A digital nomad is a person who carries out their work through the internet and digital tools, without being physically tied to a particular office, and who continues this way of working while living in different cities or countries. For Türkiye, the subject is no longer merely a lifestyle. The Digital Nomad Identification Certificate, the digital nomad visa, the short-term residence permit, the legislation on the employment of foreigners, tax residence, social security and the relationship with a foreign employer are separate fields of law that must be assessed together.
Under Türkiye's official digital nomad programme, nationals of certain countries who meet conditions such as being aged 21-55, holding a university degree, working with an employer or client established outside Türkiye and earning at least USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year may first apply for a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate and then, through a diplomatic mission or a visa centre, for a Digital Nomad Visa. According to the current statement of the Presidency of Migration Management (Göç İdaresi), persons whose visa is approved may, after entering Türkiye, apply through the e-Residence (e-İkamet) system for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes.
It should nevertheless be understood in particular that the digital nomad visa is not the same document as a general work permit, does not give the right to work for an employer in Türkiye, and does not create an automatic tax exemption. The nature of remote work actually carried out in Türkiye may vary according to whether the worker is tied to an employer, in which country the client or employer is established, whether the activity is performed in Türkiye, whether the person is considered a tax resident of Türkiye and, where applicable, the double taxation treaty.
Short Answer for 2026: What Are the Basic Conditions for Being a Digital Nomad in Türkiye?
The basic current conditions for the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate under Türkiye's official programme are, in summary, as follows:
| Subject | Basic rule as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Age | Between 21 and 55 |
| Citizenship | Being a national of one of the eligible countries on the official programme list |
| Passport | A passport/travel document valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Türkiye |
| Education | A diploma or equivalent document showing university graduation |
| Work | Working for a company established outside Türkiye, or a freelance relationship with a company/client established outside Türkiye |
| Income | At least USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year |
| Photograph | Biometric photograph |
| First stage | Digital Nomad Identification Certificate |
| Second stage | Digital Nomad Visa through a Turkish diplomatic mission/visa centre |
| After entry into Türkiye | Application for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes through e-Residence |
Meeting these conditions does not mean that the application will necessarily be accepted. The identification certificate, the visa and the residence permit are different administrative stages; each stage is concluded under its own legislation and administrative assessment.
Is a Digital Nomad the Same as a Remote Worker?
The concept of a digital nomad
A digital nomad combines the possibility of remote work with geographic mobility. The person may be an employee, a freelancer, a consultant, a software developer, a designer, a content creator, a marketing specialist, an analyst or another professional providing services online. What is decisive is not only the name of the profession but the fact that the activity can be carried on remotely and with digital tools.
The concept of a remote worker
A remote worker may live in the same country, even in the same city, and work from home. For this reason, every digital nomad is a remote worker, but not every remote worker is a digital nomad.
The difference between a tourist and a digital nomad
Tourist status is essentially aimed at visiting and temporary stay. The digital nomad programme, on the other hand, offers a special administrative application route for persons who aim to be in Türkiye while their remote working arrangement continues. This difference becomes important especially for stays longer than 90 days and at the residence permit stage.
The difference between a foreign employee tied to an employer in Türkiye and a digital nomad
The position of a foreign national tied to an employer established in Türkiye is, as a rule, assessed under the work permit regime within the scope of Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force. In the digital nomad programme, by contrast, the official application condition is that the employment relationship is not established with a company established in Türkiye.
Is There Really a Digital Nomad Visa in Türkiye?
Yes. Türkiye accepts digital nomad applications through the official GoTürkiye platform operated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism / Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency. The process does not consist merely of "declaring that you are a digital nomad".
A three-stage structure
In practice, the application consists of three separate stages:
- Obtaining a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate from the GoTürkiye platform,
- applying, with this certificate, for a Digital Nomad Visa through a Turkish diplomatic mission or an authorised visa centre,
- if necessary, applying for a short-term residence permit after entering Türkiye.
The "identification certificate", the "visa" and the "residence permit" are not the same document
The Digital Nomad Identification Certificate is the first administrative determination of eligibility for the programme. The visa is a separate procedure concerning entry into Türkiye. A residence permit is a separate type of permit that provides the legal basis for a stay longer than the period allowed by a visa or visa exemption in Türkiye.
