Last updated: 2 November 2026 · Legal review: Av. Gökhan Vural, İzmir Bar Association (Reg. No. 15813)
A Turkish ID card (or Turkish identity card) can mean two different documents, and confusing them causes real problems for foreigners. If you live in Türkiye as a foreign national, the card you hold is a residence permit card (ikamet kartı) issued by the Presidency of Migration Management, and it carries a foreigner ID number that starts with 99. The Turkish citizen ID card (T.C. Kimlik Kartı) is a different card. Only Turkish citizens receive it, from the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, so a foreigner can get one only after acquiring Turkish citizenship.
This guide explains who gets which card, how and where each is issued, what each one is used for, and what to do if your card is lost or has expired.
Key Takeaways
- Foreigners living in Türkiye hold a residence permit card (ikamet kartı). It is not a citizen ID card and it does not replace your passport.
- The foreigner ID number (yabancı kimlik numarası) starts with 99. You will use it for e-Devlet, banks, tax and many other official procedures.
- The T.C. Kimlik Kartı (sometimes searched as the “Turkish citizenship card”) is issued only to Turkish citizens, including foreigners who have become citizens.
- The residence permit card comes from the Presidency of Migration Management (goc.gov.tr). The citizen ID card comes from the Population and Citizenship Affairs directorate (nvi.gov.tr).
- If a residence permit expires without being extended, the problem is more than a stale card: your legal stay in Türkiye ends. Apply for an extension before the expiry date.
What Is a Turkish ID Card?
For a Turkish citizen, a Turkish ID card is the chip-based T.C. Kimlik Kartı, which shows the citizen’s 11-digit Turkish identification number. Foreigners often use “Turkish ID card” for the card they receive with their residence permit, but that card is legally a residence permit document under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458), not a citizen identity card.
| Residence permit card (ikamet kartı) | Turkish citizen ID card (T.C. Kimlik Kartı) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who receives it | Foreign nationals with a residence permit | Turkish citizens, including naturalised foreigners |
| Issuing authority | Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) | General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri) |
| ID number | Foreigner ID number starting with 99 | 11-digit T.C. identification number |
| Legal basis | Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection | Law No. 5490 on Population Services |
| Valid until | The end date of your residence permit | The expiry date printed on the card. Renew it when it falls due. |
| Travel document? | No. You still need your passport. | Accepted without a passport or visa for Azerbaijan, Georgia, the TRNC (Northern Cyprus), Moldova and Ukraine, if the card has a chip and a photo |
Who Gets Which Turkish Identity Card?
Your nationality decides which card you get. Foreign nationals living in Türkiye under a residence permit, whether short-term, family, student, long-term or another type, receive a residence permit card. Turkish citizens, by birth or by acquisition, receive the T.C. Kimlik Kartı.
- A tourist or visitor on a visa or visa exemption has no Turkish ID card. The passport is the identity document.
- A resident foreigner, for example a property owner holding a short-term residence permit in Turkey, receives a residence permit card with a 99 number.
- A foreigner who acquires Turkish citizenship, through marriage, residence or investment, is entered in the Turkish population register and can then apply for a T.C. Kimlik Kartı like any other citizen.
- A former Turkish citizen who gave up citizenship with permission may hold a Blue Card (Mavi Kart). This is a separate document again, not a citizen ID card.
The Ikamet Kartı (Residence Permit Card) and Your 99 ID Number
The residence permit card, often called the Turkey TRC card, is the physical document of your Turkish residence permit. It shows your photo, your foreigner ID number, the type of permit and its end date.
How and where the residence permit card is issued
- Apply online through the Presidency of Migration Management’s e-İkamet system and choose the permit type that matches your purpose of stay.
- Attend your appointment at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) with your documents, biometric photos and proof of payment.
- Receive the card by courier at the address you declared. It is sent within about 15 days after your application and appointment are complete, so make sure the address is correct and someone can receive the delivery.
For 2026, the residence permit card fee is 964 TL. The residence fee itself depends on your nationality and on how many months you apply for. You can estimate your total with our Turkey residence permit cost calculator.
The foreigner ID number starting with 99
Foreign nationals registered in the Turkish system receive a foreigner ID number (yabancı kimlik numarası) that starts with 99. It is printed on your residence permit card. In practice it plays the same role for you that the T.C. number plays for citizens.
What the residence permit card is used for
- Proving that you are lawfully resident in Türkiye, for example at police checks or when entering and leaving the country (together with your passport)
- Getting an e-Devlet password and using online government services on turkiye.gov.tr
- Opening bank accounts, registering phone lines, signing rental or utility contracts and handling notary and title deed transactions
- Tax, health insurance and other public registrations
It is not a travel document. Always travel with your passport. When you re-enter Türkiye, carry the card as well, because it shows that your residence permit is still valid.
Validity and renewal
The card is valid only as long as the residence permit it represents. A short-term residence permit can be granted for up to two years at a time (Law No. 6458, Art. 31). Apply for an extension online through e-İkamet within the 60 days before your current permit expires, and in any case before it expires (Law No. 6458, Art. 24). For the requirements and the steps, see our guide on the short-term residence permit.
The Turkish Citizen ID Card (T.C. Kimlik Kartı) After Citizenship
A foreigner can obtain the T.C. Kimlik Kartı only after becoming a Turkish citizen. This is the card people often search for as the “Turkish citizenship card”. It is issued by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs (NVI), not by the migration authority.
How and where the citizen ID card is issued
- Citizenship is granted and you are registered in the Turkish population register (nüfus kütüğü) with a Turkish identification number. Foreigners are recorded in a separate foreigners’ register kept under Article 8 of Law No. 5490. When you become a citizen, your record moves to the Turkish register and the two records are linked.
