Stolen or Lost Residence Permit: Important Tips for Getting a New Ikamet

Dealing with a stolen or lost residence permit card can feel like the end of the world. The Turkish residence permit card, also known as ikamet, is the most important document you must carry with you at all times during your stay in Turkey as a non-citizen. It contains your foreigner identity number (kimlik numarası) and other details that will be invaluable during your time in the country. 

While it can be a frustrating event to get your card stolen or lost, there is no need to worry. It is a simple process to get a new residence permit card and it can be reissued by following just a few simple steps. As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at Settle Turkey, and we’ll also do our best to offer personalized guidance on the process. 

The first thing that needs to be done is to go to the nearest police station as soon as possible. You should present your passport as proof of identity and fill out a “lost property form” or Kayıp Tutanağı in Turkish. Then, you need to pay a fee for the new card which is half of the fee that was paid for your initial residence permit application. This can only be done at a tax office (Vergi Dairesi) and it is not possible to make the payment online.

Once you have the lost property form and have paid the card fee, you can apply to get a new card at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü). There is no need to make an appointment beforehand for dealing with a stolen or lost residence permit card.

Documents needed to reissue ikamet after stolen or lost residence permit card:

1. Two biometric photos
2. Passport and a photocopy of the passport
3. Lost property form/kayıp tutanağı from the police station
4. Certificate of residence 
5. Receipt of card fee payment 

The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) will issue a temporary residence document for you after receiving your documents regarding your stolen or lost residence permit. This document is valid for any situation that would normally require your residence card. In addition to that, the temporary residence document will allow you to travel out of the country without having to pay fees or obtain a visa.

Once your new residence card is printed, it will be sent to your registered address. In most cases, the new card gets printed within 45 days. You can call 157 Foreigners Communication Center/Yabancı İletişim Merkezi (YİMER) to check the status of your new card. 

What to do about a lost residence permit card while abroad?

If you are dealing with a stolen or lost residence permit while you are outside of Turkey, you have to follow the entry requirements according to your nationality. This means that you might need to apply for a visa or e-visa before entering Turkey. Upon arrival, even though you cannot present your card to the passport police, it is a good idea to mention that you actually have a residence permit in Turkey and that you will be applying to get a new one as soon as you enter Turkey.

You can also get in touch with the local Turkish authorities about your lost card. They will guide you regarding the visa requirements for your nationality and what you should do during passport control.

When you are back in Turkey, you should follow the same steps to get a new residence permit card and start your process immediately. It is crucial to apply for a new card as soon as possible as you are required by law to carry your card with you all the time and might be subject to a fine if you fail to present your card when a law officer asks to see it. Getting the temporary residence document from The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) will also prevent this type of issues.

For all other residence permit related issues, including applying for one of your own, we’re on hand to help whenever and however we can!