Foreign nationals who will receive hospital treatment in Türkiye may apply for a short-term residence permit based on Article 31/1-f of Law No. 6458 if their lawful period of stay is not sufficient. A residence permit for medical treatment is not a separate citizenship status, a health insurance policy or a right to treatment; it is an administrative permit that allows a person to stay lawfully in Türkiye for a certain period on the ground of treatment. The application rests on an appropriate hospital document, a realistic treatment period and the conditions of stay. There are important exceptions with regard to insurance and financial sufficiency. Extension of the period, companions, leaving the country during the application and legal remedies against a refusal decision should each be assessed separately. [1] [2] [3]
What Is a Residence Permit for Medical Treatment and What Law Is It Based On?
Article 30 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (YUKK) lists six main types of residence permit: short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian and human trafficking victim residence permits. A stay for medical treatment is not a seventh type of permit alongside these; it is a specific ground for granting a short-term residence permit. Article 31/1-f YUKK provides that a short-term residence permit may be granted to foreign nationals who will receive treatment in Türkiye, provided that they do not have one of the diseases deemed to pose a threat to public health. [1]
The expression “may be granted” in Article 31 of the Law shows that a foreign national does not acquire an automatic right of residence merely by obtaining a hospital appointment. The administration examines the purpose of the application, the medical documents, the person’s legal status in Türkiye and the general conditions in Article 32 together. On the other hand, discretion does not mean that an act may be issued without reasons or without discussing the specific medical records. A refusal is subject to judicial review as regards its reasoning and legal basis. [1] [9]
Treatment, visas, residence permits and citizenship are distinct
Receiving an examination or surgery at a healthcare institution in Türkiye and how long a foreign national may stay in Türkiye are two different matters. For short treatments carried out within the period of a visa or visa exemption, a residence permit does not become mandatory merely because treatment is being provided. However, if the stay will exceed the limit afforded by the visa or visa exemption, the need for an appropriate residence permit may arise. A residence permit for medical treatment does not replace a passport or permission to enter the country; it does not confer Turkish citizenship and does not grant the right to work. [2] [3]
The health or medical treatment visa used for entry into Türkiye and a short-term residence application made from within Türkiye are also separate administrative procedures. In addition, admission of the person to a hospital does not mean that an entry ban or deportation decision under YUKK is automatically lifted. If such a situation exists, the basis of the entry ban and the current status should be researched separately. [1] [2]
To Whom May a Short-Term Residence Permit for Treatment Be Granted?
Under Article 31/1-f YUKK, the decisive issue is the existence of a specific need for treatment to be carried out in Türkiye and the fulfillment of the conditions in the Law. In practice, admission to a public or private hospital, the diagnosis/treatment plan, the period of follow-up or rehabilitation, and the records issued by the hospital are important. The existence of an illness does not by itself lead to the conclusion that a permit will be granted; an explainable link should be established between the period during which the person must remain in Türkiye and the medical necessity. [1] [2] [4]
General conditions under Article 32 YUKK
For a short-term residence permit, the following conditions are generally examined:
- Asserting the treatment ground listed in Article 31 YUKK and demonstrating it with documents.
- Observing the condition of not being among the foreign nationals who will not be permitted to enter Türkiye under Article 7 YUKK.
- Providing accommodation conditions that meet general health and safety standards.
- Submitting, if the administration so requests, a criminal record obtained from the competent authorities of the country of nationality or of lawful residence.
- Notifying the address where the person will stay in Türkiye and current contact details. [1]
The absence of one of these conditions and a formal deficiency in an existing document are not the same thing. If the missing documents can be completed, the period granted by the administration and the content of the notice become important. By contrast, declaring a treatment period that does not actually exist, giving a false address or submitting a hospital document that is contrary to the truth may lead to much more serious legal consequences. [1] [3] [5]
How is the statutory proviso concerning public health assessed?
