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About Us

1. Types of Work Permits

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A temporary work permit allows the foreigner to work for a specific employer.

It is granted for a maximum of 1 year on the first application.

  • For extension applications:

    • The first extension is a maximum of 2 years depending on the same employer,

    • Subsequent extensions can be granted for a maximum of 3 years.

Temporary (Dependent) Work Permit

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An indefinite work permit is granted to foreigners who stay in Türkiye for a long time and work legally.

  • Foreigners who have a legal work permit for at least 8 years or a long-term residence permit can apply.

  • This permit allows the foreigner to benefit from many rights granted to Turkish citizens (except military service, voting and public duties).

Indefinite Work Permit

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An independent work permit allows foreigners to work by establishing their own business or performing freelance work.

  • This permit is granted by evaluating criteria such as education level, professional experience, and the contribution of business activities in Türkiye to the economy and employment.

Independent Work Permit

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Turquoise Card is a special type of work permit given to highly qualified foreign employees.

  • The card holder obtains both indefinite work permit and residence rights.

  • Evaluation criteria include:

    • Level of education

    • Professional experience

    • Includes scientific, technological and cultural contributions.

Turquoise Card

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2. Application Process

1. Domestic Application:

For foreign nationals who have a valid residence permit for at least 6 months, the employer applies through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security system. The necessary documents are uploaded to the system digitally.

2. Application Abroad

The foreigner applies in person to the embassy or consulate general of the Republic of Turkey in the country of which he/she is a citizen or legally resides and receives a 16-digit reference number. With this number, the employer completes the application from Türkiye.

3. Work Permit Evaluation Criteria

1. Employment and Financial Availability

  • Employment of at least 5 Turkish citizens

  • Minimum paid capital of 500,000 TL

  • Annual net sales are over 8,000,000 TL

  • Annual exports of 150,000 USD and above


2. Wage Criterion (for 2025)
The salary to be paid to a foreign employee is calculated based on multiples of the minimum wage:

  • Senior manager and pilot: 5 times

  • Engineer and architect: 4 floors

  • Other managers: 3 times

  • Expert and skilled workers: 2 times

  • Domestic services and other work: At least minimum wage


3. Exceptions
Employment and financial adequacy conditions may be relaxed for qualified foreigners who will work in the IT sector and education.

4. Required Documents

  • Employment contract signed by the foreigner and the employer

  • Photocopy of passport or passport substitute document

  • Biometric photo

  • Trade Registry Gazette, activity certificate and balance sheet

  • Documents showing the professional qualification of the foreigner

  • If applicable, prior permissions received from relevant institutions

5. Work Permit Fees and Valuable Paper Fees (2025)

The following fees and valuable paper fees are applied to foreigners whose work permit applications are evaluated positively:

  • 1 Year Work Permit: 10,571.60 TL

  • 2-Year Work Permit: 21,143.20 TL

  • 3-Year Work Permit: 31,714.80 TL

  • Indefinite or Independent Leave: 105,760.60 TL

  • Valuable Paper Price: 810.00 TL

*All payments must be made in full with the correct account codes.

6. Social Security Obligations

Foreigners with work permits and employers must fulfill their social security obligations within the legal period within the scope of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law No. 5510.

7. Penalties for Working Without a Work Permit (2025)

  • Employers who employ foreigners without permission: 81,683 TL per person

  • Foreigner working without permission: 32,654 TL

  • For a foreigner working independently without permission: 65,352 TL

Individuals and institutions that do not fulfill their notification obligations are also subject to penalties.

8. Work Permit Exemption

Some foreigners can benefit from work permit exemptions under certain conditions. For example; foreigners who will work temporarily in seasonal agriculture and animal husbandry jobs can work by obtaining a "Work Permit Exemption Information Form" from the Provincial Labor and Employment Agency Directorates.

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