Moving to Turkey for permanent residency from Russia or another country is much easier to arrange now than it was just 10 years ago.
Those who have already made the move are eager to share their experiences and discuss the challenges they faced.
Real Estate Agency Tolerance has prepared a selection of tips to make your life in Turkey as a permanent resident more comfortable, and the moving process simpler and more pleasant.
Tip One: Calculate Estimated Expenses
Immigrating to Turkey requires thorough preparation. Above all, it's important to carefully assess your financial capabilities.
This includes studying income streams (bear in mind that working without a work visa in Turkey is officially prohibited) and planning expenditures.
Calculations should account for not only regular expenses like food, rent and utility bills, but also additional costs that will inevitably arise.
These include health insurance for you and your family members, costs of obtaining residency, mobile phone taxes and much more.
The amount of monthly expenses will depend on your plans regarding housing — whether you intend to buy property or rent, as well as the region chosen for relocation.
For example, Istanbul is considered an expensive city where rental costs are higher and service prices are high.
Therefore, Istanbul is often the destination of choice for entrepreneurs, for whom the city's location plays a key role in the success of their business, as well as students seeking education at local universities.
On average, to live comfortably in Turkey, you need to have at least $500 per month for each family member, not including rent.
The cost of property in Turkey can vary considerably. The expenses on buying an apartment or a villa can range from $100,000 to more than a million.
The country offers a wide range of property options, including luxurious villas, penthouses, duplexes, townhouses, and small apartments, allowing you to find something that suits any budget.
Tip Two: Visit for Reconnaissance
Before moving to Turkey for permanent residency it's highly recommended to live in the country for as long as possible: no travel guide or immigrant stories can provide you with as valuable an experience as living in Turkey, ideally in a rented flat rather than a hotel.
Doing so will allow you to thoroughly examine your chosen city or even several cities, evaluate the infrastructure of different areas, check transport accessibility, prices in shops, location of parks and beaches, quality of healthcare and other aspects personally important to you.
Tip Three: Pay Close Attention to the Choice of Region
Before moving to live permanently in Turkey, you will probably do a lot of research on how life differs in various cities across the country. There are areas where life is laid-back and cities where the pace of life is incredibly fast.
You may consider the relatively small resorts and settlements like Alanya, Side, Kemer, and Belek.
Others include Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya.
We suggest considering for living the resort regions in the south and southwest of the country, that is, on the coast of the Mediterranean and Aegean seas, as well as metropolises.
Firstly, they have well-developed infrastructure, secondly - a large Russian-speaking diaspora.
Being surrounded by people who speak your language, you will easier endure emigration to Turkey and adapt faster.
Our most detailed guide on how to correctly choose the city of Turkey for relocation can be viewed here.
Fourth tip: prepare the documents
Considering what is required for permanent residence in Turkey, pay special attention to the preparation of documents.
All the papers that may theoretically be required in the new place need to be apostilled.
These documents include marriage certificates, children's birth certificates, school certificates, educational diplomas. Better you have documents that are not needed than, lack something at the needful moment.
If you are moving to Turkey with a child, whose other parent you are divorced from, get permission for processing residency right, not only for departure.
Fifth tip: Prepare for some difficulties
The main difficulty that immigrants face is a feeling of loneliness, detachment from the familiar environment, unsettlement.
Even those who move to Turkey with their family and right into their own home report such problems.
Anyway, you will have to build new social ties, establish contacts, develop new habits, routes, look for hobbies; in a word, live anew, in a different environment and even climate.
The first year ends up being the hardest, but you'll grow accustomed, make acquaintances, friends, find new hobbies and sources of positive emotions.
Longing for home, familiar food, weather, and native places are understandable, but to immerse in it is to miss opportunities to get to know the wonderful culture, traditions, and unique nature of Turkey.
Try to get out of the house more often, travel, albeit not far away, and of course, learn at least a few simple phrases in Turkish to be able to converse with the market sellers and other locals.
Russian-speaking diaspora in Turkey
There are many Russian-speaking foreigners in Turkey, mainly living in resort towns.
