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Comprehensive Guide to Turkey Work Residency 2025
The work permit in Turkey is called çalışma izni, which is issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and grants foreigners the right to work and reside in Turkey during its validity period. This permit must be obtained before starting work in Turkey, because criminal proceedings will be taken against foreigners who work in Turkey without a work permit.
The work permit (çalışma izni) replaces the residence permit in Turkey according to Article 27 of Law 6458. This means that individuals who obtain a work permit in Turkey, in fact, also have a permit to reside and live in Turkey. This is why work residency is considered the strongest type of residency because it brings the right to work and the right to live and reside for applicants.
A person who obtains a work permit can also obtain a residence permit for their spouse and children under 18 years of age, and if they have their work residency continuously for 5 years, after 5 years they will have the possibility of obtaining Turkish citizenship (or a Turkish passport). If you intend to obtain a Turkish work permit, Home Turkey will familiarize you in this article with the types of work permits, laws and exceptions, and the necessary documents.
Types of Turkish Work Permits
In Turkey, there are various work permits for foreign nationals:
Fixed-Term Work Permit
A temporary or fixed-term work permit is issued for one year for a foreigner after the initial application, provided that the duration of the employment or service contract does not exceed the legal period. If the application is submitted within the legal time frame, this type of work permit can be extended.
In case of approval of the foreigner’s application for the extension of the work permit, it is granted for a maximum of 2 years for the first extension and for a maximum of 3 years for subsequent extensions, for the same employer.
Unlimited or Permanent Work Permit
Foreign nationals who have a long-term residence permit in Turkey or a legal work permit for at least 8 years can apply for an unlimited work permit. A foreign national with an unlimited work permit benefits from all the rights granted by a long-term residence permit.
Foreign nationals with an unlimited work permit benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens (with the exception of the right to vote, be elected, or hold public office). They are also not obliged to perform military service, provided that their acquired rights related to social security are preserved and in the exercise of these rights, they are subject to the regulations of the relevant laws. The documents for an unlimited work permit are renewed at the end of every 5 years from the start date of the work permit.
Independent Work Permit
This type of permit provides the possibility of professional activity without dependency on an employer, and in the evaluation of an independent work permit, in accordance with the international labor policy, the level of education, professional experience, the foreigner’s contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investments in Turkey on the national economy and employment, their capital share in case of being a partner in a foreign company, and other factors determined by the ministry in accordance with the recommendations of the International Labor Advisory Board are taken into consideration.
Turquoise Card (turkuaz)
In line with the international labor policy, the Turquoise card (turkuaz) is issued to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate based on their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investments in Turkey on the national economy and employment, the recommendations of the International Labor Advisory Board, and the procedures and principles determined by the ministry.
Holders of the Turquoise card (turkuaz) benefit from the rights provided by the unlimited work permit, which is regulated by law, and their dependent spouse and children are granted a residence permit in Turkey
Main Conditions for Companies to Issue Work Permits for Foreign Nationals in Turkey
1. Employment Criterion (or Job Creation)
1.1. 1.1. In a company or organization that is managed based on balance sheet accounting principles, for each foreigner whose work permit is requested, at least 5 Turkish citizens must be employed.
1.2. 1.2. If the net sales of this company or organization in the last year were 50 million lira or more, for a work permit for up to 5 foreign employees, this condition (job creation) does not apply.
- 2. Financial Capacity Criterion (Capital or Company Income)
2.1. 2.1. If the company is newly established (registered in the same current year and does not yet have an end-of-year financial statement), the paid-in capital must be at least 500 thousand lira.
2.2. 2.2. If the company has been active before (has at least one year of financial statements), it must meet “one” of these conditions:
- Paid-in capital of at least 500 thousand lira
- Annual net sales of at least 8 million lira
- Exports of at least 150 thousand dollars
2.3. 2.3. In the case of general partnerships that are managed based on balance sheet principles, at least one of the partners must have one of the above conditions (500 thousand lira capital / 8 million lira sales / 150 thousand dollars exports).
- 3. Wage Criterion (or Salary Paid to the Foreigner)
The salary of the foreigner must be determined according to the current minimum wage in Turkey:
- Senior managers and pilots: at least 5 times the base wage
- Engineers and architects: at least 4 times the base wage
- Other managers: at least 3 times the base wage
- Specialized and technical occupations: at least 2 times the base wage
- Service workers (such as domestic services) and other occupations: at least equivalent to the base wage
- 4. Exceptions (Exemption from Employment and Financial Criteria)
4.1. 4.1. Foreign nationals who have legally resided or had a work permit (except for student residence) in Turkey for at least 3 years in the last 5 years are exempt from the employment and financial capacity criteria if they apply for a domestic work permit for up to 3 foreigners.
4.2. 4.2. In such companies, the number of foreigners cannot be more than the number of Turkish employees.
4.3. 4.3. If more than 3 foreigners in a workplace are subject to this exception, from the fourth person onwards, for each foreigner, 5 Turkish citizens must be hired again, and the financial criteria must also be observed.
