SoloOutpost
Europe · TRY

Turkey For Solopreneurs - Tax, Immigration, Lifestyle

Reviewed 2026-06-21
Top income tax
40%
Self-employed SS
Yes
VAT
20%
Capital gains
40%
Exit tax
No
Nomad visa
Yes
54
/ 100
Tax efficiency25
Ease to enter88
Ease to exit65
Cost of living91
Internet14
English25
How is this scored?
Turkey taxes residents on worldwide income using a progressive scale from 15% up to 40%, with a 25% corporate rate and a 20% standard VAT. Self-employed founders must enroll in the mandatory Bag-Kur social security scheme and pay the full premium themselves. A government digital nomad visa requiring about 3,000 USD monthly income makes relocation feasible, and the low cost of living is offset by high inflation, currency volatility, and limited English outside major cities.

Personal income tax

Income tax structureProgressive
Top income tax rate40%
Entry income tax rate15%
Top rate threshold$135,000
Taxation basisWorldwide
Local/state income taxNo

Social security

Self-employed social securityYes
Employee SS rate15%
Employer SS rate22.75%

Indirect & other taxes

VAT standard rate20%
Capital gains rate40%
Long-hold CGT exemptionYes
Wealth taxNo
Inheritance/gift taxYes
Inheritance top rate30%
Property taxNo

Exit & residency

Exit taxNo
EU/EEA deferralNo
Days to trigger residency183 days

Corporate

Corporate income tax rate25%
WHT on dividends15%
CFC rulesYes

Incentives & special regimes

Special expat regimeNo

Immigration & setup

Digital nomad visaYes
DNV monthly income requirement$3,000
Entrepreneur visaYes
Ease of setup4 / 5

Lifestyle

Cost of living index31
Internet speed69 Mbps
English proficiencyLow
Civil liberties27

Digital nomad visa

Turkey runs the Digital Nomad Visa / Short-Term Residence, which lets you live here legally while earning from clients or an employer abroad. You need to prove $3,000/mo.

ProgramDigital Nomad Visa / Short-Term Residence
Income requirement$3,000/mo (USD 3,000/month (36,000 USD annually) required. Proof via employment contract or business agreement showing foreign-sourced income.)
Duration1 year
Renewablerenewable
Application feeConsulate visa application fees vary; exact fee not specified in official GoTürkiye documentation.

How it is taxed

Turkey applies the 183-day tax residency rule. Digital nomads staying longer than 183 days in a calendar year are treated as tax residents and taxed on worldwide income.

What you need to qualify

  • Age 21–55
  • University degree or higher
  • Foreign-sourced income of USD 3,000/month
  • Citizen of eligible country (34 countries: EU, UK, US, Canada, etc.)
  • Valid passport (6+ months)
  • Proof of remote employment/self-employment
Official sourceCompare every nomad visa

Verified 2026-07-17 · high confidence

Citizenship by investment

Turkey grants citizenship to investors from $400k. This is a passport rather than a permit, so it survives you leaving the country.

Turkish Citizenship by Investment (Law 5901 Art.12; Reg. Art.20)

RouteFromNotes
Real estate purchase$400k3-year title-deed resale restriction
Fixed capital investment$500k
Bank deposit$500k3-year hold
Government bonds$500k3-year hold
Investment/VC fund shares$500k3-year hold
Private pension$500k3-year hold
Job creationvariesemploy 50 people
Residency requirementnone
Processing time~3-6 months (citizenship phase)
Dual citizenshipAllowed
Closed to4 nationalities
Official sourceCompare with other programs

high confidence

Sources

← All countries

Informational only. Nothing here is tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules change often and vary by personal circumstance. Verify every figure against an official source and a qualified adviser before acting. Figures are re-expressed from public sources and cited per country.