Retiring In Turkey​

You are spoilt for choice. There are many excellent places to retire to in Turkey, depending upon your preferences. Some prefer quiet, seaside towns, while others seek a lively, centrally located city like Istanbul.

Take a look at some of our favourite areas for people to retire in Turkey…

1. Bodrum – This Aegean coastal town offers a perfect combination of modern places to live and Mediterranean charm. With its upscale marina, excellent healthcare facilities, international community, and year-round mild climate, Bodrum appeals to retirees who prioritize life by the sea. The town also has good transport links, quality restaurants, and a celebrated culture (whilst being more relaxed than Istanbul).
2. Yalikavak – Also located on Bodrum’s peninsula, Yalikavak has gradually been transformed into one of Turkey’s most exclusive retirement destinations. The prestigious Palmarina area attracts many expats, offering a slew of luxury properties, places to dine in style, and a slower pace of life than central Bodrum. It’s great for retirees who are keen to experience a slice of peaceful coastline with high-end facilities and proximity to the rest of Bodrum.
3. Istanbul – Turkey’s largest, cosmopolitan city brings the urban energy that many people desire. Expect to dive into the world-famous culture, unparalleled history, and excellent infrastructure. Areas like Bebek, Beşiktaş, and the Asian side provide plenty of healthcare options and exceptional historical sites. The city lets you experience both European and Asian influences, though it’s busier and more expensive than coastal alternatives.
4. Fethiye – This southwestern coastal town is popular with British retirees thanks to its stunning natural beauty, including the famous Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz. Fethiye offers an affordable cost of living, a well-established expat community, pleasant year-round weather, and easy access to beaches and mountains. Also, the town has good healthcare facilities and a relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere to enjoy.
5. Antalya – Turkey’s tourism capital on the Mediterranean coast provides excellent value, modern infrastructure, and an international airport with direct flights across Europe. The city offers quality healthcare, diverse neighbourhoods from historic old town to modern beach resorts, and a large expat community. The climate is warm year-round, making it particularly appealing for those who prefer a warmer winter.

And, of course, these are just a few of the destinations which suit retirees in Turkey. There are many more besides (simply ask James & Aysegul, and we will be happy to help you find the best spot).

This depends upon several factors, but the ultimate answer is ‘not much’ – especially when compared to expensive cities in the UK, US and Europe where the cost of living is prohibitive for many people.

Data suggests that the average cost of living for a single person in Turkey is around £475 per month ($636, €542). That same data suggests that the average cost of living is 41% cheaper than living in the UK. Similarly, another cost of living index rates Turkey as approximately 60% cheaper than living in the US, when considering the day-to-day cost of living.

Another way to consider how much money you need to retire in Turkey is to match it to the minimum average salary (at least) – which is around €573 per month.

At the same time, if you want to obtain citizenship through investment, you can purchase a property in Turkey for $400,000 to make yourself eligible – so this is an upfront cost to consider.

When you account for the beautiful scenery, weather, and pace of life, it is clear that retiring to Turkey is an excellent option. Ultimately, you will have to weigh up the essential costs that are particular to your situation, such as healthcare, property, utilities and regular travel costs.

If you’re looking to retire in Turkey, the process is quite straightforward for many nationalities. Here, we lay out the main steps to follow as an aspiring expat who would like to reside in Turkey for an extended period of time.

