Turkish Legal System

This bird's eye view of the Turkish Legal System is designed to give the reader an overall idea of how to take care of a variety of transactions and where to go or whom to call if additional assistance is required.

With this in mind after a brief introduction into the Turkish legal system, the following subjects will be addressed, though not in-depth: residence permits; visa requirements, local obligations; custom regulations; information on tourism police, foreigners' office, embassies and consulates; reciprocity; legal issues.

Sample petitions in English and Turkish language are presented for your convenience as well as a condensed list of lawyers.

Turkey has a law system, which has been wholly integrated with the continental European system. For instance, the Turkish civil law system has been modified by incorporating elements mainly of the Swiss Civil Code, the Code of Obligations and the German Commercial Code. The administrative law bears similarities with the French Counterpart and the penal code with the Italian Counterpart.

The Voyage and Residence of the Foreigners within Turkey
Foreigners who intend to stay in Turkey for more than three months must apply to the security authorities and fill in a declaration in order to obtain a residence permit. The applicant shall be requested no fees or charges for this declaration.

Foreigners who have arrived in Turkey for the purpose of working must obtain a residence permit within one month of their arrival date. They must have received their work permit before commencing work.

Foreigners arriving in Turkey with a common passport for the purpose of touring or participating in a congress or conference or a cultural entertainment are not obliged to obtain permission and can stay for up to two months. This duration may be longer if necessary.

The Foreigners who shall work in Turkey
Foreigners who intend to work in Turkey as an employer, employee, freelancer, or as an official, are required to declare this circumstance at least 15 days before the start of their work and have it registered in the Ikamet Tezkeresi (Residence Permit)

Foreigners are required to submit their ID card, residence permit or passport whenever asked by police or gendarme.

The necessary documents for application of permits should be delivered to the Yabancilar Subesi (Foreigners' Office) - a sub-unit of General Security Department which is located on Vatan Caddesi (Vatan Avenue) in Fatih. Tel: (212) 636 1722 and 636 1878

Constitutional rights and obligations:
Peoples are equal vis-à-vis laws regardless of any discrimination such as race, language, religion, sex and so forth.

The basic rights and freedom of foreigners are to be limited only by law.
Every one is entitled to the freedom of worshipping, religion, conscience and belief.
Everyone is entitled to claim his rights and defend himself/herself in the Courts.
Everyone is entitled to work and conclude agreements in whatever field he/she wishes.
Everyone is obligated to pay taxes in accordance with his/her financial strength.

Civil Rights and Obligations
In this section you will find information addressing the procedures for various petitions and transactions such as securing a

Telephone line
Obtaining residence permits, and issues relating to
Conducting transactions at the traffic office
All essential transactions, previously done before by the civil local officers are carried out now by the Foreigners' Office pursuant to the recent regulations. Therefore, foreigners have no contact with local civil officers.
If you wish to leasing an automobile, branch offices of international firms are widely available in addition to local ones. All of them request standard contracts, which include unfavorable provisions. Since the lessor is requested beforehand to sign a blank slip with his credit card number listed on it, in case of any adverse situation the lessor immediately collects the money and the lessor needs to run after him to straighten things out. Beware and choose a reputable company with whom to conduct business.

Assigning powers:
For various reasons the visitor to Turkey might be requested to assign powers. Points that need attention are:
Term: make sure that it is done for a limited period for whatever Cause -it is safer and practical to renew it if need be than powers wondering around.
Content: try to avoid re-assigning and transferring powers; the exact reason and aim should be mentioned.

Interruption of Residence Period
Being abroad for period of maximum 6 months shall not be deemed as an interruption in the calculation of 5 years. That means the time spent abroad no more than 6 months shall not be added to the time of residence in Turkey. The foreigner may leave the country for a period of 6 months at most at one time. This time spent abroad shall not interrupt the ongoing 5- year-residence period and will not be taken into consideration in the calculation of 5 year-residence periods. That means, this time spent abroad shall be deducted from the total residence period in Turkey
In cases of interruptions caused by forces major such as medical treatments and education, the residence period shall not be deemed as interrupted even if the time spent abroad exceeds 6 months.
For the foreigners who unlawfully entered Turkey and who is residing in Turkey against the Law (of Voyages and Residence of foreigners In Turkey), the time spent residing in Turkey shall not be taken into consideration regarding the acceptance to the Turkish citizenship
Foreigners who reside in Turkey in accordance with the Turkish Laws but have no residence in accordance with the Turkish Civil Code.

