Introduction
Are you French and thinking of settling in Turkey? Whether for retirement, a professional project, joining your spouse, or simply discovering a new lifestyle, Turkey attracts thousands of French expatriates every year. Straddling Europe and Asia, the country offers an attractive living environment, a favorable cost of living, and a pleasant Mediterranean climate.
However, moving to Turkey requires a solid understanding of the Turkish legal framework, which differs significantly from the French system. This guide, written by the French-speaking lawyers at Inlawco, walks you through all the essential legal steps to make your relocation to Turkey a success.
Table of Contents
The Residence Permit (İkamet İzni)
Buying Real Estate in Turkey
Setting Up a Business and Professional Activity
Marriage and Family Law
The Healthcare System and Insurance
Taxation for French Residents
Turkish Employment Law
Common Disputes and Litigation
Succession and Inheritance
Practical Tips and Pitfalls to Avoid
1. The Residence Permit in Turkey (İkamet İzni)
What is the İkamet?
The residence permit (İkamet İzni in Turkish) is the mandatory document for any foreign national wishing to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days. Issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi Genel Müdürlüğü), it legally authorizes your presence on Turkish territory.
The Different Types of Residence Permits
Tourist Residence Permit (Turist İkamet İzni)
Duration: Up to 1 year (renewable)
Requirements: Proof of sufficient financial resources (around €500/month)
Benefits: Allows living in Turkey without working
For: Retirees, individuals with passive income, people without professional activity
Family Residence Permit (Aile İkamet İzni)
Duration: Up to 2 years (aligned with the spouse’s permit)
Requirements: Marriage to a Turkish citizen or to a permit holder
Advantages: Easier access, fewer financial supporting documents
Documents: Apostilled and translated marriage certificate
Student Residence Permit (Öğrenci İkamet İzni)
Duration: Length of studies + 3 months
Requirements: Enrollment in a recognized Turkish institution
Specifics: Possibility to work part-time (maximum 24 hours/week)
Work Permit (Çalışma İzni)
Duration: 1 to 3 years depending on the contract
Requirements: Sponsorship by a Turkish employer
Procedure: The employer must file the application
Timeline: Longer (2–4 months)
Long-Term Residence Permit (Uzun Dönem İkamet İzni)
Duration: Permanent (renewable every 10 years)
Requirements: 8 consecutive years of lawful residence in Turkey
Advantages: Almost equivalent to permanent residency
Residence Permit Application Procedure
Step 1: Prepare the file (2–3 weeks)
Required documents:
Valid passport (at least 60 days beyond the application date)
4 biometric ID photos
Proof of address in Turkey (lease agreement or tapu if owner)
Turkish private health insurance (minimum 1 year)
Proof of financial resources (bank statements for the last 6 months)
Address registration certificate (Adres Kayıt Belgesi) issued by the Mukhtar
Completed application form
Application fees (about €110 depending on type)
⚠️ Important: All foreign documents must be translated into Turkish by a sworn translator and apostilled.
Step 2: Book an appointment online
Mandatory appointment via e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr
Common issue: Time slots are saturated, especially in Istanbul
Solution: Book as soon as you arrive in Turkey (within the first 30 days)
Alternative: Our firm can book the appointment and track your file
Step 3: File submission at the Göç İdaresi
Personal appearance required
Brief interview with an officer (in Turkish)
Photo and fingerprint capture
Document check
Payment of fees
Step 4: Waiting for the decision (4–8 weeks)
SMS notification upon decision
If approved: pick up your residence card
If refused: possibility to appeal within 10 days
Renewal of the İkamet
The renewal must be requested at least 60 days before expiry of the current permit. The procedure is similar to the initial application but generally faster (2–4 weeks).
⚠️ Warning: If your permit expires and you remain in Turkey, you are in an irregular situation. Sanctions may include:
Fines of €50 to €500 per month of overstay
Entry bans from 6 months to 5 years
Administrative removal
Special Cases and Common Difficulties
Residence permit refusals: The most common reasons are:
Insufficient financial resources
Incomplete or non-compliant documents
Issues with health insurance
Criminal record
Suspicion of undeclared professional activity
Our legal assistance:
Full file preparation
Compliance check of documents
Priority appointment booking
Translation and apostille
Support at the appointment (interpreter if needed)
Appeals in case of refusal
2. Buying Real Estate in Turkey for French Nationals
Legal Framework for Real Estate Acquisition
Since 2012, foreigners can freely purchase real estate in Turkey, with some geographical restrictions (military zones, protected sites). French citizens benefit from the principle of reciprocity with Turkey.
