How to get a residence permit in Turkey?

Register at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr. You will need: a rental agreement, health insurance, and a bank statement. The address is critical — some neighborhoods are closed to foreign registration, and a contract in such an area means an automatic rejection. We verify the address before you sign.

How do you open a Turkish bank account?

Ziraat Bank, Garanti BBVA, İşbank — a residence permit and passport are required. Some banks open accounts with a tourist visa. Papara — no residence permit needed, but limits are lower.

How does money work in Turkey under high inflation?

It is better to keep savings in USD or EUR. Convert to TRY only for day-to-day expenses. Use Wise, Payoneer, or dollar-denominated accounts at Turkish banks.

Is Istanbul safe to live in?

In tourist and central areas — yes. Beyoğlu, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy — safe to live in. Areas without tourist infrastructure call for extra caution.

Russians in Turkey — Istanbul, residence permit, life, and community

What needs to be done in Turkey?

Select the services you need — the total is shown at the bottom. Send the list and we’ll get back to you for each line.

Two or more services — minus 5% on each

Prices are in US dollars; 20% VAT is added on top. Government fees are paid separately and directly. A consultation if you are not sure where to start — 80 $, it is applied toward the cost of the service.

Visa and residence permit

Address check for ikamet restrictionsbefore signing the lease agreementWhat is included →$99
Ikamet: application and supportyou attend appointments on your ownWhat is included →$1 070
Student ikamet: application based on studiesstatus through study: the university issues the enrolment certificate, we handle the rest of the file and submissionWhat is included →$1 070
Ikamet with an interpreter at the appointmentgo with you and sign right beside youWhat is included →$2 385
Family member in the same applicationikamet is filed separately for each person — the process is the sameWhat is included →+$1 200
Ikamet renewalcheaper for our clientsWhat is included →$300

Documents and daily life

Tax numberthe government service itself is free — you pay for having it done without transliteration errorsWhat is included →$69
Account at a Turkish bankWhat is included →$199
Address registration and e-DevletWhat is included →$99
Health insurance for an ikametwe select for free, we earn from the insurer’s commissionWhat is included →$0
SGK — state insurancethe contribution is paid separatelyWhat is included →$149
A local number and IMEI registrationIMEI registration fee charged separatelyWhat is included →$49

Housing

Long-term rental searchwe take a share of the partner’s commission, not yoursWhat is included →$0 on top
Legal review of the lease and notaryWhat is included →$149
Utility hookup and DASK registrationWhat is included →$149
Property search for purchaseon new-build properties, the developer paysWhat is included →$0 to the buyer
Transaction support and tapuWhat is included →$690

School and children

American online school, grades 1–12US high school diploma, lessons in Russian, fully online from any country; Online with daily lessons — from 3,150 € per yearWhat is included →from €700 per year
Tutoring and SAT, IELTS, TOEFL prepteacher at an American school; 10 € for its students; exam prep with a native speaker — 30 € per sessionWhat is included →€15 / academic hour
Denklik — certificate recognition at the ministrywithout it, the child won’t be enrolled; the procedure itself is freeWhat is included →$149
Finding a school or nursery and filingWhat is included →$249
School enrollmentwe select for free, we earn from the school’s commissionWhat is included →$0

Taxes, banking, business

Ltd registration (limited şirket)What is included →$1 290
Accounting supportWhat is included →$149 / mo
Company bank accountWhat is included →$199

Car and driving licence

Exchanging a license for a Turkish oneWhat is included →$199
Airport pickup and transferWhat is included →$89

Didn’t find your task? Describe it in the request or open full price list in Turkey.

Popular bundles in Turkey

If you have several tasks at once: a package costs less than the same services booked separately.

An apartment in Turkey and Turkish passports for the whole family

· Property search with neighbourhood review
· Transaction, tapu, and investor ikamet
· Citizenship for the whole family

$10 000Contents and price →Status — and the confidence that it won’t be refused

· Area check before signing the lease
· Grounds selection and document filing
· Tax number, bank account, and e-Devlet

from $1,070Contents and price →Status for everyone, school for the children

· Ikamet for every family member
· Denklik and finding a school for your children
· First documents for both adults

$4 800Contents and price →

How we work

1Select servicesor describe your task in your own words if it’s not on the list.
2We respond within two hoursduring business hours — via Telegram, WhatsApp, or email, whichever works best for you.
3We quote the final price before paymentand separately — what is not included: government fees, translations, charges.
4The specialist works on-siteand you stay connected with us from the first question to the final result.

