The pandemic-fueled jump in remote work has opened the door to a similar hike in digital nomads — globe-trotting workers who just need an internet connection and a suitcase to do their jobs while soaking in the scenery.
But digital nomadism isn’t all fun: You’ll need to be the type of person who can buckle down to work no matter what environment you’re in, you’ll need to love scheduling and planning conflicts, and you’ll have to have a strong understanding of how to legally travel and work in other countries. We can only help you with that last one.
Turkey has just launched a brand-new and fairly flexible visa specifically for digital nomads, and you probably qualify for it. Here’s what to know.
Who Qualifies for Turkey’s New Visa?
The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry has listed a few requirements for who can be considered for its new visa. Here’s a quick list:
- Applicants must live in a qualified country. The US, UK, Canada, Russia, and some European countries are all included.
- Applicants must be between the ages of 21 and 55.
- Applicants must have a university degree.
- Applicants must be employed, self-employed, or hold a business contract with a company outside of Turkey.
- Applicants must prove they earn $3,000 USD monthly or $36,000 annually.
- Applicants must have a passport or a travel document that will be valid for at least six months after they arrive in Turkey.
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How Do Qualified Workers Get the Visa?
If you’re eligible, you can get the application process started now on the official website for this new visa. You’ll have to upload documents proving each of the above qualifications.
If approved, you’ll receive a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate. You’ll then need to take the certificate (and all your qualification documents) to a Turkey visa center or consulate in order to actually apply for the visa itself.
Here’s the full list of countries that are eligible, from the official website:
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, United Kingdom, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus.
Where Should You Go in Turkey?
Istanbul is the country’s economic center, and it remains by far the largest city across all of Europe, so it’s the most likely draw.
However, cities like the country’s capital, Ankara, may offer great experiences for even more attractive price points.
Whatever you settle on, we’d recommend reading up on what to expect as a traveler. The metro system is incredibly good, but you’ll also be dealing with a lot of tobacco smoke in public areas. Plus, we can tell you right now not to use a VPN while in the country. Turkey blocks access to VPNs, as we’ve discussed in our guide to the legality of VPN use.
If you’re looking for alternatives, we’ve listed plenty of other digital nomad-friendly countries to consider in 2024.
