Is it possible to leave the past and present behind and build the future in another country? Being born into a new language in a new geography, with different identities, requires great courage.
This also opens the door to a different world to gain new roots. Freedom, in a sense, meets "limitlessness".
The question on everyone’s lips is ‘why are you leaving Turkey?’ The fact that there are so many reasons for this is a problem in itself. But being left without a future is the main motivation for this journey.
Many things have changed in the last 20 years. There have undoubtedly been migrations throughout the history of the republic, and many intellectuals, political, workers, security and economic reasons have moved to other countries.
But the wave of migration that is happening today stands out from all of these.
According to the TÜİK International Migration Statistics, the number of people migrating abroad from Turkey in 2022 was 139,531. This number only includes the brain drain that occurred through legal means. The situation of those seeking asylum for political reasons is even worse. Asylum and illegal migration have reached an all-time high. According to Eurostat data, the number of Turkish citizens seeking asylum in EU countries for the first time in the first nine months of 2023 exceeded 51,000. This is an all-time high, surpassing the record of 48,615 applications set in 2022.
Times have changed, motivation to move abroad has changed
So, who is embarking on this migration journey? Unlike previous examples, these are business people who have careers in Turkey, capitalists, academics, white-collar workers and newly graduated students. The new immigrant prototype, which is mostly university graduates, does not consist of those who left their country to get rich or take care of their families as in the past.
Most people who have invested all their savings to date are in search of a peaceful and secure life. In short, they set sail for other countries as a result of their search for a social order that would provide “good conditions” for their children and their own future.
Of course, in this journey that white-collar workers and new graduates embark on, capitalists also follow similar routes. My profession is to provide consultancy services to assistants who want to invest abroad. Therefore, I have the opportunity to observe firsthand how these processes progress.
If you wish, let's look at the steps taken in this journey together...
There is an incredible amount of interest in the European Union passport
As I mentioned above, most people are looking for a new homeland due to anxiety about the future and the unknown. In a situation where there is no merit and where the increasingly dysfunctional justice system does not give anyone confidence, middle-upper-level savings owners are also looking to feel secure.
For this reason, interest in programs that allow you to obtain a European Union passport has reached incredible levels in recent years. Most people prefer to apply for Golden Visa programs for this. Here, I examine the countries that many savers and white-collar workers want to invest in and create reports and projects for them.
Especially for people who go abroad, one of the most important issues they focus on is what kind of country they will go to. This has always seemed like a fascinating situation to me. It is an incredible experience to step into a new adventure by leaving the geography, city, neighborhood, social group and past you were born into.
That's why people's research for a new country is very meticulous.
But where do people prefer in Europe?
New star Portugal
According to my observations, many people choose a country according to their own character and personal priorities. Some do research in advance about the areas they will live in to have a more comfortable business and private life, while others do research in order to reach an international market they will invest in. For this reason, most people tend to prefer advanced industrial countries in Europe.
But life is not all about work. Many people find it convenient to go to countries with coasts where they can spend most of the year in the sun. It is very easy to understand why, there is no doubt that living with warm people will make you feel at home.
So much so that the vast majority of people who hold this viewpoint choose Portugal as their destination.
Statistics show that Turkish citizens will prefer this country the most in 2023. However, it is understood that Portugal is also preferred due to the convenience of the Golden Visa. But how is this type of visa obtained?
If the applicants make an investment, it is possible to be eligible for Portuguese citizenship at the end of 5 years by only being in Portugal for 7 days a year. There are also different alternatives for the Portugal Golden Visa. The most popular of these is purchasing real estate. The Portuguese government classifies the minimum investment amount for real estate investors according to population density and the age of the building.
In this context, the minimum investment value for real estate that is 5 years old or younger in a region with a high population density is 500 thousand euros. In different regions of the country, there are also options worth 280 thousand, 350 thousand and 400 thousand euros.
However, Portugal’s left-wing government, claiming that Portuguese people were suffering in the real estate market, ended the Golden Visa application, which was obtained through property purchases, in November 2023. As a result of the 10-year program, the country earned close to 7 billion euros. Instead, the Golden Visa application continues with the condition of funds and investment. The minimum investment amount here is 500 thousand euros.
Advantages and disadvantages
Yes, this journey may seem costly at first glance, but Portugal’s Golden Visa advantages are truly appealing. For example, obtaining a residence permit and work permit in a short time, gaining the right to free movement within the European Union, becoming a Portuguese citizen, and the opportunity to earn a minimum of 2.5% to 5% annual income from this fund investment made in Portugal are all attractive to people.
However, it would be right to mention the disadvantages of this type of visa. Funds are arranged according to the contract that they cannot be terminated before a certain number of years. This has three main problems.
It is very difficult to resell a participation unit before the fund is dissolved; funds generally have extension periods determined only by the fund management, and the participant has no say in these extensions. If the fund's ultimate goal is to sell the portfolio at its target value, it has no guarantee as to what stage the relevant market will be at when the fund decides to sell the portfolio.
Warm climate, warm people…
Portugal is also a very safe and “friendly” country. In 2022, Portugal ranked first in the European Union in the fight against racism. This understanding is supported by both the Portuguese government and civil society organizations.
As I mentioned above, Portugal’s climate characteristics are very similar to our country. The country has 3 months of winter, and it is mostly mild and sunny. The capital city, Lisbon, is beautiful enough to be a dream. It is hard to put into words the roads where trams pass, the cafes, and the streets that meet the sea.
The current structure of this unique city, whose streets you walk through, embraces you from the very first day. With its “usable” beaches very close to the city center and peaceful people, you leave the chaos and uncertainty of the city you came to behind you.
There are approximately 20 beaches in Lisbon, all of which are very clean and functional. The distance between the beaches and the city center varies between 15 minutes and 1 hour.
Poor but happy!
Portugal is not as rich as other developed European countries; but it is happy! The minimum wage in Portugal is around 860 euros and a significant portion of the population works for the minimum wage. Despite this, no one is after big money because the cost of living is low.
The average price of a dinner at a restaurant is around 10-11 euros. The average monthly kitchen expense for a family is 350 euros. If you want to rent a house outside of Lisbon, for example, it is quite possible to find 2+1 houses for 350-400 euros in places like Porto, Coimbra, Evora.
In short, these rates are almost free compared to developed European countries. I can probably mention one negative thing about Portugal. We said we have similarities, one of our most similar features is traffic! The density of bridge traffic in the morning and evening rush hours can be serious.
How fortunate that our world is still a cultural garden with tens of thousands of flowers. Every culture has a color and a smell. The plucking of a flower from our world means the disappearance of a color and a smell from our world. This is a situation that dehumanizes humanity. Let's think about the state of humanity in a world with a single culture. A humanity that is stuck with a single flower, a single color, a single subject, and a world that is stuck with a single language is doomed. (1)
Here it is… We presented a section from a multilingual, multicolored life, from the dreamy landscapes of Portugal. Through the eyes of those who will hold on to a new country and a new life…
Footnote:
1) From the speech at the ceremony where Yaşar Kemal accepted the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award on December 4, 2008.