1. Check if Turkey fits your retirement goals – Before starting the whole process, make sure Turkey works for you in terms of cost of living, healthcare, climate & lifestyle and language. At this point, it’s important to note that there is no ‘retirement visa’ per se, rather, short and long-term residency gained in specific ways for any person.
2. Enter Turkey legally – Most expats enter Turkey using Visa-free entry (very common, and lasting around 30–90 days), or an e-Visa (applied for online before travel). This lets you be physically present in Turkey to apply for residency from inside the country.
3. Secure a place to live – You must have a legal address to apply for residency. To do this, you can rent an apartment or buy a property. Following that, you’ll need to have a notarised rental contract or property title deed (Tapu). This address will then be registered with local authorities.
4. Obtain Turkish health insurance – Health insurance is mandatory for residency, and there are two ways you can choose to go about this. The first, and most common for retirees, is to get Private health insurance. You are also eligible to get public health insurance (SGK) after one year of legal residency.
5. Prove financial self-sufficiency – Turkey requires proof that you can support yourself without working. In order to do this, you can provide pension statements, bank statements, investment income or other official documentation. While there’s no fixed income number publicly stated, but you must show regular, reasonable income that covers living costs.
6. Apply for a Short-Term Residence Permit – This is an essential step for anyone moving to Turkey. To do this, you can apply online through the Turkish immigration system to acquire a Short-Term Residence Permit under (e.g.) ‘property owner’ – you will need basic documentation to do this, such as a valid passport.
7. Attend your residency appointment – You’ll be given an appointment at the local immigration office (Göç İdaresi), in which you’re asked various simple questions and your documents are reviewed. Once approved, your residency card will be mailed to your address.
8. Receive your residence permit – Initial, short-term residency permits are often granted for 6 months to 2 years and these must be renewed before they expire. If you choose to do so, you can stay in the country and simply renew these as you need to.
9. Applying for & attaining citizenship – After getting your short-term residency certificate, you are also positioned to gain citizenship through a couple of different methods. You are able to get this after either 8 years of continuous residency, or much faster through making a specific investment in the economy (e.g. buying a property worth $400,000 or more).

Generally, retiring in Turkey will not affect your pension negatively and you can take it with you. There are a few things to consider if you are a UK or US citizen.

As a UK citizen

You can still receive your state pension if you move abroad, and claim it while living in Turkey. Even better, Turkey has a social security agreement with the UK, meaning that your pension will rise each year in line with the UK’s ‘triple-lock’ system. At the same time, you must have enough qualifying UK National Insurance years (usually 10 for any pension, 35 for full). Many private pensions also allow you to move abroad and still receive your pension.

As a US citizen

Similarly, you can generally receive your pension abroad as a US citizen, though you must report any taxable income to the IRS – for example, from SSA, 401(k) payments. The US taxes worldwide income, so will not be exempt from tax.

Generally speaking, you don’t need to speak Turkish in order to retire in Turkey, but it is helpful if you do!

This also depends on the city and area that you choose to relocate. Cosmopolitan, urban centres such as Istanbul will have many English speakers (and many services and facilities which use English, such as hospitals).

It is more a matter of preference, ease and comfort to learn the language. If you even learn basic phrases, this can help when you’re trying to buy something in a shop, renew important documents, or make new friends. We can happily advise you on the best areas to live, whether you speak some Turkish or not.

Buying property as a retiree is the same as buying a home as a working expat.

Many people use some of their retirement funding to get ‘citizenship by investment’, buying a property worth at least $400,000 and then submitting the relevant paperwork. Of course, you are not obliged to follow this route, but it is popular with many expats and retirees.

Other than that, you will need an experienced estate agent like James & Aysegul to help you purchase property legally, quickly and with minimum fuss.

Of course. There are a large number of US/UK expats living in Turkey, though certain regions attract more than others. Here are a few areas which are known for their expat communities:

Antalya Coast – The largest concentration of British retirees, particularly around Alanya, Belek, and Side. These areas have established expat associations, English-speaking doctors, British-style pubs, and regular social clubs.

Fethiye and the Turquoise Coast – Popular with British and other European retirees, offering sailing clubs, walking groups, and a well-developed expat social calendar. The nearby villages of Ovacik, Hisaronu, and Calis Beach have particularly strong English-speaking communities.

Bodrum Peninsula – Bodrum attracts more affluent retirees, with yacht clubs, international schools, and sophisticated expat networks. Areas like Yalikavak, Gumbet, and Turgutreis have English-speaking residents’ associations.

Istanbul – While more cosmopolitan than retirement-focused, Istanbul has diverse international communities, particularly in areas like Besiktas, Kadikoy, and the Asian side, with numerous expat groups and English-language services.

Turkish inheritance laws are very fair, allowing you to pass on property and assets to those that matter. This is the case, for example, if you have bought a home in Turkey.

There are usually taxes to pay on inherited property, regardless of whether the person is a Turkish citizen or not. The tax is progressive, generally ranging from 1% to 10% depending on the value of the assets and the relationship between the deceased and the heir.

You will have to navigate these rules with care, and navigate these rules with an experienced tax advisor who understands both the inheritance laws in your home country and those in Turkey.