A work permit is a document that every foreigner who wants to work in the Republic of Turkey must obtain by applying to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which gives the foreigner the right to work and reside in Turkey. It is illegal for a foreigner without a work permit to work in Turkey in any way and is subject to sanctions.
Work permit can be issued as Temporary, Indefinite and Independent.
The foreigner whose work permit application is evaluated positively is granted a work permit for a maximum of one year in the first application, provided that he/she works in a specific workplace belonging to a real or legal person or public institution or organisation or in a specific job in their workplaces in the same line of business, provided that it does not exceed the duration of the employment or service contract.
Foreigners with a long-term residence permit or a legal work permit for at least eight years may apply for an indefinite work permit. However, the foreigner’s fulfilment of the application conditions does not give the foreigner an absolute right.
Foreigners with an indefinite work permit benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens, provided that their acquired rights regarding social security are reserved and they are subject to the provisions of the relevant legislation in the exercise of these rights, except for the regulations in special laws.
Foreigners who are members of professional professions are granted an independent work permit, provided that the special conditions specified in other laws are met, and it is issued for a period of time.
In the evaluation of the independent work permit in line with the international labour force policy, the level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of the foreigner’s activity or investment in Turkey on the country’s economy and employment, the share of capital if the foreigner is a company partner, and other issues to be determined by the Ministry in line with the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board are taken into consideration.
Work permit applications can be made from Turkey or abroad. Application processes differ according to domestic and foreign applications.
Work Permit Application Process
Work permit applications are made through the E-Permit system.
(https://ecalismaizni.csgb.gov.tr/eizin) Passport, photograph and a copy of the labour contract are required for all applications.
The required documents according to the application types are given below:
1. Domestic Application
In order for foreigners in Turkey to obtain a work permit, they must have a residence permit for at least six months, except for foreigners deemed appropriate by the General Directorate of International Labour Force. The work permit application for the foreigner must be made by his/her employer.
Required Documents
– Employment contract signed by the employer and the foreigner. (This document will be scanned and uploaded to the system during the electronic application).
– Copy of passport. (In cases where the passport is not written in Latin letters, its translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities shall be attached to the application. This document will be scanned and uploaded to the system during the electronic application).
Important Note: Pursuant to Article 23 of Law No. 6458, work permits to be issued to foreigners whose request is approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are issued in a manner not to exceed 60 days before the passport validity date.
-A copy of the diploma or temporary graduation certificate, the Turkish translation of which is certified by a sworn translator or official authorities, will be scanned and uploaded to the system during the application.
*It is not compulsory to submit a diploma in home services, but a statement regarding the last school completed is sufficient.
-Turkish Trade Registry Gazette showing the latest capital and partnership structure of the organisation.
-Balance sheet and profit/loss statement approved by the tax office or sworn financial advisor for the last year.
-The work permit extension application is made through the system 60 days before the expiry of the work permit and in any case before the expiry of the work permit. Extension applications made after the expiry of this period are rejected.
-The duration of the work permit of the foreigner, whose extension application is evaluated positively, is up to two years for the first extension application and up to three years for the subsequent extension applications, depending on the same employer. Applications made to work for a different employer are evaluated subject to the procedures and principles of the first application.
-The foreigner on whose behalf a work permit extension application is made may continue to work during the evaluation of the application from the date of expiry of the permit period and in any case for a period not exceeding 90 days and provided that the work performed and the place of work do not change. During this period, the rights and obligations of the foreigner and the employer arising from the work permit continue in the same manner. If the work permit extension application is approved, the newly issued work permit starts on the day following the expiry of the previous period.
-For detailed information on work permit processes:
What are the Information and Documents Required in the Work Permit Evaluation Process?
Work permit applications generally start with foreigners applying for a work permit and visa to the relevant foreign representative offices of the Republic of Turkey. However, if the foreigner in Turkey has a residence permit valid for at least 6 months, the work permit application can be made as a domestic application. The required documents will be sent online through the e-permit automation system.
–Employment contract signed by the employer and the foreigner. (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
–Copy of passport. (In cases where the passport is not written in Latin letters, its translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities will be attached to the application.) (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.) Important Note: Pursuant to Article 23 of Law No. 6458, work permits to be issued to foreigners whose request is approved by our Ministry are issued in a manner not to exceed sixty days before the expiry date of the passport. In addition, work permit applications made with passports and passport substitute documents with a duration of less than sixty days as of the work permit application date are not processed.
–A copy of Diploma or Temporary Graduation Certificate with Turkish translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities, this document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application. Diploma is compulsory for foreigners who will work within the scope of vocational services and for foreigners who will work in professions deemed necessary by our Ministry. It is not compulsory to submit a diploma for domestic services, but a declaration regarding the last school completed is sufficient.
– Turkish Trade Registry Gazette showing the latest capital and partnership structure of the organisation.
– Balance sheet and profit/loss statement approved by the tax office or sworn financial advisor for the last year.
Education Sector:
– For foreigners who will work in private education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Education, a document from the Ministry of National Education showing the professional competence of the foreigner (Prior Authorisation Certificate)
– ‘Permission to Open an Institution and Start Teaching’ and ‘Licence’ obtained from the Ministry of National Education for private education institutions that will employ foreigners
Home Services:
– Foreigners are not allowed to work in domestic services except for the care of the elderly, sick and children.
Health Sector:
– For foreign health professionals who will work in private health institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Health, a Pre-Authorisation Certificate from the Provincial Directorate of Health of the province where the health institution where they will work, showing the professional competence of the foreigner, This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
– For private health institutions that will employ foreigners, Activity Permit Certificate obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Health.
