Hey everyone, today I want to share my experience with getting a Turkish ID card. It wasn’t as straightforward as I thought it would be, but I got it done, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
So, first things first, I started by doing some digging online. I needed to figure out what the deal was with these Turkish ID cards, especially for someone like me who’s not a citizen. I stumbled upon some info about the “Kimlik No,” which is basically like a social security number in Turkey. Apparently, it’s a big deal, and even foreigners can get one, but the process seemed a bit murky.
I found out that these ID cards are now equipped with an e-signature feature. It means you can use them for all sorts of official stuff, like banking, notary services, and other bureaucratic things. Cool, right? But how do I get my hands on one?

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Someone online said I should just go to a bank, open an account, and they’d give me a card. It sounded too easy. I picked Is Bankasi because it was mentioned by name, and guess what? They were right! I walked in with my passport, opened an account, and bam, I had a plastic card. But this is just a bank card, not an official ID.
Getting the Real Deal
Okay, so the bank card was a start, but I needed the real Turkish ID card. I learned that you’ve got to apply at these places called “population directorates.” You can make an appointment or just show up, or if you’re abroad, you can go to a foreign representative office. That seemed more official.
But here’s the kicker – I also found out that you can only get this Kimlik card if you become a Turkish citizen. And to do that, you’ve got to either buy property worth at least $400,000, invest half a million dollars in bonds or state securities, or marry a Turkish citizen. None of that was on my to-do list!
The e-Devlet Route
Then, I discovered this website called e-Devlet, which is like a portal for all Turkish government services. I thought maybe I could find a shortcut there. I registered and poked around, but it seemed like I was hitting a dead end. It was all in Turkish, and even with online translators, I couldn’t find a way to get an ID card without being a citizen.
- Tried the Bank: Got a bank card, but it wasn’t the official ID.
- Population Directorates: Learned this is the official way, but only for citizens.
- Citizenship Requirements: Realized I needed to be a citizen, which involves big investments or marriage.
- e-Devlet: Found the government portal, but it didn’t offer a solution for non-citizens.
In the end, I realized that getting a Turkish ID card as a non-citizen is a no-go unless you’re ready to take some major life steps. I hope this helps someone out there. It’s a confusing process, but now you know what to expect!