Georgia, Bulgaria, Syria, Greece, and the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas border Turkey. Its location creates a bridge between Asia and Europe, allowing expats to experience Eastern culture and Western civilization together.
Recent migration waves have prompted many people to consider relocating to Turkey. With its reasonable cost of living, landscape, weather, and friendly people, Turkey is becoming a top destination for foreigners. Moving to Turkey is possible, but it takes a few steps. The following article will serve as a guide for those interested in moving to Turkey in 2023.
1. Do I Need to Obtain a Visa to Move to Turkey?
Anyone wishing to move to Turkey for longer than 90 days must apply for a Turkey visa. The type of visa depends on the purpose of your travel to Turkey. In addition to a visa, you are also required to apply got a Turkish residence permit.
2. How to Move to Turkey?
To move to Turkey, you must apply for a Turkey visa. In addition, if you are moving to Turkey intending to remain in the country for more than three months, you must apply for a residence permit. Without a residence permit, you will be staying in the country illegally.
You can choose from the following ways how to move to Turkey:
– Move to work
– Move to study
– Move to join a family member
Moving to Turkey to Work
If you wish to move to Turkey and work there, you must apply for a work visa. You also need to have a work permit; without it, you cannot work in Turkey. You will be the one applying for the work visa in your country. In contrast, your employer in Turkey will apply for a work permit at the website of the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS).
The maximum time you have to enter Turkey following the approval of your application is one hundred and eighty days. Within one month of arriving in Turkey, you must register with the Turkish Address Registry System.
Moving to Turkey to Study
You must apply for a student visa if you want to move to Turkey to study. Depending on the educational purpose you are applying for, the Turkish government offers different student visas.
Upon arriving in Turkey, you must register at the nearest local police department in Turkey. Then, within a month, you must apply for a student residence permit at the Directorate General of Migration Management. The validity of the residence permit is as long as the education period.
Moving to Turkey for Family Reunification
Moving to Turkey to join a family member requires applying for a family visa. After arriving in Turkey, within a month, you must apply for a family residence permit from the nearest office of the Directorate General of Migration Management. The family residence permit is valid for two years.
Furthermore, you are eligible for a family residence permit if you are:
– A spouse of a Turkish citizen.
– A minor child of a Turkish citizen.
– A dependent child (over 18 years of age) of a Turkish citizen.
3. How Can I Become a Permanent Resident in Turkey?
If you have been residing in Turkey for at least eight consecutive years under a residence permit, you can apply for a long-term residence permit and become a permanent resident. The validity of the long-term residence permit is indefinite.
4. How Can I Win Citizenship in Turkey?
You can win citizenship in Turkey if you have been living in Turkey for a continuous period of five years. If you marry a Turkish citizen, you will be eligible for citizenship after three years.
5. Does Turkey Allow Dual Citizenship?
Turkey allows dual and multiple citizenships as well, regardless of the country you come from. So there is no need to renounce your old passport of your country of origin.
6. How to Move My Belongings to Turkey?
If your belongings are light items, consider flying with them. Most airlines offer free luggage allowances of 30kgs, with the option of increasing your baggage allowance for an additional fee.
Your heavier items can be shipped without paying import duty only if you hold a valid Turkish residence permit. Upon entering the country for the first time, the shipment must be declared to the customs department within six months. Moreover, you are prohibited from selling your goods because they are imported duty-free. The required documents you need to provide include:
– Proof of residence that matches the shipping delivery address.
– A detailed inventory of the shipped items.
– A power of attorney (applicable if other people collect your belongings on your behalf).
Note: Never include alcohol or tobacco in your items to ship to Turkey.
Immigration to Turkey
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