How to pay

Payment method depends on the country and service — we’ll specify it along with the price before you begin of work. Each price indicates whether government fees are included. Where applicable, we issue an invoice and contract. The consultation is credited toward the cost of the service.

If something went wrong

If the work fell through on our end or we were unable to complete it, we refund money. No one can guarantee approval: scheduling, timelines, and decisions on visas and residence permits or account depend solely on the authority and the bank. We prepare documents so that there are no questions about them, and we stay with you until you get an answer.

The country at a glance

Since 2022, Turkey has become a key hub for the Russian-speaking diaspora. Istanbul is the main centre, but Antalya, Alanya and other cities are also actively welcoming newcomers.

More details by specialty in Turkey’s

We state the price before payment — and explain what is not included.

SVOY packages in Turkey

Ikamet, citizenship through real estate, school enrollment for children, and first documents — bundled for one moment in your life. Scope and price are clear upfront, before any conversation. Neighborhood verification is included in every package.

Address verification before signing the contract

In Turkey, some neighborhoods are closed to foreign registration, and the lists change. Renting or buying in such an area means a rejected ikamet application and money you will not get back.

Turkey residence permits and visas: grounds and documents

Tourist ikamet, property-based, family, student, and work permits — legal analysis of grounds and full application support at SVOY Legal.

Renting long-term in Turkey

Istanbul, Antalya, Alanya, and İzmir: neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood pricing, how to verify ownership, and a lease agreement that will be accepted when applying for an ikamet.

Buy property in Turkey

Legal due diligence on the property and seller, transaction support, and title deed. We also separately verify what almost no one else checks: whether this address qualifies for an ikamet.

The child will attend a Turkish school

A school can be found for free anywhere. Without denklik — recognition of the school certificate by the Ministry of Education — a child cannot be enrolled, and not a single educational agency handles denklik.

Turkish bank account and tax number

Ziraat, Garanti BBVA, İşbank. A tax number is issued free of charge online — we charge for getting it right the first time, without the transliteration errors that force a costly redo.

Your first week in Turkey

Airport pickup, a local SIM, phone registration, and a neighborhood walkthrough — including which areas won’t get you an ikamet. This is not something a taxi driver or a chat can tell you.

Running a business in Turkey

Ltd registration, tax accounting, a company bank account, and bookkeeping for the first three months. We are straightforward about hiring: the quota is 5:1, and we do not promise a ’work permit through your own company.’

Health insurance meeting ikamet requirements

Insurance is required when applying, and not every policy is accepted. We will find one that will pass with the immigration authority.

Entry and residence permit

Visa-free entry

Russian citizens — visa-free entry for up to 60 days.

Paths to a residence permit

Tourist residence permit (ikamet) — via property rental
Short-term residence permit — 1–2 years
Residence permit through property purchase
Citizenship through real estate investment
Student Residence Permit

Cost of living

Low / Medium

Advantages

60 days visa-free for Russian citizens
Significantly cheaper than Europe
Strategic location between Europe and Asia
A large Russian-speaking diaspora
Warm climate, seaside

Downsides

High inflation of the Turkish lira (TRY)
Unstable economic situation
Language barrier (Turkish is essential)
Traffic in Istanbul is a serious problem
Limited access to some Western services

Cities in Turkey’s

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Istanbul

Turkey

Istanbul is one of the main transit and permanent hubs for Russian speakers — visa-free entry, accessible prices, and a bridge between Europe and Asia.

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Schools and universities Turkey’s

Where to take your child and where to study yourself: public and private options schools, language courses, colleges, and universities. A city-by-city breakdown — from those who who study and bring their children there.

Schools and kindergartens

Schools in Istanbul

Universities and colleges

Universities in Istanbul

Program selection, documentation, diploma recognition, and filing — this is a service SVOY. Applying to universities abroad follows its own rules, and deadlines submission is almost everywhere earlier than it seems.

Explore the options

Russians in Turkey