Living in a new country is always a challenge. When moving, migrants are often faced with the problem of finding housing, language barriers, and more. Find out more about the situations in which a personal lawyer in Turkey can help Ukrainians

Are you planning to move to Turkey? Get legal advice from a local specialist in visa and migration issues

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In recent years, Turkey has become increasingly popular among expats, because it has a low cost of living, beautiful landscapes, a good climate and a friendly population. Before the start of the full-scale invasion, about 35,000 Ukrainians lived in the country. With the beginning of the war, another 420,000 refugees came to the Republic of Turkey, but many of them returned home or left for other countries, leaving about 50,000 people in the country. The majority of Ukrainians (70%) live in the three largest cities of Turkey - Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara.

Moving to a new country is always associated with certain difficulties, and especially to Turkey, because according to experts, representatives of Turkish law firms, for many foreigners, getting to know the Turkish bureaucracy can be an unpleasant challenge. You can easily overcome complex legal processes with the help of a Turkish lawyer.

When might Ukrainians need a personal lawyer in Turkey? More details below.

Read more about healthcare in Turkey for expats and foreigners, as well as health insurance and medical tourism here.

E-Devlet: How to join Turkey's e-government service portal - read here.

Investing in Turkey: the best opportunities for foreigners - details here.

Read here what to do if your application for a temporary residence permit in Turkey was rejected.

Residence permit in Turkey: changes in 2023.

How can a Ukrainian move to Turkey?

• Issuance of a residence permit for Ukrainians in Turkey

Turkey, unlike the EU countries, does not grant refugees the status of temporary protection, but in the country you can get a humanitarian residence permit for 1 year or a short-term tourist residence permit for 2 years.

If you do not want to apply for protection in the Republic of Turkey, then in order to move to the country for a period of more than 90 days, you need to apply for a Turkish visa and obtain a residence permit in Turkey. After 5 years of continuous residence in the country, you can apply for citizenship of the Republic of Turkey.

Depending on the purpose of the trip, Ukrainians must choose the appropriate type of visa and prepare a certain package of documents. To choose the most convenient method of legalization, you should contact an immigration lawyer in Turkey for help.

Read more about obtaining Turkish citizenship through investment here.

Read here how to make an appointment at a public clinic in Turkey.

• Investment programs in Turkey

In the Republic of Turkey, a program for obtaining Turkish citizenship in exchange for investments has been developed, it is recognized as one of the most popular among investors in the world.

You can become a resident of the country by investing in the economy of the state from $400,000. Five investment options are available: buying real estate, investing in business, buying government bonds, buying shares of investment funds or opening a deposit in a Turkish bank.

Along with the investor, family members can get citizenship in Turkey: wife and children.

Participation in the investment program is a great chance to obtain citizenship in an economically stable country, however, the procedure for drawing up documents is quite complicated and requires appropriate legal assistance.

Find out why Turkey is popular among investors and 8 reasons to invest in the country's economy here.

How a Ukrainian can buy real estate in Turkey?

Many Ukrainians who have been living in Turkey for some time are thinking about buying their own real estate, because it will not only allow them to feel more stable in the country, buying real estate in Turkey is a good investment, and if you buy a house that is more expensive than a certain amount, then you can count on registration of state citizenship.

As in any other country in the world, buying real estate in Turkey has its pitfalls. Before buying, you should conduct an analysis of the object, study the contract in detail, check the housing documents. Therefore, Ukrainians who have dared to make such a large purchase are advised to order the service of accompanying a real estate purchase agreement from a Turkish lawyer.

Do you want to learn more about obtaining residence permit or citizenship through real estate investment in Turkey? Follow this link.

Is it possible for a Ukrainian to start his own business in Turkey?

Foreigners in Turkey have the right to open and manage companies. However, for this, it is necessary to issue the appropriate type of visa. The company registration procedure may also differ from the norms established in Ukraine. For example, 95% of companies in Turkey are registered as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). To successfully start your own business, you should research the business environment in which you want to create a company, choose an organizational form, and register a company. A team of experienced lawyers will help you understand the norms of Turkish legislation.

Also, the help of lawyers will be useful even after starting a business:

- Opening a bank account in Turkey - it is needed for carrying out financial transactions, depositing share capital, etc.

- Debt collection – when doing business in Turkey, a business may encounter Turkish counterparties who cannot or simply refuse to pay their debts. However, Turkish law provides certain methods that force the debtor to pay the bills.

- Analysis and verification of contracts with counterparties.

- Representation of the company's interests in state and non-state bodies.

- Obtaining an electronic signature, virtual office support, translation, apostille, etc.

Asset protection - how to open a trust fund in Turkey

In most European countries, the most popular way to protect assets is to open a trust fund, but this procedure is not prescribed in Turkish legislation. The Civil Code of Turkey provides for the creation of a private fund, which is analogous to trusts. You can protect your assets in Turkey with the help of local lawyers.

Turkish legislation has many peculiarities, so a Ukrainian may need legal support at any stage of organizing a move and arranging life in Turkey: taxes, health insurance, financial transactions, buying a car, etc. For a quick solution to any question, contact an experienced team of English-speaking lawyers in Turkey. Read more information about the help of a personal lawyer in Turkey at the link.

Relevant tips:

• How to issue a visa to Turkey: travel for tourists from different countries of the world and rules

• Kimlik and Ikamet: what is the difference and how to get a residence permit in Turkey?

• Law on foreigners and international protection Turkey: regulatory framework and main provisions

• Traveling to Turkey: why a foreign tourist can be deported
• Turkish laws: what interesting and strange rules a foreigner should know about

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.