Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-turkey

Change description : 2025-12-31 13:37:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section). [Guidance and regulationForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office]

Showing diff : 2023-08-09 12:26:27.822273377 +00:00..2025-12-31 13:37:31.779805726 +00:00

Guidance

Living in Turkey

Information forabout British citizens moving toto, living or livingretiring in Turkey,Turkey – including guidancevisas, onworking, residency, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign & Commonwealth Office and
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
25 March 2013
Last updated
931 AugustDecember 20232025 — See all updates

This

Getting guidehelp setswith out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Turkey.Turkey

Help Readfrom about how the BritishTurkish Embassygovernment

For Ankaraany andquestions Britishabout Consulatemoving Generalto Istanbulor canliving help.

Thisin informationTurkey, isyou providedmay asbe aable guideto only. You should get definitivehelp information from the the:

SupportThe forUK Britishgovernment nationals abroad: a guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDOBritish canEmbassy helpin ifAnkara youcannot dogive getpersonalised intoadvice difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving to, living or retiring abroadin (https://www.gov.uk/moving-or-retiring-abroadTurkey.

To

Professional stayhelp upin toTurkey

You date,can followalso theget Britishhelp Embassyfrom AnkaraEnglish-speaking socialprofessionals mediain channels:Turkey, including:

Before

Help youfrom go

the UK government

SeeRead ourthe travel advice for Turkey forto up-to-dateunderstand informationthe onrisks entryyou requirements,may localface lawsif andyou customs,live safetyin andor emergencies.visit AlsoTurkey. seeThis includes the overseaslatest business riskinformation guide for Turkeyon:

Find

  • visas outand howentry torequirements
  • laws traveland abroadcultural safelydifferences
  • safety inand thesecurity

Read travelour aware guidance.

Be preparedon formoving, yourliving plansor toretiring change

abroad.

NoGet travelhelp isfrom risk-free during the COVID-19UK pandemic.government Countriesabroad, mayincluding further restrict travel or bring in newan rules at short notice, for example, due to a new COVID-19 variant. Check with your Travel Company or airline for any transport changes which may delay your journey home.emergency.

VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship

CheckMake sure you meet the entry requirements for Turkey inbefore ouryou travel advice.travel.

See

Visas howand toresidence apply for a visa to enter Turkey:

permits

BritishCheck Citizenswhich travellingTurkish tovisa Turkey for tourist or businessresidence purposespermit areyou ableneed to travellive without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.Turkey.

IfYou youcan planget to remain in Turkey for a period of more than 90 days, you should either apply for a longer stay visa before you travel, or get a residence permit fromto:

  • work
  • study
  • live thewith localfamily authorities in Turkey
  • complete beforetraining youror 90research
  • invest dayor staydo hasbusiness elapsed.in Turkey

If you intendwant to workextend inyour Turkey,visa ensureor youresidence havepermit:

For youmore doinformation, notread abide by the termsTurkish ofgovernment’s:

Registering fromas re-enteringa the country.

resident

IfYou you’remust enteringregister Turkey via a land border crossing, make sure your passportaddress hasin aTurkey datedin entry stamp before you leave the borderTurkish crossingAddress area.

IfRegistration youSystem holdwithin a20 differentworking typedays of Britisharriving nationalityor (e.g.receiving Britishyour Nationalresidence (Overseas),permit. BritishYou Overseascan Citizen,do Britishthis Protectedat Person,your BritishProvincial SubjectDirectorate orof BritishMigration OverseasAdministration.

If Territoriesyou Citizen),have checkany visaproblems requirementsor withquestions theabout Turkishregistering Consulateyour Generaladdress, beforecontact:

Long-term Turkish e-Visa system. residency

You willmay needbe able to apply for a visalong-term fromresidence thepermit Turkishin Consulate General before you travel.Turkey.

YouTo can find moreout detailif aboutyou’re theeligible requirementsand forhow entryto intoapply:

Citizenship

IfTurkey yourecognises plandual tocitizenship. stayThis inmeans Turkeythat longer than 90 days, you mustdo applynot forhave ato residencegive permitup before(renounce) theyour 90British dayscitizenship endsto orbecome apply for a longer-stayTurkish visacitizen.

To beforefind youout travelif –you’re seeeligible informationfor aboutTurkish residence permits.citizenship:

You

Help forwith information.

Youvisa, doresidency notand needcitizenship aapplications

The residenceBritish permitEmbassy ifin youAnkara holdcannot ahelp validwith workTurkish permitvisa, –residency seeor workcitizenship permitapplications.