The wording in Article 31/1-f YUKK concerning diseases that pose a threat to public health does not mean that every foreign national with an illness is excluded from a permit for medical treatment. The illness is assessed within the framework of the specific public health risk, the relevant health records and the legislation in force. Assuming an automatic refusal solely on the basis of the name of the diagnosis is not legally correct. Medical data are special categories of personal data; they should be obtained only to the extent necessary for the examination, and their confidentiality should be protected. [1] [11]
Persons with a visa violation or an entry ban
For a person who has an entry ban to Türkiye, a deportation decision, a previous visa violation or a cancelled residence permit, the need for treatment requires an examination of the current migration status. A medical report does not by itself lift an entry ban. In some cases, the lifting of the ban, the regularization of the person’s legal stay situation, the assessment of health and family life grounds, or procedures concerning a special status may also come into play. Each of these depends on its own conditions; none of them takes place automatically upon submission of a treatment report. [1] [2]
Current Application Documents for 2026: General Documents and Treatment-Specific Evidence
The current application form on the e-İkamet portal of the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı) may differ from the downloadable document lists used in previous years. For example, while the accessible 2026 short-term application form requests two biometric photographs, some earlier explanatory files state four photographs. For this reason, the application should be based on the latest document list generated by the system according to the person’s application type: first/transition/extension. [4] [5]
Documents that should be in the general file
- A residence permit application form signed by the applicant, their legal representative or their attorney holding a duly executed power of attorney.
- The required copies of the identity, photo, entry and, if any, visa/transaction pages of the passport or of the document replacing a passport; presentation of the original at the relevant stage.
- Biometric photographs in the number and quality specified in the portal’s current application list (two in the 2026 short-term sample).
- Receipts for the residence permit fee, the card/document fee and, where applicable in the specific case, other statutory payments.
- A document showing the address where the person will stay in Türkiye and appropriate to the type of accommodation.
- To the extent necessary, a declaration of financial means and the supporting evidence requested by the administration.
- Appropriate health insurance or a document showing that the statutory exception explained below applies.
- Additional documents that the administration may lawfully request; in particular, records showing the consistency of prior permit, social security and identity information. [3] [4] [5]
Note: The passport is only an application document proving identity and the conditions of entry into and stay in the country; the subject of this article is not obtaining a passport or citizenship.
The document to be obtained from the hospital is the most critical element
The 2026 e-İkamet short-term application sample provides two main document options for persons who will receive treatment: a single-physician status report, verifiable through the e-Rapor system, stating that the person will receive treatment or a report approved by the physician and the chief physician/responsible manager, showing the illness and the treatment period. Those coming under a bilateral social security agreement may additionally be asked for a social security document concerning this coverage. The approach in older guides that only “the person must have been admitted to hospital” does not explain all the document options of the current form. [4]
It is important that the treatment report show, in a lawful manner, the medical requirements relating to the diagnosis and treatment, and make understandable the expected schedule of treatment, the need for follow-up and, if any, the effect of rehabilitation on the period. The content of the report should be based on a clinical decision; an unrealistic period should not be set merely to obtain a longer residence permit. A hospital admission document, a treatment plan, an appointment letter, surgical preparation or invoice records may support one another; however, it should not be assumed that they will in every case replace the specific report requested by the administration. [2] [4]
Choosing accommodation and address documents
The person may stay in a dwelling they own, a rented house, a hotel, a hospital-affiliated accommodation facility or with a third party in a legally appropriate manner. The nature of the address document varies accordingly: a land registry record, a notarized lease agreement, a hotel/accommodation letter or the necessary undertakings may be requested. The admission document issued by the hospital for the period of inpatient stay and the address where the person will stay after discharge may not serve the same legal function. If there is a change of address during a long treatment process, the notification obligations should also be monitored separately. [3] [5]
Documents obtained abroad and translation
Some documents issued by foreign authorities may require an apostille, consular legalization or a notarized Turkish translation. However, no general rule can be established that every document coming from abroad requires an apostille without exception. The type of document, the issuing country, the applicable international agreement and the administration’s current document request should be examined. For medical reports as well, the required original document and the translation should be distinguished from each other. [4] [5]
Health Insurance, Treatment Costs and Financial Sufficiency
An important feature of the residence permit for medical treatment is the exceptions concerning insurance explained in statutory and administrative practice sources. The Presidency of Migration Management states that the requirement of valid health insurance is not applied to foreign nationals who document that all of their treatment costs have been paid. Different assessments regarding the determination of financial sufficiency and insurance are also provided for foreign nationals whose accommodation, subsistence and health expenses are covered by public institutions. [2]
Nevertheless, a price quotation, appointment document or partial payment receipt obtained from a hospital is not the same as documenting that all treatment costs have been paid. As to the scope of the exception, invoices, payments, a letter of assumption of costs by a public institution and, where necessary, security for future costs should be examined specifically. If the foreign national receives health benefits under a social security agreement, a document approved by the relevant provincial social security unit may also be required. [2] [4]
What does the insurance exception not provide?
