Moving to Turkey: new opportunities for Ksenia and Izmail
How did Ksenia and Ismail choose Turkey for their move?
What are the emotions and challenges of moving to Turkey?
How life in Turkey affects immigrants: pros and cons
Decision about moving
Ksenia and Izmail made the decision to move to another country after long deliberations and careful preparations. They started by exploring several options, but ultimately settled on Spain. However, since February 24, all their plans have changed drastically. The rental of their apartment in Krasnodar has already begun, but the search for real estate in Spain has become extremely difficult due to the strict measures imposed by both the Spanish authorities and Russian institutions. Moreover, they were plagued by doubts about how they would be perceived in the new country after all the challenging events.
Transition to Turkey
Everything changed when an acquaintance recommended that they consider Turkey and suggested a reliable realtor. From her stories, they learned about several positive aspects:
Direct flights:Flights from major cities in Russia to Turkey are continuing.
Simplifying financial operations:Questions about transferring money from Russian banks that are not subject to sanctions significantly simplify financial operations.
Hospitality:Turkey is known for its hospitality and friendly attitude towards Russians, which has been a significant factor in their choice.
Mersin as a promising city
When Ksenia approached the real estateagency, she was advised to pay attention to Mersin—a promising city, especially considering the government's plans to build a new international airport. Moreover, the cost of housing in Mersin is much lower than in the famous resort areas of Turkey, creating attractive conditions for investment. Surprisingly, within four months, market prices for apartments in new residential complexes in Mersin increased by one and a half times, making this region the second fastest-growing in terms of price in the country.
The process of choosing an apartment
The selection of the apartment and the process of finalizing the deal took place online. Ksenia noted that the opportunity to see the apartment through an online presentation played a key role in this. At the time of the viewing, the building was still under construction, but its framework was visible. The real estate agent showed them various apartments, highlighting their unique features and the views from the windows.
Signing the contract
When Ksenia found a suitable place to live, it was time to sign the contract. The realtor sent them an electronic version of the contract from the developer. Ksenia and Izmail printed the document, signed it, scanned it, and returned it to the agency. On the surface, this process seemed easy, but according to Ksenia, the most confusing part was transferring the funds to the developer's account. At that moment, they chose Tinkoff Bank, which, unfortunately, had increased its fees for international transfers since July. As a result, to send money abroad, Russians mainly started using the services of Raiffeisenbank. Only after numerous attempts were they able to successfully complete all financial transactions on the fourth try.
Emotions of moving
Moving to another country is always accompanied by a variety of emotions and anxieties, especially when the deadline for fulfilling financial obligations under the contract is approaching. To ensure that this process goes smoothly, it is crucial to carefully prepare all the necessary documents that may be requested by the bank.
Necessary documents
These include:
the contract itself;
confirmation of income sources;
evidence that the founders of the developer have no connection to so-called "unfriendly" countries.
In July, after a successful deal in May, Ksenia, Izmail, and their ten-year-old son finally moved to Turkey for permanent residence.
Opening a bank account
After the deal was completed, the family had to open a bank account and prepare all the paperwork for obtaining an "ikamet," which translates to a residence permit. To do this, they will need to provide documents confirming ownership of the property, known astapIt's interesting that this document can be obtained even if the building is still under construction, which is what happened in this case.
Documents for "ikamet"
To obtain the "ikamet," in addition to the "tapu," you need to gather a few more documents:
birth certificate of the son;
marriage certificate.
These documents must be certified with an apostille in the country where the family previously resided. The "ikamet" is issued for a period of one to two years, with the possibility of extension. It is important to note that having this document allows for the enrollment of a child in a public or private school in Turkey, but it does not grant the right to work.
Features of life in Mersin
Life in Mersin, like in any other new place, has its own features and challenges that newcomers face. Ksenia discovered many advantages in her new location.
Activities in the summer months
Local residents mainly start engaging in sports and walks in the evenings when the heat subsides.
Proximity to the sea
One of the significant factors attracting Ksenia and her family is the proximity to the sea. The beach is located just a few dozen meters from their new home, allowing them to enjoy swimming and evening walks along the picturesque promenade without any extra effort. Surprisingly, the locals visit the beaches much less frequently, while newcomers from Russia actively take advantage of this time to relax by the shore.
Quality of local products
The quality of local products has become another significant advantage of life in Mersin. In this region, there is no concept of seasonality for vegetables and fruits, as all products are available year-round at very low prices.
