We would advise anyone researching living in or relocating to Turkey to always check with the relevant offices and departments for the latest requirements and information. It is our experience that some of the details on many of these subjects are constantly changing. We also recommend you visit the Facebook page Doc Martin Redman.
What is the difference between a tourist visa/entry and a residents visa?
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 residents visa permits you to stay in Turkey for time frames of 6 months to 2 years depending on the length of visa applied for and granted.
What are the benefits of having a residents visa?
In addition a residents visa also always you to:
Apply for a telephone 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 system
How do I apply for a residents visa?
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
A notarised rental agreement for a property for the time frame you are applying for.
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 bank statements to show you can support yourself financially in Turkey for the time frame you applying for.
The visa fee in YTL. We recommend you check this just prior to application from the police station as these fees change regularly.
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 pay the visa fee online and should download a copy of the completed application form and 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.
Am I entitled to work in Turkey with a residents visa?
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.
If I marry a Turkish national do I automatically have the right of residence and right to work in Turkey?
No. You are required to be married for a minimum of 3 years before you can apply to become a Turkish citizen. 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.
Can I bring my house contents from the UK to my property in Turkey?
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.
Can I bring my car from the UK into Turkey?
If you have a resident visa you can bring a UK plated vehicle into the country for 2 years. You will not however be able to simply reregister it on a Turkish number plate unless you are going to be working for a Turkish company or are in the armed forces.
Can I bring my pets from the UK into Turkey?
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.
Will I have health care provision in Turkey?
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 SSK. Costs for 2023 are 1200TL a month for a couple or single individual. SSK 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 SSK system. If visiting a private hospital a proportion of the cost of your care will be covered by the SSK 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.
