October 5, 2005
Advice on living and working in Turkey: Work and Health
There is still a high rate of unemployment in Turkey, no special privileges for EU citizens and there is little opportunity for job seekers in spite of ongoing recovery from the 2001 economic decline. Getting a job offer and work permit before you arrive in Turkey is a rational approach to finding work there. This way you will not be distraught in job searching even if your funds vanish. Before arriving and arranging for a work visa, it is advisable to communicate with the Turkish embassy or consulate. You need a written employment offer from within Turkey, proof of your qualifications, passport photos and the necessary completed embassy forms and fees paid. Your work visa entitles you to a two year residence permit.
In Turkey, the usual available jobs for Brits include English teaching positions for those with a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) qualification and tourism related work. Jobs are regularly advertised in the Turkish Daily News, the only English language newspaper in Turkey.
No special inoculations are needed to visit or live in Turkey. However, Typhoid and Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are advised. You may get a rabies vaccination if you are going to be around animals. Malaria is an issue in some areas, usually in April to July. To know if you need to take precautions, go to a travel clinic before you leave. Generally, tap water is safe to drink in most of Turkey though it is heavy with chlorine and does not always taste great. You can opt to buy bottled water or get from one of the rural springs.
There are pharmacies (eczene) in almost every town where you can buy Turkish versions of all the medicines in a British pharmacy. For more serious problems, you may have to go to a specialist doctor or hospital in a larger town or city to get the right treatment. There are state hospitals (Devlet Hastane) and private hospitals (Ozel Hastane) which offer a higher standard of care. Be sure you have a reasonable level of health insurance because even if hospital treatment is cheaper than most of the rest of Europe, there can still be considerable costs.
If you are uncertain and language is a problem, it is best to contact a consulate or tourist office to check if they can get hold of an English-speaking doctor for you.
Posted on: Turkey
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