Frequently Asked Questions

There are several ways to solve this problem:

1. Buy a simple Turkish phone — insert a Turkish SIM card and share Wi‑Fi from it
2. Buy a pocket router and share Wi‑Fi from it
3. Use both IMEI slots — almost every phone has 2 IMEI slots (physical and electronic); each slot can be used for 4 months

What to do after 8 months?

You can fall back on option 1 — buy a simple Turkish phone.

Insurance is required for the entire duration of your studies. If you are enrolled in the preparatory year, your residence permit will only be approved for 1 year; once you move on to the faculty, you can apply for a 4-year permit.

Turkey blocks phone IMEIs. The cost of unlocking a phone was 6,091 liras in 2022, but on 7 July 2023 the authorities raised the fee to 20,000 liras.

This means a phone you bring into Turkey can only be used for 4 months.

What IMEI blocking means:

No cellular service on the phone — that is, you won't be able to use mobile data, make calls or receive calls. The phone itself keeps working! But once connected to Wi‑Fi, you can use WhatsApp, Instagram and any other apps.

An apostille is a form of official certification of documents so that they are properly recognized as legally valid in all countries that are parties to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.

The apostille is usually stamped on the back of the document or on a separate sheet, after which the document is stitched.

Where to obtain an apostille:

• In Russia: the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Justice
• In Kazakhstan: CPS (TsON)
• In Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan: the Ministry of Justice

Standard set of documents for the apostille:

1. Identity document
2. Original certificate with supplement
3. Application for apostille
4. Payment of the state fee

What is a denklik belgesi?

Denklik is a certificate of equivalence confirming that a secondary-education certificate or diploma is equivalent to the Turkish school system.

You can obtain denklik either in your home country (at the Turkish Embassy) or in Turkey (at the Ministry of Education).

Standard list of documents in Turkey (Istanbul) and Russia (Moscow):

• Apostilled 11th-grade school certificate
• 10th-grade transcript
• 9th-grade certificate
• International passport
• Denklik application form

Many people ask us: "What's the difference between TÖMER and hazırlık (preparatory year)?"

In short:

TÖMER and the preparatory year are both language courses at a university.

The difference:

Anyone can take TÖMER courses, but only officially enrolled university students can attend the preparatory year.

We often see questions about international diplomas obtained in Turkey.

One such diploma is the Mavi Diploma. It means that the education received at a given university is recognized in European countries such as Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Germany and others.

Up-to-date list of universities that issue the Mavi Diploma:

Our take on what matters before you move:

• Give a full power of attorney to someone close to you. Situations may arise where you need to obtain a document from a government office or open a bank account in your home country — a power of attorney will be a huge help.
• Bring essential electronics with you, as they are more expensive in Turkey. Laptop, phone, headphones, hair dryer, hair straightener, electric shaver and so on — you'll need all of them.
• Clothes and shoes. Bring the basic essentials and comfortable, broken-in shoes (you will walk a lot). Don't bring old things you won't actually wear. You can always go shopping in Turkey. Research the climate of the city/region you're moving to and pack accordingly.
• Take care of your teeth before moving. It's better to handle this in your home town than to run around Turkish clinics without speaking the language.
• Bring essential medication. In Turkey most medicines also have different brand names — look them up by the active ingredient.

Anyone can apply for a tourist residence permit. Lately many people are being refused — even TÖMER students.

Standard documents for a first-time tourist residence permit:

1. Residence permit application form
2. Photos 3×4 (4 pcs)
3. Health insurance
4. Notarized rental contract
5. Numarataj (address certificate)
6. Receipt of the state fee payment
7. Copy of the international passport
8. Copy of the entry stamp into Turkey
9. Copy of the owner's TAPU
10. Copy of the owner's ikamet

This is the sixth part of the "Enroll in Turkey on your own" video series.

Main points:

• The difference between TÖMER and the preparatory year (hazırlık)
• Rights and opportunities for each type of program
• Residence permit options
• Pros and cons of each option

To move to Turkey you'll need to prepare the following:

1. 9th-grade certificate (with supplement)
2. 10th-grade transcript
3. Apostilled 11th-grade certificate (with supplement)
4. International passport. Make sure it remains valid for at least one and a half years.
5. If you're under 18, apostille the parental consent / power of attorney (original)
6. Apostille the birth certificate (copy)
7. Issue a full power of attorney to your closest relative and leave that document in your home country.

