Requirements to applying for an initial residence permit are being continuously updated. On specialized Telegram accounts, local residents are sharing that in Istanbul, persons applying for a first-time residence permit are getting SMS messages inviting them to pass social adaptation courses in Turkey.
The word “inviting” is not exactly correct, as these courses are mandatory, if short (a few hours). If a candidate ignores the message, they risk never getting their residence permit.
Upon passing the “adaptation courses”, the student receives a certificate that shall be subsequently enclosed to the documents when applying for a residence permit.
This project was initially launched only for Syrian refugees seeking shelter in Turkey but now applies to other foreigners too, as the number of immigrants fleeing to the country is growing rapidly. So it can be reasonably assumed that the same courses will soon be delivered in other cities, not only in megalopolises.
This is the latest of several novelties concerning application for a permanent residence in Turkey in 2022.