Turkey Residence Permit Fees 2026: Costs and Verification

[TURKIYE]

Residence permit fees in Turkey are not a single amount that applies to everyone. An application may include the residence permit fee itself, the residence permit card fee, and possibly a single-entry visa fee depending on the circumstances, as well as separate service costs such as insurance, translation and notarization. Comparing what a friend paid with the amount shown for your application is therefore not enough to establish that there has been an increase or an error.

On 30 April 2026, the Presidency of Migration Management explained that residence permit fees are set annually by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance under Fees Law No. 492, and denied that the fee amounts had changed at the time of the statement. This clarification concerns the official fee; the total cost of preparing your application file may vary according to your nationality, the requested duration and the services you need.

What is included in the cost of a residence permit?​

Start by separating the bill into clear items. The residence permit fee, Harç, relates to the permit and varies according to the rules that apply to your nationality and circumstances. The card fee, Belge Bedeli, is a separate charge for issuing the residence permit document. The official Migration Management page lists the 2026 card fee as TRY 964. This figure does not mean that the entire residence permit application costs TRY 964.

A single-entry visa fee may be added in certain circumstances, while insurance, translation and notary costs can vary between applicants and service providers. Do not group all these items under “migration fees”: some are government charges and others are prices for commercial services.

Item	What does it cover?	How to check
Residence permit fee, Harç	The permit fee applicable to the applicant's circumstances	The amount generated for your application and the official fees page
Residence permit card fee	Issuing the residence permit document; the published 2026 amount is TRY 964	The Migration Management page for card charges and fees
Entry visa fee	A separate charge that may apply depending on how you entered and your circumstances	Your application details and clarification from the authorities if this charge appears in the calculation
Insurance, translation and notarization	Services needed to prepare the file, rather than the residence permit fee itself	An itemized quote and a receipt for each service

Why can the amount differ between nationalities?​

Turkey applies fee rules based on nationality and reciprocity. Some nationalities may be exempt from the residence permit fee while the card fee remains a separate charge. There are also exemptions linked to a person's legal status rather than nationality alone. A short published table should therefore not be treated as a calculation that applies to every applicant without exception.

The requested duration also matters. Compare two applications with the same nationality, permit type, duration and fee calculation date, then check which items were included in each total. If the official table shows an amount in a foreign currency, do not assume that an old conversion into Turkish lira remains fixed throughout the year. Use the official amount applicable to your application when paying, rather than an exchange rate from an old post to account for the difference.

What does the statement of 30 April 2026 mean?​

The confirmed point is that Migration Management denied that residence permit fee amounts had changed as of the statement date and directed applicants back to the official fee schedule. The Turkish page is dated 30 April 2026, while its official English version is dated 1 May 2026. Those publication dates do not turn the statement into a new exemption or cancellation of all application costs.

Nor does the statement mean that insurance, translation or notary service prices are frozen. Two people may pay different totals even when the government fee is unchanged, because one needs additional documents translated or chooses different insurance coverage. When reading news about a “residence permit cost increase,” first ask: does it refer to the permit fee, the card fee or the cost of services used to prepare the file? This question prevents much of the confusion.

How can you check the amount before paying?​

Create your application through the official e-İkamet system and enter your nationality, passport type, requested duration and other required details accurately. Keep the application form and transaction numbers, then separate the financial items displayed instead of relying on a total quoted verbally by an intermediary.

Consult the Migration Management page titled Belge Bedeli ve Harç Miktarı and check the year shown in the table. If you find a discrepancy, request clarification from the relevant Provincial Directorate of Migration Management or YİMER 157. Your inquiry should concern the actual details of your application, rather than a general estimate obtained from someone else. Before paying, check the applicant's name, application number and the item being paid. Do not treat a receipt for a private service as a substitute for an official fee receipt.

Paying correctly and keeping your receipts safe​

Official guidance explains that government fees are collected through authorized payment channels, rather than by depositing the residence permit fee into an intermediary's personal account or a consultancy company's account. The residence permit fee payment service can be accessed through the Digital Tax Office, using the application number or assessment number as required by the service.

Keep a legible receipt showing the payment details and check it against the application you created. YİMER's official frequently asked questions state that the residence permit fee and card fee should be paid before the appointment. If there is a problem with the payment being recorded, do not automatically pay a second time; present the receipt and application number to the relevant authority for verification. Do not share a receipt containing your personal details in public groups. You can conceal those details when asking for general help.

A practical budget for your application file​

Make a personal budget instead of looking for an “all-inclusive residence permit price” that applies to everyone. In the following checklist, connect each entry to the amount actually required and leave out items that do not apply to your circumstances instead of adding estimates. Requesting an itemized quote from a service provider also helps you understand what you are paying for and what you will pay directly to the official authorities yourself.

Budget item	What should you enter?	Common mistake to avoid
Official permit fee	The Harç amount applicable to your application, or your confirmed exemption status	Using the amount applicable to a different nationality
Card	The official amount for the current year	Assuming that a Harç exemption automatically exempts you from the card fee
Insurance	The price, coverage and duration of the required policy	Comparing prices without comparing coverage
Translation and notarization	The number of documents and services your file requires	Paying a combined amount without knowing the individual items
Other expenses	Any additional item that is clearly explained and justified in your circumstances	Treating every private service cost as a government fee

Before paying the fees​

Check the year, nationality and duration. Do not use an old screenshot of a fee schedule or rely on a calculation for a different application. Separate the permit fee from the card fee and private services. Keep invoices and receipts so that you can identify what each amount covers. Resolve any discrepancy before paying again. An amount higher than you expected does not by itself prove a new increase, just as an exemption does not prove that the entire application file is free of charge.

Frequently asked questions​

Is TRY 964 the total cost of a residence permit?
No. It is the published residence permit card fee for 2026, separate from the permit fee, insurance, translation and any other items that may apply to your application.

Does the April statement mean that fees are the same for all nationalities?
No. The statement denies that fee amounts had changed at that time. It does not remove differences in calculations based on nationality, duration and statutory exemptions.

Where can I check if an intermediary asks me to pay an amount I do not understand?
Ask for an itemized breakdown, then compare the government fee with the details in e-İkamet and the official fees page. You can also seek clarification from Migration Management or YİMER 157 before paying.

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