The foreigners who reside in Turkey as provided in the Turkish Civil Law
According to Turkish Citizenship Law, marrying a foreigner does not influence the citizenship of the husband. Foreign wife marrying a Turkish husband has the right to choose her own citizenship. But in some exceptions such as "having no citizenship", the foreigner automatically shall gain the Turkish citizenship due to the principle of "having at least one citizenship".

There is no condition as resigning from the other citizenship for the wife who has married a Turkish citizen.

Therefore, the Turkish Laws allow the wife to hold both of the citizenships implicitly.

Although some of the legal procedures can be easily done by yourself, such as getting work permit or marriage, you may sometimes need the advise of a lawyer for more complicated procedures or for private reasons. You can find English-speaking lawyers listed in our yellow pages in case you need help.

Working in Turkey

There is a lot of paperwork to be done before you start working in Turkey.

Work Permits are either obtained from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Çalisma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanligi) or from the Consulates of Turkish Republic abroad.

Essential documents needed are:
- Permission from the Turkish Consulate,
- Passport
- Population information duly certified by notary public
- Passport photos

To receive the permission from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, additional documents are requested. The applicant is given a two-paged document that includes the requested information. The information may be given on a separate page either typed or printed by a computer.

The declaration form requests the following information :
Name of employing company; title; head office address; whether capital is foreign or not; the address the foreigner is going to work at, the type of business the company is involved in; capital information; previous year exportation in dollars; date of establishment; recorded and paid share capital; the total number of Turkish personnel working in the Company and the name, nationality and the position the foreigner has taken part in previous companies.

In addition, the following personal information is required of the person requesting the work permit:
Passport number; name and surname; name of father and mother; date and place of birth; marital status and nationality of the wife/husband, if married.
If a previous work permit had been issued, then the following information is also required: details of the issuing authority and the date and number of previous permit documents; name of previous company; the term of employment that the foreigner worked in that company, the position he/she held and the reason of severance (non-employment, leaving, separating etc.).

With regard to education, the following information is required:
The applicants' educational status
The names and locations of recent schools the applicant graduated from; and the area of specialization.

If the foreigner has been in Turkey before, the following information is required:
Dates in Turkey, places of residence and an explanation for your presence in Turkey.
Names, addresses and phone numbers of the persons and the companies the applicant is using as reference,
Entity of the position of the applying foreigner in the company,
Proposed term of employment,
Monthly gross salary to be paid to the foreigner .
The reason for employing a foreigner instead of a Turkish citizen.

At the end of the declaration form, there is a date, which should be filled in. The employer and the foreign employee should put signatures at the bottom and the employer a cache in addition certifying that the information given by them is true.

The following additional documents must also be attached to the declaration form:
Passport copies that are either certified by a notary public or the applicant's Consulate.
Copies of investment incentive certificates and exportation incentive certificates certified by the Foreign Capital Directorate; the activity report of the last(previous) year and the income/outcome table and balance sheet certified by the related tax directorate;
Bank letter supporting the last year exportation if the company is an exporting company,
Other documents such as a photocopy of the permit document if a previous permit exists, letters of recommendation, diploma, etc.

Online follow-up “work permit” application:
Please note that it is now available to follow your “work permit” application online. You can see the scanned original application, establish interactive communication with the personnel and view the detailed stages of your documents at Turkish Labor and Social Security website . However the page is in Turkish therefore you may need some help.

The declaration form can be provided from the offical website of Ministry of Labor and Social Security, which is given below.

Moreover the latest amendments to the "Law on the Work Permit for Foreigners" can be followed from the same link.

Private Schools - Istanbul

Private schools offer the Department of National Education curriculum. They are supervised by that department's inspectors, and employ teachers trained and licensed by the state.

Before choosing a private institution, collect information from your friends and relations, write to a few schools and make appointments with the principals. The fees they charge will not necessarily translate into teaching quality.