Conditions for obtaining a work permit for foreign nationals who own or are partners in a company
In companies that are subject to the balance sheet accounting system, if a foreign national establishes a new company or enters a company as a partner, to obtain a work permit, the paid-in capital of the company must be at least 500 thousand lira, or the capital share of the foreign national in the company must be at least 500 thousand lira, and their partnership share must be at least 20 percent.
Also, in this case, the company must hire at least 5 Turkish citizens. Under these conditions, the initial work permit for the foreign partner is issued conditionally. From the seventh month after the start of the permit, at least 5 Turks must be employed in the company each month.
Of course, there are exceptions!
If the capital share of the foreign national in the company is 100 thousand US dollars or more, the above requirements (having a capital of 500 thousand lira and hiring 5 Turks) do not apply.
Exceptions to the issuance of a work permit in Türkiye (based on specific sectors and occupations)
Information Technology (IT) Sector
- In companies active in the field of information technology (such as programming, database, mobile, network security, and enterprise architecture), the employment and financial capacity conditions do not apply.
- In other sectors, this exemption is only possible for a maximum of two foreigners in these occupations.
Education Sector
- Foreigners active in educational occupations need to obtain a pre-permit from the Ministry of National Education or the Council of Higher Education.
- For faculty members with a license from the Council of Higher Education, the general criteria do not apply.
- In international schools, for occupations requiring a pre-permit, the employment and financial capacity condition is also removed.
Domestic Services Sector
- Foreigners can only work in the care of children, the elderly, the sick, or the disabled.
- The conditions of the family or guardian of the person must be proven.
- The level of education, experience, Turkish language, and financial situation of the employer are examined.
- The income and financial capacity of the family to hire a foreigner must be proven.
- Changing employers in the first 6 months after receiving the permit (except in special cases) is prohibited.
Aviation Sector
Foreigners employed in the representative offices of foreign airline companies in managerial or specialized occupations are exempt from the employment and financial criteria.
Advanced Technology and Large Investment Sector
- For high-tech projects or large investments that help the economy or create jobs, the criteria can be removed.
- Foreign employees of research and development (R&D) centers or technology zones with the approval of the Ministry of Industry and Technology are exempt from the employment and financial criteria.
Government Projects
In projects that are implemented based on international agreements or government contracts, foreigners are exempt from the employment and financial criteria.
Health Sector
- Foreigners working in the health sector must obtain a pre-permit from the Ministry of Health.
- In public institutions, the criteria for employment, salary, and finance do not apply.
Tourism Sector
- In hotels and centers licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, for specialized occupations such as masseur, SPA, or animation, the employment criterion is removed if there are at least 10 Turkish employees.
- Massage centers, saunas, or official treatment hotels can hire foreign nationals.
- In hairdressing salons, jewelry stores, and small shops inside hotels, a maximum of two foreigners can work without the employment and financial condition.
- In travel agencies active in health tourism, up to 5 foreigners can work without the employment and financial condition.
Foreign Students
- Undergraduate and associate degree students can work part-time after the first year.
- There is no restriction for master’s and doctoral students.
- Scholarship students (such as the Turkey scholarship or ÖK) need the approval of the relevant institution to work.
- Working in the entertainment or domestic services sector is prohibited for students.
Livestock Sector
- For each specific number of livestock (for example, 200 sheep or 100 cows), a work permit is given for a shepherd or animal keeper (maximum of 3 foreigners).
- The opinion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is mandatory in these cases.
- Changing employers in the first 6 months is prohibited for foreigners (except in special circumstances).
General Conditions
- In sectors or occupations where special regulations are not mentioned, the general criteria for employment and finance are applied.
- In sectors or occupations where special regulations are not mentioned, the general criteria for employment and finance are applied.
Foreign nationals exempt from assessment criteria for obtaining a work permit
In reviewing the application for a work permit for foreign nationals who have the following conditions, the criteria for employment (having Turkish labor), financial capacity, and minimum wage do not apply:
- Foreign nationals whose father, mother, or child is a Turkish citizen
- People who have a humanitarian residence permit
- People who have obtained residence as victims of human trafficking or who use related support programs
- People with a stateless person’s identity card (Vatansız)
- Holders of a long-term residence permit in Turkey
- Foreign nationals who have been married to and have lived with a Turkish citizen for at least 3 years
- Those who have lived in Turkey for at least 8 years with various types of permits (work, short-term residence, family, long-term residence, humanitarian residence, or victim of human trafficking)
- Foreign nationals of Turkish descent (who are introduced by the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or are deemed suitable according to the international labor force policy) except in specific occupations that are only allowed for Turkish citizens
- Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Note that:
- These individuals must prove their situation with official documents from Turkish government institutions.
- Exemption from the criteria does not mean a definite right to receive a work permit; the issuance of the permit still requires review and final approval.
Documents required for a work permit in Turkey
To obtain a work permit in Turkey, these documents are necessary:
Documents from the foreign national
• Work contract
• Biometric photo
• Passport
• Educational degree
Documents from the employer
• Tax registration certificate
• Official gazette of company registration
• Financial balance sheet
• Company activity certificate
Note that:
If a foreign national works in the health sector, they must obtain a pre-permit from the Ministry of Health.
