How to settle in Istanbul and its advantages

Is Istanbul a suitable option for settling down?

Istanbul is one of the most preferred cities for settling in Turkey, due to the availability of several factors suitable for all foreigners in Turkey, regardless of their different goals; Istanbul is classified as the most prestigious city in Turkey, the largest in terms of population, and the economic, tourism, and cultural capital of Turkey. Istanbul is known for its vast extension across two continents and the huge geographical area it occupies on the Turkish map, estimated at 5,461 km².

Istanbul enjoys many famous tourist places, important landmarks, mosques, ancient walls, and historical sites, in addition to its urban development, with new residential areas. The city also has two airports, making it one of the largest organized urban conglomerations in Europe. It has become a preferred place to live and settle—especially for Muslims and Arabs—due to customs and traditions that are very similar to Islamic and Arab customs, and the shared culture.

Comparing Istanbul with other Turkish cities in terms of settling down

Istanbul has advanced to rank first among those searching for the best place to live, reside, and settle in Turkey. The ancient city has maintained its ranking for long periods and has led the largest and best projects in Turkey in recent years, such as the Istanbul Canal Project (the Project of the Century), and the new Istanbul Airport with its distinguished location in the major city that forms the meeting point between East and West, in addition to its suspension bridges and tall buildings distributed across various old, new, tourist, and commercial areas. Istanbul also hosts the largest parks and mosques.

Ways and methods of settling in Istanbul

Many people wonder how they can come to Turkey and live in Istanbul. We will explain in detail the ways a person can move to Turkey.

The first step that guarantees a person’s move to Turkey is applying to Turkish embassies for a visa. After obtaining it, there are various types of residence permits if one wishes to continue staying in Turkey. The residence permit allows one to live normally, and buying property in Turkey is still at the forefront of these methods. There is also a short-term residence permit, also known as a tourist residence, and a long-term residence permit, or what is known as permanent residence in Turkey, which is granted to those who have resided continuously in Turkey for eight years according to specific conditions. There is also a work residence permit granted to foreigners employed in Turkish companies, and a student residence permit for those coming to Turkey to study at Turkish universities. There is also a family residence permit in case of marriage to a Turkish woman or man, and its holder has the right to apply for Turkish citizenship after three years. The family residence can also be obtained for the family members of an employee who has a work residence permit.

There is also a residence permit through property purchase, known as the real estate residence permit in Turkey, which is renewed every year. The wife and children under eighteen are also eligible as dependents.

Advantages of settling in Istanbul

 Working in Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the most important Turkish cities for work, due to its many factories and landmarks that employ a large workforce, whether in factories, farms, offices, hotels, or shops.

There are many job opportunities in Istanbul for foreigners, such as translation, working in various factories, jobs in real estate investment companies, tourism agencies, hair transplant clinics, student consulting offices, educational centers, libraries, Arabic publishing houses, restaurants, food and dessert shops, tourism activities, agriculture, livestock breeding, and many more fields.

Educational life in Istanbul

Istanbul is a city that extends over a vast geographical area and connects the continents of Europe and Asia. It is the most vibrant city among the Turkish provinces, blending a group of ancient civilizations throughout the ages.

Istanbul is a student city that provides all the requirements for high-quality education, with world-class educational staff and a strong infrastructure that ensures students an ideal academic life. It has a large number of public and private universities, ranked among the best in the world, and offers graduation certificates recognized globally.

It is worth mentioning that 30% of Turkey’s universities are distributed in the city of two continents, with about 61 universities in Istanbul, not to mention many Arab and international schools licensed by the Ministry of National Education in Turkey, providing educational services in Arabic, English, and other languages.

The health sector in Istanbul

Istanbul has had the largest share in the development of health services and the spread of specialized and general hospitals in Turkey. It is the largest city in terms of population and the economic and historical capital of the country.

It is not surprising that there are many public and private hospitals spread throughout Istanbul, and the tremendous development of its medical facilities. There are about 220 hospitals in Istanbul on both the European and Asian sides, including 142 private hospitals, 17 university hospitals, and 62 government hospitals, in addition to a very large group of advanced health centers with modern medical technologies.

