FAQ

Answers to your questions:
Marriage - I'm English, how do I marry a Turkish Person in Turkey?

MARRYING IN TURKEY REQUIREMENTS FOR BRITISH NATIONALS

Marriage UK- How do I marry a Turkish person in the UK?
Procedure and documents for registration of a marriage between a Turkish and foreign national in the UK are as follows:

First, you need to get in touch with the local registration office in the UK.

Turkish citizen needs to obtain a certificate of no impediment from his/her local registration office in Turkey through this Consulate General. To this end, s/he needs to apply to this Consulate General with his/her ID card (nufus cuzdani).

Following the marriage ceremony and having the marriage registered at the local registration office in the UK, Turkish national has to inform this Consulate General of his/her marriage within one month just after the marriage.

For the registration of marriage at this Consulate General, following documents have to be produced:

• Marriage certificate and a photocopy
• Birth certificate of the foreign national and a photocopy
• ID card of Turkish spouse (nufus cuzdani) and a photocopy
• 2 photos of foreign national
• 4 photos of Turkish spouse
• 8x50 pence stamps

Please note that foreign women marrying Turkish men in the UK have the right to become a Turkish citizen by making a written statement to this Consulate General within one month just after the marriage. The Republic of Turkey accepts dual nationality as long as bride's country does not object it.

For any further information please call the Consulate General (extension 211 or 212).

Marriage - Two Foreigners - Neither of us are Turkish how do we get married here?

Required Documents:

• Certificate of no impediment from the local registrar of marriages in the UK
• Birth certificate and passport
• A divorce or death certificate of previous spouse if married before

Procedure
Application to the relevant consulate in Turkey to initiate the formalities.

The certificate of no impediment and certificate of identity and nationality obtained from the relevant consulate to be authenticated by the local Governor office in Turkey

Application in person to the local marriage office to give notice of marriage, submit the certificates, complete necessary forms and fix a date for the marriage ceremony

Solemnization of marriage (if the marrying parties do not speak Turkish, they are advised to arrange for an interpreter to be present during the ceremony)

Notice to the relevant consulate to have the marriage registered in their country.

Notes:
Foreign nationals in Turkey can also get married in their respective consulates if it is possible under their national law. However, if one of the parties is a Turkish citizen, marriage can only be solemnized by the Turkish authorities. Please also contact with your country's consulate(s) in Turkey.

For any further information, please call the Consulate General (extension 211 or 212).

Divorce - How do I get a divorce, I was married in Turkey?
If a marriage between a Turkish and a British national was solemnized in the UK and then registered in Turkey or if a marriage between a Turkish and a British national was solemnized and registered in Turkey, regardless of divorce degree that may be a obtained in the UK, a suit of divorce should be filed in Turkey as well. To this end the following steps should be taken by the foreign national:

A solicitor in the UK will give Power of Attorney to an appointed solicitor in Turkey. The Power of Attorney should be legalised by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and this Consulate General respectively.

Upon receipt of this Power of Attorney the appointed solicitor in Turkey will commence with divorce proceedings.

You may also contact the British Consulates in Turkey (for the addresses of British Consulates in Turkey please click here).

For any further information please call the Consulate General (extension 237 or 240).

Turkish Nationality - How do I apply

According to Turkish Nationality Act (numbered 403), a foreigner should meet the following requirements in order to apply for Turkish nationality.

S/he should be at the age of consent according to his/her national law (if s/he is not a citizen of any country, Turkish law is taken into consideration which requires 18 years old as the age of consent). S/he should reside in Turkey for the last five years and should have the intention of settling in Turkey (This condition may not be applicable to those who are married to a Turkish national or those who have Turkish origins).

S/he should be in good health.

S/he should speak Turkish.

S/he should have enough financial resources to support himself/herself and his/her family in Turkey.

If you meet the conditions above, you can apply to obtain Turkish nationality. Application can be made through this Consulate General or the local Governor's office in Turkey with the following documents.

• A document revealing the present nationality of the applicant, i.e. passport or birth certificate.
• If married to a Turkish national, the official documents confirming the identities and family ties of the spouse and the under aged children.
• Certification of applicant's ability to speak Turkish (a certificate will be issued by this Consulate General upon a successful interview of the applicant).
• A medical certificate confirming the applicant's good health and being free from any infectious diseases that may endanger the public health (this certificate can be obtained from the local GP or family doctor).
• 4 photographs
• Completed application forms which can be obtained from this Consulate General.
• Certification and translation fees.
• 7x50 p. postage stamps.

