Time to pet Istanbul's cats
It’s Turkey’s turn to join the digital nomad visa wave. Though, there are a few catches:
- Mostly Europeans, British, Americans, Canadians, or Russians can request it for now
- You need to be a university graduate
- You can be a freelancer, employee, or own a business, but you cannot engage in any commercial activities with Turkey
- You must be aged between 21 and 55
If you fit these criteria, then the process is fairly simple:
- Create an account on GoTurkiye
- Upload all the required documents (passport, diploma, proof of digital work, photo, and proof of monthly income > $3,000USD)
- After approbation, download your Digital Nomad Identification Certificate
- Show up to the Türkiye Visa center/consulate in your country or to the units of The Presidency of Migration Management in Turkey with your Certificate + additional documents they might have requested
You will be allowed to stay for up to 1 year (renewable) with this visa, and you can bring your family with you. The tax situation is still unknown for now, so check with a tax expert.
For more info: digitalnomads.goturkiye.com
Why would you even bother?
Turkey has this relaxed vibe that you might not be able to find in many other places. It’s quite affordable (average monthly cost of living of $1,200USD), the food is great, the landscapes are amazing, and the culture & history is quite something.
Though, since January 2024, there is a new law on short-term rentals forcing owners to request a special authorization for stays under 100 days. Making it more difficult to find short term-stays for digital nomads. The bright side is that it will encourage you to take it slowly.