For asany aquestions residenceor permit.issues, contact:

If

Passports

Read permitour application,guidance contacton ACROmoving, Criminalliving Recordsor Officeretiring abroad. This covers how to:

Passports
  • apply andfor travel

Ifa youBritish arepassport afrom residentabroad

  • travel inurgently Turkey,without your British passport

    • Dual mustcitizens betravelling validto forthe sixUK

    When monthstravelling fromto the dateUK, youBritish arrive.citizens Youmust cancarry finda morevalid detailBritish aboutpassport theor requirementscertificate forof entryentitlement. intoRead Turkeyguidance on thedual websitecitizenship.

    Resident ofchildren thetravelling Turkishwithout Ministrya ofparent Foreignor Affairs

    legal guardian

    CheckChildren withaged your17 traveland providerunder tomust makecarry surea yournotarised passportletter andof otherauthority travelif documentsthey’re meettravelling theirout requirements.

    Youof cancountry applywithout forone or renewboth yourof Britishtheir passportparents fromor Turkeylegal https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports.guardians. 

    CheckContact the TurkeyTurkish travelconsular adviceservices for passportmore validity requirements.information.

    Healthcare in Turkey

    TurkeyRead andour theguidance UKon domoving, notliving haveor reciprocalretiring healthcare agreements. You should buy comprehensive travel and medical insuranceabroad. beforeThis youcovers enterhow the country.to:

    European

    • plan Healthyour Insurancehealthcare
    • take Cardsmedicine (EHICs)abroad

    Turkey anddoes Global Health Insurance Cards (GHICs) are not validhave ina Turkey.reciprocal Forhealth furtheragreement informationwith onthe GHIC and in which countries they are valid, see Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)UK.

    YouMake should also make sure you’reyou coveredhave byappropriate health insurance forto UKcover treatment or you’ll be charged by the NHS for any carehealthcare youcosts. receive in the UK.

    The NHS has information for people moving abroad.

    You can findget English-speakinginsurance doctorsfrom inTurkish Turkey.or Youinternational should also check your prescriptions are legal in Turkey.providers.

    You can join the Turkish Universal Health Insurance  System if you have been resident for 1one year or more with a residence permit that is still valid. Married couples may qualify for joint membership where one is the policyholder and the other is the dependant spouse. However, aif Britishyou nationalget who receives a UK stateState pensionPension, you can only be a member of the scheme as a policyholder, not as a dependant spouse.

    Contact You should contact your local social security institution office (in Turkish) or the Turkish Social Security Institution (SGK) (in Turkish) for more information on the scheme.

    If youYou cannotcan registeralso forread healthcare,about youthe mustUniversal ensureHealth youInsurance haveSystem privatein healthcarethe coverTurkish government’s guidance on social security in Turkey.

    To forfind Turkey.out NOTE:how UKto Travelget medical treatment:

    MedicineWorking in Turkey

    IfRead youour areguidance on amoving, prescriptionliving foror anyretiring medicationabroad. youThis shouldcovers ensureworking abroad, including documents you havemay aneed supplyfrom ofthe it,UK orgovernment.

    To arework ablein toTurkey, obtainyou itneed whena inwork Turkey.permit Certainor medicineswork mayvisa. notYou bemust availableapply infor Turkeya (includingwork majorpermit brandsfrom readilythe availableUK inat the UK),nearest andTurkish youconsulate. mayYou’ll beneed prohibitedto frommake takingan themappointment intoat the country.consulate. YouBoth shouldyou consultand your GPemployer beforewill travellingneed to Turkeysubmit to find out about any alternative medication.information.

    Read the NHSTurkish government’s:

    Working

    Recognition inof Turkey

    qualifications

    If you arewant planning to movework toin TurkeyTurkey, and work, you may need ato visa.get your foreign qualifications recognised. Read the TurkeyTurkish government’s guidance on workingrecognition of qualifications (in Turkish).

    Driving in Turkey

    Read asour aguidance foreignon national:moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

    SomeRead jobsabout mayroad requiretravel ain UKTurkey, criminalin recordssafety checkand (knownsecurity asin athe DBStravel check).

    Seeadvice how to apply for aTurkey. TurkishThis workincludes permit.information Youon mustdriving applyin forcountry, aincluding workdriving permitlicence fromrules.

    If theyou’re UKaged at18 theor nearestover, consulateyou (Londoncan ordrive Edinburgh).in YouTurkey willfor needup to make6 anmonths using appointmentyour atUK thedriving consulatelicence. andTo bothcontinue youdriving andafter your6 employermonths, willyou’ll need to submitexchange information.