These documents do not replace one another. A favourable result at one stage does not mean that the next stage will automatically be accepted.
Nationals of Which Countries May Apply to Türkiye's Digital Nomad Programme?
As of October 26, 2026, nationals of the following 36 countries appear in the eligible-country list in the official GoTürkiye and YİMER sources:
France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States of America, Canada, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus.
Why should the list be checked again before applying?
The eligible-country list is not a list fixed by statute; it is the current list published within the official implementation framework of the programme. For this reason, the current list on the GoTürkiye and YİMER screens immediately before the application should be taken as the basis.
What happens in the case of dual citizenship?
If the applicant has more than one citizenship, the passport and the citizenship with which the person will apply may affect entry into Türkiye, the visa, residence, tax and social security consequences. Holding a citizenship that is on the eligible list does not, on its own, remove the legal consequences of the other citizenship.
What Are the Application Conditions for the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate?
The 21-55 age condition
The official platform requires the applicant to be between 21 and 55 years old. It should be checked whether the age condition is met on the date the application is made.
A passport or travel document valid for at least 6 months
GoTürkiye requires a passport or travel document valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Türkiye. At the residence permit stage, the Göç İdaresi's rules on longer passport validity, depending on the requested residence period, are also taken into account separately.
University degree
The applicant must submit a diploma, or a document in place of a diploma, showing that they are a university graduate. If the document was issued in a foreign country, the need for translation, apostille or consular certification must be checked separately, according to the authority before which the application is made and the nature of the document.
Working with an employer or client established outside Türkiye
The applicant must document that they work as a digital nomad.
Persons employed by a company
The contract of a person working within a company must be with a company that is not established in Türkiye.
Freelancers
A freelance applicant is also expected to demonstrate, by contract, the working relationship established with a company or client established outside Türkiye.
The logic of the programme is not for the foreign national to join the local labour market in Türkiye for an employer in Türkiye, but to continue remotely a business or client relationship established outside Türkiye.
Income of USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year
The official platform requires the applicant to prove an income of USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year.
What matters is not only whether money has accumulated in a bank account, but that it is documented, according to the nature of the application, as regular income consistent with the working relationship. Payslips, employer letters, bank statements, contracts or freelance invoices/payment records may come into question, depending on the nature of the file.
Biometric photograph
A biometric photograph is requested in the identification certificate application. At the visa and residence permit stages, the current technical photograph requirements must also be taken into account separately.
How Is a Digital Nomad Application Made?
Stage 1 - Opening an account on the GoTürkiye digital nomad platform
The applicant creates an account on the official digital nomad platform and uploads the required documents to the system.
Stage 2 - Examination of the documents for eligibility for the programme
The age, citizenship, education, employment relationship and income conditions are assessed on the electronic file.
Stage 3 - Obtaining the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate
If the conditions are found suitable within the scope of the programme, the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate is issued.
Stage 4 - Application to a diplomatic mission or visa centre
With the identification certificate, the applicant applies for the Digital Nomad Visa through the Turkish diplomatic mission or the authorised visa centre in the place of which they are a citizen or where they legally reside.
Stage 5 - Entry into Türkiye
After the visa is approved, entry into Türkiye is made in accordance with the validity and entry conditions of the visa.
Stage 6 - e-Residence application
According to the current statement of the Göç İdaresi/YİMER, a foreign national whose Digital Nomad Visa has been assessed favourably may, after entering Türkiye and within the validity period of the visa, apply at e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes.
Stage 7 - Provincial Directorate of Migration Management process
In first and transition applications, after the application created through the e-Residence system, the appointment and document submission process at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü) is followed, depending on the type of application. Under current practice, foreign nationals who wish may also deliver the residence application file to the notaries in the province where the application is made; however, delivery of documents to a notary does not mean that decision-making authority passes to the notary.
How Many Months Can One Stay in Türkiye with a Digital Nomad Visa?
YİMER's current statement says that holders of a digital nomad visa may apply, after entering Türkiye, for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes.
