We explicitly caution against using the services of visa agencies and non-official websites. Please only use the official information on our website and the websites that we refer to here. Our only partners are the iDATA company and the International Organization for Migration (IOM-FAP).

When can I apply as a non-Turkish citizen in Türkiye?

You can apply for a German national visa in Türkiye without Turkish citizenship if your permanent residence is in Türkiye. This means that the main focus of your life is in Türkiye. It is not sufficient to have a Turkish residence permit or shares in a Turkish company and live elsewhere. Permanent residence is usually established by living in Türkiye uninterruptedly for at least 6 months without longer stays in another country at the date of your visa application. Permanent residence is also established without a stay of 6 months minimum if you have a long-term right of residence in Türkiye (i.e. as a registered refugee or with a residence permit for family reunion). Please provide proof of permanent residence in Türkiye when applying for your visa.

Exceptionally, Syrian citizens living in Syria or non-Turkish citizens having their permanent residence in Cyprus with no access to our Embassy in Nicosia can also apply, if they can travel to Türkiye.

Which German mission in Türkiye is responsible?

All national visa applications of non-Turkish foreign nationals are processed at the visa section of the Consulate General in ISTANBUL.

How can I book an appointment?

Please check the online booking system with our external service provider iDATA that, based on your information, will guide you to the correct appointment category, first. Please ensure that you provide complete and accurate information to avoid incorrect registrations and lengthy rebookings.

Depending on your visa category, you will be able to register with iDATA on a waiting list or you will be directed to the Consular Services Portal that allows you register and subsequently apply online directly. For the appointment registration with iDATA, they charge a fee of 7,80 euros.

Which documents do I need?

The required documents depend on the purpose of your planned stay. If you are not sure for which category you should apply, you can try our Visa Navigator.

Consular Services Portal categories

Please check out the Consular Services Portal: For the most common visa categories like study or vocational training (Berufsausbildung) visas, family reunion to German citizens, Blue Card EU, other skilled worker or job search Opportunity Card visas, you can apply online and also add family members if applicable. After registering, the Consular Services Portal will guide you through all required documents and will also provide detailed and customized information for your visa application. Therefore, the information on this website (see also below) is only relevant to visa categories not included in the Consular Services Portal.

Other categories

Family reunion to EU/EEA/CH citizens or foreigners holding a humanitarian residence permit

You cannot use the Consular Services Portal if your family member in Germany holds any EU/EEA/CH citizenship (except German citizenship), any humanitarian residence permit according to §§22, 23, 24, 25, 25a/b, 26 AufenthG (e.g. refugee, asylum, subsidiary protection status or deportation ban) or if you would like to apply for an extraordinary hardship family reunion visa. In this case, you must book an appointment through iDATA (see above) and prepare your documents following the instructions here: Family reunion visa for non-Turkish citizens outside the Consular Services Portal

Special work, internship, research or qualification visas

You cannot use the Consular Services Portal for non-skilled worker visas. For special work visas such as non-skilled employment (§15d BeschV), working on ships, freelancer, artist or au-pair, for a voluntary service, internship, recognition of your foreign qualifications (§16d AufenthG), self-employment or research please book an appointment through iDATA and prepare your documents according to the information on national visas for Turkish citizens (German/Turkish).

Isolated language course visas

You cannot use the Consular Services Portal if you wish to attend a language course in Germany only - without studying or vocational training. Please book an appointment through iDATA and prepare your documents following the instructions here: Language course visas for non-Turkish citizens

Re-entry

You cannot use the Consular Services Portal if you wish to apply for a re-entry visa. Please book an appointment through iDATA and prepare your documents following the instructions here: National re-entry visa for non-Turkish citizens. If you have lost your residence permit during a current short-time visit to Türkiye, please contact us via the contact formular before booking an appointment.

Where do I apply for the visa?

You will be informed where to file your application after booking an appointment. In most cases you can submit your application online or directly at the visa section in Istanbul. Please come on time and in person to your appointment. Each family member applying for a visa must be there in person. The staff at the visa section speaks Arabic, English, German or Turkish. If you do not speak any of these languages, you must bring an interpreter with you.

Applicants for family reunion visas to join their family members holding a a protection status or other humanitarian residence permit in Germany submit their applications directly at IOM-FAP office in Istanbul. It has also become possible to submit your visa application with our external service provider iDATA in Istanbul (Gayrettepe). If you can submit your application at iDATA or IOM-FAP, you will pay the visa fee (and for iDATA a service fee additionally) and submit all documents there. Your application will be forwarded to the visa section. iDATA or IOM-FAP do not have any influence on the decision of any visa application.

How long do I have to wait?

After the visa section has done a first check of your application and if all documents are complete (otherwise you will be informed), authorities in Germany might be involved, depending on the visa category. The visa section cannot influence the processing periods at these authorities. The table below provides a general overview:

As soon as we have taken a decision upon your application, you will receive your passport together with all original documents you submitted and the final decision. Information on how to pick up your passport or how to have it sent back to you will be available during your visa appointment.

If your application had to be denied, you will receive a written notification explaining the main reasons for this decision together with your passport. We would like to inform that it is no longer possible to appeal against the rejection of an application (Remonstration). With regard to the legal remedies available, please refer to the rejection letter.

How can I submit additionally requested documents?

If we asked you to submit any original document or passport additionally, you may do so by either sending it or hand it to the visa section in person. However, we can only further process documents that are submitted as original accompanied by one copy and if the file number (see barcode on your receipt handed out on the application date) is clearly indicated on an envelope containing original and copy. Please be aware that subsequently submitted documents may not be taken into consideration or added to your file if they do not meet these requirements.

You can send the documents to the following address:
Alman Federal Cumhuriyetin Alman Başkonsolosluğu Istanbul.
Vize bölümü (üçüncü ülke vatandaşları)
İnönü Caddesi 10
34437 Gümüşsuyu - Beyoğlu - İstanbul

Alternatively, you can hand them in in person to the security staff at the visa office without an appointment, Monday - Thursday between 9:00 and 15:00, Friday between 9:00 and 12:00 (entrance on Ciftevav Sok.). Please note, that you will not be let in into the visa section.