Completed dossiers are transferred to the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey, which in turn will consider and process the applications on their merits. The applicants will be informed of the outcome by this Consulate General in due course.

For any further information please call the Consulate General (extension 236).

I'm Turkish - How can I visit the UK
Please note that before traveling to the UK, Turkish citizens are required to obtain visa through the British Consulate General in Istanbul/Turkey. For any inquiry regarding the visit of a Turkish national to the UK, you are kindly requested to contact with the British Consulates or British Embassy in Turkey.

Real Estate - How can I purchase property in Turkey?
Foreigners may purchase land and property in Turkey on their own names providing they are not in restricted areas eg, military areas. Rules are changing all the time as Turkey aligns itself to Europe.

In order to acquire the title of a property, an application has to be submitted to the local Land Registry Office in which the property is situated. After carrying out necessary searches and checks for the abovementioned requirements, the transfer of the title is done by the Land Registry Office. During the transaction, the proofs of the documents concerning the transfer of the full purchase price into Turkey must be presented to the Land Registry Office. Also a one and a half per cent duty (i.e. tax) both for the purchaser and seller is due and collected during the transaction.

There exists an annual property tax, collected by the municipalities (i.e. local governments) at the rate of 0.3 per cent for private buildings. The newly built properties are exempt from the annual property tax for 5 years. All properties are subject to revaluation for every five years for tax purposes. The acquired property may be resold or rented out and the proceeds may be transferred out of Turkey. Different regulations apply when a property is purchased for business related purposes.

For further enquiries please go to our sister website Angles Property Consultants, contact our real estate specialists who will be able to provide any advice needed.

Pets - How can I bring my pet to Turkey temporarily?
In order to take a pet into Turkey for a temporary period, the following documents should be legalised by the Consulate General.

• Veterinary certificate (and vaccination document) which should be issued not more than fifteen days before traveling to Turkey should be stamped by the British Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or by the British Foreign Office.
• Export certificate issued by the British Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries or by the British Foreign Office.
• Photocopies of above mentioned documents, which will be retained in our files as reference.
• The legalisation fee for each document is 12 pounds payable in cash, by company cheques or by postal order which must be made payable to the Turkish Consulate General.
• If forwarded by post, kindly enclose a self-stamped & self-addressed envelope for the safe return of the documents.

Golf- Is there a golf course in Marmaris
A new golf course is being built and supposedly will be operational soon. You can take trips to Antalya where there are golf courses.

Employment in Marmaris- How do I get a job in Marmaris
Residence permits are required by foreigners wishing to stay in Turkey for more than one month. An application must be made to a Turkish Embassy or Consulate, and you must obtain the duration of your residence on your visa before coming to Turkey. However, if you do not require a visa, you are also exempt from residence permit.

The maximum duration of residence permits is one year. The duration may be extended by local security authorities with valid cause. Any change in residence or marital status must be reported immediatly. Foreigners with residence permits should apply to the security authorities in case they wish to leave Turkey for a temporary period.

If you intend on working in Turkey, you must first apply to your local Turkish Embassy or Consulate before coming to Turkey. Work permits are authorized by the Ministry of Interior to be issued by Turkish Embassies or Consulates. After arriving to Turkey, you must apply to the local security authorities within one month together with your work permit visa issued in your passport.

Once you live here and have a residency visa, you may apply for a work permit. This can be done yourself or through an Accountant or solicitor.

Employment in Marmaris- How do I get a summer job in Marmaris
Officially to get a job here you need a work permit, however many people arrive in April and obtain jobs in bars and hotels unofficially. The only way to achieve this is to apply personally to the local businesses.

Because you do not have a work permit, it is possible for the employer to pay rock bottom wages and you have no security. If you get caught the penalty is a fine and deportation.

What is Marmaris Like in Winter
Marmaris is wonderful in winter, those who live here prefer it to the summer. The weather is very temperate and you can still get a tan and swim in the ocean.

Quite a few places are closed, but the harbour end of Marmaris remains very active, there are a lot of hotels, restaurants and bars open. The larger hotels remain open all year.

There are plans afoot to make Marmaris into a 12 month resort and these should be coming into fruition over the next year or so.

There is a huge yacht race in November and the rest of the time we create quite a lot of entertainment ourselves.

What is Marmaris Like For Xmas & New Year
Christmas and New Year are special here, especially as quite a few of us do not have all the family around us that we would like, so we tend to make up for it with great parties. For the English the Pupa Bar is the main place to be for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The larger hotels also do parties and dinners, so it is fairly much the same as at home. Christmas cards are hard to find, so bring some with you and post them very early.

