Country
Turkey
Türkiye is the closest and least bureaucratic destination for Iranians: ordinary passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days and tuition, especially at state universities, is far below Europe. Main routes are private or state universities via international quotas, the Türkiye Bursları scholarship, and for work an employer-sponsored work permit or the Turkuaz Kart. A short-term (tourist) residence permit is not guaranteed and gives no right to work; long-term residence is possible after 8 uninterrupted years.
Pathways for Turkey
Turkey — Study (Bachelor's at state universities (TR-YÖS, SAT or diploma GPA))
Turkish state universities run international quotas and admit on TR-YÖS, SAT or a very high diploma GPA. Tuition is far lower than private universities, but admission is competitive and Turkish-taught programmes need high-level Turkish.
- 1Exams and language
- 2Documents
- 3Applications
- 4Travel and enrolment
- 5Residence
- Cost
- 1,299,000,000 – 3,174,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 6 – 14 months
Turkey — Study (Bachelor's, master's or PhD at private (foundation) universities)
Turkish private universities set their own admission rules and fees; many admit on diploma GPA or prior degree without a central exam and offer English-taught programmes. It is often the fastest route for Iranians, but tuition is much higher than at state universities.
- 1Choose and prepare
- 2Documents
- 3Apply and admission
- 4Travel
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 2,453,000,000 – 5,195,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 3 – 8 months
Turkey — Study (Master's and PhD (state and private universities))
Master's and PhD admission in Türkiye is run by each university, with many English-taught options. State fees are very low and graduate students may work with a permit from day one.
- 1Planning
- 2Documents
- 3Apply
- 4Travel and residence
- Cost
- 1,010,000,000 – 5,195,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 5 – 12 months
Turkey — Study (Türkiye Bursları government scholarship)
Full Turkish government scholarship from bachelor's to PhD: tuition, dorm, insurance, flights, a Turkish year and a monthly stipend. Applications run 10 January-20 February each year and competition is very tough.
- 1Preparation (autumn)
- 2Apply (10 Jan-20 Feb)
- 3Evaluation
- 4Travel
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 144,000,000 – 866,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 8 – 14 months
Turkey — Work (Employer-sponsored work permit (e-İzin))
The most common legal work route: the employer obtains a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, which also serves as your residence permit. The hard part is that the employer must meet the 5-Turkish-employee, capital and minimum-salary criteria; IT specialists are exempt from some of them.
- 1Preparation
- 2Job search
- 3Work permit application
- 4Travel
- 5After arrival
- Cost
- 577,000,000 – 1,732,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 3 – 12 months
Turkey — Work (Short-term residence (property or tourism), then an in-country work permit)
A short-term permit does not allow work, but if valid for at least 6 months an employer can apply for your work permit from inside Türkiye. A tourism-based permit is not guaranteed, and Iranians are not eligible for Türkiye's digital nomad visa.
- 1Preparation
- 2Entry and housing
- 3Permit application
- 4Bridge to a work permit
- Cost
- 1,732,000,000 – 4,329,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 1 – 4 months
Turkey — Work (Turkuaz Kart (highly qualified worker, researcher or investor))
Türkiye's Turquoise Card gives you and your family indefinite work and residence rights and becomes permanent after a three-year transition period. Scoring is points-based and strict, best suited to high-earning specialists, researchers and investors.
- 1Profile check
- 2Job or investment
- 3Application
- 4Travel and transition
- Cost
- 577,000,000 – 2,020,000,000 Toman
- Time
- 4 – 12 months
Do not base a decision on any figure without a counselor's confirmation.