Work Permits for Foreign Nationals

Foreigners who wish to work in Türkiye, whether as employees or independently, must obtain a work permit before starting work, except in cases of exemption provided by law. Foreigner work permits are issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security under the International Labour Force Law No. 6735. Working without a permit can lead to administrative sanctions for both the foreigner and the employer, and for the foreigner it may also result in the loss of residence rights and the risk of deportation.

On this page, we explain the types of work permits, the application and extension process, the required documents, the employer's obligations, and the steps to take against a rejection decision. For other topics such as residence and citizenship, please see our Migration and Foreigners Law page.

Types of Work Permits

• Fixed-term work permit: Issued in connection with a specific employer. Under Article 10 of Law No. 6735, it may be granted for up to one year on the initial application; for the same employer, it may be extended for up to two years on the first extension and up to three years on subsequent extensions.
• Indefinite-term work permit: May be granted to foreigners who hold a long-term residence permit or who have had a lawful work permit for at least eight years. Meeting the requirements does not confer an absolute right; the holder of an indefinite-term work permit enjoys the rights granted to Turkish citizens, apart from certain exceptions listed in the law.
• Independent work permit: May be granted to foreigners who will provide professional services on their own behalf and account, taking into consideration criteria such as education level, professional experience, and contribution to employment.
• Turquoise Card: Granted to foreigners who are considered qualified on the basis of criteria such as education level, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, or investment. Under the law, the first three years are a transition period; in addition, the cardholder's spouse and dependent children are issued a document that substitutes for a residence permit.

How to Apply

A work permit application is made in one of two ways, depending on where the foreigner is located:

1. Application from abroad: The foreigner applies to the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country of which they are a citizen or in which they are legally present. At the same time, the employer applies electronically to the Ministry and uploads the required documents. If the permit is granted, the foreigner enters Türkiye with a work visa.
2. Application from within Türkiye: For a foreigner holding a valid residence permit in Türkiye, the application is submitted electronically by the employer directly to the Ministry. For some short-term residence types, applying from within the country may not be possible; therefore, the type of the current residence permit should be checked in advance.

The application is evaluated by the Ministry according to criteria determined within the framework of international labour force policy. Factors such as the size and capital of the workplace, the employment of Turkish citizens, and the nature of the work the foreigner will perform influence the decision. Because these criteria are updated from time to time, it is important to check the current regulations before applying.

Required Documents

Although documents vary depending on the type of application and the profession, the following are generally requested:

• Valid passport and photograph
• Employment contract or job offer signed between the employer and the foreigner
• The employer's trade registry, tax, and activity documents, along with recent financial statements
• The foreigner's diploma or professional qualification documents; equivalency or prior permission in some professions
• A valid residence permit for applications made from within Türkiye

Certified translations of documents issued in a foreign language, and where necessary an apostille or consular authentication, must also be prepared. Missing or contradictory documents are among the most common reasons for rejection decisions.

The Relationship Between Work Permits and Residence

Under Article 27 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458, a valid work permit substitutes for a residence permit. Therefore, a foreigner who obtains a work permit does not need to obtain a separate residence permit. However, the expiry or cancellation of the work permit directly affects the right of residence as well. A foreigner whose employment relationship ends may need to apply for a different type of residence permit if they will continue to stay in Türkiye. For the steps to follow if a residence application is rejected, you can read our article what to do if a residence permit is rejected.

Extension, Cancellation, and Employer Obligations

Under Article 7 of Law No. 6735, an extension application must be submitted from sixty days before the permit expires and, in any case, before the period ends; extension applications made after the period has expired are rejected. The employer, for its part, is obliged under Article 22 to notify the Ministry within fifteen days of the foreigner starting work, the termination of employment, and any circumstances requiring cancellation of the permit. Employing a foreigner for an employer other than the one specified in the permit, or in a different job, may also be considered unauthorized work.

An administrative fine is imposed on foreigners who work without a permit and on employers who employ foreigners without a permit; the fine amounts are re-determined every year. In addition, a deportation decision under Article 54 of Law No. 6458 may be issued against a foreigner found to be working without a permit. Since the time limits are very short in this case, the process of objecting to a deportation decision must be started promptly.

Objection to a Rejection Decision and Litigation

If a work permit application is rejected or a permit is cancelled, under Article 21 of Law No. 6735 an objection may be filed with the Ministry within thirty days of notification of the decision. If the objection is also rejected, an annulment action may be filed by applying to the administrative courts. Carefully examining the grounds for rejection is important in determining whether to make a new application after remedying the deficiency or to pursue an objection and litigation.

At the objection and litigation stage, the court examines whether the administration's grounds for rejection are consistent with the documents in the file, whether the criteria applied in evaluating the application were correctly applied to the specific case, and whether an action contrary to the principle of equality was taken. Filing a lawsuit does not in itself grant the right to work; it must also be separately checked whether the foreigner has a valid residence permit that will protect their legal status during the litigation. Where necessary, a request for a stay of execution may also be considered.

Our Firm's Support

We provide support to foreign employees and employers in preparing work permit applications, monitoring extensions, objecting to rejection decisions, and filing annulment actions before the administrative court. Every case is unique; the foreigner's status, the employer's situation, and the current legislation must be assessed together.