What to Do After Arriving in Türkiye
A practical first-week checklist after arriving in Türkiye: getting to your city, your dorm, a SIM card, local transport, university and TÖMER registration, and starting your residence permit.
Reviewed · August 17, 2026Guide contents
Your journey from Libya to your city in TürkiyeArriving in your cityFirst stop: housingGet a SIM cardUnderstand transportation in your cityUniversity and the TÖMER language centerDon't delay university and TÖMER registrationAfter getting your student information: start the residence permit processGet to know your city before classes startAsk for help when you need itDon't try to finish everything in one day
Arriving in Türkiye is the start of a new stage, and in the first period you may find several things that need arranging in a short span of time: getting to your city, housing, a SIM card, transportation, registering at university and the language center, then starting the residence permit process.
Here we've gathered the most important steps and practical tips a student needs upon arrival, based on the experiences of previous students.
Important note: procedures and arrangements can differ from year to year, from city to city, and depending on the scholarship, housing, and university arrangements. What's covered here is practical, experience-based guidance, not a mandatory or fixed description for every student. Always follow the instructions you receive directly from Türkiye Bursları / YTB and the authorities responsible for you.
Your journey from Libya to your city in Türkiye
- If your city has an airport: Your ticket is usually arranged all the way to your city (Libya → Istanbul → your city), and the domestic leg may depart from one of Istanbul's airports depending on the ticket and arrangements the scholarship sent you.
- If your city doesn't have an airport: In some cases the ticket only covers you to Istanbul, and after you arrive, arrangements begin for getting to your city. At Istanbul airport, look for or ask about the office or reception point for YTB / Türkiye Bursları / Türkiye Scholarships, under whichever name or sign is in use at the time, then go there and follow the instructions you're given. Transport for students without a domestic flight to their city is usually arranged by bus or other transport arrangements, depending on the city and the intake group.
- Don't rely entirely on a previous year's details — follow the information that comes with your ticket and travel instructions.
Arriving in your city
- Whether you arrive in your city by plane or by bus station, there may be reception arrangements from the scholarship, or people coordinated in advance to help students and take them to their housing. In some cases you may be told, before you arrive, the name or number of the person who will receive you.
- Before you arrive: We also recommend, if possible, being in touch beforehand with a Libyan student you know in the city, a current student, or someone you trust there, and letting them know when you'll arrive.
- You may not necessarily need them, but having someone you know in the city is useful in case reception arrangements change or you need help getting to your housing.
First stop: housing
- Once you arrive at your housing, the registration process begins. Details vary from one residence to another, but the process is usually simple. You may be asked for some documents, personal photos, to fill in or sign some papers, and some personal information.
- If you arrive during working hours: You may be officially registered right away and given the room assigned to you.
- If you arrive late: If you arrive at night or outside working hours, you may be let into the housing with a preliminary registration, and the room you're placed in may be your official room or a temporary one until registration is completed. Then, on the first working day, you complete the official registration procedures. So don't worry if not everything is finished the moment you arrive.
Get a SIM card
- One of the first things we recommend arranging after settling into your housing is buying a Turkish SIM card. Your phone number will matter for many transactions and upcoming procedures, and you may need to enter it when registering with some services and institutions. So don't put off getting a SIM card for too long.
- Ask students already in your city about: The phone carriers and the best option for you in terms of price, internet, coverage, and the offers available at the time.
- There's no single option that suits everyone, and prices and offers change.
Understand transportation in your city
- One of the most important things at the start is understanding how transportation works in your city.
- Ask senior students about: The transport card in use, the buses, the metro or tram if there is one, how to get from your housing to the university, and how to get to the language center.
- Don't always count on someone else going with you — try to learn, from the start, the routes you'll use regularly.
University and the TÖMER language center
- After sorting out housing and your SIM card, one of the most important stages begins: registering at university and the Turkish language center (TÖMER). Registration isn't the same in every city; in some cities the scholarship or the responsible authorities may organize an appointment or a group visit for students to complete some registration procedures, while in other cities the student handles the procedures themselves.
- Contact a senior student in your city or university and ask: Where should you go? What documents are required? Where do scholarship students register? And where is the language center located? Asking for help at this stage saves you a lot of time.
Don't delay university and TÖMER registration
- We recommend starting to find out about the registration procedures from the first period after you arrive, and not putting it off without reason.
- Registering at university and the language center isn't only about starting your studies; some of the information you get after registering will also matter for other procedures you'll carry out as a student — most importantly your student number and your university information.
- So make registering at university and the TÖMER language center one of your priorities after settling into your housing.
After getting your student information: start the residence permit process
- After completing registration and getting the required information, you can start following up on the student residence permit according to the applicable procedures. We have a separate guide that explains the residence permit in detail and the steps for applying.
Get to know your city before classes start
- One of the best things you can do before your studies actually start is to get to know a little about the city you'll be living in, especially the routes you'll use regularly.
- Try going yourself to: The university, the language center, the nearest transport stop, and the essential places around your housing. Use Google Maps, and ask students already in the city.
- The goal is to start your studies already knowing, at minimum: how do I get from my housing to the place I need? And how do I get back? Over time, these things will become very natural for you.
Ask for help when you need it
- Don't hesitate to ask for help. Every new student will run into things they don't know, whether it's a place, a procedure, transportation, the university, housing, or anything else.
- But when you ask, try to make your question clear, specific, and respectful.
- Instead of a very general question like: "What do I do?"
- Clarify the problem: "I've arrived in the city and registered at my housing, and I'd like to know where I should go to register at the language center and what documents are required."
- The clearer your question, the easier it is for the other person to help you.
Don't try to finish everything in one day
- In the first period you may feel like there are dozens of things you need to do at the same time. But focus on the essentials, in order.
- The suggested order, roughly: Getting to your city → housing → SIM card → transportation → university and TÖMER → student information → residence permit → getting to know the city.
- Additional procedures or details may come up depending on your university, city, and housing, and that's normal. What matters is knowing your priorities and not letting the essentials pile up on you.
Related guides
Need more help?
The Union team is ready to answer your questions and help at any stage of your studies.