zbrntt

Hello,

Is anyone out there living in Turkey and freelancing legally? I want to legalise my status so that I can bill companies both here and abroad for work. Two options I can see are:

- set up as a sole trader in the UK (I have a UK address, but spend nearly all of my time in Turkey)

or

- get a bağımsız çalısma izni:
http://www.csgb.gov.tr/csgbPortal/ya...=bagimsiz_izin

Does anyone have any advice? How are other people doing it?

Thanks for any help,

Zoe

Goktug

Hello zbrntt,

Looking at the website you mention, it says that to be able work as an "independent frelance", you have to legally reside in Turkey for five years, and without interruption. Time resided as a student isn't counted.

zbrntt

Thanks. I had another look and the page makes more sense now. I'm thinking of applying but haven't done so. Another option is to have my husband (who is Turkish) set up a company and just bill through that, though I guess that might be a bit more expensive. I can't get citizenship for another 18 months.

SSK may be a problem. I don't have it and I'm not sure whether I'm legally obliged to. If I am then there may be back payments to make (. Though I heard that for Turks at least then they don't really check these things?

Goktug

You don't have to be a Turkish citizen to apply for working as a freelance if you have lived in Turkey for 5 years.

zbrntt

Yes, I understand. I have uninterrupted residency for longer than that, so I may apply. Thanks again for your replies.