Work and Legal Basics

Taksim · Experience date Feb 27, 2026

If you've used your 90-day visa-free allowance, common visa run options from Istanbul: Tbilisi, Georgia (1.5-hour flight, Georgians don't require visa, 3–4 days resets the 90-day clock), Sofia, Bulgaria (EU border, 1 hour by plane or 4 hours by bus), Chios or Lesbos in Greece (ferry from Çeşme or Ayvalık, day trip possible). Turkish borders reset your Schengen and Turkish day count simultaneously if you're using both. Immigration enforcement for overstays: fines 500–1,500 TRY, potential entry ban — worth doing the visa run rather than overstaying.

Taksim · Experience date Dec 19, 2025

Turkish Occupational Health and Safety Law (6331) applies to all workplaces. Employers must: provide health and safety training, appoint an occupational health officer for companies over 50 employees, conduct risk assessments. For foreign employees: same protections apply. If you experience a workplace accident: report to your employer immediately, seek medical attention, file a report with SGK within 3 working days. The Ministry of Labor (Çalışma Bakanlığı) hotline ALO 170 handles complaints — Turkish-language but can be assisted through an interpreter.

Maslak · Experience date Jan 15, 2026

Istanbul has a growing startup scene centered on İTÜ Çekirdek (Istanbul Technical University incubator), Galata Business Angel network, and the Maslak techno-park. Main tech companies: Trendyol (Turkey's largest startup, acquired by Alibaba), Getir (ultra-fast delivery, global expansion), Hepsiburada (e-commerce), Peak Games (mobile gaming). Salaries in Turkish tech: strong in TRY terms but volatile in USD due to lira. Tech companies often pay senior engineers in USD. Stack Overflow developer survey: Istanbul has significant developer population — local job boards like Kariyer.net list many tech roles.

Kadıköy · Experience date Nov 27, 2025

To invoice foreign clients as a freelancer based in Turkey: register as a 'serbest meslek' (independent professional) with the local Vergi Dairesi. Requires: vergi numarası, rental contract, and notarized documents. You'll receive a 'serbest meslek makbuzu' (professional receipt) book for invoicing. Income tax rates: 15–40% progressive. VAT (KDV) at 20% applies to domestic services, exemptions for exports. Social security (SGK): mandatory contributions as self-employed, around 5,000 TRY/month minimum. Work with a local muhasebeci (accountant) — 500–1,000 TRY/month is typical fee.

Kadıköy · Experience date Mar 19, 2026

Istanbul's coworking scene is mature and reasonably priced. Options: Kolektif House (Maslak and Kadıköy locations, 3,500–5,000 TRY/month dedicated desk), Workinton (multiple locations, 2,500–4,000 TRY/month), Atölye (Asian side near Kadıköy, creative focus, 2,000–3,500 TRY/month). Day passes: 300–600 TRY. Private office in a coworking space: 8,000–20,000 TRY/month. Traditional commercial office lease: requires commercial lease agreement, more complex paperwork. For small teams: coworking is easier and significantly cheaper than commercial lease.

Taksim · Experience date Dec 8, 2025

Many Turkish professional associations accept foreign members: Istanbul Bar Association (for lawyers with equivalent qualification), TMMOB (engineers and architects), Tabip Odası (doctors). Foreign professionals in regulated fields must get their qualifications recognized (denklik) by the relevant Turkish authority before practicing — this process takes 3–12 months depending on the profession and involves submitting apostilled and translated diplomas. Non-regulated professions (IT, marketing, finance) have no formal recognition requirement.