At a glance
- Who: the spouse and children under 18 of someone who holds a work permit in Türkiye.
- Turquoise Card: your spouse and dependent children get residence with it.
- Health insurance: valid cover is required for most kinds of residence, family members included.
- School: children with legal residence can attend Turkish public and private schools.
- Citizenship: family residence usually counts in full towards the five years.
Who can get family residence
Family residence is built on the residence of one family member, often called the sponsor. When that person holds a work permit, whether through an employer or through their own company, the spouse and children under 18 can apply for family residence. With the Turquoise Card, your spouse and dependent children get residence too.
So the order matters: first the sponsor's work permit, then the family's applications. If you are registering a company to get a work permit, plan the family's move around that timeline.
What you will need
- Valid passports and photos for each family member, and an address in Türkiye.
- Proof of the family relationship, such as a marriage certificate and children's birth certificates. Documents issued abroad usually need official certification and a sworn Turkish translation.
- Valid health insurance for each family member.
- Documents showing the sponsor's residence and that the family can be supported.
Because a wrong list wastes weeks, we send you the exact list once your route is clear.
School, work and daily life
- Children with legal residence can attend Turkish public and private schools.
- Family residence is not a work permit. A spouse who wants to work needs a work permit of their own.
- When a child turns 18, family residence on that basis ends, so plan the next step early: student residence is often the natural one.
Renewal and the road to citizenship
Family residence is tied to the sponsor's residence, so keep both renewals in step and always apply before the expiry date. On the ordinary route, Turkish citizenship can be applied for after five years of legal, continuous residence; work, property and family residence usually count in full.
Common questions
Can my wife or husband and children live in Turkey with me?
Yes. Once you hold a work permit, your spouse and children under 18 can get family residence. With the Turquoise Card, your spouse and dependent children get residence too.
Can my spouse work with family residence?
Not on family residence alone. Your spouse needs their own work permit to work in Türkiye.
Can my children go to school in Turkey?
Yes. Children with legal residence can attend public and private schools.
Does family residence count towards citizenship?
On the ordinary five-year route, family residence usually counts in full. Other conditions apply, such as limits on time spent abroad.
This article is general guidance and doesn't replace a review of your own case. Rules and figures can change, and no one can guarantee a residence or visa approval.