What is Alternative Dispute Resolution? Is it right for your problem? What types of ADR exist? How are they used?
Continue readingA General Guide to Foreign Wills
Do you have assets in another country? If so, do you have a Will for that country? If not, it’s something you should seriously consider. Find out how in this guide.
Continue readingChoosing Commercial Property
This guide covers… This guide deals with the special things that you will need to take into account when choosing commercial property. By commercial property, we mean things such as offices, shops, bars, restaurants and warehouses. It is best read in conjunction with our country specific guides to Choosing Commercial Property but we have produced this global version to deal …
Continue readingBooks about Bulgaria
Disclaimer: as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Travel guides for Bulgaria Lonely Planet Romania & Bulgaria “Lonely Planet Romania & Bulgaria is your passport to all the most relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Absorb the vibrant landscape by hiking the Carpathians, relax on Bulgaria’s Black …
Continue readingBooks about Portugal
Travel guides for Portugal Books about Portuguese culture Books about politics in Portugal Books about Portuguese history
Continue readingBooks about Nigeria
Travel guides to Nigeria Books about Nigerian Culture Books about politics in Nigeria Books about Nigerian history
Continue readingBooks about Turkey
There are some really interesting books about turkey. Here are a few of our favourites.
Continue readingInsuring your Car in Spain
Insurance for your car is critical not just because the law requires you to have it but because of the devastating consequences of having an accident whilst not insured.
What is available and how do you get it?
Continue readingSocial Security in Spain
Social security arrangements in Spain are extensive and expensive. They are also rather complicated and, very likely, different from those to which you are accustomed. Yet it is well worth getting to grips with them before you need to make use of the services provided.
Continue readingProperty and Rental Management for International Real Estate
You’ve decided to invest in international property – or perhaps you’ve already bought it. Sensibly (at least in my view) you have chosen to buy real estate that will generate income, rather than relying solely on the turbulent game of capital gains.
Continue readingTrusts for the International Person
For nearly 1,000 years Trusts have offered a useful tool to people who operate internationally.
They address some very practical problems in a straightforward and practical way and, at the same time, can offer opportunities for saving tax and getting round inconvenient legal restrictions in the place where you happen to be living.
Continue readingChoosing a Lawyer for International Work
If you need to see a lawyer, you need to see a good lawyer: not just someone who’s going through the motions and racking up fees.
Continue readingInternational Wills
This guide deals with international Wills – Wills specifically written to be valid in multiple countries around the world. How do you make one? Where will it be recognised? Are they a good idea?
Continue readingPowers of Attorney – a Global Guide
Powers of Attorney are much used in international transactions where somebody who would normally have to attend to sign a document finds it inconvenient or impossible to do so.
Continue readingInsuring a Car in a Foreign Country
Insuring your car is completely necessary. Not only is it illegal not to have car insurance in almost every country, it protects you from some of the most expensive mishaps you can experience – those to do with your vehicle!
Continue readingInsuring Investment Property in a Foreign Country
If you have bought a property that is purely for investment, you should be aware that it comes with its own sets of risks. For that reason, insurance is generally more complicated and almost always more expensive.
Continue readingInsuring a Holiday Home in a Foreign Country
Holiday home insurance may not be mandatory in many countries, but it is extremely important that you buy it. If you do not, you are leaving yourself open to thousands of dollars, euros or pounds in repair, loss of income or even litigation.
Continue readingTax: the Taxation of Companies in Spain
In Spain, companies are taxes in a variety of ways. Understanding the system – and how it will work best for you – is essential if you want to do business in Spain via a company. This is an area where detailed professional advice is a must but it is still helpful to have a basic understanding of the system before you see your accountant.
Continue readingTax: the Taxation of Individuals in Spain
Spain has what looks like a relatively simple tax system, particularly if you are not tax-resident in Spain, but it is still important to understand how it works. It also offers lots of opportunities for fine tuning your tax position in order to reduce the taxes you will have to pay in Spain or elsewhere.
Continue readingProperty Investment in Spain
Many people made a lot of money out of investing in property in Spain. Unfortunately, those who invested just before the 2007 crash lost a lot of money. Is now the time to look again at investing in property (real estate) in Spain? What and where should you buy? How should you do it?
Continue readingProperty (Real Estate) Insurance in a Foreign Country
Property (home) insurance is what protects you when things go wrong. Flooding, theft, your building inexplicably sinking three feet into the ground – all of this can be covered by property insurance. It’s very important. Many people do not buy it and deeply regret it.
Continue readingLife Insurance for People Moving Abroad
Life insurance will probably not be at the top of your list of things you must do if you’re relocating to a foreign country, but it is worth using your move as an opportunity to check that your current arrangements are adequate and change them if necessary.
Continue readingHealth Insurance for People Moving Abroad
Health insurance is vital if you are moving to a country with a private healthcare system – and often even if it has a socialised system. Many countries won’t even give you a visa until you’ve sorted your health insurance, and for good reason: medical care is expensive.
Continue readingInsurance for People Travelling Abroad
Travel insurance is very important. It is human nature to think that everything will be fine, as it has been on every trip you’ve ever taken. But one day – inevitably – it won’t be fine.
Continue readingRescuing Failed Property Developments in Spain
In the era from 2007 to 2010-ish, there were lots of failed developments in Spain. Whether you were a buyer in one of those developments or you are a fresh investor looking to profit from property development in Spain, it’s worth seeing if any of the disasters can be rescued.
Continue readingRescuing Failed Property Developments Abroad
This guide is about what happens when a property development goes wrong: when it fails before the homes are delivered to their buyers and the buyers risk losing a lot of money. These situations arise at various times in almost every country and, whilst the solutions vary a little depending upon the legal framework in the country concerned, the main principles apply worldwide.
Continue readingInternational Property Development – the Worldwide Guide
This guide is an overview of the worldwide possibilities available to small and first-time property developers. It looks at the opportunities and challenges facing property developers working in a country that is not their own.
Continue readingDue Diligence for Foreign Property Buyers
I have a lot of experience with due diligence, having worked in international real estate law for well over 30 years. I know how important it is, and how badly a property deal can go wrong if it isn’t done properly.
Continue readingInvesting in International Property
Real estate has long been a popular option for those wishing to invest their money. It is tangible, you can use it yourself and many of us have heard stories about people making their fortune through property investment.
Continue readingInvestments for the International Person
When you live and work in only one country and just go abroad for the odd short vacation, deciding on your investment strategy is complicated enough. When you are travelling the world and spending a lot of time in other countries it becomes much, much more complicated.
Continue readingWorldwide Retirement Guide – Top Places to Retire
Retiring to a foreign country is a dream for many people around the world. Is it for you?
Continue readingRenting a Property in Spain
We all need somewhere to live. Find out the rules about renting a property in Spain – and how to do it. Whether it is a holiday home, a permanent residence or something that falls between the two, the Spanish system can give you some surprises!
Continue readingLetting (Renting Out) Your Property in Spain
Whether you are a professional landlord or somebody who lets their home when they are not using it, there is quite a lot to learn about letting property in Spain. It can be very expensive if you get it wrong. This guide looks at the essentials.
Continue readingWho Should Own Your House?
The issue of who should be the legal owner of any property you buy may not be an obvious one but not asking the question can be a big mistake. By putting the property in the most appropriate names you can save tens of thousands of whatever currency you use to measure your wealth.
Continue readingSelling a Property (Real Estate) in Spain
Selling a property (real estate) in Spain is quite a simple process. Yet there are still things that can catch the unwary. This guide explains what they are and how to avoid them – as well as taking you through the process, step by step.
Continue readingProperty Development in Spain
A large part of the economy of Spain is based on construction and property development. In the past, it has proved very profitable. Is it still a great opportunity or is the market over-cooked? Should you get involved? If so, how – and how can you do so safely?
Continue readingFractional Ownership & Timeshare in Spain
Timeshare and fractional ownership are both concepts that strike fear in many people. In some cases, they should! In other cases, they can be a great way of sharing the use (and the cost) of a holiday home. What are they? How do they work? What are the dangers to look out for?
Continue readingBuying Newly Built Property (Real Estate) in Spain
New property is very popular, especially with investors. What are the special things to look out for when buying a new – previously unoccupied – property in Spain? How do you guard against the risks?