The Turkish Title Deed: the TAPU
The Tapu is the equivalent of the title deed in France. Issued by the Cadastre (Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü), it is the only official document proving ownership of real estate in Turkey.
Important: In Turkey, the Tapu is decisive—neither the sale contract nor possession prevails over it.
Steps for a Secure Real Estate Purchase
1. Property search and viewings
Check town-planning compliance (İmar Durumu)
Ensure the property is not in a zone closed to foreigners
Visit several times at different hours
2. Legal due diligence
This step is CRUCIAL and often overlooked:
Tapu verification: Does the property truly belong to the seller?
Mortgages and liens: Are there encumbrances over the property?
Condominium charges: Are Aidat fees up to date? (arrears are very common)
Planning compliance: Is the property lawful? Are extensions authorized?
Tax debts: Check with the municipality
Ongoing litigation: Any lawsuits affecting the property?
⚠️ Common pitfalls:
Seller is not the actual owner
Illegally built apartment (kaçak yapı)
Undeclared condominium arrears (can reach several thousand euros)
Hidden mortgage on the property
Our real-estate legal audit systematically checks all these points before signing to avoid such pitfalls.
3. Negotiation and preliminary agreement
Price negotiation (10–20% room is common)
Drafting a reservation contract (Ön Sözleşme)
Payment of a deposit (usually 10%)
Note: This deposit is rarely refundable if you withdraw
4. Obtaining a Turkish tax number (Vergi Numarası)
Mandatory for any real-estate purchase. Obtained free of charge from the Tax Office (Vergi Dairesi) in one day with:
Passport
Proof of address in Turkey
Application form
5. Opening a Turkish bank account
Necessary to:
Transfer the purchase price
Pay utility bills (electricity, water, gas)
Set up direct debits for condominium fees
Required documents:
Passport
Turkish tax number
Proof of address
Initial deposit (varies by bank: €50–€500)
6. Signing the deed at the Tapu Office
Where? At the Land Registry Office (Tapu Müdürlüğü)
Who must attend?
The buyer (you)
The seller
A sworn translator (mandatory if you do not speak Turkish)
Optionally: your lawyer
What happens?
Reading of the deed in Turkish
Translation for you
Payment of the purchase price
Payment of transfer fees (about 4% of the price)
Signature before the Tapu officer
Immediate issuance of the new Tapu in your name
Transaction costs:
Tapu fee: 4% of the price (shared buyer/seller unless otherwise agreed)
Sworn translation: €100–€300
Lawyer’s fees: 1–2% of the price
Title insurance (optional): 0.5% of the price
7. Post-completion formalities
Notify the French Embassy (recommended)
Take out home insurance
Switch electricity, water, gas contracts to your name
Register with the condominium management (Site Yönetimi)
French tax declaration if required
Specifics by Property Type
Condominium apartment (Kat Mülkiyeti)
Points to watch:
Monthly charges (Aidat): €100–€500 depending on the residence
Review the condominium rules
Check the seller’s arrears (they transfer to the buyer!)
Construction quality (especially recent builds)
Shared amenities: pool, gym, security
Detached house (Müstakil Ev)
Advantages:
No condominium charges
More independence
Often with a garden
Drawbacks:
All maintenance at your expense
Need to ensure your own security
Resale can be harder
Land plot (Arsa)
Very risky without legal support:
Check planning status (İmarlı arsa = buildable)
Floor-area ratio (KAKS)
Access to utilities (water, electricity)
Seismic risks
Possible expropriation
⚠️ Warning: Many “cheap” plots are actually unbuildable or located in risk areas.
Real-Estate Taxation in Turkey
On purchase
Transfer tax: 4% of the price (generally shared)
VAT: 1% to 20% depending on type and size (exemptions possible for a first acquisition)
While holding
Annual property tax: 0.1% to 0.6% of the cadastral value
Condominium charges: Vary by building
Mandatory earthquake insurance: DASK (about €50–€200/year)
On resale
Capital gains tax:
0% if you keep the property more than 5 years
15–35% on the gain if sold before 5 years
Obtaining Turkish Citizenship through Real-Estate Investment
Conditions in 2025:
Purchase of one or more properties totaling at least USD 400,000
Undertaking not to sell for 3 years
Citizenship processing time: 3–6 months
Advantages:
Permanent, inheritable Turkish citizenship
No residency obligation in Turkey
Possibility of dual nationality (France allows it)
Facilitated access to many countries
Our support:
Selection of eligible properties
Comprehensive legal due diligence
Citizenship application procedure
Administrative follow-up until the Turkish passport is issued
Absolute Pitfalls to Avoid
Buying without a lawyer: False economy, massive risks
Relying solely on the estate agency: Conflict of interest
Not checking unpaid charges: You’ll have to pay them!
