Italy vs Turkey

The common form is an SRL (limited liability company), set up by a notarial deed and registered with the Business Register (Registro delle Imprese) via the Chambers of Commerce. A tax code and VAT number are obtained too.

The common company is a Limited Şirket (limited liability); registration is via the Trade Registry (through MERSIS) and a notary, and a tax number is obtained. Foreigners can own companies fully in most sectors.

Italian banking includes large banks, cooperative banks and online banks. Opening an account usually needs a codice fiscale (tax code), ID and proof of address; non-residents can open dedicated accounts. The Bank of Italy supervises banks.

Turkish banking is modern and digital. Foreigners can open accounts, usually needing a passport, a Turkish tax number and proof of address; many banks also ask for a residence permit (ikamet), though some open one without it. The CBRT and BDDK regulate banks.

Italy welcomes foreign investment through the Italian Trade Agency (Invest in Italy), with free movement of capital. Investments in strategic sectors (defence, energy, telecoms, critical tech) can be screened under the 'golden power' rules; incentives include R&D tax credits, transition plans and special economic zones in the South.

Türkiye actively courts foreign investment through the Investment Office of the Presidency, granting foreign investors national treatment. There is no general FDI screening; incentives include the regional investment-incentive scheme, free zones and technology development zones. Capital and profits repatriate through banks, subject to central-bank foreign-exchange rules.

Italy taxes personal income (IRPEF, progressive), corporate profits (IRES), regional and municipal surtaxes, and VAT (IVA), run by the Agenzia delle Entrate. Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income.

Türkiye's taxes are run by the Revenue Administration (GİB): income tax, corporate tax and VAT (KDV). Residents are taxed on worldwide income, and high inflation means thresholds are revised frequently.

Non-EU work visas are mostly tied to the annual Decreto Flussi quota; EU citizens work freely. Other routes include the EU Blue Card, intra-company transfers, self-employment and a digital-nomad visa. Applications involve the employer, the immigration desk (Sportello Unico) and consulates.

Foreigners need a work permit to work in Türkiye, which also serves as a residence permit; the Ministry of Labour and Social Security issues it, usually on the employer's application. A Turquoise Card suits qualified professionals.

Student visas for Italy depend on course type, duration, nationality and consular assessment. For university study, non-EU applicants normally coordinate admission and pre-enrolment through the institution and Universitaly before the visa step — but note Universitaly's own caveat: pre-enrolment validation supports visa issuance, it does not guarantee it. After arriving, long-stay students must request a residence permit, normally within eight working days.

Studying in Türkiye normally combines three things: university admission, an entry visa or exemption status, and a student residence permit obtained after arrival. One structural limit to plan around — the student residence permit cannot exceed the length of the education programme itself. Exchange schemes such as Erasmus, Mevlana and Farabi are named in the residence-permit framework. Student work rights are limited and need separate work-permit checks.

Whether you need a visa for Italy depends on your nationality, country of residence, length of stay and Schengen rules. The official MAECI 'Visa for Italy' portal is where you check the requirement and the exact document list for your case. Where a visa is required, a Uniform Schengen Visa covers short stays up to 90 days and is applied for at the Italian mission for your residence area.

Entry to Türkiye depends on nationality: some travellers enter visa-free or on a national ID, while others apply through the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-Visa portal. The e-Visa is valid for touristic and trade purposes only — work or study travel uses different visa channels — and stays beyond 90 days generally require a residence permit rather than a tourist visa.

Italy grants the EU long-term residence permit (permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo) after generally 5 years of continuous legal residence, with an income test and an Italian-language test. It is effectively permanent and leads toward Italian citizenship (often after 10 years).

Turkey grants a long-term (indefinite) residence permit after eight years of continuous legal residence, giving rights close to citizens' apart from voting and public office. A faster alternative is Turkish citizenship by investment. Applications go through the Presidency of Migration Management.

Naturalization by residence normally requires 10 years of legal residence (4 years for EU citizens, 3 years by Italian descent, and via marriage 2–3 years). You must show Italian at B1 level. Italy permits dual nationality, so you generally need not renounce your original citizenship.

Turkey grants citizenship by naturalization after 5 years of continuous residence, with basic Turkish, good moral character, lawful means and no threat to health or security. A faster, separate route is Turkish citizenship by investment (for example a qualifying property purchase). Turkey permits dual nationality. The decision is by presidential decree via the Ministry of the Interior.

Italian employment is shaped by national collective agreements (CCNL), which set minimum pay by sector — there is no statutory minimum wage. Employees get at least four weeks' holiday, accrue TFR severance, and enjoy dismissal protections. Social security is via INPS, and disputes go to the labour judge (Giudice del Lavoro).

Turkish employment under Labour Law No. 4857 sets a national minimum wage, a 45-hour week, annual leave of 14-26 days by service, and severance pay (kıdem tazminatı) of roughly one month per year for eligible employees. Social security is via the SGK, and most disputes need mandatory mediation before the labour courts.

Italian trade with non-EU countries clears through the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) with an EU EORI number. You classify goods in TARIC to find duty and import VAT (22%). Declarations are electronic; regular exporters can use the plafond/VAT-warehouse schemes, intra-EU trade needs Intrastat and dual-use exports need a licence.