There is a general private school examination for Turkish residents and this exam determines which of the schools the children may attend. Each child makes a list of the schools in order raning from their first to last choice and the points they receive determines their future school.

This is not applicable to foreigners but a general exam to determine the level of foreign students is customary.

There are several private high-schools in Istanbul that have foreign language based education. Rather, other than Turkish Grammar, Literature and Social Studies lessons all curriculum is in a foreign language. Please simply check with these schools for entrance conditions and fees. The following is the alphabetical list of these schools.

The addresses and phone numbers are given in Yellow Pages

Alman Lisesi - German High School
The school a long, esteemed history in Turkey and is well respected. Education is in German except Turkish Literature and Social Studies. English is the second foreign language.It is located at the heart of city; Beyoglu

Amerikan Robert Lisesi - Robert College
Robert College, located at Arnavutköy is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Turkey. Education is in English except Turkish Literature and social studies.

The British International School Istanbul
This private, non-sectarian, coeducational school provides high quality educational choices for the children of foreign families living in Istanbul. The school offers English National Cirruculum IGCSE and I.B. Courses. BISI accepts students from age 2 to 19 and the student body is composed of over 40 nationalities and has campuses at Alkent, Levent (primary and pre-primary), Etiler and Zekeriyaköy (pre-primary to secondary).

Bosphorus International Pre-school
It is an independent school serving both preschool (ages 2-5). English is the language of instruction and the school follow an international calendar. A Turkish bilingual program is available to serve the needs of the bi-national students. Pre school is located in Emirgan overlooking the Bosphorus.

Eyüboglu Egitim Kurumlari - Eyüpoglu Educational Institutions
Dr. Rüstem Eyüboglu founded the school in 1985 and education is in English except Turkish and Social Studies lessons. The primary school is in Kadiköy and çamlica while the high school is located in Ümraniye. As of 6th grade French and German is elective. At the end of 9th grade it is possible for the students carrying the criteria specified by the school management attend to IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma program.

Istanbul International Community School
Founded in 1911 to educate the children of professors at Robert College, the school has a long tradition of academic excellence. It is a non-profit, co-educational, private school serving the international community in Istanbul. The parents of the students are mostly from the international business and diplomatic communities. IICS has two campuses: The Hisar campus on the Bosphorus for children ages 3-9, and the Marmara campus near Büyükçekmece for children ages 3-18. . The students must carry a foreign passport.

Istanbul International School
Istanbul International  School provides  education for Turkish citizens and foreign nationals on its çamlica campus ; grades 1-8. The School also has preschool education in English only for children age 3-5 in çamlica and its new campus on Bagdat Caddesi, çiftehavuzlar. Established in 2002 the school has grown steadily and is planning to extend its preschool services in several locations.

Koç Özel Ilkögretim Okulu ve Lisesi- The Koç School
This private primary and high school at Tuzla was established with the efforts of famous businessmen Vehbi Koç. Education is in English except Turkish and Social Studies. As of 6th grade French or German are elective. At the end of 9th grade it is possible for the students carrying the criteria specified by the school management attend to IB (International Baccalaureate) diploma program.

MEF Okullari - MEF Schools, MEF International School
Provides international education to the foreign community in Istanbul. It is housed in its own building on a 40-acre campus at Ortaköy shared with MEF Schools' national section.

Özel Erisim Anaokulu
Former ABC International at Baltalimani. An international school offering an English language program to childern aged 2-6. Also have a comprehensive program for infants.

Pierre Loti School
Former "Papillon" school at Beyoglu. It is an establishment independent from the Turkish national education system. All lessons are in French from kindergarten through high school. The second language is English. The diploma given is French Baccalaureate, which allows students to attend state universities in France.

Saint-Joseph Fransiz Lisesi - Saint-Joseph French High School
One of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Turkey. It is located in Kadiköy. Education is in French except Turkish Literature and social Studies. English is being taught as a second foreign language.

St. Georges Avusturya Lisesi - St. Georges Austrian High School
Located at Karaköy St. Georges is again one of the most established and prestigious schools of Turkey. Education is in German with the exception of Turkish Literature and Social Studies.

