Work Permit
Under contemporary globalization, inevitably labor markets have become increasingly integrated. In order to manage international labor mobility more effectively, especially in those emerging markets and developing countries, new labor migration policies have been established or the existing ones have been re-organized rapidly. At this point, achieving a right balance between the protection of local employment and the relaxation of barriers before high-skilled foreign labor has been the main concern of the state, which led to the introduction of effective tools in the management of international labor mobility.
2003 has been a remarkable year for Turkey to review its rules and principles dealing with the employment of foreign workers in Turkey. As one of the most popular destinations within the global labor market, Turkey has introduced and effectively has reformed a new system to control foreign labor immigration. In the purpose of centralization of work permits system under one code ‘Law no: 4817 on Work Permits of Foreigners’ was originally enacted on 27th February 2003, as the principal legislation in controlling entry of foreign nationals in the Turkish labor market. Subsequently the same year ‘Regulation on the Implementation of the Law on Work Permits for Foreigners’[1] has been introduced to set forth the rules and principles regarding the implementation of the Law on Work Permits of Foreigners. Furthermore, within the context of encouraging foreign direct investments, a new Foreign Direct Investment act was voted and became effective on 5th June 2003. Under the new FDI law, a special treatment is granted to the employment of expatriates with a separate regulation on the employment of expatriates under foreign direct investments. To encourage the employers to seek to employ high skilled foreign workers as well as to prevent informal foreign employment in Turkey, the past few years we have witnessed both systematical and procedural reforms in the Turkish legislation about the foreign labor immigration. Simplification of the eligibility conditions in work permit applications, adaptation of a new automated system for the work permit applications, a shortening in the period of the finalization of the work permit applications and a reduction in the procedural costs of applications might be considered main themes of the reform in the Turkish work permit system. There is no doubt that those further amendments have provided to the Turkish work permit system a more simplified, understandable and dynamic outlook.
The Law on Work Permits of Foreigners provides a legal framework about the employment of foreigners in Turkey by specifying the rules and the principles to be applied at the procedures concerning work permits of foreigners. The law, in its relevant sections, specifies the types of work permits, outlines the exemptions and restrictions and formulates the rules about granting, extending, rejecting and canceling the working permissions.
The Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security is entitled as a competent authority in the work permit process of foreigners. However certain Ministries, Public Institutions and Organizations are also empowered to grant working permissions. On the basis of their existing authorities arising from relevant Turkish legislation, Prime Ministry,Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy , General Directorate of Free Zones and Council of Higher Education have the competence to grant working permission for specific categories of professions.
As a general rule, individuals who have no citizenship bond with the Republic of Turkey, in order to either work dependently or independently, are obliged to have a valid working permission before they start to work. Exceptionally, for the working periods no more than one month, in the state of necessity or for the sake of state benefits, by prior notification of relevant authorities and with the ministry approval, working permit may be given after starting to work.
Ata İnstitutonal Consultancy provides the service throughout whole Turkey including İstanbul, Ankara, Antalya, İzmir, Mugla, Bursa and Gaziantep. İf you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
The rules and principles stipulated in the Law on Work Permits of Foreigners are applicable to the foreigners working dependently or independently in Turkey. Those foreigners who receive a job training and the natural and judicial persons that employ foreignersare included within the scope of Law No. 4817 as well. The term “foreigner” in general refers to a person who is not a Turkish citizen under the Turkish Citizenship Law.[1] However those Turkish citizens by birth who got permission to renounce citizenship from the Ministry of Interior are excluded from the scope of Law No. 4817. Moreover, press reporters who are subjected to Press Law, Members of Foreign Press Organs, foreigners who are exempted from working permission requirement in their employment in Turkey due to reciprocity principle, international and European Union laws and foreigners who are employed or granted with working permission by the other Ministries, Public Institutions and Organizations [2] are not included within the scope of the Law on Work Permits of Foreigners.
In accordance with the article 15 of the Law on Work Permits of Foreigners, certain professions are reserved only for Turkish citizens. Different legal instruments in Turkey, prohibit foreigners to work either dependently or independently in certain professions and occupations. Foreigners are not allowed to work; (i) as attorney[3] (ii) as notary public[4] (iii) as security guard at private or public institutions[5] (iv) as customs broker and assistant customs broker[6] (v) as dentist, midwife and nurse[7] (vi) as pharmacist[8] (vii) as Veterinarian [9] (vii) as director in private hospitals[10].
