International Student Life
Settle into student life in Istanbul, step by step.
Practical guides for international students: residence permits, enrollment, housing, transport, and the registrations you need after arrival. Each guide links to the official source and shows when it was last checked.
Browse guides by category
9 guides shown
First stepsNew
Your first 30 days in Istanbul
A week-by-week checklist of what to do after you arrive, with links to the detailed guides.
Read guideLegal & paperworkNew
Student residence permit
Who needs one, how to apply online, the documents to prepare, fees, and deadlines.
Read guideUniversityNew
University registration and enrollment
Final registration steps, diploma equivalence, documents, and your student certificate.
Read guideLegal & paperworkNew
Essential registrations after arrival
Foreigner ID number, e-Devlet, tax number, phone registration, health insurance, and address.
Read guideHousingNew
Rental agreements and checklist
Your rights on deposits and rent increases, checking the landlord, and a contract checklist.
Read guideTransportNew
Student Istanbulkart
Card types, eligibility, applying online, current fares, topping up, and transport basics.
Read guideHousing
Renting without rushing
Questions to ask, costs to check, and warning signs to watch for.
Read guideTransport
Public transport in Istanbul
Understand transport cards, routes, and how to plan a journey.
Read guideMoney
Build a student budget
A simple framework for tracking rent, food, transport, and extras.
Read guideRules change. Fees, eligibility, and procedures in Türkiye are updated often. Every guide shows a "last verified" date and links to the official source. Always confirm with that source before you pay, sign, or apply.