How To Register Your Address In Turkey

Embarking on a journey to Turkey unfolds an array of adventures, but before you dive into the bustling bazaars and serene landscapes, there’s a crucial first step: registering your address.

This simple guide ensures that navigating through the Turkish bureaucratic tapestry is as breezy as a sail on the Bosphorus.

Let’s dive in!

Understanding The Basics: Why Register Your Address In Turkey?

How To Register Your Address In Turkey 1

Before delving into the registration process, let’s highlight the reasons why address registration is crucial:

  • Legal Compliance: Address registration is mandated by Turkish law. Please register your address to avoid fines or legal complications.
  • Access To Services: Registered residents gain access to public services, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions.
  • Residence Permit: For foreigners, address registration is a prerequisite for obtaining a residence permit.
  • Voter Eligibility: Registered residents can participate in local elections, contributing to the democratic process.

What Are Turkish Residence Permit Types?

How To Register Your Address In Turkey 2

Depending on the visa type you hold, the purpose of the application, and the intended period of residence in Turkey, you can apply for one of the following residence permits:

Short-Term Residence Permit:

The Turkish short-term residence permit is the most sought-after among all other residence permits. 

You can get this residence permit for the following purposes:

  • For scientific research.
  • To establish commercial connections or business.
  • To participate in an in-service training program.
  • For educational or similar purposes in the framework of student exchange programs.
  • For tourism purposes.
  • Given that you do not carry one of the diseases, receiving medical treatment is considered a threat to public health.
  • To attend Turkish learning courses.
  • You are a citizen of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Family Residence Permit:

A family residence permit can be granted to the foreign spouse of a Turkish national, their minor children, and their dependent foreign child. 

The sponsor must have enough income to support those applying for a residence permit for them to get the permit.

Student Residence Permit:

You can get a student residence permit in Turkey to enroll in primary or secondary education. If you already have a family residence permit, you will not need this one.

You will also be eligible to apply for this residence if you plan to study an associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, specialty training in medicine (TUS), and specialty training in dentistry (DUS) in a higher education institution.

Long-term Residence Permit:

Suppose you have resided in Turkey for at least eight years uninterruptedly under a residence permit issued by the Turkish authorities. 

In that case, you can apply for a Turkish long-term permit with an indefinite validity.

Note that if you have resided in Turkey for the specified period as a refugee, conditional refugee and secondary protection status holder, humanitarian residence permit holder, and temporary protection, you are not eligible to apply.

Humanitarian Residence Permit:

You can apply for this residence permit in Turkey without a valid visa or residence permit. Still, no deportation decision has been taken against you; you are waiting for your deportation, or you cannot return to your country of residence due to emergency reasons.

Residence Permit For Victims Of Human Trafficking:

If you are a victim of human trafficking and you are in Turkey, you can apply for this residence permit.

What Is The Residence Permit Validity?

The validity of a Residence Permit in Turkey depends on the type of permit you hold, as follows:

  • Short-term residence permits can be issued for a maximum of two years.
  • Long-term residence permits are issued with indefinite validity.
  • The validity of a Student Residence Permit depends on the length of studies. If your education period is less than one year, the residence permit period must be at most the education period.
  • The family residence permit may be issued for a period not exceeding three years at a time.
  • The permit for humanitarian residence is granted and extended for a maximum period of one year.
  • The residence permit for the victims of human trafficking is issued for thirty days.

How To Register Your Address?

Here are the steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Find the local population directorate office (“Nüfus Müdürlüğü”) in your area. Actually, for foreigners, you should visit the immigration office for address registration, the one you went to get your residence permit.

Step 2: Bring all the required documents with you to the office. Make sure you have the originals as well as photocopies.

Step 3: Fill out the address registration form (“Adres Bildirimi Formu”) provided by the office. Only check the box for address registration.

Step 4: Submit the form and your documents to the office staff. They may ask you some additional questions about your address and residency status.

Step 5: Wait for your registration to be processed. Then, you can check your process in the e-devlet to see whether your address is registered by your name or not.

What Are The Documents You Will Need For Your Address Registration Appointment?

Gather the documents in your name, such as a water, electric, or natural gas bill, to submit to the government. 

In highly unusual circumstances, a domestic telephone-style internet bill will suffice. 

Only those whose water and electricity bills are paid by their complex, as with community buildings, will benefit.

  • Original residence permit card and photocopy;
  • Original passport and photocopy;
  • Lease Agreement plus one of the following: Electricity, water, natural gas, or landline telephone bill invoice; or Utility Contract or;
  • In addition to the TAPU-issued title deed, one of the following: a bill or contract for electric, water, natural gas, or landline telephone service.

If you have kids, you will need to go to the civil registry with your spouse, but you do not have to have them accompany you. Make sure to bring their documents.

When applying to register the address of your dependents and kids, in addition to the documents mentioned above, you’ll be asked to submit the residence permit cards of your dependents.

If you are a student, you can inquire at your university’s dorm and housing directorate to receive a document evidencing your stay. 

This residency document must be in Turkish. If you have housemates or flatmates, the papers should also detail their names.

After collecting these documents, you can visit the related government office to submit them and register. Turks refer to this as going to the “Nüfus.”

Depending on the city and district you live in, you will either be asked to submit the documents to the provincial Immigration Department or the district’s Civil Registry Office (Nüfus Müdürlüğü).

What Is Nüfus, And What Else Can You Do There?

The “Nüfus” or Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü (General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs) is the government office responsible for issuing and keeping the records of all Turkish citizens’ identification cards.

These identification cards include birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates, and driver’s licenses.

Every district in the 81 provinces of Turkey has a Nüfus office. You can see the list of these offices here.

For citizenship, including applying for Turkish citizenship, you will have to go to the Nüfus.

