Moving to Türkiye from Russia

What do Russians need to know before moving to Türkiye?

• Bring multiple printed copies of all key documents (passport, marriage/birth certificates, no-criminal-record) — apostilled and notarised translations are standard.
• The most-used Russian-friendly residence permit type is the short-term tourist permit, applied for at e-ikamet within 30 days of arrival.
• Most Russian families converge on Antalya (Konyaaltı, Lara, Muratpaşa) or Istanbul (Şişli, Beşiktaş, Maltepe) — pre-arrival reconnaissance trips are common before signing a long lease.
• Russian schools (with Turkish accreditation) exist in Antalya — "Antalya International School", "Антальская гимназия" — alongside private Turkish schools.
• Currency: Russian rouble has limited convertibility in Turkish banks; most arrivals convert to USD/EUR before transfer or use Turkish accounts of family members already there.

Do Russians need a visa for Türkiye?

Visa-free for 60 days per visit (180-day rolling period). Longer stays require a Turkish residence permit, applied for in-country at e-ikamet.gov.tr. Russia is in the Bracket-B/C nationality range for residence permit fees in our calculator.

How are Russians taxed when moving to Türkiye?

Türkiye and Russia have a double tax treaty. If you become Turkish tax resident, the treaty determines which country taxes which income type. Treat the treaty as the starting point — and consult a Turkish tax advisor before settling on a long-term plan.

How big is the Russian community in Türkiye?

Estimated 100,000+ Russian-speakers have established medium-to-long-term residence in Türkiye since 2022, with Antalya, Istanbul and Mersin the largest concentration.