Work Permit

Applications for work permit in Turkey

Applications for work permit are made through e-Government portal of Turkey (www.turkiye.gov.tr). The automated work permit application system enables the users to fill the online work permit application form and upload necessary documents into the system. Once online application is made through the e-government portal, the employer is required to make direct application to the Ministry by mail or in person. Duly applications are finalized by the Ministry at most thirty days and once the decision is made, the ministry informs the applicant through e-mail. Foreigners residing outside the Turkey can make their work permit applications through the Turkish representative offices in their home countries. In the existence of residence permit valid for at least 6 months, foreigners residing in Turkey can make their applications directly to Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

1. Foreigners Residing Outside of Turkey

Foreigners residing outside the Turkey are subject to apply for work permit from the representative offices of Turkey in their own countries. Pursuance to work permit application of foreigner, within 10 working days the employer should process both online and direct applications to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Turkey. Once the approval from the Ministry is granted, foreigners are required to apply for work visa to the Turkish representative office within 90 days. Upon their arrival to Turkey with work visa, foreigners are required to apply for Work Registered Residence Permit to the Alien’s Branch of the Local Police Department within 30 days. Work permit will only takes effect in the existence of valid residence permit.    

2. Foreigners Residing Inside Turkey

Foreigners with residence permit valid for at least 6 months (expect residence permits for the purposes of education) may make their applications to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security internally. Internal applications are made by the employer directly to the Ministry. Once the online application is submitted, the employer is required to make direct application to the Ministry within 6 working days. Upon obtaining the work permit, foreigner is required to apply for Work Registered Residence Permit to the Alien’s Branch of the Local Police Department within 30 days.   

3. Work Permit Extension Applications

Extension application of the work permit period is made to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. As Internal applications, after submitting online applications, direct application to ministry should be made within 6 working days. The application for extension should be filed within 2 months before or 15 days after the expiry date of the work permit. After 15 days period, the applicant no longer may request for extension and the application is regarded as initial application.  

Ata Kurumsal

Ata Institutional Consulting is a leading consultancy company in its field, with expert personnel, with 12 years of experience, providing residence permit, work permit, Turkish citizenship consultancy and corporate consultancy services to foreigners. Ata Instiutional Consultancy

33 Comments

  1. I got an Appointment & offer Letter from an oil Gas Company from Turkey. Stating that
    Attached, is the contract document (soft-copy in MS Word) and upon acceptance, please sign the last page and resend to Okan Polat Travels, for processing of your foreigner worker’s certificate.
    Okan Polat Travels Contact:
    2nd Floor, Maslak Building
    Gazeteciler Sitesi A/3 No: 5
    Istanbul, Republic of Turkey
    However, in line with Turkish expatriate statuary law, you must obtain the foreigner worker’s certificate, after which we will sponsor/process your work permits, flight tickets, and other traveling documents.
    Consequently, you will incur the initial cost for the processing of the foreigner certificate, and any expense you make in this process, shall be refunded to you, within 5 working days of concluding the whole processing.
    Cost for obtaining “foreigner worker’s certificate” declared by the above mentioned traveler is 1690 USD (including 100USD courie). which is to be paid by me. as per company email states that:
    we would provide your flight tickets, reimbursements /relocation allowances, after you complete the processing through the agency.
    My question is that: Is this is true that any company bearing all the expenses of individual but not bearing the cost of “foreigner worker’s certificate” ??? Is this is True or Not ?????

    1. Hello,
      Thank you for your comment.
      We do not have any information regarding job offer attached above, however it does not seem authentic. We strongly recommend you to be careful and not to make any payment in advance unless you make sure that the offer is real.
      Kind Regards,

  2. my name is dulal miah i got an appointment letter from Turkish Summa Construction Company along with the Terms of contract they are asking to send a receipt for security deposit in my account ,as they say employees come to live and work in Turkey for at least 12 months are mandated to show availability see below email from HR Manager from M/s Summa for your info.

    Dear Dulal Mohamad,
    Kindly note that the security deposit is to certify that you can be responsible for your maintenance as mandated by Turkish Insurance policies to protect and secure Expatriates financially. This is not a payment but a security deposit to ensure that you can cater for your needs and support yourself once you arrive here before you receive your first salary from your Employer in line with the Turkish Expatriate Financial Statutory Law.

    This deposit is to be made before the issuance of your visa and work permit.

    You would be referred to our approved visa agent here in Turkey for immediate start up of your visa and work permit procurement as soon as you send a scanned copy of your signed contract document.
    The documents required for visa processing;
    • Passport photograph
    • Medical report
    • International passport
    • Security deposit receipt
    • Mailing address

    And a list of other things that will be provided by our approved visa agent.

    Therefore my concern is that for visa processing in Turkey normally they ask to show the security deposit through receipt in our account?

    Please advice me on this issue as soon as possible

    1. Hello,
      Thank you for your comment.

      We do not have any detailed informations about this application, however, deposit is not required in order to obtain work permit and it is highly possible that this offer is a scam. We highly recommend you to be careful and not to pay anyone in advance until you make sure that the job offer is real.

      Kind Regards,

  3. What if my 2 months visa expires while i am Turkey and i have no other means to extern my stay , what will the authorities do? Pls help

    1. Dear Sir/Madam,

      If you stay in the Turkish territory for longer than the time you are allowed (Ex:Visa, Residence Permit etc…) you will be considered Overstaying. In this case you will have to pay a Penalty at your exit of territory, if do not pay this penalty you will not be able to re-enter the Turkish territory.