- Book an appointment at a civil registry office (nüfus müdürlüğü) through the NVI appointment system.
- Attend in person with a biometric photo. Your fingerprints and signature are taken, and you pay the card fee. In 2026 the fee is 220 TL for a standard renewal or replacement and 440 TL to replace a lost chip ID card. Pay it before your appointment through the Revenue Administration’s online tax office (gib.gov.tr), a contracted bank or a PTT branch.
- Collect the card or receive it by delivery, depending on the option you chose. You can track the application with the ID card application status service on e-Devlet.
Once you have the ID card, you can also apply for a Turkish passport; our guide to the Turkish passport after citizenship explains that step. To learn how citizenship itself is acquired, read our guides on how to get Turkish citizenship and Turkish citizenship by investment.
What the citizen ID card is used for
- It is the primary identity document of a Turkish citizen for all public and private transactions.
- Its chip supports electronic identity verification and e-Devlet access.
- It can be used instead of a passport and visa to travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, the TRNC (Northern Cyprus), Moldova and Ukraine. The card must have a chip and a photo, whatever the holder’s age. This applies to babies too.
What to Do If Your Turkey ID Card Is Lost or Expired
What you do depends on which card you hold. In both cases, act quickly. A lost card can be misused, and an expired residence permit affects your right to stay in Türkiye.
Lost or stolen residence permit card
- File a theft complaint with the police against an unknown person (faili meçhul), whether the card was lost or stolen. The complaint gives you evidence if the card is later misused in your name.
- Apply to the migration authority for a replacement card. In practice, some provincial directorates, İzmir for example, charge the card fee (964 TL in 2026) plus half of the residence fee for the remaining permit period. In our view this charge has no legal basis, but it is collected.
- Consider a determination lawsuit (tespit davası) if you need a court record of the loss or theft.
- Until the new card arrives, keep your passport and the application document with you.
Expired residence permit card
If your residence permit has expired, the card cannot simply be renewed. The permit itself has ended. If you applied for an extension on time, your application document shows that your extension is in progress. If you did not, staying on may be treated as a violation of the permitted stay. The overstay fine is twice the residence fee for your nationality and is collected when you leave, and an entry ban of up to five years can follow. Our Turkey overstay fine guide explains how the fine and the ban are calculated. Get advice before you leave or reapply.
Lost or expired T.C. Kimlik Kartı
- Report the loss online with the e-Devlet T.C. ID card loss notification service so that the card is cancelled.
- Book a new appointment with the NVI and apply for a replacement in person. In 2026 the fee for a lost chip ID card is 440 TL (220 TL for a lost old-style nüfus cüzdanı), compared with 220 TL for a standard renewal.
- For an expired card, book an appointment and apply for renewal in the same way.
Common Mistakes Foreigners Make with Turkish ID Cards
- Treating the residence permit card as a passport. It does not let you travel without a passport.
- Letting the permit lapse while waiting for a “card renewal”. What you renew is the permit. Start the extension online before the end date.
- Declaring a wrong or temporary address. The card is sent to your declared address, and an outdated address can also cause problems with official notifications.
- Expecting a citizen ID card from the migration office. After citizenship, the T.C. Kimlik Kartı comes from the NVI. The migration office does not issue it.
- Not updating records after naturalisation. Once you have your new identification number, update it with banks, the tax office, notaries and the land registry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the national ID document of Turkey?
The national ID document of Turkey is the Republic of Türkiye Identity Card (T.C. Kimlik Kartı), a chip-based card issued to Turkish citizens by the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs. Foreign residents do not receive it. Their identity document in Türkiye is their passport together with the residence permit card.
What is a Turkish ID card?
For citizens, a Turkish ID card is the T.C. Kimlik Kartı, which shows the 11-digit Turkish identification number. For foreigners, “Turkish ID card” usually refers to the residence permit card, which shows a foreigner ID number starting with 99.
How do I know my identity number?
A foreign resident’s identity number is printed on the residence permit card and starts with 99. A Turkish citizen’s 11-digit number is printed on the T.C. Kimlik Kartı and can also be checked on e-Devlet. If you have not received your card yet, contact the provincial migration directorate that handled your application.
How to get Turkish permanent residency?
Türkiye has no “permanent residency” under that name. The closest status is the long-term residence permit, which foreigners can apply for after eight years of uninterrupted lawful residence (Law No. 6458, Art. 42). The holder receives a residence permit card for that status, not a citizen ID card. For many foreigners, citizenship is the more practical long-term goal. See the routes to Turkish citizenship.
Can a US citizen get Turkish citizenship?
Yes. US citizens can acquire Turkish citizenship through the same routes as other foreigners, including marriage, long-term residence and investment. After citizenship, they apply for a T.C. Kimlik Kartı and a Turkish passport. Turkish law permits multiple citizenship, and Article 44 of Law No. 5901 provides for it to be recorded in the civil register once the person submits the relevant documents. On the US side, the State Department states that a US citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to their US citizenship (US Department of State).
Get Help with Your Turkish ID Card or Residence Permit
Our team handles residence permit applications, extensions, lost-card cases and citizenship files for foreigners all over Türkiye. If your permit is close to expiring, your card has been lost, or you are about to become a Turkish citizen, speak to an immigration lawyer in Turkey before you take the next step.
Official sources: Presidency of Migration Management – e-İkamet, Law No. 6458 (mevzuat.gov.tr), NVI appointment system, e-Devlet – Population and Citizenship Affairs.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Fees, procedures and requirements change, so check the official sources or contact a lawyer about your own case.