Continue readingBuying Off-Plan (unfinished) Property (Real Estate) in Spain
Many people like the idea of buying property before it has been completed. There are good reasons for doing so. But what about the risks? What are they and how can you control them? This guide looks at those issues.
Continue readingComing to Spain to Set Up a Business (Immigration/Visas)
If you want to set up a business in Spain there are plenty of opportunities to do so, especially if you are going to create employment in Spain. However, the processes can be quite complex. This guide will hep you make the right choices.
Continue readingBuying Commercial Property in Spain
There are two group of people who buy commercial property. Those who need it for their own use and those who like it as an investment vehicle. Both groups need to make sure they buy the right property.
Continue readingDebt Collection in Spain
For any business or individual, debt collecting is sometimes a tedious necessity. In Spain, it can be very slow and, all too often, unproductive. You can maximise your chances of success by taking some basic and inexpensive precautions and planning ahead. This guide covers what to do and how to do it.
Continue readingSetting Up a Company in Spain
Do you need a company in Spain? If so, which type? What are your options and what are their respective advantages and disadvantages? This guide sets out, briefly and simply, some of the issues concerned.
Continue readingStarting a Business in Spain
Starting a business in a new country is exciting and it can be very profitable. It will certainly change your life! However, if you get it wrong it can prove to be a financial disaster and could change your life in all the wrong ways. Getting it right needs a bit of luck but, much more, hard work and thorough preparation. This guide will help you make the most out of this opportunity.
Continue readingBuying a Property (Real Estate) in Spain
Buying a home or other property (real estate) costs a lot of money and so is worrying. It is also something that that has been done, literally, millions of times and can be completely safe. How do you do it? How do you make it safe?
Continue readingVoting & Politics in Spain
Spanish politics is a complex and fractious subject. You’ll learn more about the average Spaniard’s views by sitting in a bar and chatting than you will from guides like this, but I hope this overview is useful (it might prepare you for the pub conversations).
Continue readingMatrimonial Regimes in Spain: the Law
Whenever you are married, certain rules govern how your finances are going to be treated. These are the rules in Spain. They may be very different from the rules in your country – and failure to understand them can prove very costly.
Continue readingWills for use in Spain
Let’s be clear. If you have any assets in Spain – a house, a business, a car, a bank account or pretty much anything else – you should make a Will valid for use in Spain. If you live in Spain this is even more important. This guide tells you how to go about making a Will in Spain.
Continue readingPreparing to Retire to a Foreign Country
Retiring to a foreign country is a dream for many people around the world. If you are going to live that dream, your life will be made much easier if you take some basic steps before moving to retire abroad.
Continue readingOpening a Bar in Another Country
The reality often turns out very differently. Hard work. Crippling losses. No spare time. Descent into alcoholism. Sorry to sound a little grim, but the risks are real. A huge number of bars fail within their first couple of years. Yet running a bar can be, for the right person with the right drive, a profitable and fulfilling business. One …
Continue readingBuying an Existing Business in Another Country
Many people consider taking over an existing business rather than starting their own, brand new one. There are several advantages to doing this but there can also be significant risk.
Continue readingStarting a Company in in a Foreign Country
More and more people are doing business internationally – either operating solely within their home country or with additional premises and staff in foreign countries.
Continue readingEmployment Law in Spain
Some people work for the same employer, without incident or trouble, for years or decades. Others are not so lucky and encounter difficulties from unsafe working practices to racial or sexual harassment.
This guide gives you initial guidance as to what to do if things go wrong.
Continue readingImporting Your Car into Spain
Should you import you car into Spain or should you buy one there? If you want to import your car into Spain, how should you do it? How long will it take? What will it cost?
Continue readingFunding Your International Business
Funding international businesses – especially small international businesses – can be tricky. Some would say nearly impossible. Funding them without falling into the hands of the crooks and charlatans who populate the internet is harder still.
Continue readingStarting a Business in a Foreign Country
This guide is intended for the person who wants to start up a business based in a foreign country. This might be their only business or a branch of a business “back home”.
Continue readingDoing Business Around the World
It is not long ago that most business operated locally or nationally. What they made – or their services – were consumed within a few miles or, at most, within their own countries.
Continue readingPreparing to Work in a Foreign Country
This guide is about the steps you need to take when preparing to work in a foreign country. It covers both people seeking international jobs and people being sent overseas by their employer. It details the preparation needed by the employee and also looks at the things that should be done by the family of someone who will be working abroad.
Continue readingFamily Law in Spain
Family law is immensely complex because families are immensely complex. It also – together with criminal law – reflects the nature of the historic and cultural basis of a society much more clearly than any other aspect of law. How a society deals with the family is absolutely central to that society’s core values.
Continue readingGetting a Divorce in Spain
Divorce is one of the most common risks associated with living in another country. The reason why is subject to some debate but meeting new people, drink, sunshine and the fact that you are not under the immediate eye of your family or neighbours probably all contribute. So, in some cases, do lurking problems that existed before the move. Whatever the reason, lots of people end up seeing a Spanish lawyer about divorce. Fortunately, the system works well.
Continue readingMoving Money Abroad
Should you take your money with you when you go abroad long-term? If so, how should you do it? What should you do with the money when it arrives?
Continue readingForeign Exchange (Forex or FX)
This guide deals with moving money from one country to another.
To help you understand the opportunities, it also gives a brief explanation of how the foreign exchange (Forex or FX) market works and looks at the most secure and cheapest ways of moving money from one country and currency to another.
Continue readingInternational Banks & Banking: the Basics
The concept of international banking gives rise to a lot of confusion. As is so often the case when you work in several countries, the terms used can means different things to different people.
Continue readingInheritance Planning in Spain
Nobody wants to face up to the inevitability of death and so most people never do any inheritance planning. That’s a great pity. It could not only save them and their heirs a fortune but it should also greatly reduce the stress when you die. Inheritance planning is one of the most cost-effective things you can do. Whatever your age, do it now!
Continue readingInheritance in Spain
Nowhere can a bit of forward planning produce such simple and dramatic results as in the area of inheritance. It can save you untold grief and inconvenience – and tens or hundreds of thousands of whatever currency you use to define your wealth. To think about this planning, you need to understand the inheritance rules in your part of Spain.
Continue readingDealing with a Death in Spain
Every country and culture has its own way of dealing with a death. From the bureaucracy to the ritual and the conventions surrounding bereavement, the process in Spain is likely to be different from what you are used to. Depending upon where you come from, it could be very different indeed.
Continue readingCriminal Law in Spain
Crime and criminal cases in Spain should be of interest to everybody who lives there, however honest you may be. What happens if you are arrested? Will you be locked up before your trial? Will you be entitled to legal representation – and how can you get it? What punishments do you face? This guide seeks to cover these issues.
Continue readingPowers of Attorney for Use in Spain
Powers of Attorney are really useful documents allowing somebody else to do things on your behalf. When should you make one? Who should you appoint? How do you make a Power? What does it cost? How long does it take?
Continue readingNotaries (Notarios) in Spain
Notaries are a crucial part of the legal system in Spain. They validate, witness and store all sorts of important documents. They can even marry or divorce you! What else can they do? How do you find one?
Continue readingThe Legal System in Spain
If you are going to live, work or do business in a foreign country one of the most important factors in ensuring a trouble and stress free time is having a good legal system. How does the system in Spain work? Where does it rank when compared to other countries?
Continue readingDisputes & Court Cases in Spain
Disputes occur in any country.
Often they are the result of genuine misunderstandings. Even more often they are the result of badly prepared contracts. Occasionally they are the result of bad faith. Very infrequently they are the result of fraud or other criminal activity.
Continue readingDefective Products Law in Spain
When you buy any product, things can go wrong with it. In Spain, the law deals quite comprehensively with your rights in these circumstances. this guide sets out what you can do in these circumstances.
Continue readingContract Law in Spain
Contracts – written or verbal, large or small – are pretty much central to large parts of our personal and business lives. How do they work in Spain? How do I know if a contract is legally valid? What happens if things go wrong?
Continue readingConsumer Protection in Spain
What happens when you buy something and it doesn’t work? Or which is dangerous? Or which works for a short time and then breaks? Or which is just a million miles from what was described when you bought it? Or when someone supplies you with a shoddy service?
