Turkey Randez-vous

What is Turkey's Randevu? The Precise Definition of the Residency Appointment

For any foreign national intending to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days, familiarity with the process called "Randevu" is not just an option, but a legal requirement. Although the word "Randevu" is used in Turkish to mean a general "appointment," in the immigration context, this word takes on a much deeper and more critical meaning.

Simply put, the Turkish Randevu is the online process for getting an official appointment from the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi). This appointment is the first and most critical step in the process of legalizing your stay. On this day, you submit your documents to apply for a residence permit; a process that ultimately leads to the issuance of a residence card (commonly known as "Kimlik").

It is essential to understand that the Randevu is not a consultation session or a job interview; rather, it is a precise and strict administrative process for submitting and verifying documents. At this appointment, the burden of proof for the completeness, accuracy, and precision of all information and documents lies entirely with the applicant. The Turkish immigration system has designed this process as an administrative filter to identify and reject incomplete or invalid applications from the outset. Therefore, success on this path depends less on your performance on the appointment day and more on the quality of preparation and accuracy in completing the form and gathering documents beforehand. This guide has been prepared to fully explain the Randevu process, from initial preparations to the steps that follow.

Prerequisites for the Turkish Randevu: Security Warnings and Necessary Documents Before Starting

Before starting the practical steps of registering the application, being aware of a few key rules and making some initial preparations can make the difference between a successful application and a rejected one. Ignoring these points can lead to a waste of time, money, and even a temporary ban on reapplying.

Security Warning: The Only Official Government Portal

The most important and critical point in this entire process is the exclusive use of the official website of the Directorate General of Migration Management. All residence permit applications must be submitted *only and exclusively* through the e-Residency system at https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. The Turkish Migration Directorate has explicitly warned that numerous websites with domains like .com or .com.tr, which appear high in search engine results through advertising, are fraudulent and operate with the intent to steal personal information and financially defraud foreign applicants. These websites have no connection to the Turkish government, and any payment to personal or company bank accounts introduced by these sites is strictly prohibited.

The Chain of Dependencies: Mandatory Prerequisites Before Starting

The Randevu application process is not a simple checklist of independent actions, but a chain of dependent steps, each being a prerequisite for the next. Trying to start the process without completing the previous steps will trap the applicant in an administrative deadlock. Therefore, *before* opening the migration office's website, you must have the following ready:

• Passport with Sufficient Validity: The applicant's passport must be valid for at least 60 days *longer* than the requested residence permit duration. As a general rule and to avoid any potential issues, it is recommended that your passport has at least one year of validity at the time of application.

• Valid Turkish Health Insurance: Purchasing a valid private health insurance policy in Turkey that covers at least one year is a definite requirement. The information from this policy, including the insurance company's name and policy number, must be entered into the online form. This means you *cannot* start the online process unless you have already purchased your insurance.

• Valid Address and Lease Agreement: The online form requires a precise and verifiable address in Turkey. This address must be provable via an official lease agreement, which will later be certified by a notary public (Noter).

• Digital Biometric Photo: A digital version of a biometric passport photo (with a white background, no glasses, and meeting ICAO standards, taken within the last 6 months) is necessary for uploading to the online form.

• Active Phone Number and Email in Turkey: Having an active Turkish mobile number and an active email address is mandatory for receiving verification codes and subsequent notifications from the migration office.

This sequence shows that the residency application process does not start with a sudden decision but requires careful planning. First, you must find housing, then apply for a tax number (Vergi Numarası), formalize the lease with it, buy insurance, and *only then* will you be ready to complete the online form.

Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the Randevu Form on the e-ikamet Site

Completing the online form on the e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr website is the heart of the Randevu process. This form is not just an information-gathering tool; it is an initial assessment system where the slightest error or inconsistency can lead to the immediate rejection of the application. Accuracy at this stage is critical.

Data Entry Rules

Before starting, remember two basic rules:

1. Language and Letters: All information must be entered in English and with capital letters (with the Caps Lock key active).

2. Mandatory Fields: Fields marked in red are mandatory and must not be left blank.

Steps to Complete the Form

1. Login and Application Type Selection: After entering the site, select your desired language (e.g., English) from the menu at the top of the page. Then, click on the option "I LODGE AN APPLICATION FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT FOR THE FIRST TIME".

2. Pre-registration Form: At this stage, you will enter your basic identity and contact information. The name and surname must be written *exactly* as they appear in the passport. After completing this section and entering your phone number or email, a verification code will be sent to you. This code, along with a unique Application Number, will be provided, which you must keep until the end of the process.

3. Personal Information Section: Enter your identity details carefully in this section. Some of the key fields include:

   • Medeni Hali (Marital Status)

   • Doğum Yeri (Place of Birth)

   • Uyruk Kimlik No (National ID Number): (e.g., Iranian National ID)

   • The information must *exactly* match your official documents.

4. Passport Information Section: This section requires high accuracy:

   • Belge No (Document Number): Enter your passport number.

   • Geçerlilik Tarihi (Date of Expiry): Passport expiration date.

   • Veren Makam (Issuing Authority): The authority that issued the passport. If this is not mentioned in your passport, you must enter the phrase İlgili Makam (meaning "Relevant Authority").

5. Contact & Address Information Section: Enter your precise residential address in Turkey along with a valid phone number and email. This information will be used for all official correspondence, so its accuracy is very important.

6. Work Information Section: This is one of the most sensitive parts of the form, especially for tourist residency applicants. According to Turkish law, tourist residency holders are not allowed to work. Selecting the "çalışıyorum" (I am working) option in this section will automatically and definitively lead to the rejection of your application.

7. Insurance Information Section: The details of the health insurance policy you previously purchased, including the company name and policy number, are entered here.

8. Upload Photo: Upload the digital version of your biometric photo at this stage.

9. Set Appointment (Appointment): After completing and confirming all information, you will be directed to a page where you can set your appointment. By selecting the "Randevu Tarihi Al / Değiştir" (Get/Change Appointment Date) option, a calendar with available dates and times for the migration office in the city you selected will be displayed. After choosing a suitable time, click the "Randevu Al" (Get Appointment) button.

10. Print Final Form: The last and most important step is to click the "Başvuru Formu Yazdır" (Print Application Form) button. This creates a multi-page PDF file containing all the entered information, the Randevu date and time, and the tax payment reference number (Tahakkuk Numarası) for paying the fees. This form *must* be printed and submitted along with other documents on the Randevu day.

Cost of Randevu and Residency in Turkey in 2025: Full Table of Expenses and How to Pay

The Randevu and residency application process includes a set of government and ancillary costs for which applicants must have precise financial planning.

Breakdown of Costs

Government Fees:

• Residence Permit Fee (Land Fee): This amount varies based on the applicant's nationality and is about 80 USD for adults from many countries, including Iran.

• Residence Card Issuance Fee: This is a fixed fee for printing and issuing the physical card, set at 810 TRY for 2025.

• Single-Entry Visa Fee: For first-time applicants, this fee may also apply, amounting to approximately 7,882.70 TRY in 2025.

Ancillary Costs:

• Health Insurance: The cost of a one-year policy varies depending on the applicant's age and coverage level, typically between 1,000 and 5,000 TRY or more.

• Notary Fee: For the official certification of the lease agreement, a fee of about 4,000 TRY should be considered.

• Biometric Photo Fee.

Estimated Cost Table for the Randevu and One-Year Residency Process (2025)