Mechanical Engineer Moving to Germany from Turkey

Get an apostille for your diploma from ÖSYM (Özgeçmiş ve Sınav Merkezi)

Obtain a police clearance certificate (polis kaydı) from the local police station

Get a credential certificate (atıf belgesi) from your university

Have your Mühendislik diploması apostilled by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dışişleri Bakanlığı); additionally obtain an 'Denklik Belgesi' (equivalency certificate) application form from YÖK (Council of Higher Education) — German engineering recognition bodies (ING-DVS or ENARIC) typically require YÖK confirmation alongside the apostille.

Get a copy of your SGK social security record

Notify SGK about your departure to stop social security contributions

Close your vergi kimlik numarasi-linked tax accounts

Transfer your pension savings from Ziraat Bank or Is Bankasi to a German bank

Use e-devlet to access your Turkish tax records and pension statements

Turkish pension (emeklilik maaşı) paid abroad to a non-resident is subject to withholding (stopaj) at source. The Turkey–Germany DTA (in force since August 2012) caps this withholding at a maximum of 10% — there is no further reduction to 5%. To claim the DTA-capped rate, submit a German tax-residency certificate (Ansässigkeitsbescheinigung) to your Turkish pension fund or SGK.

Close your Turkish bank accounts and credit cards

Keep your Turkish health insurance to avoid a gap in coverage

Convert your Turkish driving licence to a German one

Obtain an 'İşten ayrılma bildirgesi' (departure declaration) from your employer and file it with SGK via the e-bildirge system; this stops SGK contributions immediately and initiates your export-of-pension-rights procedure — without it, SGK may continue charging your employer and flag your record.

Keep your Turkish tax records and pension statements for at least 5 years

Use a remittance service like PTT or DenizBank to send money back to Turkey

Contact the Turkish Embassy in Germany for assistance with documents and bureaucracy

Choose a mobile carrier that offers international roaming with Turkish operators

Register with the Turkish Consulate General in your German city (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne or Düsseldorf) via e-konsolosluk.gov.tr; this is required for renewing Turkish documents abroad and for registration in the seçmen kütüğü (electoral roll) if you wish to vote in Turkish elections from Germany.

Use a VPN to access Turkish online services like e-devlet