Frequently Asked Questions II: Best Tips for Finances & Income in the Residence Permit Application

A topic that often confuses applicants is the requirement to declare their income in the residence permit application. How does one go about declaring and proving their source of income? What are some tips and tricks to maximize your chance of approval? This article aims to answer your pressing questions about the finances-related areas of the residence permit application. 

Who needs to declare their income in the residence permit application?

If you are submitting a residence permit application on your behalf and you do not have another person undertaking or sponsoring you, you will be asked to declare that you have the necessary financial means to support yourself in your application. This is required from all applicants aside from humanitarian residence permit applicants. For family residence permit applicants, the sponsor is asked to show proof of income that is sufficient for themselves and also the applicant (and other members of the family if applicable).

What are the valid sources of income that I can declare?

Income from renting property, salary payments, profit from business endeavors, inheritance, and savings are all examples of valid income sources. You will be expected to put your income source on the application. A brief explanation of the income source is also required.

It is extremely important to note that if you are employed within Turkey (to a Turkish company for example), without having a valid work permit, it is likely that this will be investigated if that income is declared, and will likely cause issues for your application process. You are not permitted to work in Turkey without the proper paperwork.

Do I have to declare income in the residence permit application if I am unemployed?

Even if you are unemployed, you need to declare your income source if you are submitting an application without a sponsor. This could be a family member supporting you or your own savings if you do not have active income. 

How much income do I have to declare?

Short-term residence applicants are asked to declare they have sufficient income for the duration of their requested stay. We advise declaring a minimum monthly income no less than 1.5x the minimum wage for all of the months you will be staying in Turkey.

For sponsors applying for family residence permits for their family member, they have to have a minimum income per family member that is no less than ⅓ of minimum wage and a total income that is no less than minimum wage, but we advise declaring more than this if possible. 

Will I be asked to prove my source of income in the residence permit application?

It is possible that you will be asked to show supplementary documents related to your declared income when you attend the appointment. These are most often in the form of bank statements and employment papers. First time applicants will often be asked to apostille, translate, and notarize a bank statement from their home country for at least a range of six months. Renewals will request a signed and stamped bank statement for the same period, but from a Turkish bank.

How much savings should I declare on my application?

If you are declaring that your income source is your savings, it is possible that you will be expected to show proof that you have sufficient savings to cover the entire duration of your requested stay. This should at minimum be 1.5x the minimum wage per month of the duration you are requesting.

How can I present my bank statements from a foreign bank?

As of late, foreign bank statements are only accepted for first-time applications, while renewals are requiring a statement from a Turkish bank. Foreign bank statements should be apostilled, translated, and notarized.

Why do I have to declare my income in the residence permit application?

People who declare that they are financially capable of supporting themselves pledge that they will not be seeking financial support from the Turkish government.

If you are confused about how to go about filling out the residence permit application yourself, worry not. Contact us now so you can get expert advice to maximize your chance of approval.