Visa & Residency

Not sustainably — Turkey's rule is 90 days within any 180-day period. Attempting consecutive 90-day stays via border runs is increasingly flagged by Turkish immigration authorities, who can deny re-entry if they judge you are living in Turkey while avoiding a residence permit. For stays beyond 90 days, you need an ikamet (short-term residence permit). The ikamet is inexpensive (810 TRY document fee + 1,876.70 TRY per month of requested duration) and renewable — apply before your visa-free period expires.

Turkey's Digital Nomad Visa (launched 2024/2025) is a formal 1-year residence permit for remote workers employed by non-Turkish companies. The key benefits: legal status, no Turkish income tax on salary deposited offshore, and access to private healthcare and banking. Requirements: age 21–55, $3,000/month minimum income, university degree, proof of remote employment, valid passport. Apply through digitalnomads.goturkiye.com to get the Identification Certificate, then apply at a Turkish consulate. For most digital nomads from eligible countries, it's cleaner than the standard ikamet route.

The most popular route is the real estate route: purchase one property worth at least $400,000 USD (at the official exchange rate), hold it for 3 years, and apply for citizenship. The process takes 3–6 months and includes your spouse and children under 18. TOKI government housing projects are often marketed directly to CBI investors and provide a clear documentation trail. Due diligence requirements tightened significantly in 2025 — source-of-funds documentation and independent valuations are now standard requirements. Total costs including legal fees, translation, and taxes typically add $20,000–$40,000 to the purchase price.

Yes — private health insurance is legally required for your first year on an ikamet (short-term residence permit). This is a non-negotiable requirement for the permit application. After 1 year of continuous legal residence, you may optionally register for SGK (Turkish public social security) by paying a monthly premium of 24% of the minimum wage (~2,400–2,800 TRY/month in 2025). Employed foreigners on work permits are automatically covered by SGK from day one. The good news: private health insurance in Turkey is very affordable — approximately €25–€30/month for a young adult.

Yes. Spouse and children under 18 can apply for family residence permits based on the primary permit holder's ikamet. Each family member needs their own application and documents. For Citizenship by Investment applications, the entire immediate family (spouse and children under 18) is included in the same citizenship grant. Work permit holders can also sponsor family members for residence permits — the income requirement increases to account for dependants.