Family Reunification Visa

Joining a family member already in Turkey

Family reunification is the process by which a foreign national obtains permission to live in Turkey alongside a spouse, parent or minor child who already holds Turkish citizenship or a valid residence status. In practice this usually means applying for a family residence permit (aile ikamet izni) through the e-ikamet system and, for many nationalities, an entry visa beforehand. FTurkey helps applicants understand the requirements, prepare documentation and coordinate the application; the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) alone decides whether to grant the permit. If your goal is Turkish citizenship rather than an initial residence status, that is a separate, later-stage process covered under FTurkey's family reunification and citizenship consulting.

Establish the family relationship on paper

The core of any family reunification file is documentary proof of the relationship — a marriage certificate for a spouse, or a birth certificate for a parent-child relationship — usually apostilled or legalised in the country of issue and then officially translated into Turkish. The sponsoring family member's own status in Turkey (citizenship, a residence permit of sufficient remaining validity, or another qualifying status) must also be documented. FTurkey can review your civil documents early, flag anything likely to need apostille, translation or notarisation, and help you sequence these steps before the appointment is booked.

Meet the sponsor's income and housing conditions

The Turkish authorities generally require the sponsoring family member to show sufficient and regular income to support the family and adequate housing for the household size, along with valid health insurance covering the applicant. The specific income thresholds and accepted proof of income are set and periodically adjusted by the migration authority, not by FTurkey; a proposal will note the documentation format most likely to be accepted at the time of your application, but cannot guarantee that a given income level will be considered sufficient.

Apply through e-ikamet and attend the appointment

Once documents are ready, the family residence permit application is submitted online through e-ikamet, which schedules an appointment at the relevant provincial migration directorate. FTurkey can help complete the online form accurately, compile the appointment document set, and coordinate interpretation if needed; the in-person appointment, biometric data collection and the substantive review are conducted directly between the applicant and the migration authority and cannot be delegated to a third party.

What determines the outcome and permit length

A family residence permit is typically granted for a limited period and must be renewed before expiry; its exact duration, and whether the authority accepts the file as submitted, depends on the individual case, the relationship type, the sponsor's status and current migration policy. The directorate may request additional evidence, invite the parties for an interview, or refuse an application without being required to give a detailed reason. No approval, permit duration or processing time can be promised in advance.

Request a proposal

The support required depends on the family relationship involved, the sponsor's current status, your nationality and where your civil documents originate. Request a quote describing the relationship, the sponsor's status in Turkey and your current location, and FTurkey can propose a written scope covering document preparation and coordination support for your application.