²ÝÁñÉçÇø

About 175,000, it seems, but the reasons for leaving are not clear.

I gather that leaves 4.4 million expats in the country, that including 1.1 million with residency permits.

Inflation is high so poorer expats will have problems as prices rise.

According to the dude in the video, only poor expats have trouble meeting the income rules.

UK state pension seems to meet the minimum for the moment IF you draw a full pension. However, you won't be rich.

Honestly, I don't think the passive income requirement is too stringent and makes sense for the good of the Turkish economy.  Given that the inflation rate is 46%, a requirement of 150% of minimum wage sounds reasonable.  No country would want to admit expats who struggle financially.

The video states that the minimum passive income requirement is roughly 600 BP for 2024 and will go up for 2025 but is not specified.  My wife informed me that other countries like Portugal and Spain have also been raising the income requirements for expats.  So for comparison sakes, I looked up the passive income requirements for a few other countries:

Portugal: 721 BP

Greece: 1,658 BP

Spain: 1,990 BP

Italy: 2,140 BP

So in retrospect, comparatively from my list above, the requirements for passive income for °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð is not excessive. 

Except for not meeting the income requirements, what are the other reasons for expats to leave °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð?

@azmarina91

Bottom line, no reason to leave Turkey, life is different but not bad at all and in my experience you can trust people (and virtually no crime).

Expenses have skyrocketed, but Turkey do not expat people who do not want to spend.

It is really sad in restaurants, most of the time we are the only clients (even if food and service is great), same applies for hairdressers, even supermarkets (and normal markets)

People come, but do not spend, Turkey does not need that.

I will see what happens for me and my wife with Ikamet extention, but i am am not too worried

Poor pensioners are not needed, they (the government) have put some requirements, but rarely challenged by the way

COST of living as becoming as in Western Europe, but that is fine, quality is perhaps even more important.

@cdw057

I am leaving °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð temporarily, due to my frustration/impatience.  The reason being,  the previous lawyer that was assisting me in getting my ikamet, either forgot to tell me that I have to register my address, or simply thought I knew what to do next.  I wish I had read carefully on the requirements and informed myself.  Here is the problem.  The new lawyer working on the renewal then said we have to start from scratch applying for ikamet, and that I have to leave the country and come back the same day.  I did, and got my ikamet on December valid October to April (6 months, but 2 months have gone by already). Here comes my frustration.  When I went to register my address, they required that I make a new contract.  The contract I had was between myself and the landlord, and was notarized.  I then learned that the contract has to be drawn at the notary office only, which you know is expensive.  So, after visiting Ğöç twice, l just decided to give up on ikamet, and visit °Õü°ù°ì¾±²â±ð as a tourist.  Lesson learned: Don’t completely rely on a lawyer, research yourself by going into the government websites.  Even the lawyers may not have an up to date information, due to changing rules.

You can do your own ikamet application via the goc website. We do it ourselves no need for a lawyer

[Post under review]

Hello kzein,

Please note that this is an English-speaking forum. Kindly ensure that all posts are written in English.

Thank you,

Cheryl

²ÝÁñÉçÇø team

@Gringoes

  Of course you could do this through internet and in these times likely to be succesful (depending where you come from). But a lot of horror stories and I prefer to have some comfort (support with documentation (it went very fine last time and I expect this to be the case next time), but I heard some horror stories though. For support you have to pay (but they also have connections).

@azmarina91

Bottom line Turkey needs people who spend (this can be through renting, but better through buying), why do you not buy (prices are not too bad at all)?

Indeed a lawyer is not needed, but support is.

They really seem to focus on marriage certicate with apostille, we went there with a pack of documents (marriage certificate, tapu, bank statements, water/electricty bills, health insurance documents, ..) 

For them the marriage certificate was interesting (and impressive (international from the Netherlands). The rest the office did not really look at other items (I suspect our support has talked before (giving an incentive might be useful from time to time)

Again, why do you rent?

@azmarina91

No real reasons to leave for me and my wife.

Please look at the channel

I do not believe any of these financial requirements, but she and husband left.

Still interesting channel though.

@Gino_C

Good post, but by the way I have no income whatsoever, just living on capital (I have to wait until I am 65)

@Fred

Who needs poor (not spending) expats, Turkey should be stronger in this respect. Anyhow Turkey is exceeding some of the EU countries.

People can come to Hungary/Bulgaria/Romania (EU is a plus).

I love the infrastucture, low crime, conveniences, ..

I have made posts before (please look)

Dont know much about the reasons or the Turkish program but income requirements are very common throughout the world for residence visas.

In the middle east, even for "Retirees", you need to show income e.g. in Bahrain it's around a 1000 GBP per month PLUS medical insurance.  In UAE, its even more.   Alternatively if you don't want to deal with income requirements, you can purchase property which is north of $0.5 mn. 

And these are countries with stronger economies than turkey (GDP per capita is double or triple of Turkey depending on the GCC country) and stable currencies (pegged to the USD).  I do understand why Turkey wants to do this considering the challenges it faces with it's currency and economy.  Makes sense.

Here is another perspective offered by an American expat who elaborates on his life in Turkiye and offers an objective analysis including the cost of living.