Off-plan purchase without guarantees: Risk of non-delivery
Ignoring geographical restrictions: Purchase may be voidable
Underestimating ancillary costs: Budget +10% of purchase price
Buying an illegal (kaçak) property: Impossible to regularize, demolition risk
3. Setting Up a Business and Professional Activity in Turkey
Incorporating in Turkey: Available Legal Forms
Limited Liability Company (Limited Şirket / LLC)
The most popular form among foreign investors
Key features:
Minimum capital: TRY 10,000 (about €300)
Number of shareholders: 1 to 50
Liability limited to contributions
No requirement for a Turkish partner
Advantages:
Flexible structure
Reasonable setup costs
Simplified management
Suitable for SMEs
Incorporation steps:
Reserve company name (1 day)
Open bank account and deposit capital (2 days)
Draft articles before a notary (1 day)
Register with the Trade Registry (1 day)
Obtain tax number (1 day)
Register with the Chamber of Commerce (1 day)
Total timeline: 5–7 business days
Cost: €1,500–€3,000 (depending on support level)
Branch (Şube)
For French companies wishing to establish a presence
Key features:
Extension of the French parent company
No minimum capital
Same legal personality as the parent
Unlimited liability of the parent
Advantages:
Easy profit repatriation
International brand image
Direct control from France
Drawbacks:
Parent company liability
Heavier formalities
Requirement for a resident legal representative in Turkey
Liaison Office (İrtibat Bürosu)
For prospecting without commercial activity
Key features:
No commercial activity permitted
Prospecting, market studies, coordination only
Limited duration (generally 3 years, renewable)
Cannot issue invoices
Use case: Exploration phase prior to full establishment
Sole Proprietorship (Şahıs Şirketi)
For independents/freelancers
Key features:
Unlimited liability
Personal income tax regime
Very simple procedure
Minimal costs
Limits:
Lower credibility
Personal asset risk
Harder to raise funds
Work Permit for Entrepreneurs
If you create your own company in Turkey, you must obtain a work permit (Çalışma İzni) even if you are the company’s director.
Requirements:
Company must employ at least 5 Turkish employees (possible exceptions)
Adequate share capital
Dedicated commercial premises
Procedure:
Incorporate the company
Apply for the work permit
Apply for the work-based residence permit
Combined issuance (3–4 months)
Accounting and Tax Obligations
Accounting obligations
Every Turkish company must:
Keep accounts in line with the Turkish chart of accounts
Appoint a certified accountant (Mali Müşavir)
File monthly and annual returns
Archive records for 10 years
Accountant’s monthly fee: €300–€1,500 depending on activity
Corporate taxation
Corporate income tax (Kurumlar Vergisi):
Standard rate: 25% on profits
Reduced rate: 23% for SMEs subject to conditions
Mandatory annual return
VAT (KDV):
Standard rate: 20%
Reduced rates: 10% or 1% depending on goods/services
Mandatory monthly filings
Withholding tax:
On salaries: according to progressive scale
On dividends: 10% (may be reduced by tax treaty)
On rents: 20%
Social contributions:
Employer share: 22–23% of gross salary
Employee share: 15% of gross salary
Freelance / Liberal Professions
Working independently is possible in many fields:
Consulting
Translation
IT/Web development
Graphic design
Training
Writing
Recommended status: Serbest Meslek (liberal profession)
Steps:
Register with the relevant professional chamber
Obtain a professional tax number
File activity declaration
Take out professional liability insurance
Taxation:
Taxed under the progressive income tax scale (15–40%)
Quarterly returns
Lump-sum schemes possible for small activities
4. Marriage and Franco-Turkish Family Law
Getting Married in Turkey
Civil marriage in Turkey
Procedure:
Apply for a certificate of capacity to marry at the French Consulate
Translate and apostille documents
File with the Turkish municipality (Belediye Evlendirme Dairesi)
Publication of banns (15 days)
Civil ceremony before the Turkish registrar
Required documents:
Valid passport
Birth certificate less than 6 months old
Certificate of single status
Certificate of capacity to marry
Turkish pre-nuptial medical certificate
2 adult witnesses
Timeline: 1–2 months
⚠️ Important: A religious marriage (Islam) has no legal value in Turkey without a prior civil marriage.
