Moving To Istanbul? Here Are Some Practical Tips You Need To Know

Moving to another country is always a challenging task no matter where you decide to go. If you’ve got your eyes set on Istanbul, check out some of these practical tips about finding a place, residence and work permits, and socializing with other expats.

Residence and Working Permits

Before you decide to live in Turkey, you’ll have to apply for a work permit and work visa from your nearest embassy. You can check which documents are required from your local embassy’s page as well as any necessary fees. You will probably be granted a one-year temporary work visa, which you can renew for another three years after the initial one year. The Turkish government will also only issue a work visa to self-employed individuals after they have lived in Turkey for five years.

After you’ve arrived in Turkey, apply for the residence permit in order to receive what is called a “pink book” from the foreigner’s registry office of the local police department (called Emniyet Müdürlüğü Yabancılar Şubesi in Turkish). If your employer doesn’t take care of this, make sure to do it within 30 days of your arrival. Also, make sure to contact the local department for the necessary documents and fees.

Finding an apartment in Istanbul is another very important step, and you can use such resources as expat groups on Facebook in order to tap into the network of other expats living in the Turkish city. Local websites such as Hürriyet Emlak and Sahibinden are the most popular places to search for apartments online.

Best Neighborhoods to Live

Istanbul has many neighborhoods that range from young and bohemian to wealthy and urban, so make sure to do your research before choosing a place to settle down. Apart from being close to your place of employment (or at least close to a source of public transportation), you can choose from young and trendy neighborhoods such as Galata and Cihangir in the city center, Şişli or Beşiktaş, and (depending on your budget) upscale neighborhoods such as Etiler and Arnavutköy. If you’re interested in the Asian side, check out available apartments in Kadıköy, especially Moda, the Asian side’s trendiest neighborhood.

Resources for Expats

Apart from the previously mentioned Facebook groups for expats in Istanbul, Internations is an excellent online expat community where you can not only find useful information and tips but also get to know other expats and attend special events. The Guide Istanbul and Time Out Istanbul (in English) magazines are two of the best resources when it comes to getting to know Istanbul and all of its best restaurants, bars, and events.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.