If you are curious about Istanbul expat life you can learn more about it on this blog post. Have you ever been in Istanbul and wondered what it would be like to live in this amazing city? Lots of tourists who come to visit this city already think that it is a great choice for vacation. But Istanbul expat life can be just as good as coming here for vacation purposes. In fact, Istanbul can be considered one of the best cities for expats.
If you have been thinking about moving to a different city, you may want to consider Istanbul as an option. Because this wonderful city has a lot to offer to people who are living in it. There are many amazing things to do in Istanbul and you can have a great time in this city. Especially if you have been here before and liked its vibe and energy, you can start a new chapter in your life in Istanbul.
Before you decide to move here permanently, it can be a good idea to visit the city for a couple of days. You can see this trip as an oppurtunity to discover the place and start getting to know your next possible living space. Meanwhile, you can also do fun activities and enjoy the vacation, too.
So what you should and should not expect from Istabul expat life? Or what is the legal process of getting a residence permit to be able to live in this city? And what is life like in Istanbul as an expat? In this blog post, you can find answers to these questions.
What Is Istanbul Expat Life Like?
Your experience as an expat in Istanbul can kind of depend on what your previous living conditions were like. For instance, if you had an education on a specific field such as tech or something important like that, it can be rather easy for you to start your new life here. After all, there can be many job opportunities for you in this city depending on the skills that you have.
Your education level and previous working experience can affect your Istanbul expat life when you are trying to find a job here. There can be many job opportunities in this city if you have enough experience and the required education level. But keep in mind that in order to be able to work in Istanbul as an expat, you will need a work permit. You can get this process done with the help of a lawyer if you’d like.
Working life is not the only aspect to consider before you get into the Istanbul expat life. Language can actually be a huge problem. Even though there are many Engllish-speaking people in Istanbul, not everyone here speaks English. It can become a problem once you start living in this city. For instance, in markets, restaurants or stores, you may need to know at least some basic level of Turkish to communicate.
You may also need to know Turkish in your work life as well. You can learn some basic Turkish by yourself before you come to Istanbul. Moreover, you could take some classes too. But it can get a lot easier to learn Turkish here by speaking it in your daily life.
Istanbul Expat Life: Is It Difficult to Get A Residence Permit in This City?
Another thing you may be curious about Istanbul expat life can be getting a residence permit. To be able to start living Istanbul legally, you need to get a residence permit. In fact, it is one of the most important things that you need to get done in this whole process before you enter the Istanbul expat life. Getting a residence permit is not a very challenging process. But you should definitely work with a lawyer since they know what you need to do while getting your residence permit.
First of all, you need to fill an application form on the e-ikamet (e-residence) website. Then you need to make an appointment at Provincial Directorate of Migration Coordination in Istanbul. If you application is accepted, you can go to the Migration Coordination and submit the necessary paper work.
There are different types of residence permits that you can get. For example, there are residence permits available for students, families, etc. Moreover, people who want to live in this city for a short or a long period of time need to get different permits. The main paper work that you need to submit for getting a residence permit here can be listed as:
- Application form
- Passport
- Four biometric photos
- Proof of enough monetary resources