A student residence permit can only be obtained by enrolling in one of Turkey's universities for a bachelor's, master's or doctoral program.

For a first-time residence permit you will need:

1. Residence permit application
2. International passport
3. Copy of the most recent entry stamp into Turkey
4. Biometric photos (4 pcs)
5. Health insurance (sigorta)
6. Rental contract / dormitory certificate
7. Student certificate (öğrenci belgesi)
8. Residence card fee (565 liras in 2024)
9. Fingerprint code

If the student is under 18, additionally:

• Translation of the apostilled birth certificate
• Translation of the apostilled consent/power of attorney

Steps to obtain a student residence permit in 2024:

1. Submit the application on e-ikamet
2. Visit the migration office to have your fingerprints taken
3. Gather all required documents
4. Deliver the document package to the university's International Office
5. Receive the tebellüğ belgesi
6. Wait for the migration service to approve your application
7. Receive an SMS from PTT (postal service)
8. Pick up the card from the PTT courier🪪

Here we'll explain the real grants and scholarships.

Types of grants:

1. Türkiye Bursları — the most famous grant, covering almost all of a student's expenses. We'll publish a separate post about it.
2. Islamic Development Bank (İSDB) grant — which you can apply for while completing your Türkiye Bursları application.
3. Diyanet bursları — a grant for programs related to Islamic studies / theology. Diyanet Bursları provides free religious education at Turkish imam-hatip high schools and universities.
4. University-specific grant. Each university has its own rules. Some private universities only cover tuition under their grants; others additionally provide a stipend, free accommodation and meals.

How to get a grant:

• ✔️ Submit international exam results with your application
• ✔️ Take the university's own exam. If you score highly, the committee may interview you and offer a grant

Distance learning is offered at these universities:

1. İstanbul Üniversitesi
2. Anadolu Üniversitesi
3. Atatürk Üniversitesi

Important information for your arrival in Turkey:

• Don't exchange large sums of money at the airport or in tourist areas. If you don't have any liras at all, we recommend exchanging no more than $100 on arrival — enough for transport to the hotel and food. The best exchange offices in Istanbul are around the Aksaray-Laleli stations.
• Don't buy SIM cards at the airport — they are 300–400 liras more expensive there, and the same goes for tourist areas near hotels. Head into residential neighborhoods and buy one there.
• Since getting a residence permit (kimlik) takes a month or more, you'll need to buy a SIM card using your international passport. The cost is 500–700 liras including a month of service.
• Try not to let Turks see that you don't speak Turkish well, as you may be taken advantage of. Watch out for beggars (both adults and children). They often pretend to be "poor" and may also try to steal from you.
• Bargain at markets and bazaars with the sellers. They spot newcomers easily and inflate prices. Don't be shy to push back and haggle.
• Pay taxis in cash. Don't link your card to the apps — a driver may not show up or may drive off so that you cancel the ride, while a cancellation fee still hits your card. Also, sit in the front seat, turn on the navigator (so the driver can see it) and make sure the driver follows the route and does not stretch the trip.

For ages 16 to 25 — 540 liras for 1 year!

Insurance from:

• Ana Sigorta
• Ankara Sigorta
• Türk Nippon Sigorta
• Demir Sigorta
• Ray Sigorta
• Gulf Sigorta

Required documents and information:

1. Scan of the international passport
2. Address in Turkey
3. Duration (1–2 years)
4. Start date of the policy (a future date is allowed)
5. Payment receipt

Istanbul has three airports:

• ✈️ Atatürk Havalimanı — no longer operates passenger flights, only diplomatic and cargo flights.
• 🛩️ Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı
• 🛬 İstanbul Havalimanı

The last two operate both international passenger flights and domestic services.