Converting lira to rubles, one can notice that prices for goods in Turkey look quite favorable. This applies not only to food products but also to household appliances, clothing, textiles, and furniture, which are significantly cheaper compared to Russian stores. For example, furnishing a three-room apartment cost only...200,000 rublesthat seems quite reasonable and accessible.
Ultimately, every detail, from paperwork to quality of life, requires attention, but in the end, it opens up new opportunities and brings amazing experiences.
Overview of the local market
Ksenia noted that there are virtually no products on the local market that are not made in Turkey — the majority of the offerings come from local producers.
Educational system
Another positive aspect is related to the education system. With the start of the new school year, her son has entered the fourth grade of a private school where classes are conducted in Turkish. This certainly creates certain challenges, as mastering academic subjects in a foreign language is quite difficult.
Nevertheless, in this school, almost half of the students speak Russian, which significantly eases the process of adapting to the new environment. Ksenia emphasizes that the learning takes place in a friendly atmosphere: the teachers and the principal do their best to support both the children and their families.
Changes in the school menu
For example, this year, due to the increase in the number of children from Russia and Ukraine, the school cafeteria changed its menu, adding dishes familiar to them from European cuisine.
Financial aspects of education
The annual tuition at the school costs 90,000 rubles, which is a significant factor when planning the family budget.
The curriculum emphasizes subjects such as mathematics and foreign languages, with English and German being studied alongside Turkish.
The friendliness of the local residents
Another important advantage worth mentioning is the friendliness of the locals, who are able to make contact and offer help. Turks are known for their openness, easily starting conversations with foreigners and showing no signs of discontent or bias.
Ksenia notices that local parents, especially fathers, pay great attention to their children, spend quality time with them, and even when they point out any shortcomings, they do so in a tactful manner.
Disadvantages of living in Turkey
But life in Turkey has its downsides as well. One of the main challenges that immigrants face is the difficulty of finding a job.
To get a job, you need to receive an invitation from a Turkish employer and a special visa.
If you had a business or worked for yourself in Russia, you won't be able to engage in entrepreneurship in Turkey legally without registering a company and creating conditions to hire at least five local employees.
Legal aspects of business
For detailed information on the legal aspects of starting a business in Turkey, you can refer to our material "How to Start a Business in Turkey."
Comfort for remote employees
Ksenia notes that people who work remotely for foreign companies or have a stable passive income feel quite comfortable in Turkey. An additional positive aspect is the low exchange rate of the Turkish lira against the US dollar, euro, and ruble, which allows for significant savings on expenses compared to living in Russia.
Transport issues
Another significant issue that many face is the complex transportation strategy within the country. This is also important to consider for those who are looking at Turkey as a place to live and work.
Conclusions about the move
Moving to another country is always a big step, full of challenges and opportunities. The story of Ksenia and Ismail clearly demonstrates how, even in the most difficult circumstances, one can find a way out if they are not afraid to change and adapt to new realities. Their desire to settle in Spain faced tough conditions, leaving them with no choice but to seek alternatives, which ultimately led them to Turkey.
Advantages of choosing Mersin
The process of choosing Mersin as a new home demonstrates how important it is to consider not only current trends in the real estate market but also the future development prospects of the region. The agency's recommendation was a key factor that allowed the family to avoid significant financial losses and straightforwardly realize their dreams of a new home. It is also important to remember all the difficulties they faced when transferring money and processing the necessary documents — this confirms that even relatively..."Simple" steps can turn into real challenges.requiring attention and patience.
A new life in Turkey
However, despite all the difficulties, life in Turkey has opened up many new opportunities for Ksenia, Izmail, and their son. The pleasant climate, access to quality products, and the ability to enjoy the sea make everyday life comfortable and vibrant.
The main advantages of living in Mersin:
Climate:mild winters and pleasant weather in spring and autumn.
Sea:Just two steps from home, the perfect place to relax.
Quality of products:available and high-quality vegetables and fruits all year round.
Prices:low prices for both groceries and household appliances and furniture.
New perspectives
It is even more important to note the possibility of a challenging move as an enriching experience that allows a family to create a new reality filled with experiments and discoveries.
Conclusion
The final lines of this story are not just an ending, but the beginning of a new chapter. Moving to Mersin became for Ksenia and Izmail not only a change of residence but also an opportunity to rethink their values and priorities. Each new day in this eastern country brings them new experiences and joys, and perhaps these are the very changes they were missing in their previous life.
I hope this story will inspire others who are facing the choice of moving or finding a new path.Moving is not just a change in geography, but also in personal life.And for those who dare to take this step, it is always important to remember: the most important thing is not to be afraid and to move forward, opening up new horizons.
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