Exemption from the health insurance requirement does not mean that treatment in Türkiye is automatically free of charge; nor does it eliminate the other conditions of stay. The fee, scope, complications, additional treatment and payment terms between the person who will obtain the residence permit and the hospital constitute separate legal relationships. The treatment fee may be covered by the patient, their insurance, the relevant social security institution or another valid payer. A residence permit decision does not eliminate the payment obligation under the healthcare institution’s contract. [2] [10]
International Medical Tourism and a Residence Permit Are Not the Same Procedure
The Ministry of Health’s (Sağlık Bakanlığı) Regulation on International Medical Tourism and Tourist Health of April 26, 2025 governs the activities and authorization of institutions providing healthcare services to international patients. The residence permit issued by the Presidency of Migration Management, by contrast, concerns the foreign national’s legal stay in Türkiye. The fact that a hospital is authorized in the field of medical tourism does not mean that the foreign national’s residence request will be accepted automatically. Conversely, holding a residence permit is not proof that any private healthcare institution has the necessary authorization in the field of medical tourism. [1] [10]
The Ministry of Health updates the lists of healthcare facilities holding an authorization certificate. A person coming for treatment should verify the selected institution’s authorization for the relevant activity against the Ministry’s actual lists. The Ministry’s 2026 announcements also include a separate compliance schedule for the accreditation/certification process for medical tourism facilities; this schedule is not a rule that determines the foreign national’s period of residence. [10] [12]
The Companion’s Stay in Türkiye and the Insurance Exception
A companion may be a practical need, particularly for a foreign national who is a child, elderly, disabled or undergoing serious treatment. However, accompanying a patient does not automatically confer an independent residence permit on every foreign companion. The foreign companion’s own visa/visa exemption and residence status are assessed separately. Health cooperation agreements between countries contain special arrangements in some cases; if there is no special provision, the general rules of stay apply. [2]
According to the practice announced by the Presidency of Migration Management under Supplementary Article 14 of Law No. 3359 on Basic Health Services, the requirement of valid health insurance may not be applied in the residence permit application for up to two companions who meet the conditions of coverage. This exception does not lead to the conclusion that two persons will obtain a residence permit unconditionally; the other substantive and procedural conditions of the application are reserved. The companions’ identity and relationship to the patient, the need for care and the applicable international agreement should be examined separately. [2]
The situation of spouses, children, parents and other companions
The companion’s kinship with the patient may matter for different residence permits; for example, the family residence permit is subject to the sponsor and other special conditions in YUKK. Not every spouse, mother, father or adult child is deemed to meet the conditions for a family residence permit merely because they accompany the patient. The appropriate legal option is determined according to the companion’s own purpose of stay and situation. A letter from the hospital stating that a companion is necessary may support the grounds of the application but does not take the place of the administration’s permit decision. [1] [2]
How to Apply for a Residence Permit for Medical Treatment?
In first applications, the foreign national starts the short-term residence permit application through the e-İkamet system of the Presidency of Migration Management and selects the reason of stay “those who will receive treatment”. It is mandatory that the information in the system be complete and consistent with the genuine documents. The appointment, document and payment instructions on the application screen are followed according to the type of procedure and the practice of the relevant provincial directorate. Making an appointment through the official system is free of charge; statutory fees and document charges are a separate matter. [3] [5] [6]
Order of steps in a first application
- Check your current lawful period of stay in Türkiye, the validity of your passport and, if any, an entry/residence ban.
- Obtain from the hospital a report showing the need for treatment and the expected period, in line with the current e-İkamet requirements.
- Complete the address, health costs/insurance, financing and, if any, companion documents.
- In the official e-İkamet system, select short-term – treatment purpose and save the information.
- Rely on the application form generated by the system and the current personalized document list; fulfill the statutory payment obligations.
- In a first/transition application, submit the documents on the specified day and at the specified place; the competent authority may request additional examination, an interview or the person’s attendance in person.