🛩️ Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı (on the Asian side)

A metro station has recently opened inside the airport, from which you can travel into the city. Follow the Ⓜ️ signs to find it. The pink metro line (M4) will take you to:

• The Metrobüs (metro station Ünalan, transfer at Uzunçayır)
• Marmaray (Ayrılık Çeşmesi)
• Other metro lines (M8, M12)
• Or on to the final station, Kadıköy

HavaBus shuttles also run from the airport. As you exit the terminal, the bus stops are about 50 meters away. Schedules and prices are available at www.havabus.com

🛬 İstanbul Havalimanı (on the European side)

• Havaİst. Runs 16 different routes, including to Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı, Sultanahmet, Beşiktaş, Avcılar, Bakırköy and other destinations. Schedules and prices: https://www.hava.ist/sefer-saatleri.php
• Express metro (M11). Reaches the final station at Kağıthane in 30 minutes.

Yes, it's worth it, because the insurance price goes up on Monday. You'll be able to use this low-priced policy again next year.

Private insurance covers the bare minimum of expenses at hospitals and pharmacies that have an agreement with the insurer. In practice, though, it's not really useful — even when I personally bought 1,500-lira private policies, they were useless except for obtaining the residence permit.

You only need a scan of the front page of the international passport.

Choose "Bireysel Ödemeler" or "Para transferi". Please don't write words like "sigorta" or similar in the açıklama field. You can leave the field empty.

🏡 Rental options:

• Real estate agencies — a reliable way to find housing, but keep the commission in mind: 11–13% of the annual rent or one month's rent.
• Private landlords — you can rent directly from owners, which saves the agency commission.
• Online platforms — services like Airbnb offer short- and long-term rentals, but prices are usually higher.

📝 Rental terms:

• Contract — usually signed for 1 year with the option to renew.
• Deposit — most often a deposit of 1–2 months' rent is required.
• Utilities — paid separately from the rent (electricity, water, gas, internet bills).
• Agency commission — if renting via an agency, a commission of 10–15% is charged.

🏠 Apartment types:

• ⭕️ Eşyalı — furnished apartments with appliances. This option is convenient for those who don't want to spend time and money setting up the home. It usually includes furniture, appliances, air conditioning and sometimes dishware.
• ❌ Eşyasız — unfurnished apartments. This option requires buying or renting furniture and appliances, but lets you design the interior to your own taste and needs.

When applying for the residence permit, the entry date into the country is checked, so if the insurance start date is earlier than your entry date, it may cause problems. We can issue health insurance for any date, including a future date.

An important part of filling in the application is the translation of documents into Turkish📝

Many applicants use a translation agency and have the result certified by a local notary. In rare cases such a translation is enough for the first stage of the university application, but you should keep in mind that the university may reject you solely because of this translation.

There are two options that will keep you out of trouble:

• ☑️ Translation by an accredited translator in your country, certified at the Turkish embassy/consulate.
• ☑️ Translation by an accredited translator in Turkey, certified by a Turkish notary.

Advantages of the second option:

• 🔺 You get the translation without leaving home
• 🔺 You save money and time
• 🔺 You get a quality, verified translation of any document

For final registration at the university you need to bring the following documents:

• International passport (photocopy)
• Original 11th-grade certificate and its supplement
• Turkish translation of the 11th-grade certificate and its supplement
• Biometric photo 3×4 / 4.5×6
• Denklik
• Acceptance letter (kabul mektubu)
• Language certificate (if available)

If you're a student in Turkey, student transport cards (öğrenci kartı) are a great way to save on public transport!

🪪 What is a student card?

It's a special card for students that makes using any form of public transport much cheaper! For example, at the moment a monthly pass in Istanbul costs 285 liras!

🏘️ Differences between cities

Every Turkish city has its own rules for using cards and its own fares. For instance, Istanbul uses the Istanbulkart, Ankara has the Ankarakart, and Izmir has the Izmirim Kart. Be sure to check the rules and fares in the city where you plan to study. 🌍

How do you get a card in Istanbul?

• ✔️ Register as a student: you need to be officially enrolled at a Turkish university or college.
• ✔️ Gather the required documents: an enrollment certificate from your institution, ID or passport, a recent photo.
• ✔️ Submit the application and pay for the card: at the local transport office or online on the transport authority's website.

The insurance will be valid in every city in Turkey. However, when applying for the residence permit, the city listed on the policy must match the city where you are applying.