Toilets
Toilets in Marmaris are mostly non existent in the streets. You have to use the ones in restaurants and bars. In decent bars in the towns, the toilets are fine, however if you are a bit out of the way you may find yourself faced with a Turkish toilet which is basically a hole in a stone slab with feet marks on it. Squating is the name of the game here and you will find a hose pipe to cleanse with, toilet paper is not usually found in this kind of toilet so keep tissues with you.

In the city there is no problem with putting toilet paper in the loo, but in outlying areas put the paper in the bin provided.

Religion
Religion is a fairly laid back thing here with everyone living together without a problem. The main religion is Muslim but there are many others here to and no one seems to worry too much about the other. A new church as recently been opened in Marmaris which has no specific denomination.

Late in the year is Ramadan, pronounced Ramazan here, which means that Muslims cannot eat, smoke or drink anything but water between sun rise and sun set. This also means that someone drives around the streets banging a drum at approx 4 am every morning to wake everyone up so that they can have breakfast before sunrise!

Driving
We drive on the right in Marmaris so be sure to look both ways before crossing the roads. It will probably seem a little hectic as no rules seem to be the rule at first. Once you get over the first shock you will find driving easy here and quite safe, but be careful on and of motor scooters. Car hire companies are many and prices vary, so does quality of maintenance, check out our site for car hire as we only use a high quality company.

If you choose to drive a scooter here be careful making left turns, it is often more prudent to pull over on the right and then make your left turn when the traffic is clear.

air conditioninging
air conditioninging is sadly lacking here as Marmaris is considered mainly an outdoor place in the summer time. Most restaurants and bars are outdoors and umbrellas are the norm for shade.

Not many bars have aircon and it can become quite sticky in July and August. Most hotels have aircon but charge extra for it at about 3 pounds per day. Things are improving slowly, but you might want to bring one of those battery hand fans in high season.

Electricity
The electricity here is the same voltage as at home but the plugs have two round pins. You can buy adaptors anywhere. All your electrical appliances will work here

Lawyers/Solicitors
Here is a list of English speaking lawyers. If you would like free consultation we can arrange it for you, email us and let us know.

Mobile Phones
If you have GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) enabled on your phone you will have no problem.. Check with your service provider before you leave home.

Internet Access
There are many Internet cafes dotted around Marmaris and it is very cheap, about 60p an hour. However, the connection goes out over a 56k modem which makes them incredibly slow. You need a lot of time and patience. Some of the hotels are now finally putting in Internet corners which are a bit better.

Airport
Dalaman airport is about an hour and a half away from Marmaris. If you arrive during the day, you will see some lovely scenery to keep you occupied. If you are coming in on a flight only basis, we can arrange a transfer from the airport to your hotel for you. See Flights and Transfers

Crime
Crime is very low here compared to most European holiday resorts. Turkish jails are a great deterrant. However, it is always wise to watch your wallets and to use the hotel safe deposit boxes. You need not worry about walking around late at night.

Money
You should bring a mixture of types of cash. Use Travellers Cheques for safety, but bring some Turkish Lira and your local currency. European currency and dollars are much in demand here (due to the instability of the Lira), you can use them for big ticket items such as jewellery and carpets etc., you could probably get a better bargain using these currencies. However use Turkish Lira for drinks, food and all other small items. There are ATMs everywhere but usually they will not allow you to use credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard to obtain cash, so bring a debit card with you. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Weather
In spring and winter it can be a bit chilly at night so bring a jacket. June to September is either hot or comfortable, night remains from quite warm to too warm, so light clothing should be worn. See more details on our climate pages

Post Office
The Post Office here is called PTT and has yellow signs. There is the main office which is near Migros and there is one in the bazaar. It can take 3-4 weeks for anything to get to and from home. Your postcards will arrive long after you get back so give them to someone who is going home before you so they can post them locally. Stamps are 30p.

Mosquitos
Yes we have them and they love tourists. You can buy repellant here fairly cheaply, but you cannot find the amonia sticks which stop them itching once you have been bitten, so bring some with you. You can buy plugs with repellant tablets in them for your hotel rooms.

Film
Camera film is readily available, you can also develop your photos here if you can't wait. There are many photo shops to choose from, most of which are fairly priced.

Swimming
The sea here is wonderful. Clean, warm and crystal clear, swim to your hearts content.

Health
The most common ailment is the obiquitous tummy bug. There are local remedies but Imodium is the best cure, bring some with you. The water is safe to drink and ice is no problem, wash fruit before you eat it.

Dehydration is a problem in high summer, drink lots and lots of water

The local hospitals Ahu Hetman and Caria are very good, so if you need them feel quite secure in using them.