For this reason, generalisations such as "the digital nomad visa directly gives a right of residence for one or two years" are not correct. The validity period of the visa itself and the duration of the residence permit are separate.
Why is the 90-day rule also important?
Under the general visa/visa exemption regime, the length of stay of foreign nationals in Türkiye varies according to the regime to which they are subject, but in many cases runs on the basis of a limit of 90 days within 180 days. If a long stay is planned in the digital nomad programme, residence permit procedures must be started at the right time within the validity period of the visa.
Does the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate Replace a Residence Permit?
No. The identification certificate is not a residence permit. The document on which the right to stay in Türkiye is based must be checked separately.
The legal nature of a residence permit
Under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, a residence permit is an administrative permit document that gives the right to stay lawfully in Türkiye for a certain period.
The residence route used for digital nomads
The current FAQ statement of the Göç İdaresi expressly states that persons whose digital nomad visa has been assessed favourably may apply for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes.
Is the Digital Nomad Visa a Work Permit?
No. The Digital Nomad Identification Certificate or the digital nomad visa is not a general work permit document that gives the right to work for an employer in Türkiye within the meaning of Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force.
Why does this distinction matter?
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security expressly states that foreign nationals within the scope of Law No. 6735 must obtain a work permit or a work permit exemption before starting work in Türkiye.
The digital nomad programme, on the other hand, is based on the applicant continuing remotely a relationship with an employer or client outside Türkiye. The two regimes should therefore not be confused.
What happens if one is hired by a company in Türkiye?
If a foreign national with digital nomad status later receives a job offer from a company established in Türkiye, the working relationship may turn into a separate work permit file. The digital nomad document does not remove the work permit obligation of the employer in Türkiye.
What happens if services are provided regularly to clients in Türkiye?
Because the programme condition rests on the contractual relationship not being established with companies established in Türkiye, starting to provide services continuously to clients in Türkiye requires reassessment with regard to eligibility for the digital nomad programme, labour law and tax alike.
Can a Work Permit Exemption Come into Question for Digital Nomads?
Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force and the secondary legislation contain work permit exemptions for certain foreign nationals. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security's 2026 e-Exemption (e-Muafiyet) system also contains application categories for "cross-border service providers".
However, not every digital nomad is automatically regarded as a cross-border service provider or the holder of a work permit exemption. The nature of the activity, whether there is a recipient of the service in Türkiye, the parties to the contract, the duration, and the place from which the fee is paid must each be assessed separately.
Why should an exemption application be examined separately?
According to the Ministry's e-Exemption guide, there are certain categories in which an exemption application can be made without being tied to an employer in Türkiye, and the application can be made directly by the foreign national. However, failure to choose the correct type of exemption may lead to a request for revision or to rejection of the application.
Do Digital Nomads Pay Tax in Türkiye?
There is no one-sentence answer to this question. Obtaining a digital nomad visa or a residence permit does not by itself provide an income tax exemption. The tax outcome depends on at least four separate questions:
- Is the person considered a tax resident / full taxpayer in Türkiye?
- Under which category of income does the income fall: wages, self-employment earnings, commercial earnings, income from movable capital, and so on?
- Is the income considered to have been earned in Türkiye or abroad?
- Is there a double taxation treaty between Türkiye and the relevant country, and to which country does the treaty give the right of taxation?
How Is Tax Residence Determined in Türkiye?
The domicile criterion
Under Article 4 of the Income Tax Law, persons whose domicile is in Türkiye are considered resident in Türkiye.
The criterion of residing for more than six months
Persons who reside in Türkiye continuously for more than six months in a calendar year are also considered resident in Türkiye, apart from the exceptional cases in the law. Temporary absences do not, as a rule, interrupt this period.
Is everyone who exceeds six months necessarily a full taxpayer?
No. Article 5 of the Income Tax Law provides special exceptions for certain business people, scientists and technical experts, specialists, officials, press and broadcasting correspondents and similar persons who come to Türkiye for a specific and temporary assignment or job, and for foreign nationals who come for the purpose of education, medical treatment, rest or travel.
Whether a digital nomad falls within Article 5 should not be accepted automatically; it should be examined on the basis of the purpose of stay and the working relationship in the specific case.
Can a Salary Received from a Foreign Employer Be Regarded as Income Earned in Türkiye?
Yes, it may be, depending on the specific case. This is one of the points most often overlooked in relation to digital nomads.
According to Article 7 of the Income Tax Law, even for non-resident taxpayers, the fact that the service has been or is being performed in Türkiye may be sufficient for wages to be regarded as earned in Türkiye. Therefore, the fact that the salary is paid into a foreign bank account or that the employer is a foreign company does not, on its own, lead to the conclusion that the income is "earned abroad".
Is the same risk present for freelancers?
For self-employment earnings as well, if the activity is carried out in Türkiye, the income may be regarded as earned in Türkiye. For this reason, a digital nomad's assumption that "my clients are abroad and the money comes from abroad, so there is no tax in Türkiye" is not legally safe.
Does the 20-Year Foreign Income Exemption Introduced in 2026 Cover Digital Nomads?
The repeated Article 20/D added to the Income Tax Law in 2026 introduced a 20-year income tax exemption for earnings and income obtained outside Türkiye for natural persons who meet certain conditions and are considered resident in Türkiye from January 1, 2026.
Basic conditions
A person who wishes to benefit from the exemption must not have had a domicile in Türkiye, nor -apart from certain passive income tax liabilities specified in the law- a tax liability, in the last three calendar years before being considered resident in Türkiye.
In addition, an exemption certificate must be obtained under Income Tax General Communiqué Serial No. 333, and the application deadlines must not be missed.
Does this provision give digital nomads an automatic tax exemption?
No. Repeated Article 20/D applies only to earnings and income "obtained outside Türkiye". By contrast, Article 7 of the Income Tax Law lists, among the criteria for being earned in Türkiye, the performance of the service in Türkiye for wages and the carrying out of the activity in Türkiye for self-employment earnings.
For this reason, for the income of a person who provides online services to a foreign employer or foreign client, the source country of the income and the type of income must first be determined. The mere fact that the payment account is abroad should not be regarded as sufficient for the application of Article 20/D.
Why do double taxation treaties still matter?
Where a person is considered a tax resident both in Türkiye and in another country, or where two countries claim the right to tax the same income, the provisions of the relevant double taxation treaty on residence, wages, self-employment/commercial earnings and credit/exemption must be examined.
Can the Foreign Employer of a Digital Nomad Face Tax Risk in Türkiye?
In some cases, yes. Facts such as a foreign company's employee working in Türkiye for a long time, using a permanent place of work in Türkiye, exercising authority to conclude contracts on behalf of the company, or contributing to the company's activity being actually managed from Türkiye may, depending on the relevant tax treaty and the specific structure, give rise to a discussion of a permanent establishment / dependent agent or corporate tax connection for the foreign company.
For this reason, not only the tax position of the individual employee but also the corporate tax risk of the foreign employer in relation to Türkiye must, where necessary, be assessed separately.
How Is Social Security Determined for Digital Nomads?
Social security is a separate field that may vary according to citizenship and the employer's country. Türkiye has bilateral social security agreements with many countries; however, the insurance branches covered by the agreements and the rules on temporary assignment differ from country to country.
Is it enough for insurance in the foreign country to continue?
Not always. It must be examined which country's legislation applies under the relevant social security agreement and what the conditions for temporary assignment are.
Is remote work automatically regarded as "temporary assignment"?
According to the current statement of the Social Security Institution (SGK), no. For something to be regarded as temporary assignment, the employee must be sent by the employer to a workplace in the contracting country to perform a specific job, and documents showing the relationship between the workplaces must exist. Remote work that does not meet these conditions is not accepted as falling within temporary assignment by itself.
This statement is very important for digital nomads: continuing to work with an employer in a foreign country does not mean that all social security obligations will automatically remain only in that country.
Is Health Insurance Required?
The health insurance requirement for visas and residence permits may vary according to the type of application, the person's age, citizenship and any bilateral social security agreement. In residence permit applications, the Göç İdaresi may examine valid health coverage in Türkiye within the scope of the file.
In countries where a bilateral social security agreement covers health benefits, it may be possible to use the relevant agreement documents. However, not every social security agreement covers health insurance.
Can a Digital Nomad Establish a Company in Türkiye?
Foreign nationals may establish companies in Türkiye; however, establishing a company and the digital nomad programme are not the same thing.
Do the digital nomad conditions change when a company is established?
The work, tax and residence structure of a person who establishes a company in Türkiye or begins to earn income through a company in Türkiye may change. The programme's condition of a foreign employer/client must be kept separate from activity carried out through a company established in Türkiye.
Does being a company shareholder replace a work permit?
As a rule, no. Being a company shareholder does not automatically remove the work permit obligation arising from actually working within the company. For company shareholders and managers, the special assessment and work permit criteria in the legislation on international labour force are taken into account.
Can a Freelancer Apply as a Digital Nomad?
Yes, freelancers are also included in the official GoTürkiye conditions. However, a freelancer must show the contractual working relationship with a company or client not resident in Türkiye.
A freelancer working for a single client
Where services are provided to a single client for a long period in a relationship of dependence similar to that with an employer, the tax and labour law nature of the relationship may be examined separately.
A freelancer serving many foreign clients
Whether the activity is a commercial organisation or a self-employed activity, the person's manner of working in their own name and account, and the performance of the service in Türkiye may affect the tax outcome.
Can a Digital Nomad Bring Their Family to Türkiye?
The conditions of the official Digital Nomad Identification Certificate are directed at the applicant personally, and the current programme text does not provide for an automatic right to a "dependent digital nomad visa" for a spouse or children.
The right of a spouse and children to stay in Türkiye must be assessed separately according to their citizenship, visa exemption, the conditions of a family residence permit, or any other residence grounds they hold.
Where the spouse also works remotely
If the spouse independently meets the programme conditions, the possibility of applying in their own name may be considered. If a family residence permit is considered instead, the sponsor and family member conditions in Law No. 6458 must be examined separately.
Does the Digital Nomad Visa Give a Right to Citizenship?
No. The digital nomad visa and the short-term residence permit tied to it do not by themselves give rise to a right to Turkish citizenship.
The general or exceptional routes to Turkish citizenship are subject to separate conditions under Law No. 5901 on Turkish Citizenship and the relevant legislation. The value that time spent in Türkiye has for citizenship is also assessed separately according to the type of application.
Does Digital Nomad Status Lead to Long-Term Residence?
Short-term residence permits are, as a rule, among the types of residence that can be taken into account in the eight-year lawful residence calculation for a long-term residence permit; however, a six-month digital nomad residence alone does not create a right to long-term residence.
For a long-term residence permit there are separate criteria, such as eight years of uninterrupted lawful residence, sufficient and regular income, health insurance, not receiving social assistance, and public order/security conditions.
What Are the Most Common Mistakes in an Application File?
Confusing a foreign company with a Turkish company
If the commercial centre, branch or actual centre of activity of the company in the contract is in Türkiye, eligibility for the programme may become problematic.
Trying to show the income threshold only with an account balance
Because the programme requires "income", a high bank balance alone may not in every case take the place of proof of the working relationship and regular income.
Submitting a diploma without proper certification/translation
Depending on the authority before which the foreign document will be used, an apostille, consular certification or a notarised translation may be needed.
Mistaking the identification certificate for a visa or residence permit
This is a serious mistake that can go as far as overstaying the permitted period.
Thinking the digital nomad visa is a work permit
If work for an employer established in Türkiye is started, a separate work permit obligation may arise.
Reducing tax residence to a 183-day calculation
Tax residence in Türkiye does not depend only on the number of days; domicile and the statutory exceptions are also important.
The assumption that "the income comes from abroad, so there is no tax in Türkiye"
Under Article 7 of the Income Tax Law, performance of the activity in Türkiye is an important source criterion for wages and self-employment.
Failing to check the social security agreement
Even in countries with a bilateral agreement, the insurance branches covered by the agreement may differ. Remote work is also not automatically regarded as temporary assignment.
What Can Be Done If the Digital Nomad Visa or Residence Permit Is Rejected?
It cannot be said, as an old and erroneous generalisation, that "there is no right of action against the rejection of a digital nomad visa".
Visa rejection
According to the Göç İdaresi's current statement, a person whose visa application has been rejected may first apply in writing to the authority that rejected it. If a favourable result is not obtained, recourse may be had to the courts.
Residence permit rejection
Under Article 25 of Law No. 6458, the rejection of a residence permit request, the non-extension or cancellation of the permit is notified to the foreign national, their legal representative or their lawyer. The notification must indicate how the rights of objection against the decision and other legal rights/obligations may be exercised.
Is every rejection decision assessed in the same way?
No. The legal bases and the authorities for application in rejections of an identification certificate, visa, residence permit and work permit/exemption are different. A standard objection period or litigation strategy should not be determined without examining the date of notification, the grounds for rejection and the relevant special legislation.
Legal Checklist for a Digital Nomad Application
Checking the following points together before applying significantly reduces risks that may arise at later stages:
- Is the citizenship on the eligible-country list?
- Is the age condition met?
- Is the passport validity sufficient?
- Is the university diploma in the correct format?
- Is the employer or client really established outside Türkiye?
- Does the employment contract/freelance contract clearly show the remote working arrangement?
- Can the monthly or annual income threshold be proven with sustainable records?
- Is the diplomatic mission to which the visa application will be made after the identification certificate the correct one?
- Are the date of entry into Türkiye and the visa validity consistent with the residence application timetable?
- Are the address in Türkiye and the health insurance documents ready?
- Is there a work permit or exemption risk in the activity actually carried out in Türkiye?
- Does the actual stay in Türkiye give rise to tax residence?
- Is the remote work income considered Türkiye-source under Article 7 of the Income Tax Law?
- If the conditions of repeated Article 20/D of the Income Tax Law apply, is the application deadline for the exemption certificate being missed?
- Has the double taxation treaty with the relevant country been examined?
- Have the social security agreement and the legislation of the applicable country been checked?
- Does the foreign employer face a permanent establishment/dependent agent risk in Türkiye?
- Has the stay status of the spouse and children been planned separately?
Why Should Legal Planning in Türkiye for Digital Nomads Be Done Before the Application?
In digital nomad applications, the problem most often arises not from a missing document but from the applicant's visa, residence, work, tax and social security statuses being planned separately from one another.
For example, a person may meet the GoTürkiye conditions in full, yet may become a tax resident by staying a long time in Türkiye. They may continue working with the foreign employer, yet the analysis of the source of the income may change because the activity is performed in Türkiye. Their social security record in the foreign country may continue, yet remote work may not be regarded as temporary assignment for SGK purposes. Starting to acquire clients in Türkiye, in turn, may move work permit and programme eligibility to a different point.
For this reason, the right approach is not only "obtaining the visa" but designing the entire legal status in Türkiye from the outset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a digital nomad visa in Türkiye?
Yes. A Digital Nomad Identification Certificate is first obtained through the official GoTürkiye platform; then an application for a Digital Nomad Visa is made through a Turkish diplomatic mission or an authorised visa centre.
What is the age limit for the digital nomad visa?
The official programme requires an age between 21 and 55.
How much monthly income is required for the digital nomad visa?
As of October 26, 2026, the official condition is proof of income of at least USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year.
Is a university degree mandatory?
Yes. A diploma or equivalent document showing university graduation is requested for the Digital Nomad Identification Certificate.
Can a foreign national working for a company in Türkiye apply for the digital nomad visa?
The official condition of the programme is that the employment contract or the freelance relationship is established with a company not established in Türkiye. Working for a company established in Türkiye is assessed separately within the work permit regime.
Can freelancers apply for the digital nomad visa?
Yes. However, they must document, by contract and income records, the working relationship established with a company or client established outside Türkiye.
Does the identification certificate replace a visa?
No. The identification certificate is the preliminary stage of the visa application.
Does the digital nomad visa replace a residence permit?
No. According to the current statement of the Göç İdaresi, a person whose visa is assessed favourably may, after entering Türkiye, apply for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes.
