Want to Retire to Turkey?
Many people dream of retiring to the sun when their working days are over, and what better destination than Turkey?
We’re talking long-hot summers, mild winters, beautiful scenery, welcoming people, and delicious food, as well as an intoxicating culture. It sounds like the ideal place to chill out during your retirement years, right?
Many people agree, and year upon year there are countless people moving to Turkey to spend their retirement. Many of these people come and go – spending a certain amount of time in their home country, and then spending time in Turkey, usually having bought property there. The south coast’s tourist resorts are very popular spots for this, however the quieter resorts are usually where you will find most retirees, including Dalyan, Side, Kas, Bodrum, Hisaronu, and Icmeler. Istanbul will always be a popular spot too!
If you want to retire to Turkey, there are a few things you need to bear in mind, but the most important one is the visa which allows you to spend the right amount of time in the country. If you stay in Turkey on an e-visa, you are only allowed to reside in Turkey for 90 days out of every 180, which basically means three months out of every six, give or take a day or two. For that reason, many retirees decide to apply for a residency permit, which then gives them freedom to come and go when they please, without having to count days.
A residency permit can either be a short term permit, or a long term one. For a long term permit, you need to have lived in Turkey for nine years unbroken and you need to speak Turkish. For most retirees, this is not the best fit, so in that case a short term option is better. You can apply for a short term permit up to two years in length, and then you simply renew for another one after that.
To get a residency permit, you will need:
- A valid passport
- Private health insurance – If you are over the age of 65 you don’t need this officially, but it is a good idea to have it anyway, as you will need to pay for health care in Turkey
- Photocopies of your passport (colour) and your last airport visa stamp on arrival in Turkey
- A copy of your e-visa (expired or not)
- Proof of address – This is either an officially stamped (notorised) rental contract in your name(s), or proof of your owned property, which is a document called a tapu. Again, this needs to be notorised
- Proof of funds – It is hit and miss whether you will be asked to provide proof of this, but you will need to show money in a Turkish bank account for the duration of your stay (currently 1600TL for each month), or you can show proof of your pension – If you are showing this, you will need to show a copy in English, and a copy translated into Turkish and officially stamped by the Notor
Once you’ve done all that, you simply apply online, go to your appointment and then you get your visa!
A Thriving Retiree Scene
If you choose the right area to retire to, you’ll find many other retirees who have done the same thing. This can be a great social circle to join, and you’ll meet lots of likeminded people. There are also many activities throughout the year for expats, whether retired or not, such as Zumba or salsa classes, book groups, bingo, coffee mornings, etc. Having said that, most people simply enjoy the laid back feel to live in Turkey, especially away from the big cities like Istanbul or Izmir. You can easily go out for a bicycle ride whenever you want, head into the countryside, visit the beach, or chill out in the mountains. If you prefer, you can just sit on your balcony drinking tea, soaking up the sun!
It’s no surprise that so many people choose to spend their retirement years in Turkey.
