Turkey Relocation
Moving to Turkey: Complete Guide for Expats
Everything foreigners need to know about relocating to Turkey — residence permits, housing, banking, healthcare, cost of living and what to do first.
Turkey relocation involves more overlapping processes than most foreigners expect — visa timing, residence permit appointments, lease address requirements, banking, tax numbers and health insurance all affect each other. This hub links to the detailed guides for each step.
Türkiye Relocation is an independent Turkey relocation guide for expats, remote workers, families and retirees. All calculators are free to use, no account required.
Where to start
Five things to sort before you move.
Not in strict order — but each of these blocks others if left too late.
- 01
Check your visa and entry situation
Nationals of most Western countries can enter Turkey visa-free or with an e-visa for up to 90 days. If you plan to stay longer, you need a Turkish residence permit — start the process before your visa expires.
Residence permit guide - 02
Estimate your monthly costs
Istanbul, Antalya and Izmir have very different cost profiles. Run the cost-of-living calculator with your actual household before you commit to a city or district.
Cost of living calculator - 03
Sort housing before permits
Your lease address feeds directly into your residence permit application. Confirm the landlord allows address registration (AKS) before you sign, or you risk a rejected permit application.
Renting guide for foreigners - 04
Open a bank account and get a tax number
A Turkish bank account and tax number (vergi numarası) unlock property transactions, utility set-up, and many official processes. Requirements tightened in 2022 — check current rules for your nationality.
Banking guide - 05
Understand your work and tax situation
Working for a Turkish employer requires a work permit. Remote workers employed abroad face tax residency questions after the 183-day threshold. Clarify this early — not after you're already tax resident.
Check tax residency risk
Free tools
Run the numbers first.
Turkey relocation costs vary more than most guides admit. These calculators use your actual household — not generic averages.
Residence Permit Cost Calculator
Estimate application fees, mandatory health insurance and family costs for a Turkish residence permit.
Calculate permit costIstanbul Cost of Living Calculator
Monthly budget for rent, food, transport, healthcare and schooling in Istanbul by household type.
Estimate Istanbul costsTurkey Tax Residency Calculator
Check whether your stay, home, family and income situation may create Turkish tax residency.
Check tax residencyMoving to Turkey Checklist
Step-by-step checklist of everything to handle before, during and after your move.
Open checklistIn-depth guides
Topic-by-topic Turkey relocation guides.
Source-backed long-form guides covering each step of the Turkey relocation process — kept up to date.
Residence permits
Turkey Residence Permit Guide
Who needs a permit, the types available, how to apply via e-İkamet, and what documents to prepare.
Read the guideWork permits
Turkey Work Permit Guide
Employer sponsorship, Ministry of Labour process, quota rules, renewal and what remote workers need to know.
Read the guideCost of living
Cost of Living in Turkey for Expats
City-by-city breakdown of rent, food, transport, healthcare and schooling costs for foreign residents.
Read the guideRent
Renting in Turkey as a Foreigner
Lease requirements, deposit rules, FX-linked contracts, address registration and common red flags.
Read the guideAddress registration
How to Register Your Address in Turkey
The AKS address registration system, why it matters for residence permits, and how to do it.
Read the guideHealthcare
Healthcare in Turkey for Foreigners
SGK eligibility, private hospitals, residence permit insurance requirements and real medical cover.
Read the guideBanking
How to Open a Turkish Bank Account
What's required in 2026 — by nationality — with the most foreigner-friendly banks and what tightened since 2022.
Read the guideTax
Getting a Turkish Tax Number as a Foreigner
Online and in-person routes to get a vergi numarası, when you need it and what it does not give you.
Read the guideWhere to move
Best cities in Turkey for expats.
Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir and Ankara each suit different expat priorities. Compare costs and lifestyle before you decide.
Istanbul
International schools, every district, deepest expat community. Most expensive.
Antalya
Coastal base, largest Russian-speaking community, UK retirees, lower cost than Istanbul.
Izmir
Aegean coast, secular and liberal, growing remote-worker scene, good transport.
Bodrum
Premium Aegean peninsula — yachts, villas, UK retiree heartland, seasonal market.
Alanya
Affordable Mediterranean coast, large Northern and Eastern European communities.
FAQ