Moving to Turkey Permanently

You’ve fallen in love with Turkey, the beautiful beaches, the wonderful temperatures, the Turkish people & their culture, the scenery and bustling picturesque cities. Now you’re thinking of moving to Turkey permanently but you’re not sure how to proceed. Look no further for honest advice on making that move to Turkey and speak to someone who has already done it.

Deciding on the best place to live
Even within small towns, just as in the UK, there are some areas or post codes that are more desirable than others, especially when it comes to permanent living. A lively resort may become unbearable with noise and overcrowding in the summer months but totally dead in winter, whereas your vision of living in the ‘real Turkey’ where property prices remain low compared to coastal areas and with peace, tranquillity, and scenic views, living amongst the Turkish and away from tourist resorts may be a real culture shock. Although there is great community spirit in small villages, you will need to live the Turkish way, and speak the language - even if your knowledge is poor - but you will gain brownie points with the locals for trying! The advantage of living in a resort where there are other expats, is that you will be mixing with other people in the same situation as yourself and you may find it easier to adapt to your new life.

Those who have never spent August in Turkey will be totally unprepared for the heat which can last for up to 3 months in the 40’s! Fantastic though this may seem to the British, to live and work here in constant heat can be extremely draining, and often not as brilliant as it sounds.

If you have children of school age, you should research local schools in the area, both Turkish and International. Many parents want to put their children straight into Turkish school to help them gain the language as soon as possible, but if the local school is small and not used to many English, it is possible they could be picked on or bullied. Try asking people with children in your local area what their experiences are. (see Schooling in Turkey).

Whatever your reasons for moving to Turkey permanently, the way of life is totally different - you have to learn new currencies and languages, and you miss your friends, family and all that is familiar. Many will go through a transition period, which may last up to two years, before they can truly decide whether they can 'fit in', or should give up and go home.

If anyone is looking for relocation advice or information on the best places to live full time, please contact us, we will be happy to help.

If you are only visiting Turkey for a short period, it is sensible to rent a long term rental property, unless you are buying for investment purposes, or will be returning regularly after that period is up. You can always speak to us about rental opportunities throughout Turkey. For those who are planning on moving to Turkey permanently, then buying a property is certainly the best way to get the most out of living in Turkey. Download our free ebook guide to Buying Property in Turkey.

Getting your Visa
It’s important if you’re going to be moving to Turkey for more than a six month period that you contact the local Turkish embassy or consulate. They will help you to apply for a resident’s visa and will issue documentation that you can take to the local Turkish police when you arrive. The local police will then process the visa for you.

Unofficially, this is not the best way to get a visa as it costs the most, but it is the official way! Most savvy people moving to Turkey will first go to Turkey on a 3 month tourist visa which you get at the point of entry either by ferry, car or at the airport, and then when they are purchasing a property and want a longer stay visa, they go to the police station that charge about half the amount of the embassy or consulate! It can take up to three months (although usually 6 weeks) so make sure that you begin proceedings straight away.

The cost of a 1 year visa is around 700 lire, and the police charge a further 90 lire to process it. Please remember that the penalty for over-staying your three-month visa is a fairly hefty fine; so if you need to fly back to the UK and then back to Turkey, work out when it’s most convenient and beneficial to do so. If you leave the country at the end of your 3 month period, you will then purchase another 3 month visa on your return, around £10. The other way the long time residents do it, and by far the cheapest, is to get a day trip to one of the Greek Islands, usually Kos or Samos by ferry. These trips run twice a week (Samos trps are not available in winter) and are about £35 and then you pay £10 on your return for a 3 month tourist visa.

Moving your possessions
If you are moving to Turkey with all your possessions, generally you need a resident’s visa BEFORE you can import your furniture and personal possessions, however these are bought at the port on arrival and you do risk being charged on your goods for importing! The charge will be decided at customs, although personally I arrived by ferry and did not get charged anything. You should have an inventory ready as they will ask to see it, and an invoice stating the value of the items you are carrying. If using a shipping company / container, your removals company should give you all the information needed.

When it comes to the actual move itself, you need to weigh up some pros and cons. It will cost about two thousand pounds to move your possessions from the UK to Turkey. You could also hire a vehicle and drive them from the UK yourself. Both of these options have advantages and disadvantages, but don’t forget, you could also sell most of your possessions in the UK and use that money to buy local furniture etc. If you decide to do it yourself, do considerable research into the drive. If you wish a removal firm to make the move, then make sure they are fully bonded and a member of the British Association of Removers so that you have someone to speak with as part of the entire process.

Lastly and most important, before moving to Turkey permanently it is wise to get all of your documentation translated into Turkish so that the nightmare of Turkish customs and excise can at least be reduced. Try to make friends with someone who could speak Turkish on your behalf; this will save a great deal of pain.

After any initial problems, you’re going to be living in a beautiful, warm, friendly, family oriented country with a great low cost of living. Don’t lose sight of your goal during the process of getting there!