From Hamams to Hair Transplants: Health and Wellness for Expats in Turkey

With a rich history that merges East and West, Turkey presents a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern advancements. One area where this fusion is particularly evident is health and wellness. From the time-honored practice of visiting hamams (Turkish baths) to cutting-edge medical procedures like hair transplants, Turkey offers expats a comprehensive approach to … Read more

What Quality Of Healthcare Can You Expect In Turkey?

Healthcare in Turkey consists of a mix of public and private health services. Turkey has universal healthcare under its Universal Health Insurance (Genel Sağlık Sigortası) system. Under this system, all residents registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK) can receive medical treatment free of charge in hospitals contracted to the SGK. Turkey’s universal healthcare falls … Read more

What Options Are Available For Chronically Ill Expats In Turkey?

If you suffer from a chronic illness, then moving abroad can be a stressful time, especially if you are not familiar with your destination’s healthcare system. But if you are planning on moving to Turkey, we have got you covered—here’s what you need to know.   Public vs private healthcare: which is the best option … Read more

Maternity Care In Turkey: What The Options Are And How To Decide On A Birth Plan

Choosing a birth plan is an important decision, and one that relies on many different factors. Fortunately, insurance coverage should not be an issue, considering that, as of February 2012, Turkey has implemented a universal health insurance programme. Anyone living in Turkey is required to have health insurance, although specific coverage and cost may vary.  … Read more

How To Register With The Health System In Turkey

Turkey has universal healthcare under its universal health insurance system, which in turn is part of the Social Security Institution (SGK). Under this system, all residents registered with the Social Security Institution can receive medical treatment free of charge in hospitals contracted to the SGK.The national healthcare system in Turkey underwent a major overhaul in … Read more

How To Look After Your Mental Health In Turkey

Maintaining good mental health can be challenging, especially in a foreign country. Before you decide on your next destination, it is important to figure out how you’ll be able to prioritise your mental health, as well as the type of care you’ll be eligible to receive as an expat. Sadly, Turkey doesn’t have many resources … Read more

How To Keep Your Health Insurance Costs Low In Turkey

All permanent residents over the age of 18 and below the age of 65 are required to have healthcare insurance if they plan to remain in Turkey for longer than one year. Unless otherwise provided in reciprocal social security agreements between your home country and Turkey, you’ll be subject to the following Turkish policy:“If the … Read more

How To Keep Fit And Healthy In Turkey

With everything from healing muds and hot springs to traditional Turkish hammams, Turkey is a place that’s fully equipped to take care of your body, mind and soul. The country’s colourful traditions, unique history and diverse landscapes mean that there’s plenty to do and explore outside of your home. So, if you’re looking to make … Read more

How Much Do Health Procedures Cost In Turkey?

Whether you’re seeking cosmetic, surgical or routine care in Turkey, you’ll be pleased to know that the standards of healthcare have improved over the years. As a result, Turkey is quickly becoming known for its health tourism industry. But just how much do procedures cost? Read on to find out!Understanding Turkey’s healthcare system Before we … Read more

How To Open A Bank Account In Turkey

Most state banks in Turkey were originally established to finance specific industries (such as Ziraat Bank, which was established to help agricultural development), but private banks generally have close connections to large industrial groups and holdings. The Central Bank of Turkey was founded in the early 1930s, and it is responsible for things like issuing … Read more

How To Rent Or Buy Property In Turkey

Buying a property in Turkey The Turkish government has removed many of the hurdles that once made buying property in Turkey more difficult for foreign nationals. Therefore, if you are looking to purchase a home there, you can now do so just as easily as a Turkish citizen could. Military clearance, for example, while still … Read more

How To Apply For A Visa In Turkey

Many foreign nationals will need a visa to enter Turkey. The standard Turkish tourist/visit visa is valid on a multiple-entry basis for a period of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. Some cruise ship passengers, who arrive at sea ports to visit as tourists, may be exempt from needing a visa, assuming they … Read more

How To Find A Job In Turkey

Turkey is a popular destination for expats seeking residence and work, particularly its beautiful city of Istanbul and its capital, Ankara. If you are interested in working in tourism and hospitality, the tech industry or English teaching, you will find suitable vacancies in Turkey, but the country’s economy has recently taken a downturn and you … Read more

Turkey – Recommended Social Media Accounts

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Turkey and some of the social media accounts you should be following if you’re thinking of moving there.Expats of TurkeyFacebook Group Whether you are … Read more

Turkey – Recommended Blogs

At Expat Focus, we like to be on the lookout for resources around the web that could help prospective expats adjust to their new countries. Today, we’re taking a look at Turkey and some of the blogs that might be useful for expats there.Janey In Mersin www.janeyinmersin.com Janey moved from Sydney, Australia in 2012 to … Read more

Interview With Anastasia M. Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gokmen, Istanbul-based American editors of Tales from the Expat Harem

This expatriate literature project, an internationally bestselling anthology by foreign women in modern Turkey, has been praised by everyone from diplomats to professors, top travel publications like National Geographic Traveler and Lonely Planet, and major global newspapers like Canada’s Globe & Mail, the UK’s Daily Telegraph, and the International Herald Tribune in Paris.Expat Focus talked … Read more

What To Do If You’re Arrested In Turkey

Turkey is a culturally rich country with a modern character. Human habitation in this region dates back more than 25,000 years, and the first temple in the world was built here during Neolithic times. Today it is known for its multi-religious heritage and cosmopolitan society. Turkey is a relatively safe country and most expats do … Read more

Preparing For The Climate In Turkey

With its location primarily in the temperate zone in Western Asia and Southeastern Europe, most expats expect Turkey to have a temperate climate. However, the country extends across a reasonably large area (783,562 square kilometers) of very diverse landscape, with mountains, plateaus, and coastal areas, surrounded by seas on three sides, and with the Sea … Read more

5 Great Golf Courses For Expats In Turkey

Turkey has long been viewed by tourists and expats alike as some exotic Middle Eastern location that has been the traditional bridge between east and west. While it truly is an beautiful, exotic land, there is a lot more to Turkey than its rich cultural heritage and history. While Turkey’s culture, kebabs and mosques do … Read more

Dealing With Culture Shock In Turkey – Some Advice For New Expats

Turkey’s unique geographic position hasn’t just made it a historic bridge between East and West, it has also helped shape a distinctive culture that blends the traditions and values of both East and West. Most of Turkey’s population is Islamic, but its people are quite different from what stereotypical perceptions of Middle Eastern or Islamic … Read more

5 Foods You Must Try When Living In Turkey

From aromatic home-cooked stews to spicy kebabs, Turkey’s culinary heritage is a blend of varied influences. The flavors that arose from the kitchens of the Ottoman court continue to inspire Turkish cooking today, as do the cooking methods and tastes of the many ethnic communities and cultures that have inhabited the land over the years. … Read more

Rob Thomas, Ozsubasi Homes

Please tell us a bit about yourself and your company My wife Carol and I came to live in Didim (on the Aegean coast of south west Turkey) in 2007, and we are both in our 50’s. I’ve been with Ozubasi Homes since then, although it wasn’t the plan when we arrived . We bought … Read more

Anastasia M. Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gokmen, Istanbul-based American editors of Tales from the Expat Harem

This expatriate literature project, an internationally bestselling anthology by foreign women in modern Turkey, has been praised by everyone from diplomats to professors, top travel publications like National Geographic Traveler and Lonely Planet, and major global newspapers like Canada’s Globe & Mail, the UK’s Daily Telegraph, and the International Herald Tribune in Paris. Expat Focus … Read more

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