The employer must carry out the application process for a work permit in Turkey. The process stages depend on whether the foreigner is in Turkey or abroad during the application. There are also work permit exemptions which allow foreigners to stay in Turkey for several months or longer than a year, depending on the specific sector. However, work permit exemptions are outside to scope of this article. If you wish consultation on this topic, please contact our team.
Work in Turkey
- Can I work in Turkey on a residence permit?
- Can I change my tourist visa to a work permit in Turkey?
- What are the different types of work permits in Turkey?
- What are the benefits of a work permit in Turkey?
Can I work in Turkey on a residence permit?
A residence permit in Turkey does not automatically grant the right to work. Instead, the foreign national must make a separate application for a work permit. On the other hand, if the foreigner already has a work permit, this automatically gives him the right to live in Turkey, too. Therefore, a separate application for residency is not required if the foreigner has a work permit.
Can I change my tourist visa to a work permit in Turkey?
Foreigners staying in Turkey with a tourist visa cannot apply for a work permit. This is because holding a residence permit is mandatory for work permit applications made by foreigners in Turkey. The application system asks for the birth date and ID of the foreigner, which is used to check whether the applicant has the necessary residency permit in Turkey. If the foreigner does not have a residence permit, the application system notifies that the foreigner does not have a valid residence permit.
What are the different types of work permits in Turkey?
Turkey’s three types of work permits are temporary, permanent, and independent work permits.
Foreigners with a long-term residence permit or a legal work permit for at least eight years may apply for an indefinite work permit. A foreigner with an indefinite work permit shall benefit from all the rights a long-term residence permit provides. Foreigners who are members of professional occupations may be granted an independent work permit provided that the particular conditions specified in other laws are met. Finally, details of how to get a temporary work permit are explained below.
What are the benefits of a work permit in Turkey?
The work permit automatically gives foreigners the right to reside in Turkey. For example, if the foreigner has a work permit for one year, they also have the right to live in Turkey for one year. However, foreigners should apply for an extension within 60 days before the end of their permit. Once again, the application is evaluated if a renewal request is submitted, and the same fees apply if the permit is extended.
Turkey Work Visa Requiremen6ts
- What is a Turkish worker visa?
- How can a foreigner get a work permit in Turkey?
- What are the documents required for a work permit application?
What is a Turkish worker visa?
Tourist visas are the regular way to enter for foreign nationals. This type of visa prevents foreigners from exceeding 90 days of stay in Turkey within a 180 days period. On the other hand, foreigners applying for work permits in Turkey must visit the Turkish consulate and obtain a work visa before entering Turkey. If the foreigner’s application is approved, the applicant must enter Turkey using the work visa. The work visa is issued by Turkey’s representative office abroad and is subject to a fee. Once the foreigner enters Turkey, they will obtain a work permit document. Therefore, the work visa will not remain as the primary basis of their stay in Turkey.
How can a foreigner get a work permit in Turkey?
The application is made online. The required information must be provided, and certain documents must be submitted. Once these are completed and the application is sent using an e-signature, the officers examine each application. The outcome is communicated to the authorised personnel of the employer.
However, the procedure described above varies based on whether the foreigner is abroad or already in Turkey during the application. One of the conditions for a work permit in Turkey is that the foreigner must hold a residence permit in Turkey for six months.
The overall application procedure, in either case, does not change. The only difference is that before the online application, the foreigner visits the Turkish consulate if they are abroad. This pre-registration generates a reference number the foreigner must send the employer. The employer then uses this number to make the application under the category “made from abroad”.
What are the documents required for a work permit application?
- Biometric photo taken in the past six months
- Passport copy of the page with photo
- Copy of employment contract for a set period
- Diploma
- Trade registry documents and other company documents
- Financial documents of the employer
- Other documents might be requested by the expert examining the specific application
How long does it take to obtain a work permit in Turkey?
Applying for a work permit can take up to 30 days to 45 days.
How much does it cost to get a work permit in Turkey?
Whether the applicant pays a fee for the work permit depends on the successful outcome of the application. Otherwise, the applications submitted for a work permit does not require any payment to be paid. If the foreigner is granted a work permit, the cost for one year-long permission is 4636 TL and an additional fee of 356 TL for valuable paper. Please get in touch with us for the most up-to-date figures.
How long does Turkey’s work permit last?
According to the International Labour Force Law No. 6735, which entered into force after being published in the Official Gazette dated 13/8/2016 and numbered 29800, a foreigner whose work permit application is approved, receives a temporary work permit for a maximum of one year. This can be renewed at the end of the relevant period. In this second instance, a two-year work permit can be granted. On the subsequent extensions, three years work permit can be given.
Who issues a work permit in Turkey?
The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is the authorized public institution for administering work permits. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, International Workforce Directorate issues work permits in Turkey.
Can I apply for a residence permit when my work permit is about to expire?
You can apply for a residence permit within 60 days before your work permit expires. The work permit’s expiration date is also the residence permit’s expiration date. Foreigners who do not extend their work permit even though it has expired or do not obtain a residence permit in accordance with the purpose of residency are deemed to have violated their residence permit.
How to check work permit status in Turkey?
The validity of the document, the address where the foreigner works, and the position and salary information can be inquired by using the QR code on the back of the work permit document or on the official work permit website of the Turkish government.
Can I get Turkish citizenship by work permit?
A foreigner who wants to acquire Turkish citizenship by relying on work permit status must meet the conditions specified in the citizenship law. The prerequisite for this type of citizenship acquisition is to reside in Turkey for 5 years with an uninterrupted work permit.
What are the social security obligations of foreigners who have a work permit in Turkey?
For work permit applications made from Turkey, the foreigner must start working by fulfilling their social security obligations within one month from the start date of the work permit.
For the applications made from abroad, the foreigner must start working by fulfilling their social security obligations within one month from the date of entry into the country.
What are some other obligations of foreigners with a work permit?
Under Article 12/2 of Law No. 6735, foreigners who are granted a work permit based on the application made from abroad must come to Turkey within six months from the date of the validity of the work permit, and the work permit of foreigners who do not come to Turkey within this period shall be cancelled.
Article 22 of the International Labour Force Law No. 6735, titled “Notification and social security obligation”, stipulates the following provisions.
Employers of foreigners and foreigners with indefinite or independent work permits are obliged to notify the Ministry within fifteen days of the commencement and termination of work within the scope of the work permit (or work permit exemption), as well as the circumstances that require the cancellation.
Freelance Work in Turkey
The temporary work permit procedure explained above requires an employer who pays a monthly salary to the permit holder. The permit holder must work in a specific workplace for a particular job. Therefore, working as a freelancer could contradict the framework of a work permit in Turkey.
What is an independent work permit in Turkey?
An independent work permit can be granted to foreigners who are members of professional occupations, considering factors such as level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the potential impact on the Turkish economy, and company shareholder status.
Does Paypal work in Turkey?
Paypal currently does not work in Turkey, which can be considered a further problem for freelance workers who wish to live in Turkey. In addition to difficulties obtaining a work permit as a freelancer, such individuals might have to find alternative payment methods for their international work.