Moreover in accordance with Turkish Cabotage Law[11]
“The right to catch or obtain fish, oysters, mussels, sponges, pearls, coral, mother-or-pearl and the like, extract sand, gravel and the like, extract and salvage sunken ships and vessels or shipwrecks and the like either on the surface or on the bottom of the sea, perform diving, searching, piloting and maritime supply, work as captain, secretary, crew or workman or in another capacity on Turkish maritime vessels, and carry out wharf porterage or any type of maritime business, within Turkish continental waters, shall belong exclusively to Turkish nationals.”
Additionally, law no: 6458 on Foreigners and Internal Protection defines the cases in which foreigners may not apply for work permit. Article 27(2) of law no: 6458 states that the following foreigners (who are defined in the article 7 of the law no: 6458) may not apply for work permit.
“i) it is determined that his or her passport, passport substituting document, visa or residence permit or work permit is absent or fraudulent; or that he or she has obtained these permits fraudulently, ii) he or she does not hold a passport or a passport substitute document which is valid for at least sixty days as of the expiry of visa, visa exemption or residence permit, iii) he or she falls under the scope of the foreigners listed under the first paragraph of Article 15, without prejudice to the second paragraph of Article 15 of this Law, and regardless of whether or not he or she is exempted from a visa.”
[1] Law No. 5901 Date of Enactment: 29.05.2009 Published in the Official Gazette on 12 June 2009, No. 27256
[2] Law No. 4817, Art. 2
[3] Law No. 1136 on Attorneys
[4] Law No. 1512 on Notary Public
[5] Law No. 2495 on the Protection and Security of Certain Institutions and Organizations, as security guards at private or public institutions.
[6] Articles 227 and 228 of Law No. 4458 on Customs.
[7] Law no: 1219 on the Practice of Medicine and its Branches
[8] Law No. 6197 on Pharmacies and Pharmacists
[9] Law No. 6343 on the Pursuit of Veterinary Medicine Profession,
Establishment and Duties of Turkish Veterinary Medical Association and Veterinary Medical Chambers,
[10] Private Hospitals Act No. 2219
[11] Law No. 815 Date of Enactment: 19.4.1926 Published in the Official Gazette 0n 29 April 1926, No. 359
Hi!
I am EU citizen employed by a European company. This company is supposed to do a 6 months long project in Turkey and I am supposed to be the manager on site.
Do I need a visa for that? Is there a way to obtain a visa for this type of activity?
Thanks for your answer!
Hello,
You should obtain a visa for this purpose, however type of visa depends on company’s assignment in Turkey, field and kind of project. You should contact Turkish Embassy in your home country for detailed informations regarding application procedures for your case.
Kind Regards,
Hello,
I hope this finds you well. I am a foreigner living in Turkey right now. I have my residence permit for a year and I am looking at getting a work permit as I feel that would be great for visa purposes and travel as I work as a Nomad Capitalist. I travel a lot.
I do not have any company in Turkey right now as I am still looking into things here. However, I would like to acquire a work permit. Can you help me with this?
What would be the total cost for this if you were to acquire the work permit for me? Also, how much insurance fees and tax would I be paying monthly? This is very important to me.
Finally, if I were to renew my residence permit with your agency, what would be the total cost and is it 100% guarantee I would get the residence permitted renewal approved?
Hello,
In order to obtain work permit, first you need to find a job in Turkey and your future employer must apply for your work permit. Foreigners can not apply for work permit in their own name or without having a job in Turkey. Our company can assist you to apply for residence and work permit. For details in this topic you can contact us at: info@expatguideturkey.com
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Please, i received an offer letter from a company in Turkey, Here what they said don’t know if its right?
We acknowledge the receipt of the signed contract letter. Please contact Mr. Yigit Ozkan the Turkish Embassy Liaison Officer/Immigration Representatives for the processing of your Turkish Work Visa, Resident Permit and other supporting documents that will be needed for entry into Turkey.
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
We do not know any details of the offer, however it does not seem authentic. We strongly recommend you to be careful and not to make any payments in advance if required unless you make sure that the offer is real.
Kind Regards,
Thanks Expatguide,
Please, can you send your email that i can send the offer to for your verification. I need it to be done urgently before i proceed further.
Thanks for your prompt response.