Sainte Pulcherie Fransiz Lisesi - Sainte Pulcheri French High School
Sainte Pulcherie Highschool was founded in 1846 by the Congregation Sisters of The Charity. It's a coeducational bilingual school where medium of instruction is French, which accommodates approximately 400 students. Duration of education is five years, the first year intensive French and four years of high school. The diploma of the school that allows the student to study at universities in France or other foreign countries is equivalent to the IB certificate.

Üsküdar Amerikan Lisesi - Üsküdar American High School
Established in 1876 at Baglarbasi. Again one of the oldest and most prominent schools in Turkey. Education is in English with the exception of Turkish Literature and Social Studies.

The Zeynep Mutlu Education Foundation (K-12) Independent School
Bilingual education 2-18 (early years – high school), English immersion preschool (Maple Bear-Kemer Kids), IBO primary candidate status (PYP), globally authorized Canadian dual diploma (High School), extensive suburban campus close to city center, universally relevant Canadian curriculum supports education in 2+ languages. Graduates are informed global citizens committed to change.

Studying in Turkey

Following the foundation of the Turkish Republic, reforms were undertaken in education. Under the law for the unification of education, which was ratified in 1924, all schools were annexed to the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education was charged with the task of implementing a contemporary mode of education training for Turkish citizens by opening primary and secondary schools and other institutes and arranging courses within the framework of the educational policies decided upon. Today the Ministry also meets the requirements of these institutions in the ways of teachers and administrators and draws up the respective rules, regulations. It also arranges educational high schools for children of school age who are needy or require special care.

The goal of the Turkish national education system could be summed up as being one where all individuals of the state are gathered together as an inseparable whole, united in national consciousness and thinking, trained to think along scientific lines with intellectually broadened views on world affairs, and to be productive happy individuals, who through their skills contribute to the prosperity of society and are instrumental in making the Turkish nation a creative and distinguished member of the modern world.

Official Language: Turkish
Alphabet: Latin alphabet, since 1928
Academic year: September through May/June
Duration of Schooling: 8 plus 4
Compulsory Schooling: 8 years (ages 6-14)

The Turkish National Education System

In Turkey education is performed under the supervision and control of the state. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, everyone has the right to receive education. Individuals are educated by orienting them to various high schools and schools throughout their education, depending on their interests and capabilities. It is essential that the educational system should realize this orientation. The objective of education, according to the Basic Law for National Education, is to educate individuals:

Who adopt the values of the Turkish nation Who know the duties and responsibilities to their country and have made them a part of their behavior,

Who can produce knowledge, utilize the knowledge and technology produced
Who are democratic citizens and respect human rights

Furthermore, the objective of the National Education System also includes preparing them for the future by preparing them for a profession that will contribute to the happiness of themselves and the society.

The Principles of the Turkish National Education:
According to the Constitution governing the Republic no one shall be deprived of the right to learn or the right to education. Furthermore, primary education is compulsory and free in state schools. Except in specially licensed institutions Turkish must be taught as the mother tongue and religious instruction is a compulsory subject in the primary and secondary school curriculum.
The Following are the constitutional principles underlining the Turkish Educational system:
1. Universality and equality
2. Fulfillment of individual and social needs
3. Freedom of choice
4. Right to education
5. Quality of opportunity
6. Education for all throughout life
7. Adherence to Atatürk's Reform principles including secularism
8. Building of democracy
9. Scientific approach
10. Co-education
11. School parent cooperation.
12.The Structure of the Turkish National Education System

Formal Education

Pre-School (0-6) Kindergarten

In Turkey, preschool education, which is optional and considered an adjunct to the public education system rather than an integral part of it, includes the education of children in the 3-5 years of age group. Preschool education is given in kindergartens, preparatory classrooms, application classrooms, day nurseries, nursery schools, day-care homes, and child care homes by various ministries and institutions, but mostly by the Ministry of National Education. The children can benefit from these institutions on a full or half day basis. Families pay a certain amount to have their children benefit from preschool education. Most kindergartens are privately operated and some are attached to the state primary schools. They are concentrated in the larger towns and cities, where they meet a need arising from the rapidly increasing number of working mothers.
The goal of preschool education is to help children develop physically, mentally and individually, and develop their ability to use language and prepare them for primary school.

