Kimlik (identity card) in Turkey – what foreigners need to know

Official Turkish ID card for residents and citizens.

A Kimlik is the national identity card issued to Turkish citizens and legal residents. It contains a unique 11-digit number (TC Kimlik No) and personal details like name, birthdate, and photo.

For foreigners buying property, a Kimlik is often required for legal transactions, utility registrations, and banking. Non-citizens may use a Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (Foreigner ID Number) instead.

Without it, some administrative steps (e.g., title deed transfers) may face delays or require alternative documentation.

Foreigners receive a Yabancı Kimlik Numarası, not a Kimlik.

Foreigners cannot obtain a standard Kimlik, which is reserved for Turkish citizens. Instead, they receive a Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN)—a unique 99-digit ID for legal residents.

The YKN is assigned upon getting a residence permit. It functions like a Kimlik for administrative tasks (e.g., opening bank accounts, signing contracts).

Short-term visitors (e.g., tourists) typically use passport numbers for transactions.

Automatically assigned with a residence permit.

A Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN) is assigned by:

Residence permit application: Göç İdaresi (Migration Office) issues a YKN when approving short/long-term permits. The number appears on the permit document.

Banks accept passports, but a YKN eases the process.

Turkish banks do not strictly require a Kimlik or YKN to open an account—most accept a passport for foreigners. However, providing a YKN can:

- Speed up identity verification.

- Enable online banking access (some banks restrict this without a YKN).

- Simplify future transactions (e.g., mortgage applications, utility payments).

For non-residents, a passport + tax number (vergi numarası) is often sufficient. Residents with a YKN face fewer documentation requests.

Report loss and request a replacement or new YKN.

Foreigners cannot lose a YKN itself (it’s a digital number), but they may misplace documents containing it (e.g., residence permit, tax card). Steps to take:

1. Residence permit loss: Report to Göç İdaresi and apply for a replacement. The YKN remains the same.

2. Tax card loss: Visit the Vergi Dairesi for a reprint. No new YKN is issued.

3. Passport loss: Replace via your embassy. Banks/authorities can re-link your YKN to the new passport.

Turkish citizens must report a lost Kimlik to Nüfus Müdürlüğü for a replacement.

Kimliks don’t expire; YKN validity ties to residency status.

A Turkish Kimlik has no expiration date—it remains valid unless the card is damaged or personal details change (e.g., marriage).

A Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN) itself never expires, but its usability depends on your legal status:

- If your residence permit expires, the YKN stays active but may not suffice for new transactions (e.g., buying another property) until renewed.

- Property ownership isn’t affected by YKN/residency status—once registered under your name (via Tapu), it remains yours regardless of ID validity.