Work permits in Turkey
In order to work as an employee in Turkey, foreigners must obtain a work permit allowing them to live and work in Turkey from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security or other relevant authorities. Work permits are issued to make employment of foreigners in Turkey subject to permit. Law No. 4847 on Work Permits for Foreigners contains rules governing employment of foreigners in this country.
Types of work permit:
Work permits issued to allow foreigners to be employed in Turkey are divided into four categories: term work permits, permanent work permits, independent work permits and exceptional work permits.
1-Term Work Permits
A foreigner arriving in Turkey to work for the first time may be issued a work permit valid for one year. Such factors as the term of his/her residence permit, employment contract, economic differences of the employment and duration of the relevant work will be taken into consideration in issuing a work permit. If such foreigner works more than one year with all other conditions of his/her employment remaining the same, it may be renewed for a maximum term of two years. If such foreigner is legally employed for more than three years, his/her work permit may be renewed for maximum three years for employment at the same profession but for a different employer.
2-Work permits for the dependent spouse and children of a foreigner
A term work permit may be issued to the spouse and children of a foreigner employed in Turkey subject to fulfilling certain conditions. One of the said conditions is that both the foreigner and his/her spouse and children must have resided legally and without interruption for minimum five years.
3-Permanent Work Permits
Foreigners who resided legally and without interruption for minimum eight years and who were legally employed for minimum six years may be given permanent work permits without requiring any other condition and without imposing any limitation. Time spent for education will not be taken into account in calculating the eight-year residence term mentioned above.
4-Independent Work Permits
Foreigners who resided legally and without interruption for minimum five years, performing a work creating value-added to the economy of this country and making a positive impact in terms of employment. An independent work permit may be issued after assessing all of the above mentioned conditions.
If the authority approves that a foreigner fulfilled the above mentioned conditions, an application for an independent work permit will be issued for a term of three month. The foreigner must start a business and send the official registration of that business to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Upon receiving the said registration, an independent work permit will be issued.
5-Exceptional Work Permits
If a foreigner marries a Turkish citizen, he may apply to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for an exceptional work permit without fulfilling the residence term condition, in which case an exceptional work permit may be issued to him/her. If such marriage lasts less than three years, the exceptional work permit will be revoked and the foreigner will not be entitled to work.
If the marriage of such foreigner and his/her spouse is dissolved after remaining married for three years but the foreigner continues to reside in Turkey, an exceptional work permit may be issued to him/her. The children of such foreigner and his/her Turkish spouse will be issued exceptional work permits too if they reside in Turkey.
Foreigners arriving in Turkey at a minor age and completing their education in Turkey may apply for an exceptional work permit on the condition that they must document their above mentioned status.
Under the Housing Law No. 2510, people admitted as refugees, nomads or asylum seekers into this country may apply for an exceptional work permit on the condition that they must document their above mentioned status.
Citizens of the members of the European Union and their dependent spouses and children may be issued an exceptional work permit upon application.
Diplomats, administrative and technical personnel of embassies, consulates and international institutions located in Turkey and their dependent spouses and children may be given exceptional work permits subject to the reciprocity principle and receiving approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Furthermore, foreign personnel of schools, cultural institutions and religious institutions of embassies and consulates located in Turkey may receive residence permits from the Ministry of the Interior and work permits from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Exceptional work permits may be issued to persons who arrive in Turkey for temporary scientific or cultural activities lasting more than one month or for sportive activities lasting more than four months.
Exceptional work permits may be issued to foreign persons to be employed as key personnel for a work to be performed in Turkey during the term of the relevant contract or tender.
Preliminary Work Permit Process in Turkey:
Foreigners who intend to work in the healthcare or education sector in Turkey must apply for a preliminary work permit to have their applications assessed. Each foreigner must apply to the ministry in charge of his/her profession. For example, those who intend to work in the healthcare sector must apply to the Ministry of Health; those who intend to work in the education sector must apply to the Ministry of National Education.
Turkish work permit for citizens of Turkmenistan
Citizens of Turkmenistan who intend to work in Turkey may apply in Turkmenistan. For this purpose they should apply to the local Turkish representation office in Turkmenistan. A copy of the employment contract they signed with the Turkish employer should be presented as part of the application.
Turkish work permit for citizens of Afghanistan
Citizens of Afghanistan who intend to work in Turkey should apply to the relevant authorities. Terms of work permits may vary depending on their employment conditions. They may be required to present a copy of the employment contract they signed with the Turkish employer as part of the application. Work permits issued to citizens of Afghanistan are valid as residence permit too.
Turkish work permit for citizens of Azerbaijan
Citizens of Azerbaijan who intend to work in Turkey should apply to the local Turkish representation office in Azerbaijan. A copy of the employment contract they signed with the Turkish employer should be presented as part of the application. A reference number will be issued to them after their applications are accepted, so that they must notify those reference numbers to their employers. The Turkish employer must apply for a work permit by stating that reference number. The term of the work permit will be set in proportion with the term of the employment contract.
Types of application for work permits in Turkey
Three types of application are available for work permits in Turkey: applications filed at home, applications filed abroad, application for foreigners working directly for investments by foreign investors.
TERMS AND CONDIDITIONS OF USE AND DISCLAIMER
Information given in this website only contains general information and opinions, does not substitute legal recommendation or professional legal service, and may not be used as legal recommendation or professional legal service. You are highly recommended to receive professional legal service and opinion for each case depending on its peculiar circumstances.
Lawyers employed by Gulis Law and Counseling Office are definitely not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information given here. Given that information, laws and stare decisis may abruptly change, the information given here may not be undertaken or guaranteed to be current. You are recommended not to make a business decision based on any part of the information given here, and to buy professional legal service for each case depending on its peculiar circumstances.
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