Transcription of the marriage in France
For recognition in France, you must transcribe the marriage:
With the French Consulate in Turkey, or
With the Central Civil Registry in Nantes
Timeline: 2–6 months
Marriage between a French national and a Turkish national: matrimonial regime
In the absence of a marriage contract:
In Turkey: Participation in acquisitions (default regime)
In France: Community of property reduced to acquisitions (if transcribed)
Recommendation: Enter into a notarized marriage contract to clarify the applicable regime, especially if there is significant wealth.
Divorce in Turkey
Amicable divorce (Anlaşmalı Boşanma)
Conditions:
Marriage lasting at least 1 year
Full agreement on all issues (custody, maintenance, property division)
Personal appearance of both spouses
Procedure:
Draft a divorce settlement
File with the Family Court
Conciliation hearing (attendance mandatory)
Judgment usually issued the same day
Timeline: 1–3 months
Cost: €1,000–€3,000 (including lawyer’s fees)
Contested divorce (Davacı Boşanma)
Grounds recognized under Turkish law:
Adultery
Physical or psychological abuse
Crime or dishonorable conduct
Desertion of the marital home
Mental illness
Breakdown of common life (de facto separation)
Procedure:
Filing the divorce petition
Investigation phase (hearings, inquiries, expert reports)
Attempt at conciliation
Pleading hearings
Divorce judgment
Timeline: 6 months to 2 years depending on complexity
Cost: €3,000–€15,000
Child custody
Principle: The child’s best interests
In practice:
Very young children: Custody generally awarded to the mother
Older children: Children over 12 may express a preference
Shared custody: Possible but still uncommon in Turkey
Child support: Set according to the debtor parent’s income (generally 25–40% of net salary per child)
International relocation with a child
⚠️ WARNING: Leaving Turkey with the child without the other parent’s authorization may constitute international child abduction.
Lawful procedure:
Obtain the other parent’s written (notarized) consent, or
Obtain a court order authorizing travel/relocation
Inform the Turkish authorities
Turkey has ratified the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction: any wrongful removal or retention may lead to return proceedings.
Filiation and Children’s Nationality
Child born in Turkey to French parents
Nationality:
French by descent (jus sanguinis)
Possible acquisition of Turkish nationality depending on circumstances
Formalities:
Declare the birth to the French Consulate (within 60 days)
Register with the Turkish civil registry (within 30 days)
Apply for the child’s French passport
Child of one French and one Turkish parent
Automatic dual nationality:
French by descent (French parent)
Turkish by descent (Turkish parent)
Both France and Turkey allow dual nationality.
5. The Healthcare System and Insurance in Turkey
The Turkish Healthcare System
Turkey has a two-tier healthcare system:
Public system (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu – SGK): Accessible to contributing residents
Private system: Private hospitals and clinics of good standard (especially in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir)
Health Insurance for French Expatriates
Option 1: Turkish private health insurance (mandatory for the İkamet)
To obtain the residence permit, you must subscribe to Turkish private health insurance.
Main insurers:
Axa Sigorta
Allianz Sigorta
Mapfre Sigorta
Groupama Sigorta
Typical coverage:
In-patient care
Medical consultations
Tests and analyses
Medicines (partial reimbursement)
Emergencies
Annual cost: €300–€1,500 depending on age, coverage, and deductible
⚠️ Limitations:
Waiting periods (3–6 months)
Exclusions (pre-existing conditions often not covered)
Annual caps
Limited provider networks
Option 2: International expatriate insurance
Recommended if you wish to:
Obtain broader coverage
Receive treatment in France occasionally
Avoid waiting periods
Have a French-speaking contact
Main providers:
April International Expat
MSH International
Allianz Care
Cigna Global
Annual cost: €1,500–€5,000 (highly variable by plan)
Option 3: Maintaining CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger)
CFE allows you to retain French social coverage while abroad.
Advantages:
Continuity of French entitlements
Reimbursements under French scales
Can be complemented by a top-up policy
Drawbacks:
High cost (from ~€200/month)
Reimbursements may be insufficient for Turkish care costs
No local assistance
Our recommendation: CFE + local private insurance for optimal coverage
