Andy Probert

THERE are dozens of expats who will now be on their final countdown when their traditional blue book residence permit runs out.

My five-year residence permit ran out Friday June 11 – so naturally I began a week earlier to begin getting the necessary paperwork together.

The below information is simply for an extension of one year. Details of first residences, family residences and long-term residences are different.

Rather than go through the website – https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/ – I popped into the Department of Migration –on the second floor of the Didim Governor’s office, which is behind the Jandarma barracks and close to Didim Polis Station. So all the below is a walk-in application for an extension.

Here’s a quick rundown of what was required for one person:

4 biometric photographs – these were taken at the Vision camera shop, just off Ataturk Boulevard and close to Republic Square.

A photocopy (mine was black and white) of the original Tapu (this can vary for those renting.

You’ll need a copy of the rental contract and it has been suggested a copy of the TAPU of the property owner confirming they own the property you are renting from them)

A photocopy of your current residence permit – the pages they wanted were the ones bearing an image of me and the date of expiry.

A photocopy of your Health Insurance – if applicable as those over 65 don’t require this element.

You need to have a valid private health insurance/SGK at point of application.

A photocopy of your bank savings. This bank statement should declare a minimum of 16,000TL [or 1,300tl per month] or if receiving pension/payments from the UK – statement showing the monthly payments.

A photocopy of your Passport – the passport has to be notarised and translated. I used Sami Isik, a local translator. This cost 88TL in total. You get an A4 page back which I suggest you photocopy. I kept the original.

A photocopy of your address – this you can be obtained on the ground floor of the Didim Governor’s Nufus office. ‘Yerleşim Yeri ve Diğer Adres Belgesi’.[ Population Registration document]. It has to be up to date.

A trip to the local Land Registry office (below the Tapu office) to obtain a document declaring confirmation of your address details. You’ll require lots of patience. Go to the desk with a copy of your passport and tax details. The officer will give a document which you need to take to a local bank – we went to Vakif Bank. There you pay 7.60TL for another piece of paper with a code on it. Take this back to the Land Registry office and they will give you a signed piece of paperwork. Add this piece of paper to your file.

Returned to the officers back at the Department of Migration. Having submitted all the details, the officer then asked what type of education we had. We simply said ‘High School’ and he entered that on the computer.

You will then need to go to the Tax Office and pay 232TL (80USD) for the one-year residency and the 58.50TL for the card.

Return to the office with the receipts and they inform you that you need to wait about 3 weeks before confirmation comes over by mobile phone that the card is ready and done.

My application details were submitted on Wednesday June 8, and I received a text message from PTT on Monday June 13 advising me the permit has been issued to my address. Now the wait for the card!