A very hospitable country to foreigners. Any real estate transaction here gives you the right to a residence permit, and purchase of some realty immediately leads to citizenship. A Turkish passport not only allows you to move to Turkey, but also simplifies immigration to the United States and the United Kingdom. And what is especially pleasant, the local authorities allow dual citizenship, which means that you will not have to renounce citizenship obtained at birth.
Turkey has become famous as a tourist paradise: sun, sea, fruit, excellent service. For those who plan to move to the country for a long time, this also matters. Another significant advantage is low prices, and this applies to the cost of living, and to the purchase of real estate. Those who moved to Turkey, praise the developed infrastructure, good medicine, security, favorable conditions for business.
The country is loyal to foreigners, many Turks speak English. Children can be sent to English kindergartens and schools.
For Europeans, many things in Turkey may seem unusual. First of all, you need to take into account the fact that this is a Muslim country with its own rules.
Another significant disadvantage is the high level of unemployment and difficulties in finding employment for foreigners. Much will depend on the specialization and knowledge of the Turkish language.
The Turkish bureaucracy also must be mentioned with an unkind word, but in terms of issuing a residence permit, officials work fast.
The standard method of immigration is to move to the country with a residence permit (in Turkish it is called "İkamet"), then get permanent residence, and subsequently citizenship. Therefore, the first step for someone who is heading for a sunny country will be to determine the basis for a residence permit. There are several of them, but, for example, to obtain a residence permit on the basis of real estate you need decent funds, and for a residence permit by marriage you need a future husband or wife in the country. Therefore, more common options are to find a job or go to university in Turkey.
A mandatory stage for most foreigners. An exception is made for buyers of expensive real estate, they can get citizenship immediately. The application for a residence permit is submitted electronically, through a special website of the Turkish Migration Service.
After filling in the main contact details, the system will generate a list of documents, determine the amount of the fee and the date of the interview.
Foreign language documents must be translated into Turkish and notarized.
The official deadline for reviewing documents is 1 month, but in practice it often stretches to 2 or even 3 months.
Fees and duties are in the range of $50-100.
Permanent residence, or "long-term residence permit" is issued to those who have lived in the country for a long time in compliance with the laws and immigration rules. In general, it can be claimed after 8 years of residence, the period is reduced for the spouses of Turkish citizens. At the same time, the period of stay in the country for a student residence permit is divided into two when calculating the length of service. The main condition is the availability of means of subsistence. At the same time, they usually focus on an income of at least the minimum wage. In 2020, it is about $400 a month. The applicant should not apply for assistance from the state within the last three years. You will also need to know Turkish.
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In general, it can be obtained after 5 years of residence in the country. The term is reduced to 3 years for the spouses of Turkish citizens. To get it, you need to know the Turkish language, not violate the law, have a permanent source of income (work) and a place of residence. Turkey allows a second citizenship, so there is no need to give up the first passport.
This is a residence permit for up to one year. It is issued to those who can confirm that they have sufficient funds to live in the country. The purposes of your stay can be different - tourism, study (science), business, medical treatment, visiting relatives, etc.
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A Turkish citizen or a holder of a residence permit who has lived in the country for at least a year can invite the next of kin to the country – a spouse and minor children, as well as adult dependent children. To do so, they will need to confirm the availability of housing for the family in the property or rent and the required level of income: each family member must account for at least 1/3 of the minimum wage and at least 1 minimum wage in total.
A family residence permit is granted for a period of up to two years, if the main applicant has a residence permit. If you have citizenship, then for three years. After that, you can make a request for permanent residence.
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Getting married to a Turkish citizen is one of the most popular ways to move to the country. Marriage can be concluded in any country, but marriage in Turkey gives a foreigner advantages: the residence permit is issued faster, and the status is maintained even in the case of divorce. For this category of foreigners, the waiting period for citizenship is much shorter, only 3 years. The main thing is that the marriage is real, and not fictitious.
Those who want to come to Turkey for a permanent job must first find a job and sign a contract with an employer. The advantage will be for those who speak Turkish or at least English, have a sought-after qualification, and can confirm a diploma.
With an employment contract, you can already apply to the consulate for a work permit and an entry work visa. A valid work permit in Turkey can be used as a residence permit. In other words, in addition to apply for İkamet is not required.
Also, a working residence permit is obtained by those who intend to conduct business in Turkey.
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A residence permit in Turkey can be obtained by a buyer of real estate of any value. If it is planned that the whole family will live in the country, as a rule, they formalize shared ownership of all relatives. This status is designed primarily for those who purchase housing for a long vacation and do not plan to work. A work permit with him must be requested separately. In addition, those who are absent from Turkey for more than 6 months a year will have their status revoked. If the property remains in your possession, you can, of course, get it again, but the countdown of your stay in the country will start from zero.
A residence permit is given for a period of six months to two years.
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Buyers of real estate worth from €250,000 can immediately count on citizenship.
Turkey welcomes those who develop its economy, but strictly ensures that business is real. The applicant for a residence permit will need to open an account in a Turkish bank, rent an office in the country and organize employee positions. Company registration takes only a couple of weeks. A residence permit on this basis can be obtained for 5 years, the spouses and children of the applicants also have the right to it.
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A student residence permit can be issued for the entire period of study. It applies to students of universities, colleges and full-time language courses in Turkey. The peculiarity of this residence permit is that it does not give the student's relatives an automatic right to a family residence permit. However, the student's spouse and children will be able to obtain a residence permit on preferential terms. International students can work, but they will need to obtain a permit to do so. After graduation, you can get a short-term residence permit for employment. If a student or graduate finds a permanent job in Turkey, they can also apply for permanent residence.
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Turkish medicine has a good reputation, and arrival for treatment is a sufficient basis for obtaining a residence permit. Its validity period will correspond to the duration of treatment. Up to two accompanying persons can receive a residence permit together with the patient.
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Those who want to stay in the country for longer than the standard allowed 3 months can request a residence permit on the basis of tourism. It is issued for a period of up to a year. Tourist İkamet has a number of restrictions: it does not give the right to work, and the possibility of extension may be in question.
Turkey is an attractive place for pensioners, but the country does not have a separate program for this category of foreigners. They can move and apply for a residence permit on general grounds for family reunification, buying real estate, medical treatment, tourism, etc.
Older foreigners receive bonuses such as no requirement to study Turkish for permanent residence and various benefits like large discounts on medicines, etc.
Older people can transfer their pension to Turkey and show it as proof of their source of income.
People who are persecuted at home or are in a difficult situation can get refugee status and a residence permit in Turkey for up to 1 year. It will not be counted in the length of service for obtaining permanent residence.
A separate category includes those who have suffered from human trafficking. They get a short-term residence permit for 1 month. During this time, they can file a lawsuit against the attacker. The residence permit can be extended, but not for more than 3 years in total. If it turns out that the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim was or subsequently became voluntary, the residence permit will be cancelled.
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Buyers of housing worth more than $250,000 can count on obtaining citizenship under an accelerated procedure. The investor and their next of kin will be able to obtain Turkish passports in a few months.
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