit the Turkish consulate or embassy in person.
• Complete the visa application process and present the documents. 
• Wait for a decision on the visa application
• Once you have obtained the visa you can go to Turkey. 
• After arrival in the country, apply for a student residence permit within 1 month.

Watch the video below to learn more about applying for a Turkish visa

Attending your Visa Appointment

As mentioned before, you need to get a visa appointment. The date of the visa appointment is the date of the visa interview. The visa interview is generally taken by a consular officer. The officer would ask general questions like your plans to study in Turkey, your trip to the country, etc. The interview would influence whether you will receive the visa or not. Therefore, it is important to make a good impression. It is also important to arrange all documents and take them along with you. If you miss any document your visa application will be rejected.

Learn how to apply for a student visa 

Turkey Visa Processing Time 

Generally. The Turkey visa processing time is between 3 to 15 working days. However, depending on the consulate the number of days can vary. Although the visa processing doesn’t take much time, it is advisable to apply as early as possible.

What to Do In Case of a Turkish Student Visa Rejection?

The following steps can be taken in case of a  Turkish student visa application rejection. You have two options in case of a visa refusal.

• Reapply for the visa- First, identify the mistakes you have made and correct them. Ensure that you meet all the Turkish student visa requirements and apply for the visa. You can re-apply for a visa 24 hours after the visa rejection.
• Contact the Embassy/Consulate- You can contact the embassy or consulate of Turkey if you feel the visa application has been unfairly rejected. It can take weeks or months to book an appointment. Therefore, it is advisable to apply for the visa in advance before making any plans to visit Turkey.

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Is IELTS Required for a Turkey Student Visa?

Yes. The medium of instruction in Turkey is English. Therefore, students wanting to study in Turkey need to present proof of meeting one of the Turkey visa requirements- clearing the IELTS examination. The IELTS test scores are accepted by several universities in Turkey. The good news is that you can get admission starting with an IELTS score of 5.0.  Moreover, the highest score required is only 6.0. Some examples of IELTS Score acceptance by countries are provided below:

University Name	Minimum IELTS Requirement
Maltepe University	5.5
Yasar University	5.0
Ozyegin University	5.0
Izmir University of Economics	6.0
Middle East Technical University	6.0

FAQs

We hope you now understand what the Turkish student visa requirements are. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!

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