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Surprise reduction in cost of residency visas
BODRUM – Hürriyet Daily News
British, Dutch, Irish and Danish embassies have announced that as of April 1 a reduced fee structure for residence permits in Turkey was put into place with immediate effect.
On Thursday afternoon March 31, it was first thought that the reductions only applied to the British nationals. Internet forums for many residents and property holders in the South ran hot with disbelief, particularly given it was around April 1, the traditional day for hoaxes.
The British ambassador and consular staff have been engaged in bilateral talks with the Turkish authorities since December over a number of issues concerning British residents in Turkey – one of them being the rising costs of residents permits, where in some cases people have had to renew them for up to 20 years as currently there is no permanent residency status available in Turkey.
The British Embassy website announced on Friday morning that the Turkish Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that they agreed to the British ambassador’s request to reduce the residence permit fees for British nationals to $80 a year from April 1.
Fees will be charged at $25 for one month and $5 per month for each subsequent month. The embassy announcement also said, “We want to thank the Turkish government for listening to our concerns and hope that British nationals will take advantage of the reduced rate to regularize their stay in Turkey.” They were referring to the growing number of residents attempting to live on tourist visas.
There were three groups of fees and some 226 countries were listed in total with the introduction of the generally lower and more equitable fees.
2011 residency permit fees for British nationals
12 months for 120 Turkish Liras ($80 - used to be about $500]
Two years is now 210 liras [$140]
Three years is now 300 liras [$200]
Four years is now 390 liras [$260]
Five years is now 480 liras [$320]
http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/news-for-british-residents
Not : GOOD NEWS FOR EXPATS LIVING IN TURKEY..!!
Edited (4/11/2011) by tunci
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