Primary School (6-14), Public School, Private Schools, Special Education Schools
8 years of primary education is compulsory for every child and begins as soon as they reach the age of six and includes the education and training of children in the 6-14 years of age group. Uninterrupted education is carried out in these schools and the students who graduate are given a primary education diploma. The fact that primary education is compulsory for all male and female citizens and it is free of charge in the State schools is guaranteed in the Constitution, Basic Law for National Education and the Law for Primary Education and Training. Furthermore, besides the State schools, there are also many private primary education schools providing students educational services in return for a tuition fee. In State schools students dress similarly in a type of uniform. Children who fail to reach the required standard at the end of any year may repeat it.

The objective of primary education is to provide children with the required basic knowledge, ability, behavior and habits for them to become good citizens and to prepare them for life and further education according to their interests and abilities. Furthermore, in the second semester of the final year of primary education the students are informed by counselor of the subjects of the schools, high schools and various choices of occupation.

High schools (14-18)

The objective of high school education is to provide the students with a common general culture, to prepare them to take responsibility within the democratic society, to make them respectful of human rights and to prepare them for higher education or business life in the direction of their interests, abilities and capabilities with a consciousness for contributing to the socioeconomic and cultural development of the country,

General High schools

 
Highschools are mostly owned by the government and provide free educational opportunities. Graduates of these high schools can attend universities after the university entrance examination. The centralized examination is administrated by the Supreme Council of Higher Education. It is used to determine which candidates are eligible for enrollment in which university and faculty. Additionally, students are evaluated based on the grades of related subjects, their high school results and their preferences according to the student capacity of each faculty.

Science High schools

Science high schools were established with the aim of providing education to exceptionally gifted mathematics and science students; providing a source for the training of high-level scientists, in order to meet the needs of nation; encouraging students to engage in research activities; providing facilities for students interested in working on inventions and discoveries; serving as laboratory for procedures to be implemented in the science and mathematics programs of other secondary schools.

These schools offer a four-year program with a curriculum that emphasizes science and mathematics. The schools in accordance with regulations are boarding schools. The language of instruction is Turkish. Entrance to science high schools generally requires the highest scores on entering exams.

With the aim of organizing, coordinating, supervising, and evaluating guidance, psychological counseling and special education services at educational institutions, a special education guidance and counseling services unit has been established in each province. Each unit is administered by an assistant provincial director or section head attached to a provincial directorate of national education.

Anatolian High Schools

These selective institutions were established for the purpose of teaching students at least one foreign language, which they can utilize to further their education in the best possible manner. The educational period covers 4 years with a one-year preparatory course (2 year prep course for French). Aside from foreign language lessons the normal high school includes science and mathematics lessons given in English or French.
Graduates are generally very successful in the university entrance exams. The demand for places in Anatolian high schools is high and admission is through a very competitive entrance examination. By the year 2002, the middle school sections of these high schools will have been progressively phased out.

Anatolian Fine Arts High Schools

These schools have been opened for children to develop special talents and to preserve cultural, artistic and national values. Tuition duration is four years, including a one-year preparatory course.

Foreign Language High Schools

Foreign Language High Schools were established with the aim of preparing high achieving students for higher education programs which correspond to their interests, abilities, and level of achievement; providing more effective foreign language teaching; raising the level of general secondary education; providing more extensive foreign language instruction.
The period of study at these schools is 4 years, with the first year being devoted to an intensive foreign language preparatory program.

Special Training Schools

The special training services in Turkey are carried out in special training schools established according to disability groups. Today special training services are provided for children and youth in five different disability groups, including blindness, deafness, orthopedic disabilities, mental retardation and long-term illnesses. The objective of special training is to meet the educational needs of individuals who need special training, to integrate them into society and provide them with a vocation. The students who need special training are also provided with the opportunity to receive education at the regular schools together with the students of their own age. An attempt is being made to implement called "combining".
These schools were also established for those of high intelligence to enable them to become useful members of the community and attain a profession. Education is free in these schools, they provide day classe, boarding and lodgings.

