The ROSTU guide
Short, factual articles on the paperwork foreigners actually face in Türkiye: what the office asks for, what it costs at the official 2026 tariff, who is allowed to do which step, and where we can help. Every article names its official sources and the date we last checked them.
Thirty guides, updated 24.10.2026
Residence permit renewal 2026, step by step
When to apply on e-ikamet, the document list, insurance and address rules, and what the state charges.
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Apostille in Türkiye: where, which documents, cost
Kaymakamlık, valilik or courthouse, which documents qualify, the ₺0 stamp, timing, and when consular legalisation applies instead.
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Notarised translation cost 2026: the real per-page figure
₺667.67 + ₺80.68 + ₺104 harç ≈ ₺884 per page at the notary, plus the translator's fee; why the sworn translator is bound to one notary.
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Company formation by foreigners: Ltd vs AŞ, capital, steps
Ltd or AŞ, minimum capital, MERSİS and the trade registry, why an SMMM is mandatory, the tax office visit and the bank account.
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Bank account for foreigners: documents and why banks refuse
Passport, tax number, address, residence permit; what the branch is really checking, why applications are refused and how to prepare.
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How to answer a Turkish bank's compliance questions
What the KYC letter asks, which documents prove source of funds, how to structure the reply in Turkish and what makes a payment get released.
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Work permit through the employer: Law 6735 and e-İzin
Who files, the 5:1 employee rule, ₺100,000 capital or ₺800,000 turnover thresholds, salary minimums, timelines and what the employer pays.
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Diploma recognition: YÖK denklik, MEB and school enrolment
University degrees through YÖK, school years through the provincial education directorate, the apostille and translation chain, the September school pack.
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First steps after arrival: tax number, address, e-Devlet
Vergi numarası in minutes online, address registration at the Nüfus Müdürlüğü, the e-Devlet password, and the order that avoids a second visit.
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Import/export document pack per shipment
Proforma, invoice, packing list, CMR or B/L, origin certificate, ATR or EUR.1, GTİP: what each is for, who issues it and what the broker and the bank check.
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First residence permit after a tourist entry
The deadline inside your visa-free stay, the e-ikamet first application, insurance and address rules, the ₺964 card fee and the harç.
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Family residence permit: sponsor conditions and documents
Who can be a sponsor, the income and insurance tests, apostilled and translated civil documents, duration up to three years and the fees.
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Student residence permit: acceptance, insurance, work rights
University acceptance and enrolment, the three-month SGK window, documents, how long the permit lasts and when a student may work.
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Health insurance for the residence permit: private or SGK
The minimum-coverage circular, private policies by age band, the SGK general health insurance option after one year, and how translated documents feed in.
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Changing address: the 20-business-day rule
Where and how to report a move, the documents the Nüfus Müdürlüğü accepts, the e-Devlet route, the fine for a late report and the link to your permit.
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e-Devlet for foreigners: password at PTT and what you can do
How to get the password with your foreigner ID number, the services that matter to a permit holder, and the documents you can download instead of queueing.
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Power of attorney (vekaletname) at a Turkish notary
What the notary asks a foreigner for, the interpreter rule, the 2026 fee lines, special PoAs for property and companies, and how a PoA made abroad is accepted.
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Sworn, notarised or apostilled translation: which one you need
The three levels explained, which institution accepts which, why a sworn translator is bound to one notary, and what each level costs in 2026.
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Criminal record certificate (adli sicil kaydı) for foreigners
e-Devlet or the courthouse desk, who can obtain it, the e-Apostille option, how long offices accept it, and the translation chain for use abroad.
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Marriage in Türkiye: the foreigner's document list
Certificate of no impediment, apostille and notarised translation, health report, the belediye marriage office, waiting times, and the Formül B extract afterwards.
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A baby born in Türkiye to foreign parents: the five steps
Hospital report, registration at the Nüfus Müdürlüğü, the Formül A multilingual birth extract, the consulate and passport, and the baby's own residence permit.
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Driving on a foreign licence and converting it
How long a foreign licence is valid for a resident, the conversion at the Nüfus Müdürlüğü, the document list, country-by-country treatment and the fees.
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Rental contract: notary, deposit, rent rules and address registration
When a notarised lease is required and when it is not, the 2026 notary fee lines, payment through the bank, the deposit cap, increase rules and the address link.
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Buying property: the document chain at the land registry
The valuation report, the DAB currency conversion, the 4% title deed fee, the interpreter rule, translations and what has changed; documents only, no brokerage.
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Work permit exemptions: the categories and how to apply
The exemption categories under Law 6735 and its Regulation, durations, the exemption certificate, who applies on e-İzin, and the limits of an exemption.
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Hiring a foreign employee: SGK, the 5:1 ratio and payroll
The employer's side: SGK workplace file, employee registration before day one, the 5:1 ratio, wage multiples by role, payroll documents and the monthly MUHSGK.
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What the accountant files every month, and what you must sign
The monthly calendar (KDV, MUHSGK, SGK, e-Defter), the quarterly and annual returns, what the SMMM needs from you, and why nothing is filed without your signature.
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e-Fatura, e-Arşiv and KDV: what a new company must set up
Who must issue e-Fatura, when e-Arşiv applies, the three KDV rates, the financial seal and GİB portal, and the setup sequence for a company in its first month.
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GTİP, the customs broker and TAREKS: what each does
The 12-digit GTİP code, the broker's reserved role versus document preparation, TAREKS and TSE product checks, and the classification errors that cost the most.
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SWIFT transfers: what Turkish banks ask for and how to prepare
The document set for outgoing and incoming transfers, the export-proceeds rules, the questions compliance teams ask, and how to prepare the file before the bank calls.
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