Information for Ukrainian refugees in Türkiye

No temporary protection: 90 days visa-free in any 180, then a short-term residence permit (usually for 1 year)

Information checked in October–November 2026.

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Important to know

Türkiye has no temporary protection for Ukrainians (it covers only Syrians): count your 90 days in any 180 yourself and apply for a residence permit in e-İkamet before they run out; overstaying means a fine and possibly an entry ban. In 2026 migration offices check the purpose of stay, address and funds more strictly, lawyers report more refusals of tourist permits, and many neighbourhoods in Istanbul, Antalya and other cities are closed to new foreign residents. A residence permit does not allow you to work. Asylum is possible, but applicants must live in an assigned province and report regularly. About 33,000 Ukrainians held residence permits in May 2025. Hotlines: YİMER 157 (24/7, also in Russian), UNHCR 444 48 68. e-İkamet (residence permits)

Useful links

Official information

Getting there

Work

International job platforms for Ukrainians

Ukrainian communities

Status and documents

How long protection lasts: No temporary protection (in Türkiye it covers only Syrians). Visa-free stay: up to 90 days in any 180. Short-term residence permit: up to 2 years at a time by law, for tourism usually 1 year; renewable while the purpose of stay still applies. Humanitarian residence permit: case by case, usually up to 1 year. Asylum: Ukrainians can get refugee or subsidiary protection status.
Documents: Entry: Ukrainian passport (a biometric ID card is accepted only on direct trips from Ukraine). Short-term residence permit: e-İkamet application form, passport valid at least 60 days beyond the permit, biometric photos, health insurance covering the whole stay, proof of address (lease or title deed) and of sufficient funds; for family members, birth or marriage certificates with an apostille and a notarised translation. A criminal record certificate may be requested.
Where and how to apply: Fill in the application at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr before your 90 visa-free days run out, pay the fees and bring the documents to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management on your appointment day. Extensions: online within the last 60 days before expiry; since 15 Apr 2024 you also need a UETS e-notification address (issued at PTT post offices). Asylum: in person at the Provincial Directorate.
Processing time: By law up to 90 days from a complete file; in practice a short-term permit usually takes 10–30 days, a humanitarian one 3–6 months (lawyers' estimates). The card is delivered by post (PTT); while the application is pending, the application document makes your stay legal.
When protection ends: Visa-free stay ends after 90 days in 180; overstaying means a fine and possibly an entry ban. A short-term permit ends on its expiry date unless extended, and is cancelled if its conditions no longer apply, if it is used for another purpose, or if you spent more than 120 days abroad in the past year. An asylum application is treated as withdrawn if you leave Türkiye.
Men aged 18–60: Türkiye has no temporary protection and no military-related conditions: entry is visa-free and residence permits do not require proof of military registration. Only Ukrainian rules apply: since May 2024 Ukrainian consulates provide passports and most other services to men aged 18–60 only with a valid military registration document (e-VOD in Reserve+).
Trips to Ukraine: Yes. Visa-free days keep counting: no more than 90 days in Türkiye in any 180, and trips abroad do not reset them. A short-term residence permit stays valid while you travel, but can be cancelled if you spent more than 120 days abroad in total in the past year; leaving Türkiye during an asylum procedure means the application is treated as withdrawn. Türkiye pays Ukrainians no benefits, so none are lost.
Children without parents: There is no special programme for Ukrainian children. A child under 18 whose parents are abroad can get a short-term residence permit only with a certified consent (muvafakatname) from the parents or legal representative plus a notarised undertaking from the adult in Türkiye named in it; Ukrainian documents need an apostille and a notarised Turkish translation. Unaccompanied children who seek international protection are placed in care by the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