- Follow up on any notice of missing documents, the application number, notifications and the residence permit application certificate. [3] [4] [5]
As a rule, a residence permit application is made by the foreign national personally; it may also be conducted through a duly authorized attorney or legal representative. Even so, the administration may require the foreign national to appear in person. Granting a power of attorney to an attorney does not mean that the foreign national will in all circumstances not attend the appointment or will be exempt from biometric procedures. [5] [6]
Time limit for missing documents and the 90-day assessment
According to the current e-İkamet explanations, a period of up to 30 days may be granted by the administration for completing missing documents; failure to complete them in time may lead to the application being removed from processing. The 90-day period stated for the administration to conclude the residence application is linked to the full submission of information and documents to the competent authority. The day on which the application form is saved online as a draft should not be confused with the date on which all documents are duly delivered. [5] [7]
The administration’s 90-day assessment period is not the same legal institution as the presumption of rejection due to the silence of administrative authorities under Article 10 of Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İYUK). The current Article 10 of the Administrative Procedure Law contains a 30-day silence rule for general administrative applications, and which special provision and which triggering event apply to a specific residence permit application should be examined separately. For this reason, the generalization that “once the 90th day passes, every residence application is deemed automatically rejected and the time limit for bringing an action begins” is not safe. [7] [9]
Lawful Stay and Leaving the Country While the Application Is Pending
Making a residence permit application is not the same as the Residence Permit Application Certificate, which shows that the file has been duly accepted and until what date it provides lawful stay. The Presidency of Migration Management’s explanation states that the application certificate issued to a person whose application has been received may provide 90 days of lawful stay from the date of application; the conditions of validity, the dates and the specific procedural status of this document should be examined. A screenshot of the application screen alone cannot automatically be used in place of a finalized residence permit card. [5]
As regards leaving the country and returning with the application certificate, official explanations provide for the possibility of returning within 15 days when the necessary fee receipts and other conditions are met. By contrast, departures made before a duly issued application certificate exists may have different consequences for the visa regime or the outcome of the application. Especially for a foreign national who is undergoing serious treatment, who must not encounter problems on re-entry or who has an entry ban, the official status should be verified before traveling. [5] [8]
Permit Period and Extension if Treatment Continues
The period of a short-term residence permit granted on the ground of treatment is determined by taking into account the documented need for treatment, independently of the period requested. For short-term permits, the general period limits in the Law and the relevant exceptions also apply separately; the Presidency of Migration Management states that the treatment permit is issued according to the treatment period. For this reason, a record issued by the hospital for a three-month follow-up plan does not automatically create a right to request a two-year permit. [1] [2]
If treatment cannot be completed, the extension application should be made within the period beginning 60 days before the current permit expires and in any event before the expiry date. Up-to-date medical documentation explaining the nature of the ongoing treatment and the remaining period is attached to the application. The portal’s extension instructions in force at that time should also be examined separately as regards electronic notices, document submission and, where applicable, registered electronic notification. The appointment method used in the first application should not be carried over automatically to every extension procedure. [3] [5]
The expiry of the permit period does not mean that a new application will automatically be accepted or that there is a general additional ten-day right of residence. The administrative sanctions for violated lawful periods of stay, the possibility of re-applying and the obligation to leave are determined according to the date and status of the case. [1] [3]
Transition from Another Type of Residence Permit to Short-Term Residence for Treatment
A need for treatment may arise while the foreign national is in Türkiye with a family, student or other residence permit. The procedure to be relied on is the transition application that can be made in the e-İkamet system according to whether the current reason of stay continues and to the new legal ground. During the application, it may be necessary to submit the previous permit document together with the medical documents showing the reason for transition. It should not be assumed that transition from every residence permit to every other permit is automatically possible. [1] [3] [4]
In a transition from family residence to short-term residence, special documents relating to divorce, death or domestic violence may also come into play, depending on the reason why the family permit ended. For example, for a person whose family residence ended due to divorce, the relevant special transition conditions should be examined together with whether the person independently qualifies for short-term residence on the ground of treatment. A treatment document does not replace all the special conditions belonging to another type of permit. [1] [4]
Child Patients and Foreign Nationals with Special Care Needs
The medical treatment of a minor patient and representation and custody in the residence permit application are interrelated but separate matters. Custody/guardianship or legal representation authority, parental consent and whether a custody decision obtained from a foreign country must be submitted are examined in the specific case. The fact that medical treatment has been planned for a child does not give the accompanying adult an automatic right of residence. Specific medical records on the child’s best interests, need for care and access to treatment should be placed before the administration. [1] [2]
Especially where interruption of treatment could cause serious harm to health, it is important that the existing report show not only the diagnosis but also the period during which the person must be in Türkiye for the treatment to continue. The health ground does not replace the relevant legal conditions; however, it should be assessed as a serious and specific interest in the administrative procedure and in any judicial review.
