How to Move to Turkey for Permanent Residency

The fastest ways to obtain official status are participating in the investment program and marrying a citizen of the country.

All ways to obtain a Turkish residence permit

Russians planning to move to Turkey for permanent residency need to understand that the process and timeline for obtaining a passport depend on the route to citizenship chosen.

Turkish law provides for six ways to obtain official status: through marriage, investment, naturalization, birth, exceptional service, and employment.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

By investment

This is the most sought-after way to obtain a Turkish passport, available to any financially secure Russian.

The investment program provides for five participation options:

• purchasing a residential or commercial property;
• opening a deposit account at a Turkish bank;
• purchasing units in an investment fund;
• investing money in a business;
• purchasing government bonds.

Participants in the investment program must invest at least $400,000 in a property purchase in the country. Their passport is issued within 6-8 months. At the same time, all the money invested can be recovered three years after official status is granted.

By naturalization

This is an ideal option for those who have decided to move to Turkey from Russia for permanent residency. In this case, to obtain a passport a foreign national needs to live in the country under residence permit status for five years.

Unlike participants in the investment program, an applicant for citizenship by naturalization must pass an exam on knowledge of the Turkish language, confirm the legality of their income, and provide a certificate confirming the absence of dangerous viral and infectious diseases.

Through marriage

You can apply for a passport immediately after marrying a Turkish citizen.

The foreign national is first granted a residence permit for a term of three years (the residence permit card is renewed after the first year of residence in the country).

After three years under residence permit status, a Russian citizen can apply for official status.

Through employment

You can also move to Turkey for permanent residency at the invitation of an employer. In this case, the work permit is treated as equivalent to a residence permit. After working and living in the country for five years, a foreign national can apply for a passport.

For exceptional service

Figures in culture, athletes, scientists, and highly qualified specialists can apply for a Turquoise Card (an equivalent of a residence permit).

The Turquoise Card is initially granted for three years. It becomes indefinite if the foreign national proves themselves in a positive light during this time. After five years of continuous residence, they can begin the process of obtaining a passport through naturalization.

By birth

In this case, the place of birth is not of fundamental importance. Children with one parent who is a Turkish citizen can apply for a Turkish passport.

Because citizenship of this country passes on to one's heirs, children of participants in investment programs also receive official status by birth.

The process and timeline for obtaining Turkish permanent residency

Permanent residency is a long-term residence permit. The main condition for obtaining it is continuous presence on the territory of the Republic of Turkey for 5 years. During this time, a foreign national can leave the country for a period not exceeding 365 days.

Foreigners can apply for permanent residency if they:

• have not received social benefits over the past three years;
• have official income that covers all the daily needs of the main applicant and their family members (income received from foreign sources is also taken into account);
• hold a valid insurance policy;
• have no criminal record;
• can provide documented confirmation of the absence of dangerous viral and infectious diseases.

Refugees and foreign nationals seeking military or political asylum cannot obtain Turkish permanent residency or apply for citizenship of this country.

Permanent residency does not have an expiration date. At the same time, those granted this status acquire the rights of citizens of the Republic of Turkey (they can receive a pension, serve in the military, and work under general conditions).

Immigrating to Turkey: the main expenses

Russians considering how to move to Turkey for permanent residency should first estimate the scale of upcoming expenses. The final amount depends on the number of family members, their ages, and the list of daily needs.

The largest share of the family budget goes toward renting and maintaining housing. Every month you'll need to pay for:

• electricity: current rates can be found on the website of the Turkish Electricity Authority;
• water: there's no single rate - locals pay on average from $0.3-0.5 per cubic meter;
• gas: the fee for this energy resource depends on monthly consumption volume (from $0.12 to $0.16 per cubic meter);
• maintenance of the building grounds: the amount for this expense item is discussed at the residential complex's tenants' meeting, but in most cases you'll pay from $20 to $100 per month per apartment;
• insurance: in Turkey, all property owners must obtain earthquake insurance (the cost of the policy depends on the technical characteristics of the apartment and the desired coverage amount).

Groceries are the second-largest expense item. The cost of a standard Turkish consumer basket is not very different from the Russian one. On average, a family of four "eats through" $600 to $900 per month.

Want to eat out at a restaurant? Be prepared for an average bill for two people to range from $30 to $40 (including alcoholic drinks).

Now let's talk about mobile service and internet. Turkey has 3 mobile operators: Vodafone, Turkcell, and Türk Telekom. They offer almost the same set of services. The cost depends on the plan chosen.

For example, at Türk Telekom, a plan with 750 minutes, 100 texts, and 3 GB of data costs just under $5.

Turkey's largest internet providers are TTNET and Superonline Turkcell. The cost of internet service depends on connection speed and data allowance. On average, wireless internet users pay $10 to $13 per month.

Banking services

Turkish banking services can be used both by citizens of the country and by people who have not yet obtained this official status.

Foreigners who, for whatever reason, have not obtained a Turkish residence permit or permanent residency cannot open accounts at every bank branch. Deniz Bank, Ziraat Bank, and Vakıf Bank offer the most accommodating terms of cooperation.

When signing an agreement with a bank, Russian citizens need to provide the following information and documents:

• an international passport and a domestic passport with a translation of the registration (propiska) page;
• proof of address in Turkey (a lease agreement or a purchase agreement can serve as proof);
• a Turkish tax ID number;
• a phone number the bank's client has access to.

To open an account, a foreign national needs to have deposit funds available. Those willing to make a deposit of $500 or more have the best chance of becoming a client of a Turkish bank.

The cities people move to most often

In this case, everything depends on the goals you've set for yourself. If it's about developing a business in Turkey, it's advisable to favor cities like Istanbul and Ankara.

These cities are centers of business activity and offer investors and entrepreneurs the greatest prospects for growth.

If you're participating in the investment program and plan to buy an apartment to rent out afterward, look at popular tourist locations - namely cities like Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, Marmaris, and Kemer.

Features of life in Turkey

Turkish permanent residency opens up a fairly large list of advantages for Russians. By obtaining official status, foreign nationals not only secure a fallback base for themselves in case of unforeseen economic and political situations back home. They also open up additional prospects for growing a business. Turkey works with many countries around the world. This means entrepreneurs can manufacture, sell, and buy goods at favorable prices through free economic zones.

In addition, Turkey ranks among the countries where it is easiest to adapt. Turkey's official language is Turkish. It belongs to the Turkic language family. However, in major tourist areas and large cities, many people speak English. In the most popular tourist cities, knowledge of Russian is considered one of the best skills to have.

Most of the Turkish population practices Islam. Muslim culture includes various traditions, customs, and holidays that influence people's everyday lives. Women outside tourist cities are advised to behave modestly and avoid overly revealing clothing.

Life in Turkey: pros and cons

Obtaining permanent residency in Turkey is worth considering for a Russian citizen for several reasons:

• no restrictions on work, study, or growing a business;
• a straightforward path to citizenship.

Turkey is a country that recognizes multiple citizenship. This means Russians who decide to come here for permanent residence do not need to give up their first citizenship.

Of course, this situation is not without its downsides. Turkey has its drawbacks too.

The first thing that tends to frustrate our fellow citizens is the mentality of the local population. Turks are a fairly loud people, used to speaking loudly without paying much attention to those around them.

Anyone moving to Turkey should keep in mind that most homes do not have central heating. Apartments have to be heated either with air conditioners or space heaters, and using them affects the cost of utility bills.