Travel, pets and language

How to get there: No flights from Ukraine: take a bus Odesa – Istanbul via Moldova or Romania and Bulgaria (about a day on the road), or travel overland to Chișinău, Iași, Bucharest or Warsaw and fly to Istanbul or Antalya. On this route you need a passport (an ID card works only on direct trips from Ukraine). Men aged 23–60 generally cannot leave Ukraine.
Pets: Up to 2 pets per traveller. Microchip first, then rabies vaccination; a rabies antibody (titre) test at an EU-approved lab at least 30 days after vaccination, result above 0.5 IU; after the first test, wait 90 days before travelling; a veterinary health certificate issued 2 days before the trip. Pit bull and Staffordshire terriers, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro are banned.
Driving licence: A foreign licence can be used for up to 6 months from entry; after that it must be exchanged for a Turkish one at the population directorate (Nüfus Müdürlüğü). Under the Ukraine–Türkiye agreement in force since 10 Jan 2023, Ukrainians living in Türkiye exchange licences of all categories without theory or driving tests; a notarised Turkish translation of the licence is needed.
Languages: Turkish (official). English is common in tourist areas; Russian is widely heard in Antalya and Alanya. Free Turkish courses at public education centres (Halk Eğitim Merkezi): register with a passport or foreigner ID number. University TÖMER courses are paid.

Work, healthcare and education

Right to work: Not with a residence permit alone: the employer applies to the Ministry of Labour for a work permit (it also serves as a residence permit). Refugee and subsidiary protection holders work with their ID card; asylum applicants may apply for a work permit 6 months after applying for asylum. Some professions (e.g. lawyer, notary, pharmacist) are reserved for Turkish citizens.
Jobs in demand: Tourism and hotel staff (Antalya, Alanya, the Aegean coast), shop assistants, packers, mechanical, computer and civil engineers (İŞKUR, 2025). Many Ukrainians work remotely for foreign employers; legal work in Türkiye needs a work permit.
Healthcare: No: with a residence permit you need private health insurance (it is required for the permit) or pay yourself. After 1 year of residence you can join the state insurance (GSS) voluntarily; employees are insured through SGK; asylum applicants are covered by GSS for their first year. The 112 ambulance is free.
Kindergarten: Public kindergartens (anaokulu, from age 3) accept foreign children with a residence permit if there are places; there is no tuition, but schools collect monthly contributions (amount set locally: —). Ukrainian community groups run Saturday schools and children's clubs.
School: Yes: public schools are free; education is compulsory for 12 years. Enrol at the nearest school or the district education office (İlçe MEM) with the child's residence permit (foreigner ID number starting with 99); teaching is in Turkish. Ukrainian Saturday schools work in Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, Izmir, Bursa, Mersin and other cities.

Benefits

Housing support: None: there is no state housing support for Ukrainians with residence permits. Before signing a lease, check that the neighbourhood is open for residence registration: many neighbourhoods are closed to new foreign residents.
One-time payment: None (no state one-off payment for Ukrainians).
Monthly allowance for adults: No state allowance for Ukrainians with residence permits. Asylum applicants in need may ask local Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundations (SYDV) for help; amounts are not fixed (—).
Monthly allowance for children: None: there is no child benefit for foreigners with residence permits.

Cost of living

Average rent: approx. 1-bedroom flat per month (livingcost.org, Jun 2026): Istanbul $550 outside the centre – $890 in the centre; Ankara $410–580; Izmir $405–585; Antalya $420–490. A deposit and an agency fee are usually extra.
Groceries per person per month: approx. $310–355 a month per person for food in the big cities (Istanbul is the most expensive); Turkey average $284 (livingcost.org, Jun 2026, partly user data). Lira prices rise fast because of high inflation.
Kindergarten fees: approx. private daycare/kindergarten per month: Istanbul $1,000, Ankara $740, Izmir $710, Antalya $660 (livingcost.org, Jun 2026, partly user data).
Private school fees: Public schools are free. Private schools in 2026–27 cost from approx. 450,000 TL to over 2.7 million TL a year (Milliyet, Jun 2026); the state capped fee rises at 30.74% (up to 43.92% for entry grades).
Health insurance cost: Private health insurance is required for a residence permit; the price depends on age and cover (—; basic policies are cheapest for young adults). Voluntary state insurance (GSS) after 1 year of residence: 7,927 TL a month in 2026.

Documents, consulates, legal helpThe same in every country: e-Consul, Diia, free legal aid, a psychologist.

All information is for reference only. Rules and benefits change often, so some of it may be out of date. Always check with official sources before making a decision.

If you spot an inaccuracy, please write to us at howtohelpuacom@gmail.com.