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Brits in Turkey: where to get advice

thumbnailI was struck by a recent newspaper article saying that British nationals had bought over 1,300 properties in Turkey in the last nine months. Only German nationals (2,557) had bought more. It was a useful reminder of the strengths of the links between Turkey and the UK. Around 35,000 British nationals are resident in Turkey, many of them permanently settled here.

There are lots of reasons why people choose to live in this terrific country. But it’s notable that many Brits – around 15,000 – favour the sunny coastal areas around Muğla. Being close to the sea is obviously popular but people we talk to also say they value the mild climate; the friendly, supportive local communities; and village life. There are quite a few holiday home owners and investment buyers, too. And, of course, there are plenty of Turkish-British families.

Living and buying property in Turkey has its challenges. Our Consular Team recently drew my attention to an academic study published last year which explores some of the legal issues facing British people living in Turkey. It concludes that British people living in Turkey can successfully navigate their way through the Turkish legal system; but that cultural and, particularly, linguistic differencescan sometimes make this challenging. If you’re thinking of living in Turkey, or indeed if you’re already here, we strongly advise you to check out theadvice on living in Turkey on the Embassy web-site.

We also advise you to follow our Facebook page which is a good source of up-to-date information about what is happening in Turkey. Our Facebook page may also be used to distribute consular or other information quickly in the event of an emergency – so bookmark it now, in the hope we’ll never need to use it.

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