The new wave of immigration in 2022 has practically doubled the number of Russians and Ukrainians in the country, which has reflected on many aspects of diaspora life: there are now more Russian-speaking coaches, tutors, manicure masters, educators, and other specialists.
At the same time, the large number of foreigners has led to a sharp rise in rental and property prices, which has been exacerbated by the decline in the national currency.
Yet, most individuals who have resettled permanently in Turkey have no plans of returning: they see promising opportunities in this country for themselves and their children.
Excellent and affordable healthcare, schools, sports clubs, prestigious universities, and comfortable housing - all of these are more accessible in Turkey than in other European countries.
The Russian-speaking diaspora in Turkey is quite active: cultural events and picnics for immigrants are frequent, and there are kindergartens, summer camps, and private schools in operation. Moreover, Russian or Ukrainian societies are actively working in various cities of the country.
Employment Affairs
To be officially employed in Turkey, a work visa is required.
It can only be granted if an invitation from an employer exists, with the rule being: 5 Turks for 1 foreigner.
So to hire 1 foreigner, your employer needs to have a team of at least 5 Turkish individuals.
Also, by law, social benefits for foreigners are at least 1.5 times greater than for Turks, depending on the profession and position.
That's why many foreigners work unofficially, taking substantial risks - if someone reports them to the immigration service, they are liable to be fined and deported.
Foreigners who have a passive income, such as from renting housing, and those who work remotely: programmers, copywriters, accountants, etc. feel the most comfortable in the country.
How to Obtain a Residence Permit (İkamet) in Turkey in 2023
How to live in Turkey for the long term? For this, you will need to obtain a residence permit, or İkamet.
It is issued in exchange for property purchase of a certain amount, based on a lease agreement, and also to students, foreign specialists who came to the country on a work contract.
Other bases for obtaining a residence permit include undergoing treatment in a Turkish clinic and family reunification.
A Tourist Residence Permit (based on rental) is the most common among immigrants, but recently Turkey has suspended their issuance. Only extension of previously issued residence permits is currently possible.
Typically, a Tourist Residence Permit is issued for a short period, usually one year or even half a year.
After eight years of living in the country with this type of residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit, often referred to as permanent residence.
To approve such an application, the foreign applicant must meet strict requirements:
- not having penalties for breaking immigration laws, outstanding taxes, or any other legal issues;
- not receiving benefits or other social assistance in the last three years;
- having valid health insurance and documents confirming stable income.
Even having a permanent residence permit, a foreigner is still limited in certain rights: for example, they cannot vote or be elected, or work as a vet, doctor, or guide (these jobs are only for citizens).
Moreover, the government can at any time pass a law to cancel this type of residence permit or tighten the rules for obtaining it. You can lose the permanent residence permit if you leave the country for a long length of time.
Another option to stay in Turkey for any length of time is by obtaining citizenship.
Currently, to achieve this, one must purchase property valued at a minimum of 400 thousand dollars (one or several properties), or invest at least 500 thousand dollars in the Turkish economy: open a long-term deposit in a local bank, buy government bonds, etc.
After three years, you can sell the property, withdraw the deposit and still remain a Turkish citizen.
As a citizen, you can travel abroad without any issues, as often as you want and for any duration.
Kimlik, ID card, or Ikamet in Turkey - what's the difference?
To remember the difference between a Kimlik and Ikamet is quite simple:
Kimlik is a plastic ID card which functions as an internal passport.
It is issued to citizens of the country at birth, and from the age of 15, it is updated every 10 years with a new photograph.
Ikamet is a residence permit, which also resembles a plastic card, but it looks different.
It is issued to foreign citizens and verifies their right to stay in Turkey and has a limited validity period.
The Tolerance real estate agency helps clients secure residence permits and Turkish citizenship through property purchase. We are happy to answer all your questions, reach out at Whatsapp +90 (532) 158 42 44
If you want to permanently move, or buy an apartment in Turkey and enjoy life by the sea, reach out to our specialists who can guide you to the best options within your budget.
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The Tolerance Team | 20 years with you
