Türkiye · Student visa
An engineering degree at METU costs international students $1,200 a semester
Türkiye's student route is a consulate visa before you fly, then a residence permit you file online once you've enrolled. Students skip the permit fee and pay about $20 for the card.
This is for Americans admitted to a degree program in Türkiye. It covers what the consulate wants, what you file after you land, what the paperwork and tuition cost, and how U.S. aid fits in.
Four figures to plan around
964 TL
Residence card fee for students in 2026 (about $20)
No permit fee on top
90 days
Visa-free stay for Americans in any 180 days
Tourism and transit only
$800 to $1,200
METU tuition per semester for international undergrads
2026-27, billed in lira
3 months
To join Turkish state health insurance after you register
Or show private coverage
Who should take this route
It suits Americans who want a full degree at public-university prices. At METU in Ankara, international undergrads pay $800 to $1,200 a semester for 2026-27, and foreign graduate students pay $375. Grad students can also work with a permit from their first year.
It's a poor fit if you need Pell Grants, plan to work during your first undergraduate year, or take ADHD stimulants, which Türkiye bans. Check your prescriptions before you commit.
Do you need the visa if Americans enter visa-free?
The consulates, U.S. Embassy and the government's Study in Türkiye portal all say to get a student visa before you fly; the e-Visa covers only tourism and business. Some schools, METU among them, tell visa-exempt students they can file for residence before their 90 visa-free days run out. Ask your international office which it expects. If you're under 18, get the visa either way.
From admission letter to residence card
1. Apply for the visa as soon as you're admitted
Start online at konsolosluk.gov.tr, then go to the consulate that covers your state. The New York consulate won't process an incomplete file, won't take missing papers by email and won't expedite. Your passport must run at least 60 days past the visa. One relocation firm reports 3 to 15 days of processing.
2. Enroll, then file on e-İkamet
Once you've registered at your university, apply at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr and take the file to the migration office. You'll need four biometric photos, passport copies, proof of address (a dorm certificate works) and insurance for the whole permit, unless you join state insurance within three months.
3. Keep it current
Report a new address within 20 business days. Renew starting 60 days before the card expires.
What the student permit lets you do
Work, with a permit
Undergrads can work after their first year, up to 24 hours a week. Graduate students can start right away. Working without a permit risks deportation and fines.
Bring a spouse and children
A student can sponsor a spouse and children for family residence permits. Parents and other relatives don't qualify.
Travel in and out
A valid residence card replaces the visa, so you can fly home for the holidays and come back.
Change schools carefully
Moving to a university in another city means applying to that city's migration office within 10 days.
Paying for it from the U.S.
Federal aid abroad means loans only, at schools the Department of Education lists as eligible. Pell Grants don't apply, and online programs don't qualify. Some foreign schools are "deferment only." Search your school in the FAFSA list and ask its aid office for a federal school code.
Loan limits changed in 2026
Grad PLUS closed to new borrowers on July 1, 2026. Graduate students now max out at $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized loans ($50,000 in professional programs).
Turkish money
Türkiye Scholarships are open to every nationality but Turkish. They cover tuition, a dorm, insurance, a flight and a Turkish language year, plus 6,500 TL a month for undergrads (about $133). Koç University offers 25% to 100% tuition scholarships in the offer letter.
People who can help
Master Immigration Services (Turkey)
Turkey Relocation and Visa Services
A relocation and visa service for people moving to Türkiye.
Kimberly McCauley
Türkiye Local Guide
An Istanbul-based local guide who helps newcomers settle into Türkiye.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Brokers global health insurance for people living abroad.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps expats line up coverage and care abroad.
When the degree ends
Your student permit is canceled as of your graduation date. To stay, apply for a different permit within 10 days. If you're thinking longer term, Türkiye's long-term permit takes at least eight years of continuous legal residence.
Türkiye student visa questions
Can I use U.S. federal student loans at a Turkish university?
Only if the school is on the Department of Education's eligible foreign school list, and only for loans. Pell Grants never apply abroad, and distance programs don't qualify. Grad PLUS closed to new borrowers on July 1, 2026, so graduate students are capped at $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized loans ($50,000 for professional programs).
How much does a Turkish student residence permit cost?
Students don't pay the residence permit fee. They pay only the card fee, which is 964 Turkish lira in 2026, about $20.
What health insurance do I need for a Turkish student permit?
Coverage for the whole permit period. The alternative is joining Türkiye's state general health insurance within three months of registering at your university. Private policies can be bought for several years, which saves you renewing the permit every year.
Can my spouse and kids come with me on a Turkish student visa?
Yes. A student residence permit holder can sponsor a spouse and children for family residence permits. Parents and other relatives can't be sponsored this way.
What happens to my Turkish residence permit after I graduate?
The student permit is canceled as of your graduation date. If you want to stay, you must apply for a different residence permit within 10 days.
Can international students work in Türkiye?
Yes, with a work permit. Associate and bachelor's students can work after finishing their first year, up to 24 hours a week. Master's and PhD students can apply from their first year. Working without a permit can lead to deportation and fines for both student and employer.
Can Americans get a Türkiye Scholarship?
Yes. Türkiye Scholarships are open to every nationality except Turkish citizens. They cover tuition, housing, health insurance, a flight and a Turkish language year, with monthly stipends of 6,500 TL for undergraduates, 9,500 TL for master's and 13,000 TL for PhD students. Applications usually run January to February, and undergraduate applicants must be under 21.
Do Americans need a visa to study in Türkiye?
Officially, yes. Türkiye's consulates and its Study in Türkiye portal tell students to get a visa from a Turkish consulate before arriving, and the e-Visa only covers tourism and business. Some universities, including METU, let visa-exempt students file for a residence permit before their 90 visa-free days end, so ask your school which it expects.
Not sure Türkiye is the right place to study?
Take the Expatsi Test to see which countries fit your budget and goals.
Why not you?