Application Fee, Card Fee and Other Costs
In residence permit applications, the fee, the security-paper/card charge and other financial obligations that may apply in the specific case are separate from one another. The fee may vary according to the foreign national’s nationality, period of residence, exemption or agreement conditions; notary and translation costs may also arise. It is not correct to use the 2024 foreign currency amounts given in an old article as a fixed tariff valid for 2026. Current fee links for the period in force are published on the e-İkamet portal of the Presidency of Migration Management. The amount calculated by the system according to the application number and the official payment channel should be checked. [3] [6] [13]
No payment should be made for the appointment service to intermediary websites that give the impression of being affiliated with the Presidency of Migration Management. The hospital treatment fee and the residence application fee are different debts; payment of one does not show that the other has been paid. [6]
If the Residence Permit Request Is Refused, the Permit Is Cancelled or It Is Not Extended
Under Article 33 YUKK, the non-fulfillment of the conditions for a short-term residence permit, their subsequent disappearance or the use of the permit for purposes other than those for which it was granted may, depending on the specific circumstances, be a ground for refusal, cancellation or non-extension. Not only the operative part of the administrative decision but also the facts on which it is based, the assessment of the health documents and the reasoning matter. In a refusal issued while the need for treatment continues, why the hospital report was not considered sufficient and whether the administration carried out a specific examination are matters of legal dispute. [1]
Notification, administrative application and the time limit for bringing an action
A decision refusing, cancelling or not extending a residence permit should be duly notified to the foreign national, their legal representative or their attorney. In general, the time limit for filing an annulment action before the administrative court (idare mahkemesi), unless there is a special provision, is 60 days from the day following written notification (Article 7 of Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577). An application to the higher authority for the act to be withdrawn or amended (Article 11 of the Administrative Procedure Law), if made within the time limit for bringing an action, may stop the running of that time limit; the consequences if no reply is given to the application within 30 days and the remaining time limit are calculated separately. [9]
Filing an administrative objection does not in every case give rise to a fresh 60-day time limit for bringing an action. Under Article 11 of the Administrative Procedure Law, the time that has run until the application to the higher authority is taken into account after the reply or the implied rejection. A request for a new administrative act under Article 10 and an objection to an existing act under Article 11 cannot be subjected to the same time-limit regime. A definitive timetable should not be given without examining the content of the refusal notification, the authority of the administration, any special regulation and the actual procedural steps. [9]
Does filing an action automatically extend the stay in Türkiye?
Filing an action for the annulment of an administrative act does not, as a rule, automatically stop the enforcement of that act. If it is claimed that interruption of treatment would cause damage that is difficult or impossible to remedy, the conditions for a stay of execution under Article 27 of the Administrative Procedure Law and the specific evidence should be assessed separately. Its acceptance is not automatic; the consequences of implementing the administrative decision, manifest unlawfulness and the condition of damage difficult to remedy are considered. The current treatment plan, mandatory follow-up dates and relevant medical reports on the consequences of interruption may be submitted to the case file. [9]
A refusal is not the same act as a deportation decision. In addition, if a deportation decision has been issued, its own legal remedy and time limits may apply; filing a residence refusal action does not automatically suspend the time limits of the other acts. [1] [9]
Re-application after refusal
The Presidency of Migration Management’s explanations state a six-month restriction on re-applying for the same purpose of stay after a refusal. By contrast, the route to be followed with regard to a different reason of stay, the current legal status or new facts arising subsequently should be examined separately. Making new applications one after another with the same documents, without investigating the grounds of refusal and the previous application information, may not be a legal solution. [8]
Protection of Personal Data in Residence Permits for Medical Treatment
Documents relating to illness and treatment contain special categories of personal data. Processing the necessary information in line with the legal and medical purpose of the application gives rise to separate obligations for the healthcare institution, the administration, the attorney and other necessary recipients involved in the application. There is no need to share health reports with unrelated persons, circulate them in open messaging groups or publish them for promotional purposes. Writing diagnostic details that are not necessary for the administrative application into publicly accessible contact forms should also be avoided. [11]
At the first consultation, the foreign national can first summarize the application type, the treating institution, the permit period and whether there has been any notification. Detailed reports and personal documents should be transmitted by a secure sharing method only when truly necessary. In this way, both the evidential strength of the application and the confidentiality obligations are protected.