Turkish trade clears through the Ministry of Trade's customs using the BILGE electronic system. Türkiye is in a customs union with the EU, so most industrial goods move duty-free with an A.TR certificate; other imports carry customs duty plus VAT (KDV, 20% standard). Some goods need permits and standards approval.

Italian trademarks are registered with the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM). You search the register, file under Nice classes, and after examination on absolute grounds it publishes for opposition. An Italian trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable; an EU-wide alternative is the EU trademark via EUIPO, and copyright arises automatically.

Turkish trademarks are registered with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT). You search the register, file under Nice classes, and after examination the mark publishes in the Official Trademark Bulletin for a two-month opposition period. A Turkish trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable; Türkiye is a Madrid Protocol member.

Italian job search runs across private employers, regional employment centres and national public portals — Cliclavoro is the labour ministry portal for labour-market information and services, and SIISL and the regional services matter for offers, training and employment support. Two things are distinctive: public-sector hiring normally follows separate competition and portal rules, and non-EU candidates must keep job search, employment start date and residence-permit basis aligned with the immigration route.

Türkiye's official employment agency is İŞKUR, which runs job matching alongside private platforms and direct employer hiring. The structural point for foreign candidates is that a work-permit decision is scored against published criteria that examine the employer as much as the applicant — the company's profile and the pay attached to the role type both feed into it — so a well-qualified candidate can still be refused because the hiring company does not meet the conditions. Student residence permit holders have separate and narrower work rights.

Italy has no single statutory national minimum wage. Pay floors come instead from the applicable national collective labour agreement, the CCNL — and the CCNL does far more than set pay: it can govern hours, leave, probation and notice too. So the single most valuable thing in an Italian employment contract is the exact CCNL it names. Use ISTAT for official wage statistics rather than proprietary salary tables, and note that net pay depends on region, municipality and family circumstances as well as tax and contributions.

Türkiye has a national minimum wage, but high inflation makes any wage reference time-sensitive — official minimum-wage tables should be read as dated figures rather than durable salary benchmarks. There is also a structural reason the minimum matters even to higher earners: foreign work-permit salary thresholds are set as multiples of the current gross minimum wage for some roles, so when the minimum moves, those thresholds move with it. Use official wage and labour-statistics sources first.

Italy's main government scholarships for international students are the Italian Government Scholarships (run by the Foreign Ministry, MAECI), plus 'Invest Your Talent in Italy' and regional right-to-study (DSU) grants that many students qualify for based on income. Explore options on the Study in Italy / MAECI sites and apply by each deadline.

Türkiye's flagship scholarship is Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları), a comprehensive government program run by the Presidency for Turks Abroad (YTB) that covers tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, flights and a year of Turkish-language study. Apply through the single online system by the annual deadline.

To study in Italy you pre-enroll through the Universitaly portal and apply to the university; once admitted, you apply for a type-D student visa at the Italian consulate and, after arrival, request a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno). Explore options on Universitaly and Study in Italy and apply by the deadline.

To study in Türkiye you apply to the university (some require the YÖS exam or a recognised equivalent), then, once admitted, apply for a student visa at the Turkish consulate and, after arrival, obtain a student residence permit from the Presidency of Migration Management. Explore the university sites and apply by the deadline.

Foreigners can generally buy property in Italy (for non-EU nationals subject to a reciprocity condition that is usually met). Renting uses a registered contract, with a deposit of up to three months and an option to tax rent under the flat 'cedolare secca'. Buying goes through a notaio (notary), is registered, and carries registration tax (or VAT on new builds) plus notary fees.

Foreigners can buy property in Turkey, subject to limits (no purchases in military/security zones and an overall area cap per person). Renting deposits are typically one month, under the Code of Obligations. Buying is registered at the Land Registry (Tapu office), which issues the title deed (tapu), with a title-deed fee of around 4%. Buying above a set value can also qualify for Turkish citizenship by investment.

Italy's public system is the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale. Access depends on nationality, residence status and the reason for your permit, with registration handled through your local ASL and the tessera sanitaria used for many services. The timing trap: SSN registration and renewal generally follow the residence-permit period, so verify with the ASL before a permit expires. EU short-stay visitors commonly use the EHIC; non-EU short stays may need private cover or tariff payment.

Türkiye combines public social-security healthcare through SGK / Genel Sağlık Sigortası with a large private hospital market, especially in major cities. The point that catches people out is that insurance is an immigration requirement: residence-permit applications require valid health insurance, which can be SGK/GSS coverage or qualifying private insurance. Verify enrolment, waiting periods and private-policy wording before relying on cover for either immigration or treatment.

Italian insurance combines public social coverage, compulsory motor liability insurance and optional private products — and the distinction worth holding onto is that INAIL workplace accident insurance and INPS social security are separate public systems, not ordinary private policies. Before buying anything private, verify that both the insurer and the intermediary are authorised: IVASS supervises undertakings and intermediaries and publishes registers plus consumer warnings. Private health or travel cover can matter if you are not yet fully covered by the SSN.

In Türkiye, insurance planning usually starts with residence-permit health insurance rather than with your own risk assessment. Private health insurance is commonly used for first permit applications when SGK/GSS coverage is not yet active — so it functions as a bridge. The trap is duration and wording: the policy should cover the full requested permit period and match Migration Management requirements, so a cheaper short policy can sink the application. Employer social-security and workplace obligations are separate from private buying.