Turkish citizens moving to Federal Republic of Germany
Türkiye has Germany's largest established Turkish diaspora from the Gastarbeiter era (1960s–70s), creating significant family-reunion flows. Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) and EU Blue Card are the primary new-labour-migration routes.
Notable: Persons of Turkish ancestry in Germany number over 3 million — the largest non-EU diaspora community.
Tourist entry
No. Turkish nationals require a visa to enter Federal Republic of Germany, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Treaty & bilateral memberships
- Schengen Area
Consular processing: Istanbul / Ankara / Izmir
Routes with nationality-specific notes
EU Blue Card (Germany)
Work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU professionals with a qualifying German job offer.
Turkish nationals can benefit from a simplified procedure in some cases due to the EU–Turkey Association Agreement (Ankara Agreement) jurisprudence, though this affects family-join rights more than the primary Blue Card. Degree recognition uses anabin; Istanbul-based universities are generally H+ listed.
Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card)
Points-based residence permit allowing non-EU skilled workers to enter Germany to search for employment.
Turkish applicants should confirm their university's anabin status; post-2017 state-university reorganisations caused some recognition gaps. Language-test alignment via Goethe-Institut Istanbul is the most common route for the A1 German requirement.
Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG)
General sponsored work residence permit for qualified non-EU workers with a German job offer.
Turkish nationals have access to the Skilled Worker route with certain simplifications under the Ankara Agreement and long-standing bilateral arrangements. Verify whether the role qualifies under §18a (vocational) or §18b (academic) — the path to settlement differs.
Freelance / Self-employment residence permit (§21 AufenthG)
Residence permit for self-employed workers and liberal professionals establishing a business in Germany.
Turkish nationals benefit from the Ankara Agreement's standstill clauses on self-employment — verify with the local Ausländerbehörde whether the specific provisions still apply to your case, as interpretation varies by state.
All Federal Republic of Germany routes
Recognition Partnership (Anerkennungspartnerschaft)
Residence permit allowing skilled workers to complete their qualification recognition while living and working in Germany.
Job Seeker visa (§20 AufenthG)
Up to 6-month residence permit for qualified workers to seek employment in Germany (largely superseded by Chancenkarte).
German Student residence permit
Residence permit for international students enrolled at recognised German higher education institutions.
Family reunion residence permit
Residence permit for spouses and children of German residents or citizens.
Frequently asked questions
Can Turkish citizens enter Federal Republic of Germany without a visa?
No. Turkish nationals require a visa to enter Federal Republic of Germany, even for short tourism. A separate residence or work route is required for long-term stay.
Which Federal Republic of Germany visa routes are best suited to Turkish applicants?
Common general routes used by Turkish applicants include EU Blue Card (Germany), Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), Skilled Worker residence permit (§18a/§18b AufenthG). Türkiye has Germany's largest established Turkish diaspora from the Gastarbeiter era (1960s–70s), creating significant family-reunion flows. Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card) and EU Blue Card are the primary new-labour-migration routes.
Where do Turkish applicants typically apply for a Federal Republic of Germany visa?
Applications are typically processed at Istanbul / Ankara / Izmir. Some digital and in-country applications can be filed directly with Federal Republic of Germany's immigration authority without a consular visit.