Critical Checklist Before and After the Application
| Stage | Key question / document | Common mistake | Legal and practical consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry into and stay in Türkiye | Visa/visa exemption, passport and permit period | Treating a hospital appointment as permission for lawful stay | Overstay and an additional risk of migration procedures |
| Proof of treatment | e-Rapor or a duly issued hospital report | Submitting only a price quotation or an undated appointment | Proof of the treatment period is weakened |
| Insurance / payment | Insurance, paid costs or assumption of costs by a public body | Treating a partial payment as payment of all costs | The exception may be refused |
| Companion | Personal status of stay and grounds for accompaniment | Automatically extending the patient’s permit to the companion | The companion’s stay may be unlawful |
| First application | e-İkamet form, appointment, current documents | Blindly following the old list with four photographs | Incomplete or inconsistent application |
| Extension | Application before the permit expires and a new report | Assuming the permit is automatically extended because treatment continues | Loss of time and status |
| Refusal and judicial review | Notification, Administrative Procedure Law Articles 7, 10, 11 and 27 | Treating the 90-day processing period as the time limit for bringing an action | Loss of rights or a wrong application |
Most Common Mistakes and How to Prevent Them
- Choosing the wrong legal status: A medical tourism service, a health visa and a short-term residence permit are not the same application.
- Relying solely on a hospital appointment: The treatment period needs to be explained with a specific and current medical document.
- Continuing to use old document lists: The photograph and report options in the 2026 e-İkamet short-term form should be relied on.
- Misunderstanding the insurance exemption: For the exemption, actual payment or the relevant assumption of costs by a public body should be shown; the companion exception should also be applied together with its conditions.
- Assuming that lawful stay continues automatically: The application screen, the application certificate and the final residence card have different functions.
- Errors in calculating the time limit after a refusal: The 90-day administrative assessment and the 30- and 60-day time limits of the Administrative Procedure Law should not be confused.
- Unnecessarily circulating personal data in treatment records: Medical information should be shared only on the basis of necessity and secure transmission. [1] [3] [4] [5] [9] [11]
Related articles: Refusal of a Residence Permit and Routes of Recourse in Subsequent Migration Procedures; Humanitarian Residence Permit and Lawful Stay in a Deportation File; Non-Removal on Health and Pregnancy Grounds: YUKK 55 and the Right to Treatment.
Conclusion
The legal situation of a foreign national who will stay in Türkiye for treatment is not determined solely by a hospital report or a passport. The documented need for treatment, the person’s lawful stay status, the statutory conditions, the insurance exceptions, the application documents and the time limits need to be assessed together. Anticipating the same outcome for the person receiving treatment and their companion, substituting an old document list for the current system, or treating the administration’s 90-day assessment period as an automatic refusal date increases the risk of losing rights.
In preparing the application, the first step is to verify the current hospital report and the lawful period of stay; if the residence request has been refused, the first step is to determine the notification date and the applicable judicial remedy. The need to continue treatment should be assessed on the basis of the relevant legal conditions and specific records that comply with procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a residence permit required in every case to receive treatment in Türkiye?
No. If the treatment will be completed within the period permitted by the foreign national’s visa or visa exemption, merely receiving treatment does not make it mandatory to obtain a separate residence permit. If the lawful period of stay will be exceeded, it may be necessary to apply for an appropriate residence permit. [2] [3]
Does a residence permit for medical treatment confer citizenship or the right to work?
No. This permit concerns lawful stay in Türkiye under the specified conditions; it does not confer citizenship and does not replace a work permit. [1] [3]
Is a hospital appointment sufficient on its own?
Generally, no. The current official document list provides for specific medical report options showing that the person is receiving treatment and showing the illness/treatment period. [4]
How many biometric photographs are required in 2026?
The accessible short-term application form dated 2026 provides for two biometric photographs. Since four photographs may appear in earlier documents, the person’s application type and the document list generated by e-İkamet on that day should be checked again. [4] [5]
Is health insurance mandatory for a residence permit for medical treatment?
