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Obtaining a work permit in Turkey: organizing and supporting the procedure. Service offer

A work permit is a document that allows its holder to reside and work under an employment contract in Turkey. Work permits are issued by the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services upon the application of the employee and the employer. The application procedure varies depending on whether the employee is in or outside Turkey.

If the application is made from outside the country

If the application is made from outside the country, the procedure is as follows:

  1. A foreign employee submits his/her application to the Turkish consulate in the country where he/she is a citizen or permanent resident. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the employment contract and a letter from the employer confirming the hiring of the employee for the job.
  2. Within 10 days of the employee’s submission of the application, the employer submits his/her application to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. The application is submitted electronically.
  3. The Ministry contacts the relevant consulate and they jointly process the application through the government’s online system. The processing time is 30 days and the final decision is communicated by the consulate to the employee.
  4. If the application is approved, the employee is required to enter Turkey within 180 days from the permit’s issue date.
  5. The employer registers the employee with Social Security and pays the relevant fee within 30 days from the date the employee entered Turkey.

If the application is made from inside Turkey

  1. The employee must have a residence permit valid for at least another 6 months.
  2. The employer submits an electronic application to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services.
  3. The application form and accompanying documents are signed by the employee and the employer and submitted to the Ministry in paper form within 6 days of submitting the electronic application.
  4. The Ministry reviews the application and makes a decision within 30 days. It is communicated to the employee or the employer.
  5. If the decision is positive, the employer pays the fee and then the employee can officially start work.
  6. The employer registers the employee with Social Security.

Documents to be submitted by the employer

  • Application form – scan and original;
  • Completed and signed employee questionnaire – scan and original;
  • Extract from The Trade Registry Gazette of Turkey showing the shareholders and capital structure of the employer company – scan and original;
  • Balance sheet and profit and loss statement for the last year certified by the tax office or a Certified Public Accountant – scan only when applying online;
  • Proof of employment of Turkish employees along with the foreign applicant – scan only when applying online;
  • Certified power of attorney from the employer for the person submitting the application – scan only when applying online.

Documents to be submitted by the employee

  • Turkish residence permit (if the application is made from within the country);
  • Copy of passport with translation (if the holder’s data is not in Latin characters);
  • Notarized copy of the diploma of education with translation;
  • For employees with higher education completed outside Turkey – a certificate of equivalence of their diploma to similar Turkish diplomas.
IMPORTANT: an employer can only hire a foreign employee if they also hire five local employees. This requirement does not apply to companies registered in certain free zones, such as DESBAS. However, in this case, the company will need to prove that the foreign employee is highly qualified and cannot be replaced by a local counterpart.

Fees[1]

Services
Fees (USD)
Preparation and submission of the package of documents

This fee does NOT include government fees.

2 500

[1] The fees are valid as of September 2024.

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