What is a Family Residence Permit?
A Family Residence Permit (Aile İkamet İzni) allows a sponsor — a Turkish citizen, or a foreign national holding a valid residence or work permit — to bring their spouse and dependent children to live with them in Turkey. It's governed by Law No. 6458 Art. 34.
Instead of each family member applying separately under different grounds, a Family Residence Permit links everyone's application to the sponsor's status, producing a single coordinated process with lighter documentation for dependents.
Each approved family member receives their own individual residence permit card — the "family" element refers to how the applications are linked and processed, not a single shared document.
Key facts at a glance
Who can sponsor, and who can be included
| Role | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | A Turkish citizen, or a foreign national with a valid residence or work permit |
| Spouse | The sponsor's legally married spouse, with an apostilled marriage certificate |
| Dependent children | The sponsor's or spouse's biological or legally adopted children under 18 |
Adult children generally fall outside this category and need to apply under a different permit type, such as Short-Term or Student, once they turn 18.
Family vs. individual applications
Family members could, in principle, apply individually — but a coordinated Family Residence Permit is almost always faster and simpler:
| Family Residence Permit | Separate individual permits | |
|---|---|---|
| Grounds required | Linked to sponsor's status | Each member needs independent grounds |
| Renewal | Broadly aligned dates | Independent renewal dates per person |
| Documentation | Lighter for dependents | Full documentation per person |
Required documents
- Marriage certificate — apostilled, with certified Turkish translation, for the spouse's application
- Children's birth certificates — apostilled, with certified Turkish translation
- Sponsor's status document — Turkish ID, or the sponsoring resident's valid permit
- Family registration extract — Turkish Aile Nüfus Kayıt Örneği, or the equivalent foreign registry extract
- Health insurance — a compliant policy for each family member included
- Shared address document — proof the family will live together at the same registered address
Our full breakdown is in the Family Residence Permit service page.
Marriage and birth certificates issued abroad must generally carry a Hague Apostille, or be legalized by a Turkish consulate if the issuing country isn't a Convention member, before they can be used in Turkey.
How the application works
- Eligibility & relationship verification — confirming the sponsor's status and the family relationship.
- Document collection & translation — apostille and certified translation of civil documents.
- Health insurance — arranged for each family member.
- e-ikamet family application — a linked filing referencing the sponsor's record.
- Migration Directorate appointment — attended together where the directorate allows.
- Approval & card delivery — each member receives their own card.
Looking ahead: renewal and long-term status
Time spent on a Family Residence Permit counts toward the continuous legal residence period required for a Long-Term Residence Permit. Renewal timing and the checklist for keeping the family's status current is covered in our renewal guide.