Although insurance is among the general documents, there are announced exceptions in cases such as documentation that all treatment costs have been paid and the assumption of costs by public institutions. The existence of the exception should be demonstrated with a specific document. [2]
Does the companion automatically obtain the same residence permit?
No. The rules of stay applicable to the companion are examined separately. The fact that, under the statutory conditions, the health insurance requirement is not applied for up to two companions does not mean that a residence permit is granted automatically. [2]
For how long is a residence permit for medical treatment granted?
According to the Presidency of Migration Management’s explanation, the treatment period is taken as the basis; the general statutory limits of short-term permits are also observed. The period stated in the hospital report is not a guarantee that a permit will automatically be granted for the same period. [1] [2]
When should the residence permit be extended if treatment continues?
The extension application should be made within the period beginning 60 days before the permit expires and in any event before the permit period ends. Current records showing that treatment is continuing are required. [3] [5]
Does an automatic refusal arise if 90 days pass without the application being concluded?
90 days is the administrative period of the Presidency of Migration Management for assessing a completed application. Its consequences for implied rejection and the time limit for bringing an action should be calculated separately, taking into account Article 10 of the Administrative Procedure Law and the special regulations applicable to the case; an automatic generalization is not correct. [7] [9]
Can a person leave the country while a residence application is pending?
With a duly issued residence application certificate, the necessary fee receipts and the other conditions, there are facilities for returning within 15 days. Departures and entries made without the certificate may have different consequences. [5]
Within how many days can an action be filed against a refusal decision?
Unless there is a special time limit, the general time limit for an annulment action is 60 days from the day following written notification. The effect of an administrative application under Article 11 of the Administrative Procedure Law on the time limit is different; the refusal notification and the type of application should be examined. [9]
Does filing an action automatically stop deportation procedures during treatment?
An action against the refusal of a residence permit does not, as a rule, automatically stop enforcement. A request for a stay of execution may separately come into play with regard to the relevant decision and conditions. If there is a deportation decision, its special procedure should be examined separately. [1] [9]
Sources and legal bases
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu), in particular Articles 7, 19–25 and 30–33. Text of the Law published by the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı): goc.gov.tr
- Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye (T.C. İçişleri Bakanlığı), Presidency of Migration Management, Residence Permit Types (persons who will receive treatment; exceptions concerning costs and companions): en.goc.gov.tr
- Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye, Presidency of Migration Management, Residence: General Information (İkamet Genel Bilgiler): goc.gov.tr
- Presidency of Migration Management, e-İkamet, sample short-term application form dated 2026 (including persons who will receive treatment): e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr
- Presidency of Migration Management, e-İkamet, Explanations on Application Documents and Required Documents (Başvuru Belgelerine İlişkin Açıklamalar ve İstenen Belgeler): e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/Ikamet/BasvuruIstenenBelgeler/BasvuruFormuIstenenBelgeler; e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/Ikamet/IstenenBelgeler
- Presidency of Migration Management, official information brochure How to Apply for a Residence Permit? (İkamet İzni Başvurusu Nasıl Yapılır?): goc.gov.tr
- Article 21 of Law No. 6458 and Article 22/2 of the Implementing Regulation (Uygulama Yönetmeliği); Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İstanbul İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü), Statement on the Assessment Process (Değerlendirme Süreci Hakkında Açıklama): istanbul.goc.gov.tr
- Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, 34 Frequently Asked Questions and 34 Answers on Residence Permits (İkamet İzni Hakkında Sıkça Sorulan 34 Soru-34 Cevap): istanbul.goc.gov.tr
- Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İdari Yargılama Usulü Kanunu), Articles 7, 10, 11 and 27; Ministry of Justice (Adalet Bakanlığı) UYAP Legislation Information System: mevzuat.adalet.gov.tr
- Ministry of Health (Sağlık Bakanlığı), Regulation on International Medical Tourism and Tourist Health (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi ve Turistin Sağlığı Hakkında Yönetmelik) of April 26, 2025, and legislation links: shgmturizmdb.saglik.gov.tr
- Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (Kişisel Verilerin Korunması Kanunu); legislation of the Personal Data Protection Authority (Kişisel Verileri Koruma Kurumu): kvkk.gov.tr
- Ministry of Health, announcement of May 13, 2026 on the accreditation and certification of facilities authorized for medical tourism: shgmturizmdb.saglik.gov.tr
- Presidency of Migration Management, official e-İkamet portal and current fee announcements: e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr