Two current legal frameworks let foreign nationals and Turkish citizens abroad move capital into Turkey, or relocate entirely, with meaningful tax advantages. No guesswork — just the facts, laid out clearly.
Declare foreign-held cash, gold, currency and securities to a Turkish bank at a reduced tax rate — no residency, no relocation, no requirement to ever set foot in Turkey.
Relocate to Turkey and shield your foreign-sourced income from Turkish income tax for two full decades — one of the longest such exemptions in Europe.
Turkey's 2026 Asset Repatriation Program
Known in Turkish as "Varlık Barışı," this framework lets you bring foreign-held cash, gold, currency and securities into the Turkish financial system at a sharply reduced tax rate. It is open to foreign nationals as much as it is to Turkish citizens — you don't need to live in Turkey, hold Turkish residency, or ever visit.
Why this works for foreign investors
Open to non-residents
You do not need Turkish residency, citizenship, or a tax ID history in Turkey. Foreign nationals with no prior connection to Turkey can use this program.
No physical presence needed
There is no requirement to live in Turkey, relocate, or even visit. The declaration and transfer can be handled entirely through your bank and legal counsel.
Funds don't need to come from your own account
The person who physically transfers the funds to Turkey can be different from the person who made the declaration — a common and legally recognized arrangement for family or corporate structures.
Tax rate as low as 0%
The standard rate is 5%, paid once. Commit to holding the funds in a Turkish time deposit or government-backed instrument, and the rate falls in steps — down to 0% for a five-year commitment.
Protection from tax audit
Once properly declared, transferred and (if applicable) held per your commitment, the declared amount is shielded from Turkish tax inspection and reassessment.
Simple, fast process
No court filings, no immigration paperwork. A single bank declaration form starts the process, and your bank handles the tax remittance directly.
How it works, step by step
Declare your assets
Report the foreign cash, gold, currency or securities to a Turkish bank (or a licensed intermediary, for securities) using a simple declaration form.
Choose your rate
Pay 5% upfront with no strings attached, or commit to holding the funds in a Turkish time deposit, government bond, or lease certificate for 1–5 years to bring the rate down — as low as 0%.
Transfer to Turkey
Send the declared funds to your Turkish bank account within two months of the declaration date. The transfer can be made by a third party on your behalf.
Assets shielded
Once the transfer and tax payment are complete, the declared amount is protected from Turkish tax audit and reassessment for the years it covers.
Longer commitment periods reduce the rate — no commitment still gets you into the program at a flat 5%.
| Commitment | Rate |
|---|---|
| None (paid upfront) | 5% |
| 1 year | 4% |
| 2 years | 3% |
| 3 years | 2% |
| 4 years | 1% |
| 5 years | 0% |
Every case turns on the details — where the funds sit today, whether a family member or company will handle the transfer, and which commitment tier fits your plans. Our team structures this end to end.
Speak with our tax teamGeneral information only, not legal advice for any specific situation. Based on Law No. 7582 and Communiqué (Series No: 1) on Certain Assets Being Brought Into the Economy. Speak with our team before relying on any figure or deadline.
Income Tax Law · Article Mük. 20/D
If you haven't lived or paid tax in Turkey for the last three calendar years and move here from 1 January 2026 onward, your foreign-sourced income and gains stay exempt from Turkish income tax for two full decades.
Why this matters
One of Europe's longest tax holidays
20 years is a long runway — most comparable regimes elsewhere cap out at 5–15 years.
Foreign income only, but broadly defined
Salary from a foreign employer, foreign investment returns, and foreign rental income are all covered — as long as the income is earned outside Turkey.
Existing Turkish rental income is not disqualifying
If you already own Turkish property and declare rental income, that alone does not block your eligibility — only more substantial prior ties (like employment income) can.
Favorable inheritance tax rate
While the exemption applies, inheritance transfers are taxed at just 1% — well below standard Turkish rates.
How it works, step by step
Confirm your eligibility
You must not have had Turkish tax residency or a registered address in Turkey for the three calendar years before you move.
Relocate and settle
Establish your residence in Turkey from 1 January 2026 or later — this is the trigger date the exemption clock runs from.
Apply for your exemption certificate
File with your local tax office by the end of the calendar year in which you became a Turkish resident — miss this window and the exemption is lost.
Enjoy 20 years, tax-free
Your foreign-sourced income and gains are excluded from your Turkish tax return for two decades from the year you settled.
The eligibility test looks at your last three years in detail — the wrong prior income type can quietly disqualify you. We check your specific history before you relocate, not after.
Speak with our tax teamGeneral information only, not legal advice for any specific situation. Based on Law No. 7582 amending the Income Tax Law (Art. Mük. 20/D). Speak with our team before relying on any figure or deadline.