What is a Foreigner Identity Card?
The foreigner ID card (or foreigner ID number) is a very important document for international students wishing to study in Turkey. This card, obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management after entering Turkey on a student visa, certifies your legal status and rights in Turkey. Thanks to the foreign identity card, both your official transactions and your daily life become much easier.
How to Get a Foreigner ID Card
Getting a foreign ID card may seem complicated at first, but it is actually quite simple when you go step by step. After arriving in Turkey with a student visa, you will be given your ID card after applying for a residence permit.
How to Get a Foreign Identity Number Starting with 99
The foreigner identification number in Turkey is an 11-digit number starting with 99. This number can be obtained online from the Foreigner ID Number Inquiry screen of the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs after your student residence permit application has been approved. If you do not yet have an ID number at the time of your application, your university or other official institutions will temporarily use your passport number.
For example, Students at Ozyegin University who have received their residence permit and have a foreign ID number are required to report their foreign ID number starting with 99 to the Student Services Office.
This number is used instead of a passport in students’ official documents and will make your student life in Turkey much easier in the long run.
Application Process Step by Step
For me, the application process was quite easy with the support of university counselors. Here is a simple summary:
- After entering Turkey with a student visa, apply for a student residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management within 30 days.
- Make an appointment through the online system at the time of application.
- Submit the required documents on the appointment date.
- Once your application has been approved, you will receive a student residence permit document and a foreigner identification number starting with 99.
You can find more detailed information about this process in our article How to make the first registration and address notification in Turkey.
Required Documents and Application Points
In the table below, I have compiled the necessary documents and application points:
| Required Document | Where to Obtain / Submit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Submitted to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management during application | Original and a photocopy are required |
| Student Certificate | Student Affairs Office of your enrolled university | Obtained after university registration; must be wet-signed |
| 4 Biometric Photos | From a photographer or photo booth | Taken within the last 6 months, with a white background |
| Health Insurance Policy | From insurance companies or your university | Health insurance with at least 1-year validity is mandatory |
| Address Declaration Document | From e-Government (e-Devlet) or Provincial Population Directorate | Must be registered in the address registration system |
| Fee Receipt (If Applicable) | From the Tax Office or contracted banks | Students are usually exempt from residence permit fees, but it should be verified |
The T.C. Directorate General of Migration Management’s website is always an up-to-date and reliable source for official statements.
Rights and Advantages Provided by the Foreigner Identity Card
This card is a must-have to facilitate both legal and daily tasks during your student life in Turkey.
Health, Education and Bank Transactions
This card allows you to use health services in public and some private hospitals. This ID card is also used for your university registration and other official transactions. You need to show this card to open a bank account; otherwise it is almost impossible to open a bank account. So this card is like a key that makes your daily life easier.
Does it replace a residence permit?
Yes! The foreign ID card is actually a proof of your student residence permit. After obtaining a student residence permit, you can officially stay in Turkey legally with your foreigner ID card. In addition, this card replaces the residence permit fee and you do not have to pay the fee again.
Transactions You Cannot Perform Without a Foreign Identity Card
As a student in Turkey, you need to have a foreign identity card to do many official and daily tasks. So without this card, student life is like a “closed box.”
Legal and Administrative Actions
This card is required for residence permit application, address registration, health insurance, opening a bank account, tax transactions and even mobile line registration. For example, when I was trying to open a bank account when I first arrived, the officer directly asked “Do you have a foreign ID card?”. So while the passport number may work at first, in the long run, many official transactions are blocked without your foreign identity card.
University Records and Bank Accounts
This card is also required for university enrollment. Some documents, especially in public and private universities, are processed through the foreign ID number. When opening a bank account, you need to prove that you are a legal resident of Turkey with your identity card. This is critical for money transfers, card transactions and scholarship payments.
New Start with Foreigner ID Card in Turkey!
Applying for this card is the golden key to staying in Turkey as a student, studying and enjoying social benefits. If you haven’t applied yet or have any questions about the application process, you can find more information and support on RoadToStudy’s website.
Take action now and secure your student life in Turkey by getting your foreign identity card!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an international student ID card?
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the only document that proves your student status internationally and provides thousands of discounts and benefits worldwide.
What is an international student card?
The “International Student Card” (ISIC) is an official student ID that provides students with global discounts and services for travel, accommodation, museums, transportation and more.
How to get an ISIC card
The ISIC card can usually be obtained through authorized agencies, some student organizations or the official ISIC Turkey website by applying with a valid student document, a photocopy of ID/passport and a photograph.
Can foreign students studying in Turkey obtain Turkish citizenship?
Studying in Turkey does not give direct citizenship rights; however, foreign students who fulfill the general requirements with uninterrupted and legal residence period (student residence does not count) can apply for citizenship in the future through general means.