Last updated: 2 November 2026 · Legal review: Av. Gökhan Vural, İzmir Bar Association (Reg. No. 15813)
Turkey residence permit cost in 2026 is made up of two official charges: a fee set by your nationality ($25 for the first month plus $5 for each extra month for most countries) and the 964 TL card fee. Most websites only quote the official fee — which tells you almost nothing, because the fee depends on your nationality, and the fee is only one of four or five items you will actually pay. This guide gives you the full picture: the official country-based fee schedule, the card fee, who is exempt, how payment works, and — from our daily practice as an immigration lawyer in Turkey — the real-world costs (translation, notary, insurance) nobody puts on paper. Use the calculator below for your own estimate.
Key Takeaways
- The Turkish residence permit fee depends on your nationality: most countries pay $25 for the first month plus $5 for each extra month.
- Every applicant also pays the 2026 residence permit card fee of 964.00 TL.
- If you entered visa-free and this is your first permit, the single-entry visa fee of 9,376.40 TL is added, often exceeding the residence fee itself.
- Holders who stayed abroad over 120 days (short-term), 180 days (family) or one year (long-term) pay the visa fee and double residence fee on reapplying.
- Students at Turkish schools and universities are fee-exempt under Law No. 492, Article 88, but consulate, embassy and international schools do not count.
Turkey Residence Permit Cost by Nationality: The Official Fee
The residence permit fee (harç) is set per country in an official schedule: a first-month amount plus a smaller amount per additional month, denominated in USD and collected in Turkish Lira. The 2026 figures follow the General Communiqué on the Law of Fees (Official Gazette No. 33124, 31 December 2025):
| Fee group | Example countries | First month | Each extra month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (158 countries) | USA, England, Germany, Iran, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, China | $25 | $5 |
| Group B | Albania, Philippines, Israel, Japan, Oman | $14 | $3.50 |
| Group C | Belgium, Spain, Kuwait, Singapore, Jordan | $9 | $2.50 |
| Group D | South Korea, Russia, Hong Kong, Ethiopia | $7 | $1.50 |
| Group E | Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Montenegro | $5 | $0.50 |
| TL tariff (no USD group) | Serbia, Norway, Fiji, N. Mariana Is. | up to 3,359.90 TL | 2,232.30 TL |
Example: an Iranian citizen applying for a 12-month permit pays $25 + 11 × $5 = $80 as the fee — plus the items below. On top of the fee, every applicant pays the residence permit card fee: 964.00 TL for 2026.
Why Is the Amount on My Screen Higher Than the Calculator?
If e-İkamet or an agent quotes you much more than our calculator, one of three things is usually going on.
- You entered visa-free and this is your first application. You also pay the single-entry visa fee: 9,376.40 TL in 2026. This one item is often larger than the residence fee itself.
- You stayed outside Turkey too long and are applying again. Under Article 21 of the Implementing Regulation, holders who stayed abroad for more than 120 days (short-term permit), 180 days (family permit) or one year (long-term permit) pay the single-entry visa fee and the residence fee at double the normal rate on their new application.
- The number came from an intermediary. An agency’s quote includes its service fee. That is not a government fee.
In spring 2026, Russian press reported that a one-year tourist residence permit now cost more than 28,000 TL. Turkish press reports say the Presidency of Migration Management stated on 30 April 2026 that fees had not changed, called the high amounts seen in late April a system error and started refunds for overpayments; our guide to the Turkey residence permit new rules 2026 covers what has actually changed. Here is what a Russian citizen applying alone for a first 12-month short-term permit actually pays:
| Item | Amount (2026) |
|---|---|
| Single-entry visa fee (visa-free entry) | 9,376.40 TL |
| Residence fee (Russia: $7 first month + 11 × $1.50) | $23.50, paid in TL |
| Residence card fee | 964 TL |
| Health insurance (age 16–45) | 1,100–4,500 TL |
| Sworn translation (passport) | about 600 TL per page |
| Notary | about 1,000 TL |
| Photos, copies, stationery | about 1,000 TL |
| Total | about 14,000–17,500 TL + $23.50 |
If the system shows a much higher amount, check it before you pay. If you have already overpaid, ask the provincial migration office about a refund.
Who Pays Nothing: The Exemptions
- Fee-exempt nationalities (reciprocity): Czechia, Denmark, Ireland, Kosovo, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkmenistan, TRNC and Palestine pay no residence fee — the card fee still applies. Important for Syrians: in practice this exemption stems from temporary protection status (mass entries before 2016); recent arrivals without that status are not exempt.
- Students at Turkish schools and universities: under Law No. 492, Article 88, foreigners enrolled at Turkish schools or faculties receive their residence permit free of the fee. Note carefully: consulate schools, embassy schools and international schools do not count as “Turkish schools” — their students pay the normal fee.
- Temporary protection holders are exempt under the relevant communiqué.