When renewing your DASK or Compulsory Earthquake Insurance, you must go to the Nüfus to register your address.

*If you need help reaching the population directorate or have questions, call their helpline 199.

How Do You Get A Copy Of Your Address Registration Certificate?

You can obtain this certificate (Yerleşim Yeri (İkametgah) ve Diğer Adres Belgesi Sorgulama) via e-Devlet (e-Government), Turkey’s digital state service platform after successfully registering your address. 

When asked for copies of your address registration certificate for other bureaucratic procedures, this will save time and effort.

How Can You Check If You Are Registered In The Address Registration System In Turkey?

Using the search engine on this portal to look up your address, you can determine whether or not you are already registered in the AKS database.

What If Your Address Registered In AKS Is Wrong?

You can also use this service to double-check that your address has been entered into the system correctly.

It is necessary to go to your Nüfus Müdürlüü to get your address altered if you discover that your actual address and the address stated in AKS do not match. This will save you from encountering complications later on.

You may be subject to an administrative fine of TL 1,963 if you report a false address.

What If Someone Is Already Registered At The Address?

In most circumstances, the owner or agent will be expected to accompany the foreigner to the immigration authorities or NUFUS, make a statement, and sign a declaration if someone has been registered at the questioned location.

You may visit NUFUS and use the document migration management supplied in certain circumstances.

What Should You Do If Your Residence Permit Has Been Rejected?

A request for a residence permit is denied, and an extension or cancellation of the permit is notified to the foreigner, his legal representative, or his lawyer.

The notification also includes how the foreigner can effectively exercise his right to appeal against the decision and other legal rights and obligations in this process. 

In addition, if the residence permit application is rejected, the application for the same stay cannot be made within 6 months. You can apply for a different stay if your legal term is in progress.

Changing The Address On The Residence Permit ID card

It must be if you dealt with the local authors for administrative formalities like this. 

After the foreigner moves to their new house in the new province, they must visit the Directorate General of Migration Management branch office in the new province. 

You must apply for a new residence permit in Turkey within twenty (20) business days. To verify your claim is valid, you must provide your new address.

It can be a rental contract, mortgage statement, real estate deed, etc. If the type of residence permit in Turkey you are applying for remains the same, you do not have to pay for it again. 

The new residence permit in Turkey will be issued to you.

Visa Vs. Residence Permit

Two things can keep you in a foreign country: a visa or a residence permit. 

A visa is for travelers who want to make a good memory in a short time in the country. It keeps you there for a maximum of 90 days (this duration may vary depending on which country you are in).

On the other hand, a residence permit is used for foreigners who wish to stay longer there.

Whatever the purpose, one year, three years, five years, or even forever (permanent residence permit in Turkey). 

Both contain information about your identity. But now, we want to focus on the longer one: residence permit in Turkey.

What Is The Importance Of Address Registration In Turkey?

Address registration holds immense importance in Turkey. It is a legal requirement for all residents, including foreign nationals. 

Proper address registration enables authorities to maintain accurate records, monitor the population’s movement, and provide necessary services efficiently.

Additionally, having a registered address is essential for various purposes, including opening a bank account, obtaining a residence permit, and participating in the local community.

Turkey has digitized many of its government-related bureaucratic procedures in the past decade. 

Civil procedures, including address registration, have also enjoyed the benefits of this 

transformation.

In 2006, with the Law on Population Services, Turkey introduced the Address-Based Population Registration System (Adrese Dayalı Nüfus Kayıt Sistemi). 

Nowadays, it is known as the Population Registration System (Adres Kayıt Sistemi) or AKS for short.

This central registering system keeps up-to-date electronic records of the address information of Turks and foreigners domiciled in Turkey.

The relevant law states that foreigners who arrive in Turkey with residence and work permits shall register in the Turkish address registration system within 20 working days of their entry date. 

The exact time limit is also applied to address changes, where you are obliged to report such changes to the civil registry or provincial migration authorities as soon as possible.

If you do not report a change of address in due time, you will face an administrative fine of TL 94.

AKS must also be registered to apply for a work, residence, or humanitarian residence permit.

Who Needs to Register Their Address in Turkey?

Address registration applies to both Turkish citizens and foreign nationals residing in Turkey for more than six months. 

Even if you’re staying with family or friends, you’re required to register your address.

What Should You Do While Buying Property In Turkey?

There are a few key points to consider when purchasing real estate in Turkey.

Before buying, you should know what you want and your expectations. 

After you know the location, property type, purchasing purpose, and budget, you should find a professional real estate company or agent to work with. 

Even if the buying process is safe and straightforward in Turkey, working with a professional helps you to make a good investment.

Never buy an immovable item from an ordinary person you have met in Turkey. They usually have a relative or a friend who sells a property, or they work as a middleman. 

There are risks of buying real estate from them. You may buy out-of-condition property, or you may be defrauded.

Working with a real estate agent provides lots of benefits for you. Your agent understands your expectations and offers you the best options. 

You can ask any questions during the buying process and understand every step through the transaction.

At the end of the process, you should work with a lawyer.

Therefore, you can be sure that the sales contract includes all the purchase terms you agreed on. Then, you can sign the sales contract safely.

Getting Turkish Nationality

One of the most significant benefits of buying a property in Turkey is getting a Turkish passport

As a result, many foreigners who are looking for a second home find Turkey the ideal option. Turkish citizenship by investment scheme allows expats to invest a minimum of 11,332,280 TRY ($400,000) and get Turkish citizenship within 60 days. 

Conclusion

With your address now registered, you’re all set to fully immerse in the vibrant life Turkey has to offer.

From exploring ancient ruins to indulging in rich, culinary delights, your adventure is officially underway.

Happy settling!

But wait, there’s more! You might also be interested in the following: