This programme is designed for applicants who are legally resident in Türkiye but are worried about having to return to an unsafe home country if their residence is not renewed. Please see the eligibility criteria below for further detail.

This grant is not available for holders of temporary-protection status in Türkiye. Please see our separate Professional Development Programme for applicants with a more stable residence in Türkiye.

What types of support are available?

Applicants who are eligible (see criteria below) may apply for three types of support under this programme:

1. Fee payments and reimbursements: fees to pay for a visa application (a Turkish or foreign visa), legal fees, critical flights and other critical transportation, housing and other fees/expenses required to make your residence status more stable. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications for the payment of medical expenses.

2. Counselling on residence, migration and careers: advice on your plans relating to residence in Türkiye, migration to another country, and your related career and life plans. We have contacts in Türkiye who understand the residence system there, as well as a number of other countries worldwide. We cannot guarantee to have answers to all your questions, but can do our own research and use our network as far as possible. We typically provide advice on a video call. We are not qualified to advise on Turkish or other law, but can attempt to provide general information and refer where possible to sources of advice on law.

3. Monthly stipends: in exceptional circumstances, we may agree to pay a small monthly stipend for a period not exceeding 6 months. The applicant will need to demonstrate that:

   • they are only temporarily in need of funds;

   • at the end of the stipend period (not more than 6 months), they are very likely to be able to support themselves without receiving further monetary assistance; and

   • during the period of the stipend, they have a clear and realistic plan to find another source of sustainable income.

Note: a monthly stipend is likely suited to an experienced professional who has been forced to leave their job for reasons outside of their control.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply, you must:

1. have the legal right to be in Türkiye at time of application (you may be planning to stay in Türkiye or to leave to another country or be unclear about your plans), for less than 1 year from the date of your application:

   • visa-free entry period (90 days);

   • short-term tourist;

   • humanitarian;

   • international protection;

   • student;

   • work visa (but only where the applicant’s work is ending in the near future for reasons outside of their control)

2. be able to demonstrate that (a) going back to your home country would be unsafe for you and (b) you have good reason to be worried that your residence will not be renewed and, if so, that you will have to go back.​

Throughout the period of support, an applicant must also have a legal right to be in Türkiye (or, where the applicant has a workable plan to leave Türkiye and establish a new life elsewhere, another country).

An applicant may only apply for support under this programme once per year. An applicant that has received a stipend may not apply for further support under this programme.