Relocate from Saudi Arabia

Moving to Türkiye from Saudi Arabia — 2026 Guide

Strong cultural ties, summer-residence flows to Trabzon and Bursa, and full Arabic-language professional infrastructure in Istanbul. Citizenship-by-investment is a popular long-term path.

Key facts

Visa: e-Visa · 90 days per stay
Largest community: Istanbul, Trabzon
Banking access: Smooth with residence permit
CBI route: Open · USD 400K property

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have deep cultural and tourism ties. Saudi nationals are major buyers of Turkish real estate — particularly in Istanbul, Trabzon, Bursa and Yalova — and Saudi seasonal residence in the Black Sea coast (Trabzon, Uzungöl) is a well-established pattern.

Saudi passport holders apply for an e-Visa via evisa.gov.tr for short visits up to 90 days. Long-term residence requires a Turkish residence permit, applied for in-country.

Banking access is generally smooth with a residence permit. Arabic-language private banking and real-estate brokerage is widely available in Istanbul.

e-Visa · 90 days

Saudi passport holders apply for an e-Visa at evisa.gov.tr for stays up to 90 days. Longer stays require a residence permit.

Trabzon and Black Sea summers

Trabzon, Uzungöl and the eastern Black Sea coast are major Saudi summer-residence destinations, with Arabic-friendly hotels and services.

Istanbul property market

Saudi nationals are among the top foreign buyers of Istanbul real estate, particularly on the European side and Bosphorus districts.

CBI via property

USD 400,000 property purchase remains an actively-used path to Turkish citizenship for Saudi buyers.

Run the numbers for Saudi Arabia

Calculators most relevant for Saudis

Istanbul Cost of Living Calculator

Istanbul is the primary Saudi landing city for long-term residence.

Citizenship by Investment Calculator

CBI via property is a widely-used path for Saudi buyers.

Residence Permit Cost Calculator

Residence permit fees and document costs for Saudi applicants.

What do Saudis need to know before moving to Türkiye?

Apply for the e-Visa pre-arrival via evisa.gov.tr — usually issued within minutes for eligible applicants.
Most long-term Saudi arrivals base in Istanbul (Beşiktaş, Şişli, Bahçeşehir, Başakşehir). Trabzon and Bursa are common second-home cities.
Bring apostilled originals of birth certificate, marriage certificate, and education credentials. Saudi documents are commonly authenticated through the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Documents in Arabic require sworn-translator translation into Turkish. Plan ~2 weeks of paperwork lead time.
Schooling: Arabic-medium and bilingual international schools are available in Istanbul; Saudi-curriculum schooling is limited and most families use international or Turkish private options.

Do Saudis need a visa for Türkiye?

e-Visa for 90 days per stay (apply at evisa.gov.tr). Longer stays require a Turkish residence permit applied for in-country.

How are Saudis taxed when moving to Türkiye?

Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have a double tax treaty — consult a Turkish tax advisor familiar with cross-border income from the Gulf before settling on a long-term plan.

How big is the Saudi community in Türkiye?

Saudi long-term residents in Türkiye number in the tens of thousands, concentrated in Istanbul; seasonal Saudi traffic (summer) is materially larger across Trabzon, Bursa and the Black Sea coast.

Moving from a different country?

Pick your origin country.

Moving from Russia

The largest active relocation cohort to Türkiye.

Moving from United Kingdom

Long-established British community in Fethiye, Bodrum and Antalya.

Moving from Germany

Deep historical and family ties — over 3 million people in Germany have Turkish heritage, with significant return migration in 2026.

Moving from Iran

Türkiye is the largest destination for Iranians leaving Iran.

Moving from USA

Lower cost of living, modern infrastructure, no Schengen visa cap, and accessible long-term residency.

Moving from Ukraine

Visa-free entry, established Ukrainian communities in Antalya and Istanbul, and accessible residence pathways.

Moving from France

Visa-free entry, established French community in Istanbul, accessible residence pathways.

Moving from Israel

Visa-free entry, geographic proximity, and accessible long-term residence.

Moving from Iraq

Established Iraqi communities in Istanbul and Mersin, with Arabic-language services widely available.

Moving from Kazakhstan

Visa-free entry, growing Kazakh community, and shared Turkic linguistic and cultural ties.

Moving from Uzbekistan

Visa-free entry, large Uzbek community in Istanbul, and shared Turkic linguistic ties.

Moving from Azerbaijan

Visa-free entry, shared Turkic linguistic and cultural roots — "one nation, two states.

Moving from India

e-Visa entry, growing professional community in Istanbul and Ankara, and accessible long-term residence.

Moving from China

e-Visa entry, growing Chinese business community in Istanbul, and accessible long-term residence.

Moving from Kyrgyzstan

Visa-free entry, shared Turkic linguistic ties, and a growing Kyrgyz student and worker community in Istanbul.

Moving from Egypt

Established Egyptian community in Istanbul, full Arabic-language professional infrastructure, and accessible long-term residence pathways.

Moving from Jordan

Visa-free entry, growing Jordanian and Levantine community in Istanbul, and accessible long-term residence pathways.

Moving from Lebanon

Visa-free entry, growing Lebanese diaspora in Istanbul, and an active relocation flow driven by Lebanon's economic crisis.

Moving from Afghanistan

Visa-required entry, significant banking and document-authentication friction, and complex residence-permit processing.

Moving from Pakistan

Visa-required entry, growing Pakistani student and professional community in Istanbul and Ankara, and accessible long-term residence with proper preparation.

Moving from Nigeria

Visa-required entry, growing Nigerian student and trader community in Istanbul, and accessible long-term residence with proper preparation.

Moving from Italy

Visa-free entry, established Italian community in Istanbul (with deep historical roots), and accessible long-term residence pathways.

Moving from Spain

Visa-free entry, small but established Spanish community in Istanbul, and accessible long-term residence pathways.

Moving from Netherlands

Visa-free entry, established Dutch community along the Mediterranean coast, and accessible long-term residence.

Not seeing your country? Tell us and we'll prioritise it. · Türkiye Relocation