Tourism Sector:
– For foreigners to be employed in workplaces with a tourism business certificate, Business and Investment Certificate obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, or if it is not a certified business, Activity Certificate obtained from the Chamber of Commerce, This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
Entertainment Sector:
– Turkish translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities (The certificate showing that the foreigner for whom a work permit is requested has an international reputation as an artist or has worked in foreign enterprises at the same level by making programmes will have an apostille annotation or Foreign Representation certification annotation according to the 1961 Hague Convention on the certificate) (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
– Employment Contract in Turkish and in the language of the foreigner, (The employment contract with the wet signatures of the employer and the foreigner will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
– Business Certificate obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
– Obligatory Issues to be included in the Labour Contract to be concluded with Foreign Artists:
– A record stating that foreign artists will undertake that their return tickets and travelling expenses will be covered by the employer upon their return to their home country following their period of employment,
– A commitment that the wage will not be less than three times the minimum wage, which changes every six months,
– Workplace Tax Number,
– In addition to the rights of the employee, 155 Police Help Line, 157 Help Line for Victims of Human Trafficking, Alo 170 helpline numbers and the contact numbers of the Provincial Directorates of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Agency will be included for consultation when necessary.
Aviation Sector:
– For foreign pilots to be employed in workplaces operating in the aviation sector, the Turkish translation of the Pilot Licence certified by a sworn translator or official authorities, This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application. The work permit to be issued by our Ministry becomes valid with the Validation Certificate to be obtained from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transport, which validates the licences of foreign pilots in Turkey.
Engineers and Architects
– ‘Diploma or Temporary Graduation Equivalence Certificate’ to be obtained in accordance with the Regulation on Equivalence of Higher Education Diplomas Abroad in accordance with Articles 3 and 7/p of Law No. 2547, if the foreigner for whom a work permit is requested as an engineer / architect within the scope of Professional Services has received higher education abroad (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
– For legal entities that will employ foreign experts as engineers/architects/urban planners, a pay slip proving that a Turk is employed in the same profession (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
– Companies and Branches Operating within the Scope of Specialised Foreign Direct Investments
– For the foreigners to be employed in companies and branches that meet at least one of the criteria of foreign direct investments with special characteristics stipulated in Article 10/a of the Regulation on the Employment of Foreign Personnel in Foreign Direct Investments, the application will be made according to the procedures and principles stated below.
– Documents showing that the export amount of the organisation in the last year is at least 1 million US Dollars (Documents such as bank receipt, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate, company approved income statement for the export amount)
Documents Required for Key Personnel to be Employed in the Organisation Providing At Least One of the Abovementioned Conditions:
– For Company Partner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Member of the Board of Directors, General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Company Manager, Assistant Company Manager and similar positions (documents such as Signature Circular, copy of the Board of Directors or Board of Shareholders Decision)
– Experts with knowledge considered essential for the organisation’s services, research equipment, techniques or management (testimonial and its translation, copy of diploma and its translation, as well as documents and information of value and their translation for the field in which such personnel will be employed (e.g. for export personnel, bank receipt certified by the relevant bank showing exports on the basis of countries, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate, etc.)
– Appointment letter stating that the key personnel to be employed is assigned by the parent company abroad
Liaison Offices:
Activity permit obtained from the Ministry of Economy for foreigners to be employed in liaison offices, this document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
For liaison offices, documents showing that at least 200 thousand US Dollars or equivalent foreign currency has been brought from abroad within the last year (Authorisation certificate for the office official and documents such as bank receipt, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate related to foreign currency transfer)
Special Circumstances Regarding Work Permits
In addition to the above-mentioned work permits, in line with the International Labour Force Policy, it is aimed to issue Turquoise Cards to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate by taking into account their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their investment on the country’s economy and employment, and to subject the work permits of foreigners who will work in these enterprises to special provisions and to issue work permits easily in accordance with the Regulation on the Employment of Foreign Nationals in Foreign Direct Investments.
Turquoise Card
Turquoise Card is a document that grants the foreigner the right to work in Turkey indefinitely and the right of residence to his/her spouse and dependent children in accordance with the provisions of the legislation and the foreigner benefits from the rights provided by the indefinite work permit.
The Turquoise Card is issued for a transition period of the first three years. At the end of this period, the transitional period record in the Turquoise Card is removed upon the application of the foreigner and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued. This application is made 180 days before the expiry of the transition period, in any case before the transition period expires. After the expiry of the transitional period, the application for the removal of the transitional period registration is rejected and the Turquoise Card becomes invalid.
In the Turquoise Card application, those who have internationally recognised studies in the academic field, those who have come to the forefront in a field considered strategic for Turkey in science, industry and technology, or those who make or are expected to make a significant contribution to the national economy in terms of export, employment or investment capacity are considered as qualified foreigners.
Foreign Direct Investments
Pursuant to the Regulation on the Employment of Foreign National Personnel in Foreign Direct Investments, companies or branches that fall within the scope of Law No. 4875 and meet at least one of the following conditions are considered to be Specialised Foreign Direct Investments. The relevant legislation regulates the determination of Foreign Direct Investments with Special Characteristics and the foreign key personnel to work in these enterprises.
II. Foreign National Key Personnel
An employee of a company established in Turkey and having legal personality within the scope of foreign direct investment, who fulfils at least one of the following conditions
a) A person who is a company shareholder, chairman of the board of directors, member of the board of directors, general manager, deputy general manager, company manager, deputy company manager and similar positions who is involved in or authorised in at least one of the following areas:
– Working in the top management or executive position of the company
– Managing all or part of the company
– Supervising or controlling the work of the company’s auditors, administrative or technical staff
– Recruiting new personnel or terminating the employment of existing personnel or making proposals in these matters
b) A person who possesses knowledge considered essential for the Company’s services, research equipment, techniques or managementc) In liaison offices, at most one person in whose name an authorisation certificate is issued by the parent company abroad.