    Employeesyour inUK Turkeydriving mustlicence payfor parta ofTurkish theirlicence. earningsFor intomore theinformation, Turkishread Socialguidance Securityon Schemegetting (Sosyala GüvenlikTurkish Kurumu,driving SGK).licence However,(in BritishTurkish). 

    The nationalsTurkish workinggovernment inprovides Turkeyinformation buton payingdriving UKin NationalTurkey, Insuranceincluding

    Disabled betweendrivers

    You themay UKbe andable Turkey.

    Toto apply for a jobTurkish youdisabled mayparking needcard toat getthe Traffic Control Directorate or office of your professionallocal qualificationpolice recogniseddirectorate if(in youTurkish). wantRead tothe workTurkish ingovernment’s aguidance professionon thatmotor isvehicles regulatedand inexemptions Turkey.

    Studyingfor inpeople Turkey

    with disabilities    .

    If you planhave toa studyUK inBlue TurkeyBadge, and live in Turkey, you must meetreturn allit visato requirementsthe beforeoriginal youUK travel.issuing authority.

    Tax

    ContactRead theour relevantguidance higheron educationmoving, providerliving inor Turkeyretiring toabroad. checkThis whatcovers feestax, youincluding havepaying toUK pay.tax and National Insurance.

    Tax

    The UK has a double taxation agreement with Turkey so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

    Contact Ask the relevantTurkish taxRevenue authorityAdministration your(in Turkish) for any questions about double taxation relief.

    Turkey: tax treaties

    YouConsider shouldgetting get professional advice on paying tax in Turkey.FindTurkey. To do this, find an English-speaking lawyer in Turkey.

    Pensions

    Claiming your UK pension

    TheRead followingour guidance on taxmoving, mayliving beor useful:

    Benefits

    Check

    Claiming which UK benefits you

    Read canour claimguidance whileon moving, living or retiring abroad. andThis covers how to claim themUK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.

    Many

    Claiming income-relatedTurkish benefits

    Employees suchin asTurkey Pensionmust Creditpay andpart Housingof Benefittheir cannotearnings beinto paidthe Turkish Social Security Scheme (‘Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu’ or ‘SGK’). However, if you’reyou abroadwork forin moreTurkey thanbut 4pay weeks.

    IfUK National Insurance contributions, you do not have to contribute to theSGK. Turkish SocialThis Securityis Scheme (Sosyalbecause Güvenlikthere Kurumu,are SGK),reciprocal you,social security agreements (in Turkish) between the UK and Turkey.

    You, your spouse and your children aremay insuredbe entitled to some Turkish benefits if you contribute to SGK. This includes cover for:

    • work injuries and work-related illnesses
    • medical care
    • illness and pregnancy care

    Only Turkish citizens canare geteligible for Turkish disability benefit.

    Pensions

    ReadTo statefind pensionout guidance if youyou’re haveeligible livedfor inTurkish Australia,benefits Canada or New Zealand and youhow areto claimingclaim, orcontact waitingthe toTurkish claimSocial yourSecurity UKScheme State(SGK) Pension.(in Turkish).

    If

    Buying youand retirerenting property in Turkey,Turkey

    Read youour canguidance claimon yourmoving, UKliving state pension or newretiring UK state pensionabroad. Contact. theThis Internationalcovers Pensionbuying Centreand forrenting furtherproperty information.abroad.

    Life certificates for UK state pensions

    IfContact youan getEnglish-speaking alawyer `lifein certificate’Turkey fromif theyou’re UKconsidering Pensionbuying Service,property youor mustland.

    You respondcan asalso soonread asthe possible.Turkish Yourgovernment’s paymentsguidance mayon beacquiring suspendedproperty ifand youcitizenship doin not.Turkey.

    MoneyVoting andin bankingTurkey

    UK elections

    TheRead currencyour inguidance Turkeyon ismoving, theliving Turkishor Liraretiring (TL).

    Whenabroad. exchangingThis money,covers youhow shouldto:

    • vote alwaysin useUK officialelections moneyfrom exchangeabroad
    • register officesas oran banks,overseas asvoter

    Turkish possessionelections

    You andcannot usevote ofin counterfeitTurkish moneyelections isunless consideredyou ahold veryTurkish seriouscitizenship. 

    Studying crime in Turkey and may lead to prosecution.