Istanbul includes a series of central, specialized, and well-known hospitals at the European level, such as the Medical City in Basaksehir, in addition to other specialized medical centers for dentistry, cosmetic surgery, and hair transplantation, attracting patients from all over the world. 

 Investment in Istanbul

Istanbul is the beating heart of the Turkish economy, thanks to its concentration of offices and high commercial towers, as well as the world of finance and trade. There is also a wide range of shopping malls and major stores that house a huge number of the most famous local and international brands. In addition, there is strong infrastructure required for all types of investments, including metro and Metrobus lines, highways, a huge network of transportation lines and municipal buses, and the largest and most prominent real estate projects in Istanbul. The city also has major construction companies building the best and most advanced residential complexes, as well as a variety of tourist attractions that attract all types of tourists, distributed in different areas of the city and easily accessible, increasing the importance of tourism investment.

Istanbul has topped the list of the best Turkish cities for investment, whether real estate, industrial, tourism, or financial.

The city of two continents, Istanbul, is one of the best Turkish cities for real estate investment. Real estate investment in Istanbul leads other real estate investments, and even other types of investments in general. Real estate investment remains one of the most successful and thriving investments in Istanbul, as evidenced by figures and statistics issued by specialized institutions.  

Disadvantages of settling in Istanbul

There are many disadvantages to living in Istanbul, some of which are related to language, as Turks prefer to communicate in their own language and appreciate those who speak it. Therefore, newcomers to Istanbul initially face difficulty in communication. However, Turkish is a language that one can pick up quickly, and soon you will find yourself meeting the basic requirements of communication, gradually mastering and delving deeper into the language.

Another disadvantage of settling in Istanbul is that it is a crowded and sprawling city, making transportation not as easy as in other cities, especially if you want to live in a rural area near Istanbul while your workplace is in the heart of the city.

Best areas of Istanbul for settling down

European Istanbul is divided into several main areas with sub-districts. These include Eyup, which contains the tomb of the great companion Abi Ayyub Al-Ansari; Avcilar, which overlooks the coast of Kucukcekmece Lake; Besiktas on the Bosphorus; Kucukcekmece; Beyoglu, which includes the famous Taksim Square; Sultan Gazi; Esenler, which has many residential complexes; Bahcelievler; Beylikduzu; Basaksehir, famous for its beauty, apartments, and lands; Catalca; Bagcilar; Bakirkoy; Fatih, known for its heritage and commercial activity; Bayrampasa; Esenyurt, full of residential complexes; and other sub-areas.

Asian Istanbul includes several areas across its geographical expanse, such as Kadikoy, which has twenty-one neighborhoods; Maltepe, one of the oldest municipalities in Istanbul; Atasehir; Uskudar, known for its tranquility and natural beauty, and the tunnel station connecting both sides of Istanbul under the Marmaray Sea is located in Uskudar; Umraniye, famous for its green spaces; Tuzla, in the south of the Asian side on the Sea of Marmara; the Princes’ Islands; Sancaktepe; Kartal; Sile; Sultanbeyli; and Pendik.

Imtilak Real Estate services for those wishing to settle in Istanbul

Our services at Imtilak Real Estate for those wishing to experience settling in Istanbul start from receiving the client's inquiries electronically while they are in their country, then welcoming them at the airport with a private car, and hosting them in one of the finest hotels in Istanbul, ending with handing over the apartment key and obtaining the Turkish passport.

Imtilak Real Estate begins by studying the client's desires, the possibilities they are considering, and their preferences among the Turkish provinces.

Imtilak Real Estate conducts a comprehensive study of all areas that the client includes in their plans for family housing in Turkey. After studying the available options, the Imtilak Real Estate team takes you on a field tour to see the property in reality and provides you with a comprehensive study about the property and all its specifications, as well as the area and its positive features.

Edited by: Imtilak Real Estate©