Passport/Visa Requirements
A visa is required for British nationals to enter Turkey. British citizens may obtain a multiple entry visitor's visa valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment of ten pounds sterling in cash (Scottish currency is not accepted). If you are a BN(O) passport holder and you arrive at Istanbul airport without a visa obtained from a Turkish mission abroad, you may be refused entry to Turkey. Your passport should be valid for at least six months on entry into Turkey. If you take employment without the appropriate permission, you may be escorted from the country by the police authorities or, in some cases, deported. If you stay in Turkey longer than your visa allows, you will be liable to pay a substantial fine upon departure. This varies according to how long you have overstayed. From the moment you have overstayed your visa the minimum fine is 91.80 New Turkish Lira, rising incrementally each day to 179.80 NTL for an overstay of one month. If you stay longer than one month the fine increases substantially. If a parent travels on his/her own with a dual national Turkish child, written permission from the Turkish parent, certified by a notary, must be shown to the immigration authorities on departure, otherwise the child will not be permitted to leave Turkey.
Students
International students should apply to the nearest Turkish Consulate in order to have correct information about the visa procedure and required documents. In order to be registered in Turkey as a student you are required to have a "student visa" before coming to Turkey. Student visa enables the students to apply for a residence permit. People who are legal dependents of someone in Turkey on a "diplomatic visa" or with a "work visa" are exceptions. If the student has a tourist visa, she or he can not apply for a residence permit. Student visas must be obtained from a Turkish Consulate. Student visas cannot be obtained within Turkey. You will be required to submit your "Letter of Acceptance" from University and a completed visa application form to the Turkish Consulate. They will provide you an application form upon request. Generally, you must also pay a fee for visa.
The visa will be stamped in your passport. The student visa will be valid as long as you are registered as a student at the university. However, the visa must be renewed each year.
International students in Turkey, regardless of status, must register to the local authorities, and obtain a Residence Permit (Ikamet Belgesi) from Security Office (Yabancılar Subesi). You are required to submit a photocopy of the first seven pages of the Residence Permit to the University Registrar's Office as soon as you receive it.
Documents Required for Residence Permit
2 typed and signed copies of the residence permit application form (please ensure that your name(s) appear exactly as they do in your passport);
7 photographs (passport quality)
Student Certificate from the University Registrar's Office (with one passport photo attached),
Completion of two information sheets, given by the local authorities;
A petition to the Department of Foreigners Office, requesting a residence permit;
A photocopy of the passport and student visa page.
A fee of about £30.
It is recommended that Students should have 20 or more photographs with them because almost every official procedure needs one or more photographs.