    ForeignIf nationalsyou canplan setto upstudy a bank account in Turkey.Turkey, Youyou willmust needmeet aall uniquevisa Foreigner’sand Identificationresidence Numberrequirements. (issuedRead by civil registration offices, administered by the RepublicTurkish ofgovernment’s TurkeyTurkish Ministryvisa ofand Interior)residence orpermit Taxguidance.

    For Identificationmore Numberinformation:

    Children

    IfRead youour areguidance consideringon buyingmoving, aliving propertyor thenretiring theabroad. followingThis guidancecovers maymoving helpabroad you:with children, including:

    Driving

    Schools inand Turkey

    education

    ForThe informationEuropean onCommission whatprovides youinformation mustabout dothe toschool drivesystem legally in Turkey,Turkey.

    All drivingchildren rules,aged travelling6 byto road,18 drivingmust licenseattend rulesschool andor internationalhome drivingschool permitsin pleaseTurkey.

    For seemore Roadinformation, Travel.read Ifthe you’reTurkish askedgovernment’s forguidance aon:

    Childcare

    IfThe youTurkish wishMinistry toof takeFamily yourand vehicleSocial withServices you,(MoFSS) seeis Vehiclesresponsible outfor ofearly UKchildhood education and care in Turkey.

    ForDepending usefulon informationyour aboutcircumstances, bringingyou yourmay vehiclebe intoeligible Turkey,for seefree frequentlychildcare askedor questionssocial onaid accompaniedin vehicles

    DisabledTurkey. drivers

    IfFor example, you may be eligible if you:

    If Turkey,you’re eligible, you mustcan returnapply itfor tosocial theaid originalonline UK(in issuing authority.Turkish).

    Voting

    YouFor maymore beinformation, ableread toguidance voteon inprivate somenurseries, UKday elections.care Youcentres can:

    Births, deaths, marriagemarriages and civil partnershippartnerships

    Births

    If your child is born in TurkeyTurkey, you should register the birth with the localTurkish authorities. YouRead canguidance thenon:

    IfRead yourour childguidance hason Britishmoving, nationality, youliving door notretiring needabroad. toThis covers how to:

    • register the birth with the UK authoritiesUK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
    • apply for ayour child’s first British passport.passport

    Deaths

    Read https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passportour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

    You

    Deaths

    If someone dies in TurkeyTurkey, read our guidance on:

    Marriage

    Marriages and civil partnership

    partnerships

    Read our guidance on gettingmoving, marriedliving or retiring abroad.

    Pets

    If you’reThis movingcovers how to Turkeyget withmarried youror pet,form reada thecivil takingpartnership yourabroad.

    You petcan abroadalso guidanceread andthe ensureTurkish yougovernment’s complyguidance withon themarriage regulations.procedures (in Turkish).

    To

    Divorce visitand otherseparation

    Read countriesour withguidance youron pet,moving, checkliving theor rulesretiring forabroad. theThis countrycovers you’rehow travelling to. Contact your vet to get thea traveldivorce documentsor yourend peta needs.civil partnership.

    IfThe youTurkish aregovernment travellingalso tooffers theguidance UKon withdivorce yourprocedures pet(in pleaseTurkish).

    Consider seetaking thelegal bringingadvice yourfrom petan toEnglish-speaking Greatlawyer Britainin page.Turkey.

    Emergencies

    DialDocuments 112 for anyBritish typepeople ofin emergencyTurkey

    Read includingour theguidance police,on ambulancedocuments orfor fireBritish brigade.

    Dialpeople 112abroad. toThis report a missing child.covers: 

    If

    • legalising youand havecertifying beenUK thedocuments
    • marriage victimand ofcivil apartnership rapedocuments
    • affirmations orand sexualaffidavits
    • witnessing assaultsignatures

    Lawyers, intranslators Turkey,and readnotaries

    To thefind Turkey:an informationEnglish-speaking forlawyer, victimstranslator ofor rapenotary andin sexualTurkey, assaultread andguidance victimon ofprofessional rapeservices andif sexualyou’re assault abroad guidance..

    Pets

    If you’reyou thewant victimto ofbring a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact your nearestpet Britishwith Embassyyou orto ConsulateTurkey, UKread helpguidance andon services in Turkey.:

    Read

    Returning to the UK

    Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanentlythe UK permanently. whichThis includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

    Disclaimer

    We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Turkish authorities.

    Read our consular information disclaimer.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 March 2013
    Last updated 931 AugustDecember 2023 + show2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

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    Contents

    Update history

    2025-12-31 13:37
    Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).

    2023-08-09 13:26
    Covid-19 related part is no longer in use

    2023-06-15 13:36
    This guide has been reviewed and updated. June 2023