Turkiye is often cited as the meeting point of two continents – Asia and Europe. Now, it is offering a meeting of two different concepts – remote living and working. Yes, you can now obtain a short-term Digital Nomad Visa and enjoy this heritage-laden beach paradise while working from your laptop.
As the world gets smaller, upgraded smartphones and internet services are providing a boon for countries that can now host foreign residents all year round while giving them a home-from-home experience. Let’s take a look at the new scheme being promoted by Turkiye.
Turkiye has become a hub for digital nomads as they are consistently lured to this rapidly transforming country while holding on to its fundamental pillars: history, beaches, beautiful landscapes and the rest.
It is a country waiting to be thoroughly explored beyond the traditional hotspots of Istanbul and Antalya. Izmir, Kusadasi, Bodrum, and Aydin are just some of the cities that resonate with many foreign guests.
Understanding this global move towards remote working, Turkiye has sought to diversify its potential to remote foreign workers with the launch of the Digital Nomad Visa.
Who Can Apply?
Those eligible to apply are citizens from France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Switzerland, U.S., Canada, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus.
Applicants must be:
- between the ages of 21 to 55,
- have a university graduate
- and must prove that they earn the equivalent of a $3,000 monthly salary or $36,000 annually.
Self-employed or not, the application requires submitting a document, such as a contract, that clearly shows the applicant is employed as a digital nomad category.
In addition, applicants are asked to provide documentation of their monthly or annual earnings. This is, of course, in addition to the usual requirements of having a passport valid for at least six months after the date of entry to Türkiye, and submitting a biometric photo.
The application is submitted via the GoTürkiye website’s new Digital Nomad section.
To apply for a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, you need to sign up to the platform. Then access your account to upload the scanned versions of the required documents. This application will produce a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, which can then be taken to a local Turkish consulate or visa center for the actual visa to be issued.
How To Get A Reliable Internet Connection?
To get an internet connection in your home, you will need to contact a service provider and install one.
All the primary internet providers of Türkiye offer ADSL connections. Fiber connections are available in larger cities and along the coast. Signing up for a combined package (telephone and internet) might be more economical.
There are many options for connection packages. Packages are available for a period of one month to two years. Prices vary, and the subscription process for expats who are homeowners or renters is relatively straightforward: proof of identity (residence permit) and a recent utility bill.
Arriving To Turkiye
Turkiye is served by many airporters, primarily the new İstanbul Airport (IST), Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), which is also in İstanbul, Dalaman Airport, Antalya Airport (AYT) and Izmir Airport.
Andy Probert is an experienced freelance business travel journalist and PR specialist.
