VISA, PASSPORT AND INSURANCE PROCEDURES
Students are responsible for following all procedures relating to passports, visas, residence permits, insurance, bank accounts, transportation and accommodation.
The Erasmus Coordination Office provides students with general information and guidance throughout these processes. However, passport and visa applications are assessed and decided upon by the relevant public authorities and diplomatic missions.
Passport Procedures
Students must check the validity period of their passports before the mobility and review the passport requirements of the destination country.
Depending on their individual circumstances, students may use an ordinary passport (burgundy passport) or, where they are legally entitled to do so, a special passport (green passport).
Ordinary passports may be issued without a passport fee to students who document their student status and are under the age of 25; only the passport booklet fee is charged. Current requirements and necessary documents for passport applications must be checked on the official website of the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs.
Holding a special passport does not necessarily exempt a student from visa, work permit or residence permit requirements for study or traineeship purposes. Requirements may vary depending on the destination country, length of stay, passport type and purpose of the mobility. Students must therefore review the current information published by the relevant embassy or consulate.
Students who are not citizens of the Republic of Türkiye must complete passport and visa procedures in accordance with the rules applicable to their nationality and the destination country.
Visa and Residence Permit Procedures
Students must begin the visa or residence permit process without delay after receiving their Letter of Acceptance from the host institution.
Before applying, students must check:
- The website of the embassy or consulate of the destination country,
- The authorised visa application centre,
- The appropriate visa or residence permit category,
- The appointment system and application deadlines,
- Required documents and current fees,
- Passport, accommodation and insurance requirements.
Information published on forums, social media platforms or unofficial websites may be outdated. Therefore, the information provided by the relevant diplomatic mission and authorised visa application centre must be taken as the official reference.
Students are responsible for submitting their visa applications accurately, completely and on time. The Erasmus Coordination Office cannot guarantee that a visa will be issued and cannot intervene in the decision-making procedures of diplomatic missions.
Obtaining the Visa Letter through TURNAPortal
Students selected for Erasmus+ mobility may generate the QR-coded visa letter required for embassy or consulate applications through TURNAPortal after the evaluation and placement procedures have been completed.
To generate the visa letter:
- Log in to your individual TURNAPortal account.
- Open the My Applications page.
- Find the relevant Erasmus+ application.
- Click the Visa Letter button next to the application to generate the document.
Students must contact the Erasmus Coordination Office if the Visa Letter button is not visible even though the evaluation and placement process has been completed.
A maximum of one visa letter may be generated within a 24-hour period. The document includes the student’s personal details, the sending and receiving institution information, the type of mobility, the planned mobility dates and, where applicable, the approved Erasmus+ grant amount. A QR code for verification is included in the lower-right section of the document.
Where the document contains missing or incorrect information, the student must contact the Erasmus Coordination Office before using it for a visa application.
Other Documents Available from the Erasmus Coordination Office
Where necessary, students may request the following documents from the Erasmus Coordination Office:
- An official Erasmus+ mobility letter for use in passport procedures,
- An official Erasmus+ mobility letter for procedures before the Social Security Institution,
- Other institutional documents requested by the relevant diplomatic mission, provided that such documents may be issued by the University.
Students are responsible for preparing the Letter of Acceptance, Learning Agreement or Learning Agreement for Traineeships, student certificate, insurance policy, bank statements, accommodation documents and any other documents requested by the relevant diplomatic mission.
Health Insurance
Students must have health insurance that is valid in the destination country and provides uninterrupted coverage for the entire mobility period.
Before purchasing an insurance policy, students must carefully review:
- Coverage for outpatient and inpatient treatment,
- The countries in which the policy is valid,
- The coverage period and maximum uninterrupted period of use,
- Emergency medical services,
- Medical transportation and repatriation conditions,
- Exclusions and circumstances not covered by the policy.
Some travel health insurance policies may have a maximum coverage period that is shorter than the overall validity period shown on the policy. Therefore, students must check not only the policy’s start and end dates but also whether it provides uninterrupted coverage for the entire mobility period.
Students are responsible for reviewing the insurance requirements of the destination country’s visa application and obtaining an appropriate insurance policy.
Insurance for Traineeship Mobility
Students participating in traineeship mobility must have the following in addition to health insurance:
- Accident insurance covering injury or damage suffered by the student in the workplace,
- Liability insurance covering damage caused by the student to third parties in the workplace.
The Learning Agreement for Traineeships must clearly state whether these insurance policies are provided by the student, Ankara Science University or the host institution or organisation.
Social Security Institution Health Care Entitlement Document for Use Abroad
Students travelling to countries with which Türkiye has a social security agreement covering health care may apply to the Social Security Institution for a country-specific health care entitlement document, provided that they meet the relevant conditions.
The countries covered by such agreements and the rights provided are not identical. The student’s insurance status, dependent family-member status and the provisions of the agreement applicable to the destination country are assessed by the Social Security Institution.
The issuance of a Social Security Institution health care entitlement document does not necessarily mean that it will replace the private travel health insurance required for a visa application. Students must confirm the current requirements with both the Social Security Institution and the relevant diplomatic mission.
Important Information
Visa, passport, residence permit and insurance requirements may vary depending on the country and application period. The information on this page is provided for general guidance purposes.
Before applying, students must verify the current requirements through the relevant embassy, consulate, authorised visa application centre, Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs and Social Security Institution.
Related Links
Click here for the TURNAPortal Guide to Obtaining a Visa Letter.
Click here for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye – Visa Requirements for Turkish Citizens.
Click here for the Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs – Passport Procedures.
Click here for the Social Security Institution – Health Care Procedures Abroad.