Life in Turkey

How can a Foreigner get a job in Turkey?

Especially, with the pandemic period we started to receive “How can a Foreigner get a job in Turkey?” question frequently , and we wanted to share some important points in this article. Many new draft law for foreigners who want get a job in Turkey in the last years became the main topic at the conversation. Many foreigners living in Turkey until a few years people have been forced to work with illegal methods. While these foreigners cannot benefit from the most basic rights such as health insurance, they also cannot get their overtime wages and even their salaries are not paid properly. However, foreigners who want to be a resident and work in Turkey have on the legal and humane working conditions in a way with the new laws in 2021.

According to the Foreign Work Permit Statistics Report published by Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, it is seen that approximately 150 thousand foreigners got a valid work permit in 2019. Foreigners in Turkey find jobs in different sectors in major cities like Istanbul where international companies are located, such as Ankara and Izmir. So, we can observe that the most work permit applications are received from three biggest cities and tourism center Antalya.

Foreigners in Turkey has the right to work in many business sectors. International companies have job opportunities for foreign nationals who speak more than one language in fields such as management, marketing, sales, technical information and translation. Generally, foreigners are employed in positions such as Customer Service Responsible, Foreign Language Teaching, Babysitting, Editor and Translation, Import-Export Sales Specialist.

On the other hand, Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean regions, especially in hotels and travel companies are offering seasonal jobs to foreign human resources for your needs. After a short training period, it is possible for foreigners to become tour guides using their mother tongue. Seasonal jobs in entertainment venues and hotels provide ample job opportunities for foreigners.

Forbidden Occupations for Foreigners in Turkey

Foreigners are prohibited from making certain occupations in Turkey. Accordingly, while they can work in many professions, some professions are prohibited to be performed by foreigners and only Turkish citizens are granted rights. This prohibition is regulated in the special laws of the relevant professions.

According to the International Labor Law; Applications made by foreigners to professions specific to Turkish citizens are rejected exclusively in other laws. Dentistry, Nursing, Midwifery, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, General Directorate of Private Health Institutions, Lawyer, Public Prosecutor, Notary, Security personnel, Exporting fish, mussels, sponges, pearls, coral, Diving in territorial waters, piloting, captain and engineer on ships or sailor to the profession, such as customs brokerage and tourist guide in Turkey are not allowed to be done by foreigners.

Platforms for Job Searching for Foreigners in Turkey

LinkedIn                                                                                                          

LinkedIn is one of the most important platforms that brings people and companies together, also has a lot of opportunities for people who want to work in Turkey.

Kariyer.net

It is known as the most preferred business search platform in Turkey for many years. Many job adverts for foreigners are also posted on this platform.

Indeed

Indeed, a global job search platform, which offers foreigners from Turkey for many business opportunity.

Expat Guide Turkey

www.expatguideturkey.com is the most compherensive Turkey Guide of the world, so there are updated contents on travel, health, education, real estate and job adverts for different opportunities in Turkey. After finding a job in Turkey Foreigners must apply for a work permit to work legally be able to provide.

Work Permit for Foreigners

Each year, mainly Syrians, Georgians, Ukrainians, Chinese, Indians, Russians and British people are applying for a work permit in Turkey, including thousands of foreign nationals. The foreign worker candidate who has a residence permit, a passport valid for at least 60 days and a legal contract with the employer has the right to obtain a temporary or indefinite work permit. In addition, the right of independent work permit has been recognized for foreigners.

Employers are required to fill in all the application forms required for their foreign employees, and submit all documents to the relevant unit of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Foreigners living abroad can apply to consulates in their own countries. Foreigners can start work when their work permit application is approved. Work permit is automatically canceled as soon as foreigners leave their jobs.

In our article, we tried to answer the question of “How can a Foreigner get a job in Turkey?” in detail, if you have questions, you can write us in the comments section.

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

36 Comments

  1. I’m curious, which comes first in regards to a work permit/residence permit. Sometimes it seems they’re one in the same, others one is dependent upon the other to happen first. It’s still not quite clear to me. Does one’s chances for a company to say “Yes” and go through with submitting a work permit increase if said person ALREADY holds a residence permit? If so – how can a foreigner get a residence permit?
    Are residence permits still being issued since the pandemic?

    1. Hello, work permit and residence permit are different things. A company can apply for a work permit for someone residing in Turkey with a residence permit. However, for someone who is not in Turkey, it is necessary to apply for a work permit abroad. Apart from this, the residence permit does not have much effect on the work permit application.

      Are you satisfied with the answers we have given to your questions? ExpatGuideTurkey would like to know your feedback. Please leave a comment on our page. https://g.page/r/CT9i2JXthUlOEAI/review

  2. Hi,

    Does Turkey offer any special work permit exception to Pakistani citizens? Given their decent relations there would be an option.
    How easy or practicable is it to find a job as an engineer or any relevant engineering profession in Turkey from abroad?

    Thanks

    1. Hello,

      Unfortunately, but there is no exceptions from the Ministry of Labour’s criterias for the Pakistani citizens. You can check kariyer.net for job vacancies in Turkey.

      Are you satisfied with the answers we have given to your questions? ExpatGuideTurkey would like to know your feedback. Please leave a comment on our webpage: https://g.page/r/CT9i2JXthUlOEAI/review

  3. Hi. can a foreigner work remotely for a company registered in Turkey? for example as a freelancer? if yes, which types of visas are suitable?
    thank you

    1. Hello,

      To work in Turkey officially, Turkish company should get a work permit from the Ministry of Labour on your name and pay social security premiums each month.

      Thank you,

      Are you satisfied with the answers we have given to your questions? ExpatGuideTurkey would like to know your feedback. Please leave a comment on our webpage: https://g.page/r/CT9i2JXthUlOEAI/review

  4. to get a work permit in Turkey like a dream, a very complicated and long procedure… better to never apply.

    there are some exceptional cases.

    thanks

  5. I moved to Turkey from Egypt in search for better opportunity. Due to covid this did not go so well. I am continuing to look for work and for any job to provide a work permit etc… so that I can at least make a living for myself and my family. Can anyone provide me with any suggestions. I speak and write both Arabic and English.

  6. I moved to Turkey from Egypt in search for better opportunity. Due to covid this did not go so well. I am continuing to look for work and for any job to provide a work permit etc… so that I can at least make a living for myself and my family. Can anyone provide me with any suggestions. I speak and write both Arabic and English.

  7. I married a Turkish National and moved to Turkey because she is doing her PhD here. I am a high honour graduate from a reputable university in the UK. I am trying to find work here, but every employer asks for a work permit. I can not obtain a work permit by myself and no one is willing to apply it for me. I do not know what to do, I have to live here because of my wife’s PhD. What should I do?

    1. Hello,

      Unfortunately, you can get a work permit only if your employer will agree to make an application for you or as a second option to establish your own company n Turkey and get a work permit as an owner of the company. However there is a list of criteria which should be met by the company in order to be eligible for work permit application.

      Thank you,

  8. I am a teacher and I can handle English lesson in a school . I will really be grateful if I cane have a job here in turkey am in turkey presently at fatih Istanbul

      1. to get a work permit in Turkey like a dream, a very complicated and long procedure… better to never apply.

        there are some exceptional cases.

        thanks

  9. I’m planning to relocate to turkey but my concern is on how to get a job, i have a 5 years experience in customer service management service and 6 years experience in hospitality industry, so I think I will give in the best in this two field with my experience.

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