Digital Nomad & Residency - Turkey

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism officially launched the Digital Nomad Visa on 15 April 2024. It provides a one-year residence permit (renewable for a second year) to remote workers employed by or contracting with companies based outside Turkey. Applications begin at digitalnomads.goturkiye.com, where applicants receive a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate before proceeding to a Turkish consulate.

Only nationals of 32 countries qualify: all EU member states, USA, Canada, UK, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Applicants must be aged 21–55, hold a university degree, show proof of minimum income of USD 3,000/month (USD 36,000/year), and have valid health insurance. Both remote employees and self-employed freelancers are eligible, with differing documentation (employment contract vs. business contract).

Foreign nationals who fall outside DNV eligibility (wrong nationality, age, or income bracket) may apply for a Short-Term Residence Permit under Law No. 6458, valid for up to two years. This route does not grant work authorisation but is widely used by remote workers living off foreign-sourced income. It requires proof of financial sufficiency (typically ~USD 10,000 in liquid assets) and a stated purpose (tourism, property ownership, research, etc.).

Districts where foreign nationals already comprise 25% or more of the registered population (including several popular Istanbul and Antalya neighbourhoods) are closed to new residence permit applications. Prospective applicants must check the current closed-areas list via the Presidency of Migration Management before selecting an address.

Turkey's Citizenship by Investment programme grants Turkish citizenship (not merely residency) in exchange for a minimum USD 400,000 real estate purchase held for at least three years, or USD 500,000 placed in government bonds, bank deposits, or investment funds. No minimum physical residency is required. Processing typically takes 3–6 months and includes the applicant's spouse and dependent children.

Under Turkish tax law, a foreign national who stays 183 days or more in a calendar year becomes a Turkish tax resident and is liable for income tax on worldwide earnings. DNV holders who remain under this threshold are generally taxed only on Turkish-sourced income. Self-employed IT professionals may benefit from a 50–80% tax discount on Turkey-source income under applicable incentive provisions.