The political turmoil in Turkey that started last summer has triggered a steady outflow of highly skilled and qualified workers into European countries, a flow that has intensified in the last few months.

Netherlands banking and IT sectors benefiting

In the Netherlands, the banking and IT sectors have particularly benefited from this new workforce; there has also been an inflow into the UK technology and financial services industries. What started as a trickle of individual families has now become a steady flow.Annabet van Mameren, director of New2NL, a company which helps families navigate the Dutch education system, said, “Since last summer, we have been receiving an increasing number of requests from Turkish families who have already secured a job in the Netherlands, in banking or IT – families which are earning well, have children in private education in Turkey, and are looking to replicate this lifestyle in Western Europe.”

Schooling a top priority for relocating families

The requests for help in finding a school place typically happen while the Turkish family is still in Turkey and is awaiting immigration documentation. The decision on which school to choose then informs the decision on where to live and where to relocate the family.Immigration specialists and companies providing help with school selection in the UK say that the trend has intensified over the last few months, with more and more Turkish employees seeking work in the financial services and tech sectors.

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Related news:

• Netherlands: Intra Corporate Transfer (ICT) Directive
• UK immigration changes to significantly affect foreign nationals and employers

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One UK relocation specialist said that his company had not had any requests from Turkey yet, but that the trend was creating a new niche market. In practical terms, the relocation process, however, can be long and drawn out. Turkish nationals don’t have an automatic right to work in the EU, but visas for highly skilled jobs are typically organised by employers, a process which can take months.International payments are somewhat hampered, and not all banks offer money transfers to foreign banks. In addition, PayPal has lost its licence to operate in the country, leaving tens of thousands of businesses, and an even larger number of users, high and dry. As Turkey looks increasingly inwards for the provision of tech and banking services, this process is likely to become more complicated.For related news and features, visit our Immigration section.Access hundreds of global services and suppliers in our Online Directory  Get access to our free Global Mobility Toolkit

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