News
Newspapers are available but they are expensive and usually a few days old. The news is shown on Sky which is in most bars, restaurants and hotel.

Cars in Turkey
If you are in Turkey as a foreigner and you want to acquire a car, the first thing you must do is look at its number plate. A white number plate on a car means all the Turkish duties have been paid. You may buy a new car from a dealer duty free, which will make it about 30% cheaper but in this case you have to apply for a blue number plate to show that the car belongs to a foreigner.

Alternatively you can bring your foreign plate car, or buy one from a departing foreigner but unless you apply for a blue plate for it, the car has to be taken out of Turkey every three months. Blue plate cars can be bought from other foreigners as well and the best place to find these is in a Yabancidan Yabanciya (foreigner to Foreigner) column in the daily paper. Road tax is collected twice a year and is compulsory for everybody.

Driving Licence
Every visitor driving in Turkey must hold an international licence, issued in his or her own country of origin. This can be used during stays of up to one year after which time it is necessary to obtain a Turkish licence. The documents for this can be obtained from the applicant's embassy or consulate in Turkey. Additionally one is supposed to have the car licence (documents with all the details relating to the car), international green card (insurance) and transit book. Traffic circulates on the right and the Turkish Highway Code is similar to those of European countries. There is a 50 kph speed limit in urban centers and a 90 kph limit outside the city boundaries.

Bring furniture from overseas
Household goods may be brought into Turkey without payments of custom duties by foreigners coming to work in banks, businesses, factories or as official personnel for foreign governments for a minimum of two years. Other foreign residents can similarly avoid custom duties through the temporary import system, as long as one can submit a bank guarantee or similar type of letter ensuring that all custom duties will be paid if these belongings are not taken out of Turkey at the end of the period of residency.

Bedding
Western style duvets are still difficult to find in Turkey because the Turks love their cotton-filled, satin topped quilts, specially made for them by the quilt-maker. As the cotton gets pressed down inside the quilt after regular use, they take the quilt back to the quilt-maker once every two or three years to have the filling fluffed up again. If you have never seen this being done, it is an experience to watch the quilt-maker in action, using his cotton dispenser, while pieces of cotton are flying about in the air, like snow flakes that are being tossed about by a strong wind in Siberia.

Pillows should be no problems as they come with all possible fillings: cotton, feathers or sponge rubber. In general, the Turks themselves go in for the cotton filled ones, as they are the coolest to sleep on in the long, hot summer. The size might cause some problems for pillow cases brought over from Europe. Those in Turkey are either too long or too small, because the convention is to have the small one put on top of the long pillow, both in their pretty cased frilled with embroidery or lace, matching the quilt cover.

Holidays
The national holidays in Turkey are based on the international calendar and have fixed dates every year. These are:
January 1st    New Year's Day
April 23rd    National Sovereignty and Children's Day
May 19th    Aturturk's Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day
August 30th    Victory Day
October 29th    National Republic Day
Religious holidays fall on different dates each year because they are regulated by the Islamic calendar. The two important religious holidays are called Seker Bayrami (The Feast of Sweets, lasting for three days) and Kurban Bayrami (The Feast of Holy Sacrifice, lasting for four days). Both periods of merriment when children are given new clothes, the poor are helped and all the family members are visited, being a Muslim country, Turkey has no Christmas holiday.

Schools break up from the middle of June to early September and also for two weeks in February which are taken as the winter holiday.

Income Tax
Diplomats and officials working for agencies of foreign countries are exempted from income tax. All other foreigners whose stay in Turkey exceeds six months, must pay the tax, except for journalists and scholars whose presence in Turkey is for a specific, temporary job.

Income tax rates may vary depending on the amount of income earned. For people who are in the low income bracket the rate is 25% but it can go up to 50% for the highest earners. Preferential rates are applied to the wages of people whose work is in the first and second priority areas for development.

Pharmacies
The pharmacies are open from 9 am to 7 pm but a 24 hour service is provided by them in rotation. To find out which pharmacies are open after 7 pm in you area, consult the nöbetçi ezcaneler (pharmacies on duty) section of the local newspaper.

At the pharmacy you can get first aid as well as medical advice. Additionally, you can have your injections given to you there. If you are too ill to go out, the pharmacy can arrange for the local nurse to come to your house to give you an injection. State hospitals are notorious for their waiting lists and private ones for their heavy charges so a large number of people go to pharmacies first. As many drugs are sold over the counter without a doctor's prescription, only persistent ailments cause patients to resort to the hospitals.