Software Engineer Moving to Germany from Turkey

Get your Turkish university degree and transcripts apostilled at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dışişleri Bakanlığı). The apostille is issued by the provincial governorship (Valilik) in most Turkish cities. German recognition authorities (anabin or ZAB) require it. This process takes 5–10 business days at major governorship offices — start it during the interview phase.

Obtain a police clearance certificate (Sabıka Kaydı) from the Turkish Criminal Record and Statistics Department (Adli Sicil ve İstatistik Genel Müdürlüğü). Available in-person or via e-devlet. Valid for 6 months from issue. Required for the German work visa application.

Get a notarised Turkish–German translation of your university degree, transcripts, and any professional certificates from a certified sworn translator (yeminli tercüman). German authorities require notarised translations from sworn translators — unofficial translations are not accepted.

Ensure your nüfus cüzdanı (Turkish national ID) is current and your kimlik number is accessible. You will need the kimlik number for ongoing Turkish banking, SGK, and government portal access. If your ID is expired, renew it before departure — Turkish consulates in Germany process renewals but queues can be long.

If you are a licensed professional (engineer registered with TMMOB, doctor registered with TTB), obtain a certificate of good standing from your professional chamber. German recognition authorities sometimes request this alongside the degree apostille for regulated professions.

Notify the SGK (Sosyal Güvenlik Kurumu — Turkish Social Security Institution) of your move to Germany. Your Turkish SGK contributions do not transfer to the German pension system, but Turkey and Germany have a bilateral social security agreement that coordinates pension entitlements for periods of contribution in both countries. Keep your SGK number — it is required to claim a Turkish pension based on your Turkish work history when you reach retirement age.

Apply for a tax residency clearance from the Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (Turkish Revenue Administration) using your vergi kimlik numarası (tax ID number). This confirms your Turkish tax obligations are settled and is increasingly requested by German tax advisors when setting up your German tax return for the transition year.

Contact your Turkish bank (Ziraat, İş Bankası, Garanti, or Yapı Kredi) and update your account status to non-resident. Turkish banks have formal non-resident account categories; failing to update this can result in transactions being flagged under AML requirements when international transfers arrive from Germany.

If you have a TL-denominated savings account or time deposit, consider whether to convert to EUR before departure — Turkish lira volatility is significant. EUR-denominated accounts at Turkish banks are available and avoid exchange rate exposure on savings you plan to keep in Turkey.

If you have a Turkish mortgage (konut kredisi), check the prepayment and management terms with your bank before departure. Most Turkish banks allow online management of mortgage payments from abroad, but some require in-person updates when changing the payment account.

Do not close your Turkish bank accounts. You will need them for receiving Turkish income (rent, dividends), paying Turkish bills and taxes, managing property, and accessing Turkish financial services. Garanti BBVA and Yapı Kredi have functional mobile banking apps accessible from Germany.

Keep your Turkish driving licence valid. Germany allows driving on a Turkish licence for 6 months, after which you must convert. The conversion requires an official certified translation, a practical driving test, and first aid certification. Begin the process within your first 3 months to avoid the 6-month deadline.

If you have a private pension (Bireysel Emeklilik Sistemi — BES), do not cancel it prematurely — early withdrawal triggers tax withholding. The BES account remains accessible from Germany and continues to accumulate; assess whether continued contributions make sense after your German pension situation is clear.

Cancel Turkish health insurance only after confirming your German GKV (statutory health insurance) is active and you have received your Krankenkassenkarte. There is a gap risk during the first weeks after arrival before GKV registration is processed; arrange bridging coverage if needed.

Settle any outstanding Turkish tax filings (income tax, property tax if applicable) before departure. The Turkish Revenue Administration's e-devlet platform allows online tax filing from abroad, and this is the most efficient way to stay compliant with Turkish obligations after moving.

Use Wise or XE Money Transfer for sending money from Germany to Turkey — both support the TRY corridor with better rates than German bank SWIFT transfers. For large transfers, compare rates on the day given TRY volatility. Remitly also supports Turkey.

Register with the Turkish Consulate General covering your German city (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Stuttgart all have Turkish consulates). Registration enables consular assistance and is required to access consular document services including passport renewals and power of attorney certifications.

Keep an active Turkish mobile number (Turkcell or Vodafone Turkey). You need it for Turkish banking OTPs, e-devlet government portal login, and SGK notifications. A Turkish SIM left with a trusted contact in Turkey and managed via an eSIM swap when you visit works reliably.

Germany has Europe's largest Turkish diaspora — approximately 3 million people. Turkish community organisations, mosques, and cultural associations in Frankfurt, Berlin, Stuttgart, and Cologne provide practical settlement support and can recommend Turkish-speaking doctors, tax advisors, and legal services.