Relocate from Ukraine

Moving to Türkiye from Ukraine — 2026 Guide

Visa-free entry, established Ukrainian communities in Antalya and Istanbul, and accessible residence pathways. Türkiye is one of the largest Ukrainian destinations since 2022.

Key facts

Visa-free entry: 90 days within any 180-day window
Largest community: Antalya, Istanbul
Banking access: Workable with residence permit
CBI route: Open · USD 400K property

Türkiye is among the largest destinations for Ukrainians since 2022 — visa-free entry, geographic proximity, established Ukrainian and Russian-speaking services in Antalya and Istanbul, and accessible residence permits make it a practical landing point. Antalya and Istanbul host the largest Ukrainian communities; Mersin and Alanya have growing populations.

Türkiye allows visa-free entry for Ukrainian citizens for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Long-term residence requires a Turkish residence permit, applied for in-country at e-ikamet.gov.tr. Renewals are typically straightforward.

Banking access has tightened compared to pre-2022 conditions but is generally easier for Ukrainians than for Russians — major Turkish banks accept Ukrainian residence-permit-holders without unusual friction. Bringing original apostilled documents (birth, marriage, education) before arrival saves significant time.

Visa-free · 90 days in 180

Ukrainian passport holders enter Türkiye visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Longer stays require a residence permit applied for in-country.

Antalya + Istanbul communities

The two largest Ukrainian communities in Türkiye are in Antalya (especially Konyaaltı/Lara) and Istanbul. Russian-language services are widely shared.

Banking is workable

Major Turkish banks accept Ukrainian residence permit holders. Have a Turkish tax number + active address ready before walking into a branch.

Citizenship via property

USD 400,000 property purchase route remains open to Ukrainian buyers. Real-estate prices have risen materially since 2022 — verify the valuation supports the threshold.

Run the numbers for Ukraine

Calculators most relevant for Ukrainians

Antalya Cost of Living Calculator

Antalya is one of the two largest landing cities for Ukrainian arrivals.

Istanbul Cost of Living Calculator

Istanbul for professional and international school options.

Citizenship by Investment Calculator

CBI via property is one path to a Turkish passport for Ukrainians.

Residence Permit Cost Calculator

Ukrainian passport (Bracket-B) residence permit fees and document costs.

Tax Residency Calculator

Score your tax residency exposure before crossing the 183-day threshold.

Moving to Turkey Checklist

Pre-arrival and first-30-days task list.

What do Ukrainians need to know before moving to Türkiye?

Bring apostilled originals of birth certificate, marriage certificate, and education credentials. Apostille is processed at the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or relevant ministry depending on document type).
The Bracket-B nationality fee tier in our residence permit calculator is the relevant range for Ukrainian applicants.
Most Ukrainian arrivals base in Antalya or Istanbul. Smaller communities exist in Alanya, Mersin and Trabzon.
Russian-language services are widely accessible — many Ukrainians use them in addition to Ukrainian-language community resources where available.
Driving: Ukrainian driving licences are accepted for the first 6 months; after that, exchange or local Turkish licence required.

Do Ukrainians need a visa for Türkiye?

Visa-free for 90 days within any 180-day period. Longer stays require a Turkish residence permit, applied for in-country at e-ikamet.gov.tr. Ukraine is in the Bracket-B nationality range for residence permit fees.

How are Ukrainians taxed when moving to Türkiye?

Türkiye and Ukraine have a double tax treaty in force. If you become Turkish tax resident, the treaty determines which country taxes which income type — review with a Turkish tax advisor before settling on a long-term plan.

How big is the Ukrainian community in Türkiye?

An estimated 70,000–150,000 Ukrainian citizens are medium-to-long-term residents of Türkiye, the largest concentration of Ukrainians in any non-EU country.

Moving from a different country?

Pick your origin country.

Relocate from Russia

The largest active relocation cohort to Türkiye.

Relocate from the UK

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

Relocate from Germany

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

Relocate from Iran

Türkiye is the largest destination for Iranians leaving Iran.

Relocate from the USA

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

Relocate from France

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

Relocate from Israel

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

Relocate from Iraq

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

Relocate from Saudi Arabia

Strong cultural ties, summer-residence flows to Trabzon and Bursa, and full Arabic-language professional infrastructure in Istanbul.

Relocate from Kazakhstan

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

Relocate from Uzbekistan

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

Relocate from Azerbaijan

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

Relocate from India

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

Relocate from China

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

Relocate from Kyrgyzstan

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

Relocate from Egypt

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

Relocate from Jordan

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

Relocate from Lebanon

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

Relocate from Afghanistan

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

Relocate from Pakistan

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

Relocate from Nigeria

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

Relocate from Italy

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

Relocate from Spain

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

Relocate from the Netherlands

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

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