Schools for the Blind: These schools offer educational opportunities to those children whose vision is lower than 1/10 for both eyes and who are termed blind, and for those whose vision for both eyes is seriously impaired (between 1/10 and 1/30).

Schools for the Deaf : These schools offer educational opportunities to those children who, notwithstanding all the measures taken, have a loss of hearing of more than 70 decibels and who are classified as very deaf and for those children whose loss of hearing is between 25-70 decibels and who are classified as "hard of hearing". The educational period in the primary school section is six years. Some of these centers have a secondary school section and a kindergarten.

School for the Orthopedic Handicapped : This school offers educational opportunities to those children who notwithstanding all the measures taken are not able to follow a normal course of education because of the deformations of their bodies. The school is in Ankara and consists of a primary school, a handicrafts secondary school and a vocational high school.

School for Retarded Children : This school is for children with an I.Q. between 25-44, and they are trained so that they are able to look after their own personal needs.

Schools for Retarded Children Who Can Be Trained: This is a school for children with an I.Q. that is between 45-75.

Private Educational Institutions

These educational institutions are composed of every stage and type of schools opened in accordance with Law No. 625 and private classrooms and courses. These institutions continue their activities under the supervision and surveillance of the Ministry of National Education. When the dimensions of educational activities are taken into consideration, it appears that it will be beneficial for some of the educational services to be carried out by the private sector. The share of private schools in general education today is 1.5 percent. Extensive opportunities are provided for students in fee-paying private schools, particularly in foreign language education computer education.

Academic Calendar: The academic year generally begins in mid September or early October and extends through to May or early June, with some variations between urban and rural areas. The school day comprised of a morning and an afternoon session except in overcrowded schools, where a split session may be required. Schools are in session for five days a week. There is also a two-week winter break in February.
Universities and colleges usually organize the academic year into two semesters, the first extending from October to January, and the second from February/March to June/July.

The Higher Education System

All universities and institutitons of higher education are connected to the Higher Education Council (YÖK) established by Law No. 2547 dated 6 November 1981. YÖK is an autonomous organization having a public juristic personality within the framework of the duties and authorities given by the Higher Education Law, which regulates higher education and directs the activities of the higher education institutions. YÖK prepares short and long-term plans to establish and develop higher education institutions and to educate in Turkey or abroad the teaching staff required and monitors the application. Furthermore, it provides for cooperation and coordination among the higher education institutions. The Higher Education Supervisory Board, ÖSYM and other related units for planning, namely research, development, evaluation, budget, investment and coordination are connected to YÖK.
The Minister of National Education represents higher education in the Parliament and can chair the meetings of the Council but has no vote. Neither decisions of the Council nor those of the universities are subject to ratification by the Ministry.
Higher education is defined as all post-secondary programs with a duration of at least two years. The system consists of universities (53 state and 19 private) and non-university institutions of higher education (police and military academies and colleges).
Each university consists of faculties and four-year schools, offering bachelor's level programs, the latter with a vocational emphasis, and two-year vocational schools offering pre-bachelor's (associate's) level programs of a strictly vocational nature.
Anadolu University in Eskisehir offers two-and year programs through distance education. This program has been greatly expanded in recent years, although entry remains competitive. Students use printed materials, and the university also broadcasts lectures on television and contact hours are available.
Graduate-level programs consist of master and doctoral programs, coordinated by institutes for graduate studies. Medical specialty training programs equivalent to doctoral level programs are, carried out within the faculties of medicine and the training hospitals owned by the Ministry of Health (Saglik Bakanligi) and the Social Insurance Organization (Sosyal Sigortalar Kurumu, SSK).
Universities, faculties, institutions and four-year schools are founded by law, while two-year vocational schools and departments are established by the Council of Higher Education. Likewise, the opening of a degree program at any level is subject to ratification by the Council.
A special examination is held once a year for foreign students by the same organization. As the examination papers are in both Turkish and English, knowledge of Turkish is not necessary. Those who pass the exams, and have only a little knowledge of Turkish, are considered to be on leave for a period of one year to gain proficiency in the Turkish language. Turkish language courses for foreigners are given by the Turkish Teaching Centre (TÖMER) of Ankara University. There are also Turkish language courses in Istanbul and Izmir at various universities.