Spain has a number of ways of helping you.
Continue readingChild Abduction to Spain
There is nothing more frightening or distressing than for your child to be abducted: taken away from you. This guides covers what to do if this happens and if it is the child’s other parent who takes the child.
Continue readingHuman Development: the Development of Nations
Human development, as set out by the United Nations, comprises three core areas: leading a long and healthy life, receiving a good education and enjoying a decent standard of living (a high income per capita).
Continue readingGlobal Healthcare
This guide deals with the thorny and very topical question of global healthcare for expats. Whether you are retiring to a foreign country or living there to work or run a business, this will be an issue of concern to you.
Continue readingGlobal Crime, Justice & Corruption
Of the great many factors you need to take into account when moving to another country, crime and justice are among the most important.
Continue readingTransport Links to and within Spain
As one of the world’s major economies and the world’s third largest tourist destination, Spain is well served when it comes to all types of transport.
Continue readingMarriage in Spain
Marriage is still a major part of our culture – and where better to do it than a vibrant country with, generally, good weather. This guides explains who can marry in Spain and the formalities involved.
Continue readingSex & Sexuality in Spain
This guide is about sex and sexuality in Spain. It covers issues like the age of consent, and LGBT rights and associations.
Continue readingTaxes Around the World
Tax is a subject that seems to be of endless fascination to those people who live, work or do business in more than one country. In fact, it is a topic of almost equal fascination and concern to people and companies who do not have to pay tax in more than one country!
Continue readingImmigration Around the World
Immigration, and its sister emigration, have never been of greater interest. As I write this guide (July 2018) we remain in the throes of a huge global migration triggered by the various wars and conflicts in the Middle East.
Continue readingPublic holidays in Spain
You’ll find a full list of national and regional holidays here. However, don’t forget that each municipality will have two additional public holidays; often celebrating the local saint or an event of local importance. Some notes about the major holidays, mainly for our readers in the East:
Continue readingThe European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider. How do you obtain a card? You obtain a card by contacting the health insurance institution where you are insured and which is therefore responsible for assuming your healthcare costs. For more information, see this website. Who can benefit from the card? To be eligible for a card, you must be insured by or covered by a …
Continue readingHealthcare in Spain
Click where you see for more information Emergency numbers Call 112 – the general emergency number or 061 for an ambulance Languages spoken: Spanish, English, French and German. The quality of healthcare in Spain Spain has an excellent quality of healthcare. It’s routinely ranked amongst the world’s best. The WHO Healthcare Index put Spain 7th of 191 countries ranked. Of course, if you live in …
Continue readingThe World’s Economies
This short guide looks at the relevance of the global economy to people living, working or doing business in a country that is not their own. It also looks at reliable places where you can obtain further information about the countries of interest to you.
Continue readingEducation in Spain
Education in Spain is often very good, but can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. Whether your child receives a good education will be, in the main, down to the school you choose for them. Whether you go down the route of private or state education, there is a good selection of schools available in Spain.
Continue readingDriving Licences in Spain
Almost every adult who wants to live or work in Spain will also want to drive in Spain. They need to understand what type of licence they need in order to do so. This guides explains that – and how to obtain a licence in Spain if you need one.
Continue readingDriving in Spain
Every year, hundreds of thousands of foreigners drive in Spain. Many worry about it before they do it for the first time. Very few worry the second time. This guide sets out some common-sense preparations and precautions to keep you safe.
Continue readingBusiness Issues in Spain
Every country has special issues when it comes to doing business. Spain is no exception. This guide focused on some of the issues that can catch out the unwary.
Continue readingDoing Business in Spain
Doing business in Spain is an enticing prospect. It is a large market (46 million people) and a trillion dollar economy. It has a very large expat population and over 75 million tourists per year, which opens a number of unique opportunities. So how do you do business in Spain?
Continue readingGlossary of Legal Terms
Common legal terms and their meanings: Abstract (Of Title) A summary of the public records relating to the title to a particular piece of land. An attorney or title insurance company reviews an abstract of title to determine whether there are any title defects which must be cleared before a buyer can purchase clear, marketable, and insurable title. Acceleration Clause …
Continue readingDrinking & Driving in Spain
A couple of decades ago, drinking and driving in Spain was commonplace. Today it is not.
As in many countries, this reflects a change in the public perception of what is acceptable conduct but in Spain it also reflects much more police activity and substantial penalties – including disqualification from driving – for those arrested and convicted.
Continue readingLearning Spanish – in Spain or ‘back home’
Despite what some expats will tell you, learning Spanish is important if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Spain. It makes you life much easier and your time in Spain both more productive and more fun.
Continue readingCultural Differences in Spain
The cultural differences between various countries are fascinating and, often, surprising. Understanding them is hugely important if you want to survive – and thrive – in a country that is not your own. Recognise them. Understand them. But don’t be frightened by them.
Continue readingComing to Spain for Short-Term Work (Immigration/Visas)
Many people come to work in Spain on a short-term basis. Sometimes this will be a young person wanting a vacation job. On other occasions it might be a more senior person coming to Spain to carry out a short project.
Continue readingComing to Spain for Other Reasons (Immigration/Visas)
Our other guides to immigration cover the vast majority of cases where people wish to come and live in Spain. However, the world is always complicated and there are many other circumstances in which people have the right to enter and stay in the country. This guide covers some of them.
Continue readingComing to Spain as an Asylum Seeker/Refugee (Immigration/Visas)
Spain is home to a reasonably small number of the world’s 68million-plus refugees (2018). But Europe as a whole is in the midst of a refugee crisis, and Spain is not unaffected by it.
Continue readingComing to Spain to Join Your Family (Immigration/Visas)
This guide looks briefly at what’s involved in joining a close family member in Spain. The rules governing this are quite complex.
Continue readingResidence by Investment in Spain (Immigration/Golden Visa)
One way to get the right to live in Spain is via its “residence by investment” (‘golden visa’) programme. This is, obviously, fairly expensive but if you have the money it can be a simple and cost-effective solution to the visa problem.
Continue readingComing to Spain to Work (Immigration/Visas)
Well over 10% of Spain’s workforce is made up of foreign nationals – and the number is growing quickly.
Continue readingComing to Spain to Retire (Immigration/Visas)
Hundreds of foreigners retire to Spain each year. The weather is warm, the food is good and there are already many thriving communities of expats! Even better, it’s really easy to do.
Continue readingComing to Spain as a Student (Immigration/Visas)
Spanish further (tertiary) education is high-quality and its courses are relatively cheap. Spain has embraced the idea of the international student, so it is fairly easy to study there.
Continue readingVisas: Coming to Spain as a Tourist
Thousands of people visit Spain every year. This isn’t surprising – it is a beautiful region with beautiful climate and a great range of tourist accommodation.
So you’ll be pleased to hear that Spain is very easy to visit!
Continue readingCountries in the EU
EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within its internal market. Twenty-two member-countries – plus four that are not members of the EU – have abolished passport controls for movement between those countries. The area covered by these arrangements is known as the Schengen area. Nineteen member-countries have adopted the euro as their currency. …
Continue readingImmigration, Visas & Residence in Spain
This guide gives details of the immigration rules in Spain. It covers immigration for settlement when joining relatives, immigration to work or do business, immigration based on investment in Spain and immigration for retirement. It also covers short-term visits to Spain, whether as tourists or to do business.
Continue readingVideo Tour of the Costa del Sol
This guide gathers together film showing various parts of the Costa del Sol. It is intended to give those who do not know the area a quick impression of what it is like.
Continue readingTransport links within the Costa del Sol in Spain
Getting to the Costa del Sol Getting to the Costa del Sol by air If you’re flying into the Costa del Sol, chances are you’ll be landing in Malaga International Airport (AGP). The airport is made up of three terminals. It handled over 14million passengers in 2015. You’ll find plenty of places to load up on shopping or feed and water …
Continue readingHealthcare in Spain
This guide is about healthcare in Spain – the quality of the healthcare available and how to find and access medical treatment.
Continue readingThe United States of America – Facts & Figures
The United States is a young country, but it is unarguably one of the most powerful and most influential.
Continue readingEthnicity Demographics – Global List
With nearly 200 ethnic groups generally recognised in the world (from 1.3 billion Han Chinese to 200,000 Laz, Gaguaz & Abkhaz), we are certainly a very diverse place. Yet ethnicity still creates nearly as many problems as religion: in some places, more.
Continue readingReligious Demographics – Global List
Religious people – by numbers and countries The map below gives a glimpse of which religions dominate in which places. Original image from Wikipedia (we added a bigger key!)
Continue readingForeign Born Population Percentages – Global List
List of foreign-born residents
Continue readingUrban Population Percentages – Global List
Around the world, there is a rapid move from country to town. Here are the figures, giving the percentage of the people who live in towns and the rate of change expected.
Continue readingLife Expectancy – Global List
The figures for life expectancy at birth come from a variety of sources and, surprisingly, vary quite a lot. Nonetheless, they remind us about how startlingly different things can be depending upon the place where you were born. Japan 83.7, Swaziland 49.2.
Continue readingMedian Age of Population – Global List
For those of us who are mathematically challenged, the median age is the age at which there are as many people older as there are younger. Median Age The map gives a quick overview:
Continue readingEase of Doing Business – Global List
The World bank has been monitoring how easy it is to do business in countries around the world since 2001 and their evaluations should be high on your reading list.
Continue readingPeople Below the Poverty Line – Global List
The number of people living below the poverty line is difficult to establish: partly because the definition of poverty varies so much from country to country – or isn’t even defined at all. However, these figures are a starting point for your thought process.
Continue readingUnemployment Percentages – Global List
Increasingly, we see two different measurements for unemployment: overall unemployment and youth unemployment. Both are important and will influence you: whether you are trying to find work or thinking of setting up in business.
Continue readingGovernment (Public) Debt – Global List
There is a great debate about whether public (government) debt matters. Is it a good idea to ‘borrow to invest’? How much? How should it be spent?
At Guides.Global we are pretty set in our opinion that too much borrowing is a bad thing: landing your children and grand-children with debt is immoral. You may, of course, disagree. Whatever your view, the level of public debt in the countries where you might live or do business is a factor to take into account.
Continue readingInflation Rates – Global List
Inflation is a major issue in many countries: so much so that you might think twice about living or doing business there.
Continue readingCountries by GDP & GNI – Global List
GDP and GNI, possibly adjusted for inflation and/or for PPP, sometimes shown as an amount per person (per capita) and sometimes as a simple total, are constantly used as a measure of a country’s wealth. What do they mean? How do countries compare across the world?
Continue readingCorruption Perception Index – Global List
For most people living, working or doing business is a foreign country, corruption is a major enemy. Of course, a few businesses – and individuals – thrive on corruption. They are not your friend!
The Corruption Perception Index from Transparency International has been around for a long time can help you a lot when it comes to risk assessment. Whilst nowhere is perfect, you need very good reasons to be dealing with the countries way down the list!
Continue readingRule of Law Index – Global List
The Rule of Law Index – produced by the World Justice Project – is one of the most useful indicators about what it is like to live or operate in a country. If there is no rule of law, why would you want to be – or do business – there?
Continue readingTerrorism Index – Global List
Terrorism is the concern-of-the-moment. There are some countries hardly affected by it. Would you want to live in them?
Continue readingPeace Index – Global List
The Vision of Humanity “Peace Index” gives you sometimes surprising insights as to how peaceful the country where you want to live really is.
Continue readingHospital Bed Numbers – Global List
Surprise: Japan has more than twice as many hospital beds (per 1000 people) as France – and nearly 10 times as many as Mexico.
Continue readingDoctor Numbers – Global List
Would you believe there are countries where there are over 70 doctors per 10,000 people – and many others where there are fewer than one?
Continue readingHealth Expenditure Percentage – Global List
All over the world, expenditure on health is on the rise. In most developed countries, it had more than doubled since 1970. However, and not surprisingly, there are huge inequalities. In 2016, the US spent $9,636 per person: Zambia $203.
Continue readingHuman Development Index – Global List
Let’s face it. Some countries are ‘challenging’ places to live. The UN Human Development Index gives show an interesting way of seeing how countries are doing.
Continue readingPopulation of Country – Global List
With populations from 1.4 billion (China) down to 800 (Vatican City) there is no shortage of variety. Equally, with some countries still growing at nearly 5% per year and others shrinking by 1% per year, the future could look very different.
Continue readingLand Area of Country – Global List
Did you know that the world’s largest country (Russia) is nearly 8 million times bigger than its smallest (Monaco)?
Continue readingWater Consumption of Population – Global List
Drinking water is in short supply – and could be the trigger for many future conflicts. Even worse, for many people ‘good’, clean drinking water is a distant dream.
Continue readingSpain – Facts & Figures
Spain is a hugely popular destination for both expats and tourists. It has been a world power for over 500 years. Its huge empire has left its mark across the world. More than 400 million people speak Spanish as a native language – a number surpassed only by Mandarin.
Continue readingPress & Media in Spain
Spain is still well served by media, both in Spanish and in other major languages. find out what’s available
Continue readingNigeria – Facts & Figures
Nigeria is a huge, varied, beautiful and – sadly – very troubled country.
Continue readingThe Internet in Spain
Introduction Spain is fairly well served by internet providers, though service can be patchy outside of urban areas. Shopping around is paramount if you want to get a good deal – many providers offer promotional prices for new customers, or waive installation fees for a limited time. Internet penetration in Spain According to Internet Live Stats, 82.2% of the Spanish population …
Continue readingMajor Currencies – the Euro
The euro is a relative newcomer to the world stage, having been introduced in 1999. It was rapidly taken up by countries in the EU, surprising many with the speed in which it replaced old currencies.
Continue readingClubs, Associations & Support Groups in Spain
In Spain there are lots of clubs, associations, support groups and sources of information to help foreigners living in the country.
Continue readingThe Climate in Spain
Spain is the most climatically diverse country in Europe and in the world’s top ten. Generally, on the coast, it enjoys warm weather all year round and, inland, hot summers and cold winters, especially at higher altitude.
Continue readingAccidents in Spain in Public Places or Due to Defective Premises
Accidents in public places or caused by dangerous premises are dealt with in a special way in Spain. Is it worth claiming if you have been hurt?
Continue readingRoad Accidents in Spain
Accidents on the road are an all-too-frequent occurrence and, even though the rate of accidents has been significantly reduced by increasing safety regulations and by creating stricter rules, there is still a high number of such accidents in Spain. In 2016 there were over 100,000: 9,755 involving hospitalisation and 1,810 fatal.
Continue readingItaly’s Currency – the Euro
Euro banknotes and coins were introduced to Italy in January 2002. The Banca D’Italia stopped exchanging Italian lira in February 2012.
Continue readingDealing with an Accident in Spain
Nobody thinks they will suffer an accident but, if you do, you need to act quickly to make sure you are fully compensated and protected.
Continue readingAccidents at Work in Spain
All accidents are bad. Accidents at work are usually surrounded by lots of regulatory and reporting requirements. Spain is no exception. Failure to comply with the rules – or to take action swiftly – can have serious consequences.
Continue readingAutonomous Communities in Spain
“Autonomous communities” (comunidad autónomas) are the political and administrative regions of Spain into which the whole of Spain is divided. There are 17 of them – plus two “autonomous cities” – Ceuta & Melilla in North Africa.
Continue readingThe Climate of Italy
If you’re hoping to live or work in Italy, look closely at the climate in the city you’re considering – and, if possible, visit at different times of year. A warm, sunny spring can turn fast into an unpleasantly hot summer. Winters are generally bearable across the country, but some places come with risks of storms.
Continue readingGermany – Facts & Figures
Germany is one of the big players in the European Union. It’s often referred to as the EU’s de facto leader, or the economic powerhouse of the union. It’s got the biggest population, the largest GDP, and the most exported and imported goods in the EU.
Continue readingPublic Holidays in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is an Orthodox Catholic country, but it doesn’t celebrate the swathe of Saints’ days that some other Catholic countries (e.g. Spain) do. As well as the major Christian holidays, Bulgaria focuses on its own history, culture and military talent.
Continue readingBulgaria’s Currency – the Bulgarian lev
The Bulgarian lev (which comes from the Bulgarian word for ‘lion’) was first introduced in 1881, and has since gone through several incarnations.
Continue readingBulgaria – Facts & Figures
Bulgaria does not have a large percentage of foreign-born residents – in fact, it’s one of the lowest in the EU. Those expats who have found their way to Bulgaria, though, have choices to suit most lifestyles.
Continue readingFacebook Groups for Expats in Turkey
Joining a few Facebook groups is a good way to get a feel for the expat community in Turkey. Find expat events in Turkey and chat and share ideas, experiences and – occasionally – frustrations with like-minded people. Tell us if you’re part of a group that you’d like us to add.
Continue readingDealing with the Administration in Turkey
Dealing with the administration in any new country is tough. Turkey is better than some, and worse than others.
It’s probably worth remembering during the more trying moments that you will experience that there will probably be some Turk in your country at that very moment having exactly the same difficulties with your administration.
Continue readingTrusts in Turkey
As in many countries, Trusts can be a very useful tool when managing your affairs in Turkey. They’re useful for both foreigners and native Turks. They are especially useful when managing your inheritance but they have other applications too.
Continue readingInheritance Planning in Turkey
Inheritance planning (sometimes known as ‘estate planning’) is a concept that does not have a universally agreed definition. Here, the two terms are used interchangeably. It is different from, but related to, general financial planning.
Continue readingFinancial & Investment Planning in Turkey
For the purposes of this guide, the terms ‘financial planning’ and ‘investment planning’ are used interchangeably.
Continue readingInvestment Opportunities in Turkey
Nowhere on this website is our oft-repeated disclaimer more important than in this guide. When thinking about your investment plans, everything depends upon your personal circumstances. There is, most definitely, no ‘right’ answer: no ‘one size fits all’.
Continue readingDealing with an Inheritance in Turkey
Inheritance and dealing with an inheritance are topics where you will find that a little bit of forward planning can save you a great deal of money.
Continue readingMaking a Will in Turkey
Making a Will is one of the most important things that you need to do, especially if you own any property in Turkey. It can save you a huge amount of money. It costs very little. It gives you peace of mind. It is easy.
Continue readingLetting (Renting Out) Property in Turkey
It’s possible to make a good profit by letting (renting out) a property in Turkey. Just make sure you’re aware of the issues. As always, we recommend seeking advice from your lawyer and accountant before going ahead with any big plans!
Continue readingRenting a House in Turkey
Many people coming to Turkey decide to rent a property here. There are several reasons. They may just prefer renting property. They may be sent to Turkey for a fairly short time in connection with their work and find that renting a property in Turkey is more cost-effective than buying. They may decide to rent for a year whilst they look for a property to buy. They may decide to put their cash into a business rather than into a property in which to live.
Continue readingSelling a Property in Turkey
The process of selling a property in Turkey is much more straightforward than the process of buying a property in Turkey. So much so that most Turks would simply choose an estate agent and then, with the agent, look after the rest themselves.
Continue readingProperty Development in Turkey
Property development is the process of building new property: homes, hotels, factories etc. It can either be the development of land into buildings – in which case it can either be previously undeveloped land (green field sites) or land that has previously been used for some other purpose – or it can be the re-development of existing buildings
Continue readingBuilding or Altering a House in Turkey
To build or alter a house in Turkey, as in any country, there are various requirements that must be satisfied. Many people ignore these regulations, but we strongly recommend you are not one of them!
Continue readingMortgages for Foreigners in Turkey
In the past, many foreign buyers of property in Turkey used to take a mortgage from a bank in Turkey to help with the cost of the purchase.
As you will see, the position has now become more complicated, but it is still possible to obtain mortgage finance in Turkey.
Buying Commercial Property in Turkey
Buying commercial property can be a little more complicated than buying residential property.
Commercial property is, in essence, anything that is not residential or agricultural. The definition includes shops, bars, restaurants, hotels, warehouses, car parks and the like.
Continue readingBuying an Off-Plan Property in Turkey
An off-plan property is a property that you agree to buy before it is fully constructed. You might be buying when no work at all has been done: when it is a mere concept or architect’s drawing. Alternatively, you could be buying when the building works are partly completed.
Continue readingBuying a New Property in Turkey
Many people prefer to buy and own new houses and other property. There are a number of reasons:
Continue readingBuying a Property in Turkey
A property is always an expensive item, so you do not wish to risk losing your money. This is true whether the house in Turkey or elsewhere.
Continue readingChild Abduction to Turkey
The abduction of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. Not only is it extremely distressing but it is also going to be difficult to fix the problem, particularly when you may be living many thousands of miles away from the place to which the child has been taken.
Continue readingAdoption in Turkey
There are many reasons that parents choose to adopt children. Whatever the reason, the ease and security of the process depends massively on the country. Is it possible to adopt a child in Turkey?
Continue readingDisputes & Court Cases in Turkey
Disputes occur in any country.
Often, they are the result of genuine misunderstandings. Very often, they are the result of poorly prepared contracts. Occasionally, they are the result of bad faith. Very infrequently, they are the result of fraud or other criminal activity.
Continue readingAccidents in Public Places (or Due to Defective Premises) in Turkey
Many people are injured each year as a result of defective premises in Turkey. Some of the injuries can be extremely serious: even life-changing. Others can be less dramatic but still cause you significant pain and financial loss. For example:
Continue readingAccidents at Work in Turkey
The number of workplace accidents is increasing quite rapidly in Turkey. In 2017, over 2000 people were killed and 200,000 injured.
Continue readingRoad Accidents in Turkey
Accidents on the road are a sadly common phenomenon, particularly in Turkey where the combination of badly-maintained roads and a tendency to ignore for the traffic laws leads to a higher-than-average rate of collisions.
Continue readingDealing with an Accident in Turkey
Unfortunately, accidents happen. When they do you need not only to take the correct action but also to do so swiftly.
This guide focuses on road accidents, but many of the principles apply to accidents of all kinds.
Continue readingDefective Products in Turkey
In Turkey, defective products are dealt with under the general law and, in particular, under the Code of Obligations and the Consumer Code.
However, there are some issues regarding claims arising out of defective products which are worth grouping together and it is those issues that form the substance of this guide.
Continue readingConsumer Protection in Turkey
Most countries have laws intended to protect the consumer. Turkey is no exception. The need for consumer protection arises because of the usual imbalance between the power of the trader and the power of the consumer.
Continue readingContracts in Turkey
Most countries in the world use one of two basic systems when it comes to contracts: the Continental European (Roman Law/Napoleonic Law) system or the Anglo-American system. The system in Turkey is modelled on the Continental European system but has been updated and (in some respects) simplified.
Continue readingPowers of Attorney in Turkey
A Power of Attorney is a legal document that authorises another person to do something such as signing a document, opening a bank account, or attending a meeting on your behalf and with your full (or, at least, some limited but defined) authority.
The contents of a Power vary a lot depending upon what it is to be used for. However, the process of making one is always the same.
Continue readingMediation & Arbitration in Turkey
Mediation and arbitration are both alternatives to going to court if you have a dispute. They’re intended to be much cheaper alternatives. They are different from each other and it’s important to understand the differences if you’re thinking of using either service.
Continue readingNotaries in Turkey
Notaries play an important role within the Turkish legal system. This will be of no surprise if you come from a mainland European country but quite surprising if you’re used only to systems in places such as the US and the UK: the so-called Anglo-Saxon legal tradition.
Continue readingLawyers in Turkey
The main source of professional legal help available in Turkey is the lawyer (avukat). There are about 95,000 practising lawyers in Turkey. About 90% are generalists, covering most or all aspects of the law. All of them are professionally qualified and regulated by the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (Türkiye Barolar Birliği or TBB).
Continue readingThe Police in Turkey
In Turkey, there are several different types of police officers.
Each performs a different task and each has different powers.
The Turkish Legal System
Turkey has a very effective legal system: sometimes slow, but fully functioning.
Unlike in some countries, you do not need to ‘buy’ the judges, but you do have to be diligent and pursue your case to make sure things happen without any unnecessary delay.
Recent changes following the 2016 ‘coup’ have not helped either its efficiency or credibility.
Continue readingTax Planning in Turkey
However, some degree of tax planning is usually a good idea and it can, surprisingly often, allow you to make substantial savings in tax by making some relatively small adjustments to the ways in which you might otherwise have organised your affairs.
What is tax planning?
Tax planning is the analysis of your financial situation – or your proposed plans of action – from a tax perspective. Its purpose is to ensure tax efficiency. Ideally, it is part of a broader financial or business plan which works to deliver what you want to do in the most tax-efficient way possible. It is about arranging your affairs to produce the smallest amount of tax liability.
In a way, you can think of tax planning as being a means of avoiding tax wastage. Governments intentionally create many legitimate opportunities for you to reduce the amount that you pay in tax. They may give you incentives to make investments of certain types or they may allow you to claim allowances for doing things that align with their policy – for example, giving to charity, research and development in a company or educating your children.
Two examples applicable to Turkey, at the opposite ends of the tax planning spectrum, would be:
• Opting for a small engine in a car to avoid paying more car tax
• Investing millions in a government-supported industry for big tax exemptions
In every country, even local people are not familiar with these quite legitimate opportunities. For example, in the UK in 2016 official estimates indicated that about €5billion of tax was paid to the government by people who didn’t need to pay it or who wouldn’t have had to pay it if they’d known about all the allowances they could have claimed.
The position is even worse for people who have moved to a new country. They will very rarely know about all the opportunities that exist in that new country and they will usually not be familiar with the other opportunities (often just as big) that exist because of the interaction between the tax rules in their new country and those in the place where they used to live.
Some of these tax planning opportunities arising because of the interaction of tax systems are transient: they may only be available for a short period as you make your move from your original country to Turkey, so to take advantage of these it is important to take prompt advice.
So, tax planning is about arranging or rearranging your affairs to take advantage of all these things.
What tax planning is NOT
Tax planning is not about concealing your activity from the tax authorities. Nor is it about lying to the tax authorities about your affairs. Both are illegal and can be heavily punished.
Tax avoidance vs tax evasion
Tax avoidance
Tax avoidance is arranging your affairs to reduce the amount of tax that you must pay. Extreme examples would be choosing to have more children to reduce the overall inheritance tax payable or paying your employees more to reduce your profit and so your taxes. There are countless examples of tax avoidance used on a day-to-day basis.
In Turkey, as in most other countries, tax avoidance – more sensibly called tax reduction through planning – is perfectly legal and considered to be part of good business planning.
Recently, politicians around the world have started to talk about ‘aggressive tax avoidance’. This is pushing the existing rules up to their very limit and sometimes beyond. The Turkish Tax Department is concerned about this and spends some time trying to clamp down on it.
Generally, with the relatively simple tax regime in Turkey and the relatively low rates of tax payable, aggressive tax avoidance should not be necessary.
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is not paying the taxes that the law requires you to pay.
This might be by not declaring part of your income. It might be by claiming more expenses than your business legitimately incurred. It might be failing to tell the Tax Department when you sell your Picasso for a large profit or when you win a lot of money at the casino.
Tax evasion is illegal.
The enforcement division at the Turkish Tax Department employs many people checking people’s tax returns and chasing tax evasion. For foreigners, they also work closely with the tax departments in the foreigner’s own country.
If you are caught trying to evade your taxes, then the following will happen:
1. You will have to pay double the tax originally due.
2. You will have to pay interest at 16.8% per year from the date when the tax should have been paid to the date when it actually was paid.
3. If the issue is considered an organised tax fraud by the tax inspector, the case will be taken to the local criminal court for sentencing, which is likely to result in imprisonment.
When you first arrive in Turkey and you start talking to all the ‘old hands’ – particularly, the old hands who you meet in bars or at the golf club – they will probably tell you that you don’t need to bother with the tax man. They will tell you that they have lived in Turkey for 20/30/40 years, that they’ve worked illegally for much of that time, and that they don’t tell the tax man about any of their earnings, at home or abroad.
They will tell you that there is no way that the tax man can know how much time you’ve spent in Turkey or what you have earned whilst you’ve been there.
This might have been true 20 years ago, but it is definitely not true today.
The advent of the computer and a greater emphasis on collecting tax has changed everything. The Tax Department is under great political pressure to collect the taxes due from foreigners. Remember that no politician ever lost votes by taxing foreigners!
It is now very simple for the tax man to know whether you are in the country or not. Your mobile phone record will disclose this in a few minutes. The tax department also has the power to require you to produce your bank account and credit cards records, which will also show where and when you have withdrawn money.
Turkey has a sophisticated tax computer system so that the information received from businesses and individuals on the island is collated and any discrepancies identified.
It is simply not worth taking the risk of evading paying the taxes that you owe, particularly when the tax system is so generous and the taxes due so small.
Remember that the difference between tax avoidance (legal tax planning) and tax evasion is the thickness of a prison wall.
Tax savings
Do not underestimate the amount of money that can be saved by simple but effective tax planning. Private individuals can often save hundreds of thousands by minor adjustments to their plans and the savings for companies could easily run into millions. This is why tax advisers are well-paid!
Financial planning
Tax planning is a part, and a very important part, of financial planning – but financial planning is a much broader subject. For example, your financial plan would deal with things such as making sure that you are likely to have enough in the way of savings to see you through your retirement and investing your savings in ways that reflect your personal attitude to risk and reward.
Your tax advice should complement your financial plan but it should not dominate it. In other words, your broader financial objectives must take priority and the purpose of the tax planning is to tweak those objectives and the ways of delivering them to make sure that you do not pay more tax than is absolutely necessary – either in Turkey or in any other country.
Tax Inspections in Turkey
The Tax Department has the legal right to inspect any person’s or any company’s tax affairs at any time.
Continue readingTaxes on Companies in Turkey
Some businesses operate as sole traders. These businesses are not taxed separately as businesses (but do have to account for VAT). The profits that they make are simply treated as the income of the sole trader.
These are seldom used by foreigners.
Double Taxation Treaties in/with Turkey
Most countries recognise that it is essentially unfair to tax people twice on the same piece of income, capital gain, inheritance etc.
Continue readingTaxes on Individuals in Turkey (income tax, capital gains tax, property tax etc.)
Turkey has, as all countries do, a whole set of taxes you need to bear in mind when budgeting – from income tax to property tax to VAT.
Continue readingTaxes in Turkey
Turkey is a low-to-mid-tax regime.
Tax levels, for individuals and companies, are lower than in many countries.
Selling a Business in Turkey
Once you have built a successful business it will (hopefully) build up in value and can later be sold.
Continue readingTaking Over (Buying) a Business in Turkey
Many people consider taking over an existing business rather than starting their own, new one. There are advantages to doing this but there can also be significant risk.
Continue readingStarting a Business in Turkey
Turkey is very welcoming when it comes to people wanting to set up new businesses. They realise that new business boosts the economy and creates local employment – and they also recognise that, for historical reasons, Turkey lacks some of the skills required by innovative businesses in the 21st Century.
Continue readingDoing Business in Turkey – From Outside the Country
Turkey permits foreigners and foreign businesses of any nationality to do business in Turkey. This is true whether they are selling goods or providing services.
Continue readingWorking for Yourself (Self Employment) in Turkey
It is often difficult for a foreigner to find legal employment in Turkey and so the obvious question arises as to whether, if you can’t work for somebody else, you can set up your own business and work for yourself.
Continue readingWorking Illegally in Turkey
Working illegally in Turkey is, as we have said in many of our guides, widespread. As we have also said, it is dangerous as well.
Continue readingTeaching English in Turkey
There is a constant demand for people to teach English in Turkey. There is also some demand for people to teach other foreign languages such as French, Spanish, Russian, or Chinese – but the bulk of the demand is for people who can teach English.
Continue readingWorking Within the Expat Community in Turkey
Working within the expat community is a tempting option for foreigners arriving in Turkey. It is, in many ways, simpler and more straight-forward than finding a job with a local employer. However, it does have its downsides…
Continue readingEmployment Law in Turkey
A knowledge of employment law will make your life much easier, whether you’re an employer or an employee. Every country’s employment law is different and the employment law in Turkey contains many unusual features.
Continue readingFinding Work (Getting a Job) in Turkey
There are a number of ways of finding a job in Turkey – bearing in mind, of course, the need for you to obtain a work permit.
Continue readingWorking for Others (Employment) in Turkey
Finding a job in Turkey can be difficult. In most cases, Turkey doesn’t need foreign nationals to fill a labour shortage.
Continue readingMoving Back Home from Turkey
There may, for various reasons, come a time when you decide that you want to leave Turkey and return ‘home’. This is something that worries many people thinking of settling in the country but it is, in fact, a rare thing to happen.
Continue readingDealing with a Death in Turkey
Dealing with the death of a loved one is always distressing. It can also be stressful, time consuming and expensive. The stress, time factor, and expense are often worsened by distance, language, and differences in procedure.
Continue readingReceiving Your Pension in Turkey
When you live in Turkey there are no restrictions upon receiving any pension to which you are entitled in another country. It is, in essence, treated just like any other income – although it is sometimes taxed at a lower rate. The policy on this changes often.
Continue readingReligion in Turkey
Religion in Turkey is as old as Turkey itself – which is very old. Islam is still a massively important part of Turkish culture, even though increasing numbers of Turks (and, in particular, of younger Turks living in the western part of the country) are becoming more secular and less strict in their observance of religion. At the same time, many in the centre and east of the country are becoming more religious and conservative.
Continue readingSex & Sexuality in Turkey
As befits an old country right in the centre of the old Mediterranean civilisation, Turkey is pretty much on the centre-ground of gender politics.
Continue readingDrink & Drugs in Turkey
Turkey is rather schizophrenic when it comes to its attitude to alcohol and drugs. As a substantial wine producer it is, perhaps, not surprising that social attitudes to the consumption of alcohol are very relaxed. As an Islamic country, it is perhaps equally unsurprising that their attitudes towards drunken behaviour are unaccepting and uncompromising.
Continue readingHealthcare in Turkey
Healthcare is right at the top of people’s concerns when moving to – or even visiting – a new country. Will it be of a good standard? How do I access it? What will it cost? Will the doctor – and the nurses and other health workers – speak my language?
Continue readingEducation in Turkey
Your children will have a great time living in Turkey. Because of the climate and the freedom that children still enjoy in a country largely free of crime, they will probably lead a far more active and outdoor life than they would have done in your own country.
Continue readingDriving in Turkey
Driving in Turkey is pretty simple – especially if you come from a country where they drive on the right-hand side of the road. Simple, but not unexciting.
Continue readingMoving Money & FX in Turkey
Foreign exchange (FX) is one of those boring subjects which it is so easy to overlook when planning your international affairs. Doing so is a major mistake!
Continue readingLife Insurance (Assurance) in Turkey
What is the difference between life insurance and life assurance? Basically, they’re almost the same thing: they pay out when you die.
Continue readingHealth Insurance in Turkey
This guide looks at short-term health insurance in Turkey (travel insurance), as well as health insurance for residents – going over options for state insurance and private insurance. Will I be able to obtain health insurance in Turkey? Fortunately, there are now many more products on the market than there were ten years ago. Just as fortunately, many offer good cover. …
Continue readingHome & Contents Insurance in Turkey
Your home in Turkey is a very expensive asset that you should think carefully about insuring. Whilst your contents are not as valuable as your home, they will still cost a lot to replace and so most people will also want to insure these. If you insure them at the same time as you insure your home, the extra cost is often small.
Continue readingCar Insurance in Turkey
Every vehicle registered in Turkey or located in Turkey must have insurance complying with Turkish law.
Continue readingUtilities in Turkey
Utilities: not the most exciting part of a move, but definitely vital. It’s best to learn what to expect before you come to Turkey.
Continue readingHousing Options in Turkey
Where you live is one of the largest factors when it comes to how happy you are going to be in Turkey.
There are four main options when it comes to choosing a place to live:
Cultural Differences in Turkey
Moving to or doing business in another country always throws up issues arising from the basic cultural differences between your ‘home’ country and the ‘new’ country. Turkey is no exception.
Continue readingBusiness Culture in Turkey
Whatever your reason for doing business in Turkey, you will probably find that there are some big differences in business environment and culture.
Continue readingLocal Press and Other Turkish Media
Turkish media is varied and competitive on the surface – but much of the media, across all mediums, is owned by large conglomerates with other business interests. This means that Turkish news media, whilst it does cover stories from different angles, is somewhat restricted in its viewpoints.
Despite this, I would recommend that anybody living, working or doing business in another country makes an effort to consume local media. It is a great way to learn about the culture, as well as current events, and Turkey is no exception!
Continue readingPublic Holidays in Turkey
This guide lists the national public holidays of Turkey, and gives a little background on the meaning and importance of the days.
Turkey is a secular country, but its population is almost entirely Muslim; so it is no surprise that this is reflected in their national holidays.
Continue readingTurkey’s Currency – the Turkish lira
The lira’s present incarnation replaced the first Turkish lira in 2005, after a period of devastating devaluation.
Continue readingThe Climate in Turkey
So, instead, we’ll take a look at the seven regions of Turkey. Truth be told, even the regions are large enough and varied enough in weather and climate to make it worth your while to check out the average climate in specific cities – but this guide should give you some idea of what you’ll experience. The date below was …
Continue readingTurkey – Facts & Figures
Turkey welcomes many newcomers. They come to work, to run a business, to retire or just to enjoy a great holiday.
Continue readingBanks & Banking in Turkey
Banking is an important part of the Turkish economy. The sector is made up of a mixture of state-run banks (usually specific to a certain area, e.g. agriculture) and private banks.
Continue readingSetting up a Company in Turkey
Turkey is one of the least complicated places – and one of the quickest – to set up a company.
Continue readingMarriage in Turkey
Turkey still has one of the highest rates of marriage in the world: about 7.75 women out of every thousand in the population get married each year. We’re also blessed with a low – but growing – divorce rate (20%).
Continue readingShops & Shopping in Turkey
Shopping – love it or hate it, it’s a big part of life. It can be confusing in a new country, but Turkey isn’t complicated.
Continue readingInvesting in Property in Turkey
When you’re looking for property in Turkey, the first thing you need to know is what’s available: not the specific houses or apartments but the types of property commonly found. Just as important are the typical prices you will have to pay for any given type of property.
Continue readingFamily Problems (Separation, Divorce & Paternity) in Turkey
This guide deals with some of the more stressful and upsetting times in a person’s life. As always, though, the more information you have, the better prepared you are for what lies ahead.
Continue readingCrime & Criminal Cases in Turkey
In each country, the criminal system is unique: probably more so than any other part of the law except for family law. In both cases, this is because the law in these areas goes right to the heart of a nation’s values, traditions, and culture.
Continue readingDebt & Bankruptcy in Turkey
In Turkey, debt is no longer treated as seriously as it perhaps was in years gone by.
Continue readingLearning Turkish – in Turkey or ‘back home’
Learning Turkish is important if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in Turkey.
The good news (if you’re a Westerner): it is written in the (slightly modified) latin alphabet. You won’t have to learn a completely new script.
The bad news: the language may not seem intuitive to most Europeans and Americans. Turkish base words can stand alone – prefixes are not part of the language – but are built in complexity by the addition of suffixes. Words can therefore get very long!
Continue readingBringing Your Money to Turkey
When you move to Turkey you will have a major decision to make about what to do with your money.
Obviously, your day-to-day expenses will be in Turkish lira, but it will probably be that all or part of your income will be coming to you in another currency; and it will almost certainly be that your savings and investments will be in another currency.
Continue readingBringing Your Pet to Turkey
Many people worry more about how they’re going to take their pet to Turkey than they do about any other aspect of their move.
Fortunately, the rules aren’t complicated and most people don’t experience any major problems when importing a pet into Turkey.
Continue readingBringing Your Boat to Turkey
Many expats keep a boat in Turkey. There are several ways in which they can do so.
Continue readingBringing Your Car to Turkey
In Turkey, cars and fuel are expensive. The price of a car, both new and second hand, is likely to be much higher than ‘back home’.
It therefore looks an attractive option, especially if you live in Europe, to drive or otherwise import your car to Turkey. An added advantage is that you can take some of your possessions with you. Can this be done?
Continue readingBringing Your Possessions to Turkey
When moving – especially when moving to another country – having your personal possessions with you can be comforting. Moreover, it can be less daunting to bring stuff with you than it is to sell or find storage old possessions – and buy everything again!
Continue readingSocial Security (Welfare Benefits) in Turkey
In order to benefit from the Turkish Social Security System, residents in Turkey must enrol with the Turkish Social Security Fund (Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu – SGK).
Continue readingComing to Turkey as an Asylum Seeker/Refugee
Introduction Turkey is the world’s largest host country of registered refugees. Almost all of the refugees in the country come from Syria – there are some 2.7million displaced Syrian citizens currently in Turkey. Despite this, expats have, in the main, been largely unaffected by the refugee crisis. Firstly, the overwhelming majority of refugees are in the east of Turkey – …
Continue readingComing to Turkey to Join Your Family (Immigration/Visas)
Foreigners wishing to join their family in Turkey will need to obtain a Family Residence Permit. See our Guide to Residence Permits in Turkey for information about residence permits. Can I get a Family Residence Permit? Family Residence Permits can be granted to: A foreign spouse (but not an unmarried partner) Foreign children (under 18) Dependent foreign children (typically, disabled) A spouse’s …
Continue readingComing to Turkey to Start a Business (Immigration/Visas)
Introduction People wishing to come to Turkey on a long-term basis in order to set up or run a business will need to apply for an Independent Working Permit. Independent working permits are very hard to obtain unless you are going to create lots of jobs for local people. Many people thinking of applying for such a visa might find …
Continue readingComing to Turkey to Work (Immigration/Visas)
Introduction If you’re lucky enough to be skilled in the right field, you might find it relatively simple to get a working permit – if not, and if your heart is still set on it, a professional will be able to give you advice as to proceeding. Just to be clear, this guide does not apply if you merely wish …
Continue readingComing to Turkey to Retire (Immigration/Visas)
Retiring to Turkey – or simply living there as an ‘economically inactive person’ – is pretty easy. It’s worth talking to an immigration specialist to make sure you’re choosing the right sort of residence permit, and to ensure your application is properly filled in (especially if you aren’t fluent in Turkish).
Continue readingComing to Turkey as a Student (Immigration/Visas)
Introduction Turkish schools (primary & secondary education) and its colleges and universities (tertiary education) are of high quality and relatively cheap. Most international students come to Turkey from Western China (the Xinjiang Uyghur region, where Turkish is spoken) and other Turkic countries such as Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. There are very few Western students in Turkey specifically for the …
Continue readingComing to Turkey as a Tourist (Visas)
In 2015, 41million people visited Turkey. In 2016, largely as a result of the combination of the conflict in Syria, political uncertainty in Turkey and terrorist attacks, the number fell to about 31million. Local reports suggest that tourist numbers increased sharply in 2017, mainly because of an influx of tourists from Russia and the former Soviet Union. Video guide to …
Continue readingTurkish Visas for Highly Skilled People – the “Turquoise Card”
This guide looks at Turkey’s brand new “Turquoise Visa”. We will be updating it as more information emerges. Introduction This new Turquoise Visa (turquoise being the national colour of Turkey) was announced on 14 March 2017. Who can get a Turquoise Visa? This visa is for highly skilled people. Highly skilled people means people who are one or more of …
Continue readingResidence Permits in Turkey
A person wishing to live in Turkey will, in many cases, need a special visa authorising entry to the country (see our other guides on immigration). However, in other cases, they will merely need a residence permit. Any person who wishes to stay in Turkey for more than 90 days in a 180-day period requires a residence permit. This is …
Continue readingImmigration & Visas in Turkey
Immigration into Turkey has changed a lot in recent years. Generally, it’s easier. We have a more settled system with only one department – the Department of Immigration – in charge. Thank goodness. A great deal of information is now available online. All of this is a huge change from only ten years ago!
Continue readingChoosing a Lawyer in Turkey
What do you need to consider when looking for legal advice in Turkey? How do you know if a lawyer is qualified? Which lawyers will deal with your specific case?
Continue readingPolitics & Voting in Turkey
Turkey is a large nation with a complex political structure.
Continue readingTransport Links to and around Turkey
Getting to Turkey is simple. Getting around Turkey requires a little more thought, but the public transport system is fairly modern and the roads are improving all the time. If you don’t know the language, it is particularly important to plan ahead if you want to use public transport in Turkey. Work out your route from the comfort of your …
Continue readingDrink & Drugs in Bulgaria
Drinking and smoking in Bulgaria is easy. Cigarettes are cheap (though you can’t smoke indoors any more), and local beers, wines and spirits are affordable and pretty tasty.
Continue readingReligion in Bulgaria
Bulgaria, despite the post-war communists’ oppression of religion, is largely a country of faith. Only an estimated one fifth of the population are atheists.
Continue readingInteresting Videos About Turkey
This guide is simply a collection of videos that you might find interesting if you’re thinking of spending a lot of time in Turkey.
Continue readingThe Internet in Bulgaria
Depending on where you are in Bulgaria, the internet can be surprisingly speedy or hair-pullingly slow. The popular expat city of Varna, for instance, has notoriously bad internet speeds – whilst little Pazardzhik (with around 70,000 occupants) has the fastest internet speeds in the country.
Continue readingThe Climate of Bulgaria
Although Bulgaria is not a huge country (at 110,994 square km), it does straddle several climate zones.
Temperatures depend on where you are – the southwest, by the Mediterranean sea, is mildly subtropical. The plains of the country are temperate. The mountainous regions are much colder (great for skiing).
Continue readingReligion in the United States
Freedom of religion is enshrined in the US constitution, and the States – whilst being overwhelmingly Christian – are home to communities of many faiths.
As always, look carefully at the city of region you’re hoping to live or work in before making a decision. Will you be able to find somewhere to worship? Are the religious attitudes too conservative for you to be comfortable? Is there a high level of discrimination against your faith?
Sex & Sexuality in the United States
While the US is a developed nation, there are still some issues when it comes to sex and gender.
As with so many things in the US, the details are all at the state level. Carefully examine the state you’re considering for any ‘deal breakers’ when it comes to gender, sexuality or gender issues.
The Internet in the United States
Getting internet in the US is easy. Getting fast internet is doable. Getting fast, cheap internet is difficult.
Continue readingOpening a Bar in Spain (Andalucia/Costa del Sol) – Video Guide
Lots of bars opened by expats fail – but some succeed, and succeed impressively. What makes the difference between a flop and a profitable business?
Continue readingOpening a Restaurant in Spain (Andalucia/Costa del Sol) – Video Guide
Many people want to open a restaurant in Spain, and that means there’s a lot of competition for expats who want to take this route.
Continue readingWhy is the law different in different parts of Spain? – Video Guide
This is a question that we get asked a lot – for people not used to Spain, the differences in law across the different autonomous regions can be quite confusing!
Continue readingReligion in Spain
Click where you see for more information Introduction Whilst you might not see much of the Spanish population in church every Sunday, you’ll certainly experience some dramatic examples of religious culture in the form of parades, processions, costumes and rather a lot of days off work. If you’re of a different religion, fear not! Although communities of minority religions may be …
Continue readingBuying a New Property on the Costa del Sol
For this see our Guide to Buying Off-Plan Property on the Costa del Sol. It describes, in particular, how to buy a new property in the area of Andalusia/Andalucía – which contains the Costa del Sol. See a map here. Please note that certain aspects of the law in Spain vary from one “autonomous community” (comunidad autónoma) to another. For …
Continue readingTransport Links to and around Italy
Getting to Italy is pretty easy. It’s a popular tourist destination and a country more and more people are visiting for business.
Italy is well known for a slightly scary driving experience – but many are unaware of its comprehensive public transport system.
Continue readingReligion in Italy
Italy is predominantly a Christian country. More specifically, it is a Roman Catholic country (hardly surprisingly, with the Pope sitting right in the middle of it).
Continue readingBuying a Property in Bulgaria
Bulgarian property has long been a popular investment – but the law in Bulgaria can make the process confusing for foreigners. Here, two experts take you through the process of buying real estate in Bulgaria.
Continue readingWorld Climate Guide
This guide is about the world’s climate and how it can impact upon your plans. Frankly, it will tell you little more than you could have found out yourself by spending a day on the internet, but it could save you a lot of time.
Continue reading