A tourist visa (or now we should say entry) into Turkey entitles you to stay in Turkey for 90 days in 180 days including multiple entry and exist during the 90 days. You must however leave Turkey before the 90 days expires.

A “short term residents visa” permits you to stay in Turkey for time frames of 6 months to 2 years depending on the categorty/length of visa applied for and granted. For most relocators to Turkey the “short term resident visa” will be obtained either through property ownership/investment and/or retirement income. As of update of this (February 2025) those applying for short term residency as property owners will need to prove their property value (min $200,000) either via the value shown on the title deed or by supplying an independent valuation report. If property is valued less than $200,000 then application will be made under the “Tourism” category which is based on proof of income at min 1.5x the Turkish minimum wage per month. In a few cases owners may be applying due to family connections but this is not discussed here. For more details please visit. https://e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr/

In addition to be able to remain in Turkey for periods longer than 90 in 180 days, a residents visa also allows you to:

• Open an e-devlet online account which is useful for many things when living in Turkeu
• Apply for a telephone/internet connection in your own name
• Import you household contents from the UK to Turkey without paying import duties and taxes
• To purchase and register a vehicle in your own name
• To join the Turkish social security for health care (SGK) system

Resident visas are applied for at the foreigners department of the regional police office of the area in which you are living. In our case currently Kemer/Antalya

The following information/documentation is an indication as to what is required to apply. However we recommend you always double check locally at the time of application.

• Copy of your property title deed (TAPU) or your notarised rental agreement for a property for the time frame you are applying for.
• If you have owned the property more than 2 years at the application date then a copy from land registry records confirming you still own the property, plus an independent valuation report if the property value shown on the title deed in TL is less than $200,000.
• Proof of address. Can be obtained from the local council office in Kas and called “Numerataj Belgesi”. Fee in February 2025 1500TL.
• Your original passport and notary translated copy.
• 4 colour passport size photos plus a digital copy on your computer or laptop for upload to the Turkish application website
• Photocopy of the page in your passport showing the last entry and exist stamps into Turkey.
• Proof of income from the last 3 months of bank statements to show you can support yourself financially in Turkey for the time frame you applying for. And/Or copy of your state pension letter notarised and apostiled.
• The visa fee in TL payable at the nearest Tax office in cash or govenment bank issued debt cards.
• A printed copy of the  completed application form which is now completed online (see below)
• If you are applying for the first time 1 years private medical insurance policy

You will apply for the resident visa online and simultaneously choose a date for an appointment at the regional police station (Kemer). To fill in the form you will need all the information in the documents listed above and will need to upload you digital passport photo file. At the end you can confirm an appointment dates and you should download a copy of the completed application form. Print this off to take to your appointment together with the documents above.

Visit the foreigners immigration office for the time/day of your appointment to submit your file. You will be given a paper to say you have an application pending but you will have to wait to get your actual visa card. This will posted to you at your Turkish address in the application usually in around 2 weeks.

The resident visa is a bank card size photo card. You should carry your visa ID with you at all times and of course when leaving and re entering Turkey.

The answer is simply no. In order to work in Turkey you will need your employer to apply for a Work permit on your behalf.

Alternatively you can form a Turkish company and through this route obtain the right to run your own company but you will likely still be required to hire staff and managers.

No. You are required to be married for a minimum of 3 years before you can apply to become a Turkish citizen and will need a residency visa in the meantime. As a Turkish citizen you will have the right of residency and work. Initially therefore you will need to have a residents visa and if you plan to work, for anyone other than your partner, then you also need a work permit.

Yes but in order to do so without incurring hefty import duties and taxes you will need to have documents to prove you own a property or rent a property in Turkey and possess a residents visa before your shipment arrives for custom’s clearance. A notarised rental agreement will also be considered equivalent to property ownership.

Providing your pets have a pet passport proving their inoculations and a health certificate then yes. There is a one pet per person rule for birds, cats and dogs and 10 for fish. In the event however that you should want to return to the UK, then your pets would have to go through UK quarantine, or spend 6 months in a European Union Country before returning to the UK.

If you are relocating to Turkey then for the first year you will need to take out a private insurance policy with a local insurer like Anadolu Sigorta. This will be needed to get your first years residence visa. After one year you have the opportunity of joining the Turkish healthcare system or SGK. Costs for 2025 are approximately 7000TL a month for a couple or single individual. SGK membership gives you access to local GP care and discounted medicine on prescription. Also access to public hospitals as well as private hospitals which support the SGK system. If visiting a private hospital a proportion of the cost of your care will be covered by the SGK and the rest you will pay privately.

If you working for yourself legally or for an employer you or your employer should be paying a National Insurance contribution. This will provide you will health care cover and eventually a pension on retirement.