For how many months is the digital nomad residence permit granted?
YİMER's current statement provides for an application for a 6-month short-term residence permit for tourism purposes for digital nomad visa holders.
Is the digital nomad visa a work permit?
No. For working for an employer in Türkiye, a work permit or a suitable work permit exemption is assessed separately.
Can a digital nomad provide services to Turkish clients in Türkiye?
This may affect programme eligibility, the work permit regime and tax status. A separate legal assessment should be made before regularly serving clients established in Türkiye.
Does a digital nomad pay tax in Türkiye?
The visa alone does not provide a tax exemption. Tax residence, the type and source of the income, actual work in Türkiye, the 2026 repeated Article 20/D of the Income Tax Law and, where applicable, the double taxation treaty are examined together.
If I stay less than 183 days, will no tax arise in Türkiye at all?
There is no such general rule. The concepts of tax residence and Türkiye-source income are different. Even for a non-resident taxpayer, wages or self-employment income arising from a service performed in Türkiye may be regarded as earned in Türkiye.
Does the 20-year foreign income exemption of 2026 apply automatically to a digital nomad?
No. The exemption is only for income of persons who meet the conditions that is obtained outside Türkiye. The source character of income arising from a service actually performed in Türkiye must be determined separately.
Will my insurance abroad be valid in Türkiye?
It varies according to the social security agreement between the relevant country and Türkiye and the insurance branches covered by the agreement.
Is remote work regarded as temporary assignment for social security purposes?
According to the current statement of the SGK, remote work alone is not regarded as temporary assignment if the required conditions of sending and relationship between workplaces are absent.
Do my spouse and children automatically benefit from my digital nomad visa?
Under the current official programme conditions, no automatic dependent digital nomad status is provided for. The visa and residence situation of family members is assessed separately.
Does the digital nomad visa give Turkish citizenship?
No. Applications for Turkish citizenship are subject to separate legislation and conditions.
Can an action be brought if the visa is rejected?
According to the Göç İdaresi's statement, a written objection to the rejecting authority is possible first; if a favourable answer is not obtained, recourse may be had to the courts. The time limit and procedure in the specific rejection decision should be examined separately.
What can be done if the residence permit is rejected?
The rejection decision is notified to the foreign national or their lawyer, and the notification states how the rights of objection are to be exercised. The administrative and judicial routes of application are assessed on the basis of the grounds of rejection and the date of notification.
Conclusion
Türkiye's digital nomad programme provides a concrete visa and residence route for persons who wish to live in Türkiye while continuing remotely a job or client relationship in a foreign country. As of 2026, the basic conditions of the programme are the ages of 21-55, citizenship of an eligible country, a university degree, a relationship with a foreign employer/client, and an income of at least USD 3,000 per month or USD 36,000 per year.
Nevertheless, digital nomad status does not by itself solve all legal problems. Whether a work permit is needed in Türkiye, tax residence, whether the income is Türkiye-source, the exemption under repeated Article 20/D of the Income Tax Law, double taxation treaties, social security and the foreign employer's tax risk in Türkiye are separate topics.
For this reason, especially for stays approaching or exceeding six months, when regular clients are acquired in Türkiye, when authority is exercised on behalf of a foreign company, when a company is established, or when settlement with a family is planned, the application file must be assessed together along the axis of immigration law + labour law + tax + social security.
Official Sources and Legal Bases
- GoTürkiye, Digital Nomad Visa Pre-Application Document Requirements: Official source
- YİMER, Digital Nomad Visa and 6-Month Short-Term Residence FAQ: Official source
- Presidency of Migration Management, Residence General Information: Official source
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, in particular Articles 19, 25, 30-33.
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Work Permit FAQ: Official source
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security, e-Exemption Work Permit Exemption Application Guide (2026).
- Income Tax Law No. 193, in particular Articles 3-7 and repeated Article 20/D.
- Income Tax General Communiqué Serial No. 333, Official Gazette 04.07.2026, issue 33300.
- Revenue Administration, Guide to the Tax Exemption on Earnings and Income Obtained from Abroad (2026).
- Social Security Institution, explanations on Social Security Agreements and Temporary Assignment.