      You can check our webpage concerning the Overstay in the link bellow :
      https://www.expatguideturkey.com/the-consequences-of-overstaying-in-turkey/

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  4. Dear sir/mam,

    I received an appointment letter from oil and gas company together with all compensation offer for 2 years contract which is renewable my question is who will pay for all the necessary payments such as working permits,ticket etc.

    these are the following payments :

    A) Work Permit Fee: ————————- USD 300.00
    B) Residence Permit Fee: ——————- USD 300.00
    C) Release Documents: ———————- USD 200.00
    D) Entry Clearance Fee:———————- USD 350.00
    E) Courier/Dispatch: ————————- USD 100.00
    Total: USD 1250.00

    is this scam or not?

    1. Dear Mr Randy,

      These information seems to be misleading. We strongly advice you to be carefull concerning this proposition.

      The first point is related to the Residency Permit, the application fort he residency permit can only be done once you enter Turkey, and the Residency Permit is not required for a work permit abroad application. Also Entry Clearence Fee and Release Document Fees doesn’t exist.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  5. I got an appointment from Tuknet Turkey, they want me to send 1,130USD for the legalization of my documents and working permit/ Visa. Is this true or just scam? Thank you.

    1. Dear Mr Denizo,

      We cannot confirm nor deny if this application is a scam. However we can clearly state that a lot of scamer use this method. Be very careful related to this kind of advertisement or deal.
      You should also note that in general Work Permit and Residency Permit expenses are paid by the employer in Turkey.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  6. I came to Turkey and apply for residents permit, I miss my appointment date because of sickness and later they denied me my residence permit. I don’t know how I will get the resident permit again. If they are means for me to get it again please let me know.

    1. Dear Mr Kelvin,

      Unfortunately you cannot apply for a residency permit once the first application has been cancelled. If your residency permit has been cancelled and you still have a valid visa, you can make a second application. However if your visa has also expired you will have to re-enter Turkey with a Visa.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  7. Dear ExpatGuideTurkey Team

    I Wicaksono also got appointment and job offer from Turkish National Drilling Company and tell me to make security deposit $3000 via western union. They say like this:
    Apart from sponsorship from Turkish Based Employers, employees coming to live and work in the Turkey for at least 12
    months are mandated to show availability of $3,000USD, which is the stipulated financial requirement/applicant travel
    allowance that must be in possession of the applicant/employee into Turkey.
    It is scam or true?

    1. Dear Sir/Madam,

      There is no regulation in the Turkish Law stating that foreign worker need to make a deposit of 3000$(or any other amount) in order to be able to apply for a work permit.
      These job offers are mostly and certainly scam.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  8. Dear Vinodkumar mani,
    I Wicaksono also got appointment and job offer same like you only they request security deposit $3000 via Western Union to my name account. It is scam or real?

    1. Dear Sir/Madam,

      There is no regulation in the Turkish Law stating that foreign worker need to make a deposit of 3000$(or any other amount) in order to be able to apply for a work permit.
      These job offers are mostly and certainly scam.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

    2. Dear sir ,
      I ve recieved a job offer letter from careers.goztepeoil it was detailed i ll send u a copy if needed
      Anyway they told me to contact Okan Polat Travels
      I ll send u this paragraph
      ” Attached with this message, is the contract document (soft-copy in MS Word) and upon acceptance, please sign the last page and resend to Okan Polat Travels, for processing of your foreigner worker’s certificate.

      Okan Polat Travels Contact:
      2nd Floor, Maslak Building
      Gazeteciler Sitesi A/3 No: 5
      Istanbul, Republic of Turkey
      Telephone: +905 379612331
      Email: okanpolattravels@outlook.com
      Copy Email: service@okanpolatr.com

      However, in line with Turkish expatriate statuary law, you must obtain the foreigner worker’s certificate, after which we will sponsor/process your work permits, flight tickets, and other traveling documents.

      Consequently, you will incur the initial cost for the processing of the foreigner certificate, and any expense you make in this process, shall be refunded to you, within 5 working days of concluding the whole processing.”
      Can u tell if this is true or just a scam

      1. Hello,
        We do not know the details of this job offer, however we strongly recommend you to be careful and not to make any payments in advance as most probably it is a scam.

        Kind Regards,

        Your thoughts are important to us. Are you satisfied with the answers we have given to your questions? Please rate us and leave a comment Click here

  9. am from Ghana I need your help offer me to work as scaffold or security if any one you have in your company.
    Thank you

    1. Dear Mr Abdul Mumin Zakaria,

      Our company does not provide Human Ressource Management Service.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team

  10. Dear Sir/ Ma’am,

    I Vinodkumar mani got appointment letter from Turkish national drilling company. Also, along with the visa application form they asked to send a receipt for security deposit of 3,000 US Dollar in my account ,as they say employees come to live and work in Turkey for at least 12 months are mandated to show availability of $3,000 USD

    Therefore my concern is that for visa processing in Turkey normally they ask to show the security deposit through receipt in our account?

    Please advice me on this issue as soon as possible

    Regards,
    Vinodkumar Mani

    1. Dear Mr Vinoskumar,

      For the residency application officer at the immigration might ask to show a proof that you will be able to finance yourself in Turkey. You can show the deposit in a Turkish Bank Account, preferably, however a bank account receipt in your name from a foreign bank account might be accepted as long at it is in english.

      Our best advice for you would be to directly apply for a work permit from abroad. We can make this application if the company which will employ you contact us.

      Best Regards,
      ExpatGuideTurkey Team.

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