If they work in the education sector, they must obtain a pre-permit from the Ministry of National Education
The Process of Applying for a Turkish Work Permit
We explain the step-by-step process of applying for a work permit from within Turkey and from outside of Turkey below.
Application from within Turkey
Foreign nationals who have a valid residence permit of at least 6 months and employers who intend to hire these individuals can apply for a work permit from within Turkey. The application steps are as follows:
- Signing a work contract between the employer and the foreign national.
- The employer or their licensed representative must register the workplace in the automatic work permit application system (via e-devlet) with an electronic signature.
- The electronic signature is obtained from institutions approved by the Information Technology Organization (BTK).
- The employer uploads the necessary information and documents and finalizes the application with an electronic signature.
- If the application is approved by the Ministry of Labor, the employer is informed about the payment of the work permit fee and the official stamp fee, and the amounts must be paid to the specified bank accounts.
- After the permit is issued, the employer must go to the Social Security Institution (SGK) center where the company is registered within a maximum of 30 days and announce the start of work of the foreign individual.
- The work permit issued for the foreign national is sent via PTT post to the workplace address.
- Tracking the package is possible through the PTT tracking system by entering the 13-digit barcode (formed by adding the number 268004 to the beginning of the application number).
- The salary that is declared for insurance (SGK) must not be less than the salary that is registered in the work permit application form for the foreign national.
After completing these steps, the foreign individual is now insured and has a valid work permit.
Applying for a Work Permit from Outside Turkey (Work Visa)
- First, a work contract is signed between the employer and the foreign national.
- The foreign national goes to the Turkish embassy or consulate in their country of residence and receives a 16-digit reference code. This code must be delivered to the employer.
- The employer or their representative registers the workplace in the automatic work permit application system through the electronic government (e-devlet) using an electronic signature. (The electronic signature is obtained from institutions approved by the Information Technology Organization BTK.)
- The employer uploads the reference code and other necessary documents and information and finalizes the application with an electronic signature.
- Tracking the status of the application is possible through the “Track Applications” section.
- If the application is approved by the Ministry of Labor:
- The employer is informed about the work permit fees and official stamp fees and must pay the amounts separately to the specified accounts.
- Then the applicant must pay the visa fees to the Turkish embassy or consulate that initially received the application so that the work permit can be received.
- After the foreign national enters Turkey:
- They must register themselves at the nearest population and citizenship office within 20 days.
- The employer is also obliged to register the start of their work at the Social Security Institution (SGK) within a maximum of 30 days after the arrival of the foreign individual.
- The salary declared for insurance should not be less than the wage mentioned in the work permit application form.
- The issued work permit is sent via PTT post to the workplace address.
- Tracking is possible through the PTT tracking system by entering the 13-digit barcode (by adding the number 268004 to the beginning of the application number).
After these steps, the foreign national is now insured and has a valid work permit and can officially start working.
Costs and Duration of Obtaining a Turkish Work Permit
The usual costs and duration for obtaining a work permit in Turkey based on the 2025 update are as follows:
| Permit Type | Duration | Permit Fee (in Turkish Lira) | Valuable Paper Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary work permit | up to 1 year | 10,571.60 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Temporary work permit extension | over 1 year and up to 2 years | 21,143.20 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Temporary work permit extension | over 2 years and up to 3 years | 31,714.80 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Temporary work permit extension | over 3 years and up to 4 years | 42,286.40 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Temporary work permit extension | over 4 years and up to 5 years | 52,858.00 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Permanent work permit | – | 105,760.60 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Independent work permit | – | 105,760.60 TL | 810.00 TL |
| Work permit for nationals under temporary protection | 1 year | 3,932.70 TL | 810.00 TL |
Entrust the Receipt of a Work Permit in Turkey to the Expert Team of Home Turkey
Many people have a bitter experience with applying for a work permit. There are many people whose applications have been rejected by the Turkish Ministry of Labor, not approved, and have remained in the review stage for months, despite having sufficient conditions and documents. There are even people who have resorted to start-up companies to obtain a work permit and have been defrauded.
So, be aware that obtaining a Turkish work permit requires high experience and good connections in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of this country; the fact that you own a company or have your own employer is not a reason for your work permit to be approved.
But do not worry! The experienced and professional team of HomeTurkey, with its strong connections in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Turkey and the high experience of our experts, will handle the receipt of a work permit for you in a guaranteed manner and will make the path easy, simple, and secure for you.
FAQ
Is the Turkish work permit card the same as the residence permit card?
Yes – the issued çalışma izni / work permit card is equivalent to a residence permit card.
When should I apply to extend my work permit / work residency?
The application for the extension of a work permit or work residency must be submitted within 2 months before its expiration date.
In what case is the work permit cancelled?
If the employer does not pay your insurance or the validity date of your work permit has expired, your work permit will be cancelled.
How do I know that the employer is paying my monthly insurance?
You can view your SGK insurance payments through the e-devlet website.
When can I get Turkish citizenship with a work residency?
If your years of work residency, together with past valid residencies, total 5 years, you can get permanent residence in Turkey. If you have had a continuously renewed work residency for 5 years, you can apply to receive Turkish citizenship through HomeTurkey.