Calculate Your Own Fees
The calculator applies the official schedule for 220 countries, the 2026 card fee, the student and nationality exemptions, and converts to TL at today’s indicative rate:
How and Where You Pay
The fee is paid to the tax office — at the dedicated counter where migration administration fees are collected. Once you have obtained a Turkish tax number, there is no obstacle to paying online through the tax administration’s digital channels either. Keep the receipt: it goes into your application file.
Step by step:
- Finish your e-İkamet application. The system generates an accrual (tahakkuk) number for your fees.
- Pay online or at the tax office. Online, use the Revenue Administration’s Digital Tax Office service “Göç İdaresi İkamet Tezkeresi Harcı Ödeme” with your accrual number. In person, pay at the migration-fee counter of a tax office.
- Pay both items. The residence fee and the card fee are separate payments.
- Keep the receipts and bring them to your appointment.
Never pay a residence fee into a personal or company bank account. The fee goes only to the state.
Paid the Wrong Amount?
If you paid less than the accrued fee, one of two things happens. The office may issue a permit that matches what you paid: for example, if you asked for one year but paid the fee for six months, you may receive a 180-day permit. Or the office may accrue the difference again; once you pay it, you can receive the full period you asked for.
Renewal: What You Pay Again
- The residence fee for the new period, at your nationality’s rate.
- The card fee again (964 TL), because a new card is printed.
- A new health insurance policy covering the whole new period.
- No single-entry visa fee, unless the double-fee rule above applies to you.
One Year or Two?
The residence fee is charged per month, so two years costs about twice as much in fees. You pay the card fee once and save one renewal appointment. Your insurance must cover the full period, so price the policy for the same length.
Babies Born in Turkey: The 180-Day Rule
A baby born in Turkey to foreign parents needs a residence permit too. After the birth certificate is issued, apply within 180 days and obtain the travel document. If you miss this, the fee is charged at double rate. Once it is paid, no entry ban is imposed.
What You Need Before You Pay
- Passport and copies of its pages
- Biometric photos
- A health insurance policy that meets the residence-permit requirements (what your policy must show)
- Proof of address: a title deed or a notarised rental contract
- Proof of sufficient funds
- Documents for your purpose of stay
Full checklist by permit type: types of residence permit in Turkey.
The Real Total: What Clients Actually Spend
From our practice, the items missing from every official fee table:
| Item | Typical 2026 cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Residence fee (harç) | by nationality — see calculator | paid in TRY; not refundable on rejection |
| Card fee | 964.00 TL | official 2026 figure |
| Sworn translation | ≈ 600 TL per page | a typical file has several translated pages (passport, civil documents) |
| Notary certification | ≈ 1,000 TL | for notarised copies/translations |
| Health insurance | from 1,100 TL / year | up to about 4,500 TL to age 45, considerably more after — see the price table by age |
| Single-entry visa fee | 9,376.40 TL (2026) | only if you entered visa-free and never held a permit — collected once |
So a realistic budget for a first-time 12-month application is the fee for your nationality plus roughly 3,000–8,000 TL of card, translation, notary and insurance costs depending on your documents and age. Renewals cost less: no visa fee, fewer translations.
Wondering which permit type fits you in the first place? See our guides on the types of residence permit in Turkey and renewing your Turkish residence permit. And if you have overstayed, calculate the penalty first with our overstay fine calculator.
Want the application handled right the first time — with no wasted, non-refundable fees? Schedule a consultation with our immigration team.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Official fees follow the annual Fees Communiqué and the Presidency of Migration Management fee schedule (2026 single-entry visa: 9,376.40 TL); practice costs are indicative 2026 ranges from our office’s experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Turkey residence permit fee in 2026?
It depends on nationality: for most countries $25 for the first month plus $5 per additional month (a 12-month permit = $80), with lower schedules for some countries and a TL tariff for a few. Every applicant also pays the 964 TL card fee for 2026.
Is the residence permit fee refunded if my application is rejected?
No. The fee is paid for the right to apply — it is a transaction charge, not a payment for a successful result.
Are students exempt from the residence permit fee?
Students enrolled at Turkish schools or universities are exempt under Law 492, Article 88. Consulate, embassy and international schools do not count as Turkish schools, so their students pay the normal fee. The card fee applies to everyone.
Can I pay the residence permit fee online?
Yes — once you have a Turkish tax number, the fee can be paid through the tax administration’s online channels, or in person at the tax office’s dedicated migration-fees counter.
What is the real total cost of a Turkish residence permit?
Beyond the official fee: the 964 TL card fee, sworn translations (≈600 TL per page), notary costs (≈1,000 TL) and health insurance (from 1,100 TL per year) — a realistic 3,000–8,000 TL on top of the nationality-based fee for a first application.
Why is my residence permit fee higher than the calculator shows?
Usually the single-entry visa fee for visa-free entrants, the double-fee rule after a long stay abroad, or an agency’s service fee.
Do I pay the single-entry visa fee again when I renew?
No, unless you stayed abroad longer than your permit type allows.
What happens if I pay less than the accrued fee?
You may get a shorter permit that matches your payment, or be asked to pay the difference.
How much does a residence permit cost for a baby born in Turkey?
The normal fee, if you apply within 180 days of the birth certificate. After that, double.