Hello,
Thanks for you supportive website.
I am from Iran. I have got a job offer from a company in Turkey and I want to apply for work permit inside the Turkey via ministry of labor and social security, So I am going to travel to istanbul next month to sign the one year contract.
As you know, iranian could stay in Turkey up to 90-days when traveling to this country. Is it possible to apply for work permit visa when mytourist visa is available just for 90 days?
I would be grateful if you could help me.
Regards,
Mahyar
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
Work permit application for foreigner who has residence permit valid in total for at least 6 months can be done within Turkey. For foreigners who are not residence permit holders, application must be done via Turkish Consulate in their home country. Work permit application can not be submitted basing on visa.
Kind Regards,
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Hello,
I hope you are all fine and let me sincerely thank you of the help that you provide to everyone.
I am Jordanian and currently i am in the process of obtaining my work permit as my employer already submit my application 3 weeks ago and please note that I have applied from Turkey, as I have a valid Residence permit. this is also my 2nd time to get the WP, so I have 3 questions which I would appreciate to get your answers on them.
1st- How much time is expected to receive my work permit and if there are any phone which I can follow up directly.
2nd- I have received another tempted job offer, but as i have mentioned my work permit process with my current job is still in process so how can I fix this issue if I want to accept the other job offer.
3rd- If I receive my work permit can switch it to another company or please advice how to move from one to another when u have a work permit in Turkey.
I really appreciate your kind assistance.
Regards,
Mujahid
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
Your employer has received application number after submitting your work permit application. You can follow up on the progress online if your employer shares the number with you. As your application is still in progress, your employer can cancel it if you decide to accept another job offer before cuurent application will be approved. If you decide to change your workplace after work permit application would be approved, transfer of work permit from one workplace to another should be made.
Kind Regards,
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my resıdence has expıred on 01/02 but on december 1,19 for resıdence and recıeved an appoıntment for 26/02 and ı have applıed for work permıt on decemeber 16/12/19
but ı have recıeved a rejected message.so sınce they dıdnt accept my work permıt applıcatıon.can ı go for my normal resıdence permıt on feb 26. ı have afrıcan passport
Thnaks ın advance
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
As your work permit application has not been approved, you should attend your appointment and continue on residence permit application procedures.
Kind Regards,
Hi,
I was wondering if it is possible to apply for work permit after I arrive to turkey. I am from Turkmenistan, but currently studying in the netherlands (Applied Computer Sciences). I do not need visa for 30 days and wanted to get to turkey directly from the Netherlands and apply for the work/residence permit. I also wanna know what procedures are there for my situation.
Thanks
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
İn order to obtain work permit, first you need to find a job in Turkey and your future employer must apply for your work permit. Foreigners can not apply for work permit in their own name or without having a job in Turkey. Application for foreigner who has residence permit valid in total for at least 6 months can be done within Turkey. For foreigners who are not residence permit holders, application must be done via Turkish Consulate in their home country.
Kind Regards,
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Hello
I am an a very difficult situation now, so i am working in Istanbul and i have work permit until 08-2020 i hate the job now and i feel i am stuck, i want to start searching for an other job but i am afraid i would be back to my country or the boss will cancel and i don’t know what to do …. i want to quite when i will find a job but how can the other company make for me a work permit from the beginning ? please help
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
If you find a new job, your current employer and your future employer can make a transfer of your work permit from one company to another. Otherwise, if you quit your job, you have a right to apply for residence permit before cancellation of current work permit and after it would be issued, work permit application can be made after you find a new job.
Kind Regards,
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hello i am currently working in dubai as a Quality controller in the food sector. i would like to ask how can i get a job there and are there any visa sposored jobs for food scientists
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
You can search for a job in Turkey through websites as kariyer.net and after you find one, your future employer must apply for your work permit. Foreigners can not apply for work permit in their own name or without having a job in Turkey. Application for foreigner who has residence permit valid in total for at least 6 months can be done within Turkey. For foreigners who are not residence permit holders, application must be done via Turkish Consulate in their home country.
Kind Regards,
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hi my name is aya i’m currently studying for bachelor’s of dental surgery in ajman university in dubai and im planning to work in turkey in the future.
how will i get my work permit and do i have to do licsence exams?
Hello,
Thank you for your comment.
Unfortunately, dentistry is one of the professions which are forbidden for foreigners in Turkey.
Kind Regards,
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