Western Asia, capital Ankara

Turkey Student Visa (2027): Requirements, Proof of Funds, Fee, Processing Time

Turkiye offers low cost, English and Turkish taught degrees at state and private foundation universities, with international undergraduate entry through a foreign student exam (YOS), the national TR-YOS, or accepted results such as SAT, GCE A Level or the International Baccalaureate. State tuition for international students is usually a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars a year; the private foundation universities charge far more. A student visa from a Turkish consulate, followed by a residence permit applied for after arrival, covers the length of study.

Verified 7 Sep 2026 Sources
Public tuition, per year
$1,600 to $2,400
international students
Living cost, per month
Not listed
typical range
Work during study
Not listed
per week
Post study work
1 yr
after graduation
Intakes
Fall, Spring
main application cycles
Visa typeStudent visa
Proof of fundsNot listed
Application feeNot listed
Processing timeNot listed
Work while studyingNot listed
DependantsNot listed
Official pagehttps://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

What you need

An unconditional, official acceptance letter from a Turkish university. A passport valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay. Evidence of funds to cover tuition and living costs, such as a bank statement or scholarship letter. A completed visa application form and, once in Turkiye, proof of address and health insurance for the residence permit stage that follows the visa.

How to apply

  1. Receive an unconditional acceptance letter from the Turkish university.
  2. Apply for a student visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate nearest to where you live; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that visas for purposes such as study, unlike short stay tourist e-visas, are issued by the embassy or consulate directly rather than online.
  3. Attend any appointment the consulate sets and submit the required documents; processing time is set by the individual consulate rather than published as one national figure.
  4. Travel to Turkiye on the visa once issued, before it expires.
  5. Register with the university, then start the residence permit application through the Presidency of Migration Management's e-ikamet system within the period the university and the immigration authority set, generally soon after arrival.
  6. Submit the residence permit documents as instructed by the university's international student office, which coordinates in batches with the local migration office under the cooperation protocol between the Presidency of Migration Management and the Council of Higher Education, in force since 29 November 2023.
  7. Collect the biometric residence permit card once approved; it is valid for the length of study and must be renewed if the programme runs longer than first issued.
Sources, checked 7 September 2026
  1. https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
  2. https://en.goc.gov.tr/residence-permit-types
  3. https://en.goc.gov.tr/work-permit
  4. https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/
  5. https://iso.metu.edu.tr/en/residence-permit
  6. https://iso.metu.edu.tr/en/work-permits