Retire in Turkey
To retire in Turkey (officially Türkiye) you need income of at least 1.5 times the net minimum wage for a short-term permit. Prices run at less than half of US levels, and foreign social security pensions are not taxed.
What it takes, what it costs, and where retirees settle, from Turkey's law and official data. Checked on Oct 8, 2026.
- Retiree visa
- 1.5x the net minimum wage There is no fixed amount in the law, which asks for sufficient and regular means for the length of the stay. For the tourism category, the Presidency of Migration Management sets sufficient income at no less than 1.5 times the net minimum wage in force on the day you apply, and regular income as proof that you received it for at least the last three months. The 2026 net minimum wage is ₺28,075.50 a month. Applying with family, you need at least the minimum wage for each family member. Law 6458; Migration Management; e-İkamet document list. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Price level
- ~45% of the US Household consumption, 2025. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- Tax on a foreign pension
- 0% Foreign pensions are not taxed. Income Tax Law; PwC Tax Summaries. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Travel advisory
- Level 2 of 4 Exercise Increased Caution. US State Department. Updated Jun 8, 2026.
- Health spending
- $548/person Per year; US $13,473. World Bank. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
- US tax treaty
- Yes An income tax treaty with the US is in force. IRS. Checked Oct 7, 2026.
Do you qualify?
Retirees who live in Turkey without working use the short-term residence permit, here in its tourism category: you apply from inside Turkey, show steady income from a pension, savings or rent, health insurance and an address, and renew the permit before it expires.
Short-term permit visa: documents and feesRetiring in Turkey, topic by topic
Visa
Short-term permit visa requirements
Documents, government fees and the other routes to residency.
Healthcare
Healthcare for retirees
The hospitals retirees use, what insurance covers, and Medicare abroad.
Money
Banking, pensions and tax
How US, UK and Canadian pensions reach a local bank, and what you report at home.
Budget
Cost of living
Official prices and a budget built from your own rent.
What it costs
Household prices in Turkey run at about 45% of US levels. Rent is the line nobody publishes officially, so the cost of living page builds your budget from your own rent.
Build your budgetWhere retirees settle
Istanbul
- Largest city, 15,655,924 people (2023), on the Bosphorus
- American Hospital and Acıbadem Altunizade, both JCI accredited
Antalya
- Mediterranean coast, 2,426,356 people (2018)
- Antalya American Hospital, 115 beds
Bodrum
- Aegean resort town, 175,000 people (2020)
- Acıbadem Bodrum Hospital, 108 beds
İzmir
- Aegean port city, 2,948,609 people (2023)
- Acıbadem Kent Hospital, 272 beds
Wikidata; American Hospital; Acıbadem; Antalya American Hospital. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Visiting Turkey first
Most people spend a few weeks in Turkey before they apply for anything. Two things to sort out for that trip:
Kiwi.com
Flights to Turkey
Compare routes and dates before a scouting trip.
Airalo
eSIM for Turkey
Mobile data from the day you land, without a local SIM.
Partner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. How this works.
Retiring in Turkey: questions
Is Turkey safe for retirees?
The US State Department rates Turkey Level 2, exercise increased caution.
Do I pay tax in Turkey on my pension?
No. Turkish income tax law exempts retirement, disability and survivor pensions paid by social security institutions abroad. A new resident who had no home and no tax liability in Turkey in the previous three calendar years is also exempt on all other foreign income, private pensions included, for 20 years. US citizens still file a US return.
Can an American retire in Turkey?
Yes. Most use the short-term residence permit for tourism: income of at least 1.5 times the net minimum wage, health insurance unless you are over 65, and an address in Turkey. You apply from inside Turkey and renew at most every 2 years.
Where do retirees live in Turkey?
In Istanbul, or on the coast in Antalya, Bodrum or İzmir, each with a private hospital in the city.
Does Turkey tax a retiree's pension?
Not if it is paid by a social security institution abroad. New residents are also exempt on all foreign income for 20 years if they had no home or tax liability in Turkey in the previous three calendar years.
