Understand Istanbul.
Practical answers for living, moving and navigating life in Istanbul — with official sources linked.
Start here
Check your visa and stay limit
6 min read
Get in from the airport
4 min read
Get a SIM and home internet
6 min read
Get around with Istanbulkart
4 min read
Open a bank account
6 min read
Get your residence permit
11 min read
Work remotely, legally
7 min read
Use the healthcare system
3 min read
Set up daily life
4 min read
Move with children
4 min read
Know the emergency numbers
4 min read
Avoid scams and stay safe
7 min read
Where are you in your move?
Explore the Handbook
Getting Around
4 articlesTransport cards, buses, ferries, taxis, airports — however your city moves, the answers are simple.
Driving in Türkiye: A Practical Guide for Expats and Foreign Residents
Home & Housing
2 articlesFinding a home, renting, utilities, moving in.
Moving Into a Flat in Istanbul: Electricity, Water, Gas and the Building Fee (Aidat)
Money & Banking
3 articlesBank accounts, tax numbers, cards, transfers.
20-Year Tax Exemption in Turkey: Who Really Qualifies
Mobile & Digital
2 articlesSIMs, eSIMs, home internet, e-Devlet, the apps you actually need.
e-Devlet for Foreigners: Getting Your Password and What You Can Do With It
Healthcare
2 articlesHow the system works — public vs private, pharmacies, insurance, emergencies.
Health Insurance for Your Residence Permit: What Is Accepted in Türkiye
Residence & Legal
3 articlesPermits, address registration, work permits — the slow grind of being legal.
Working Remotely from Türkiye: Digital Nomad Visa, Work Permissions, Tax & Social Security
Everyday Life
4 articlesShopping, deliveries, schools, pets, the small things that wear you down until they don't.
Istanbul Pet Resources Directory
Safety & Emergencies
4 articlesEmergency numbers, scams, earthquake preparedness, lost documents.
Lost or Stolen Passport, Residence Permit or Phone in Türkiye: What to Do
Language & Culture
1 articleThe local language, etiquette, and the misunderstandings worth skipping.
Turkish Basics and Etiquette: Words, Customs and the Rules Worth Knowing
More from the Handbook
Driving in Türkiye: A Practical Guide for Expats and Foreign Residents
Planning to drive in Türkiye? Understand foreign driving licenses, car rental, vehicle ownership, insurance, foreign-plated cars, HGS tolls and traffic rules.
Istanbul Pet Resources Directory
Find veterinary clinics, emergency animal hospitals, pet sitters, boarding services and municipal animal-care resources in Istanbul.
Pet Ownership in Istanbul: A Practical Guide for Expats
Moving to Istanbul with a pet? Learn about import rules, PETVET registration, veterinarians, pet-friendly housing, transport, adoption and emergency care.
20-Year Tax Exemption in Turkey: Who Really Qualifies
Turkey's new 20-year tax exemption on foreign income explained: who qualifies, what's covered, why remote work usually isn't, and how to apply.
Taxi Trouble in Istanbul? Here's Where to Complain
Overcharged, refused or no meter? How to report an Istanbul taxi to ALO 153 (English available), claim a refund through the Consumer Arbitration Committee, and when to call 112.
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