Cable TV Systems

There are two main cable TV systems in Turkey and what follows is a short summary of what they offer. For more information you can always check with the dealers or visit their Internet sites.

Turksat Cable TV
Allows you to watch more than 50 channels, most of which are in Turkish. However BBC Prime (contests, serials, documentary and films), BBC World (mostly news and documentary), Eurosport (full time sports channel),and CNN, are the channels broadcasting in English. TV5 is the only channel broadcasting in French, providing the audience with films, serials, contests and documentaries as well as local news from Switzerland, Belgium and Canada. German channel RTL is also available. For a list of daily programs you may visit their sites.

This service covers quite limited areas and therefore you should check with the yönetici of your building or if you are a tenant with the house owner to learn whether the district your house is located in has Türk Telekom's cable TV facilities or not.

Please also note that Cable TV subscriptions are made for addresses, not to your name. That means you cannot transfer a cable TV line to another address. If it happens that the agreement is made to your name, don't forget to terminate it before moving to another address. All Turk Telekom branches will be able to provide you with information and service.
The cable TV rates differ according to individual and group applications.

Digitürk Provides its members more than 130 channels via a digital platform. Family channel , Hallmark, entertainment channel E! Entertainment and Extreme Sports are among the channels Digitürk covers. National channels, radio and digital music channels are also available.

Moreover Digitürk “Vision Saloons” allow you watch the films you wish on a “Watch and Pay” basis. All films and most of the foreign channels can be followed in either English or Turkish.

In order to watch Digitürk broadcasting you are going to need a Digitürk dish antenna and a Digikutu (Digi Box) installation which can be obtained from Digiturk dealers.

For subscriptions to Digitürk it is best to contact them as they have many packages and payment alternatives.

Taxation

VAT as the main turnover tax is part of the fundamental criteria for full EU membership and Turkey replaced the existing production tax with VAT (KDV) in 1985. The rise in the rates and changes in the structures of Turkish VAT as a result of fiscal approximation clearly have major economic effects on the Turkish economy. The percent of VAT charged is different on every subject. A Tax refund is applicable for short-term visits.

Check whether the price announced on the goods contains VAT. It is better if you see the label Fiyatlarimiza KDV Dahildir which means, "VAT is included in our prices".

Your employer deducts Turkish income tax (Gelir Vergisi) from your salary. With regard to your home country's income tax laws, consult your Consulate for rules and regulations.

If you have your own business it is strongly recommended to have advice from a financial auditor.

Other taxes to be paid include:
Car tax (Tasit Vergisi) paid in two installments: January and July.
Property tax (Emlak Vergisi) should be paid in two installments: May and November.

Transport in Istanbul

Istanbul, covering an area of 5.220 sq.km is an incredibly crowded and complicated town. Inner city transportation is one of the biggest problems. It does not matter whether you have a car or not. You may not even find a place to park your car in certain places and in certain hours. On the other hand if you don't know your destination it's very easy to get lost. Don't be confused! Once you learn to deal with the town's “unwritten rules” you'll have great pleasure. Moreover we are here to help you and to ease your way of life.

With the lack of an elaborated city plan Istanbul changes face quite fast. The city offers many traffic challenges to its citizens.

For example a person living on the Anatolian side may work on the European side or just the opposite. Therefore during the rush hours the existing two bridges over the Bosphorus (Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges respectively) and three bridges over the Golden Horn are very crowded. Well at least you can enjoy the panorama of both the Bosphorus and Golden Horn while waiting in the terrific traffic!

The highways passing through both bridges are the main roads connecting Europe to Asia and all International Road Transfers (TIR) must use these highways. As a result, together with inner city traffic you meet a very colorful range of vehicles causing this confusion!

Well of course the bridges are not the only way of transport: ferry (arabali vapur), steamship (vapur), sea bus (deniz otobüsü), motor boat (motor), metro (metro), light metro (hafif metro) (only on the European side), sub urban trains (banliyö treni), municipality bus (belediye otobüsü), public bus (halk otobüsü), tunnel (tünel), tram (tramvay), taxi (taksi), and public taxi (dolmus) are the other alternatives. Nevertheless people still prefer the bridges and we have yet to figure out why!!!