Work Visa

Foreigners Who Want to Work in Turkey and the Companies That Will Employ Them Must Meet Certain Criteria and Fulfil Certain Obligations.

If the criteria are met, work permit applications can be submitted from two different locations:

Application from abroad
Application from within Turkey

1. Application from Abroad:

This type of application is initiated through the Turkish Representation (Embassy/Consulate) in the country where the foreign national is either a citizen or legally resides with a residence or work permit.

Foreigners who do not have a residence permit in Turkey must apply for a work visa at the Turkish Consulate in their respective country. After submitting the application documents, the Turkish Consulate will provide the applicant with a reference number. Using this number and the required documents, the application will be completed online through the system.

(If the application is approved, the applicant must return to the Turkish Consulate to have the work visa stamped into their passport.)

Documents to be Submitted by the Applicant to the Turkish Consulate:

Application form (Signed by both the employer and the employee; a printed copy of the online application form – prepared by us.)
Employment contract (Between the employee and the company – prepared by us.)
Copy of passport (If the passport is not in Latin script, an official translation must be attached.)
Company’s Trade Registry Gazette (Showing the current partnership and capital structure of the company)
Notarised sworn translation of diploma or temporary graduation certificate
Company’s activity certificate
Applicant’s criminal record certificate
Applicant’s photograph
Company’s signature circular
Tax registration certificate (may be requested)
Address registration documents (may be requested)

Note: The list of required documents may vary. The updated list will be created after the file is reviewed.

2. Application from Within Turkey:

If the applicant holds a valid residence permit in Turkey for at least 6 months, a work permit application can be submitted directly to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey.
(The applicant does not need to leave the country.)

Important Note: The work permit approval process can take 4–6 weeks, depending on the Ministry’s workload. Until the procedure is complete, the foreigner does not have the legal right to work.

Requirements to Be Fulfilled by the Employer and the Foreign Worker:

The employer must employ at least five (5) Turkish employees at the workplace. (Five Turkish employees are required per foreign employee.)

Exception to Employment and Financial Capacity Criteria:

For domestic work permit applications made on behalf of foreigners who, as of the application date, have legally resided in Turkey for at least three years within the past five years (excluding student residence permits), employment and financial capacity criteria do not apply, limited to a maximum of three foreigners.

In workplaces falling under this scope, the number of foreign workers employed with work permits must not exceed the number of Turkish citizens working at the same workplace.

Without prejudice to the relevant legislation regarding foreigners under international protection, if more than three foreigners who meet the above conditions are to be employed in the same workplace, the employer must employ five Turkish citizens per additional foreigner, and meet the financial capacity criteria for each one.

Company Requirements to Employ Foreign Personnel:

The company must have a paid-in capital of at least 500,000 TRY.
(If this is not met, the company must have gross sales of at least 8,000,000 TRY or at least USD 150,000 in export sales.)
If the applicant is a partner in the company, their share must be at least 20%.
The salary paid to the applicant must be appropriate to their professional qualifications.

Note: For foreign company partners with a paid-in capital of 100,000 USD or more, the requirement to employ at least five Turkish citizens at the workplace does not apply.

Minimum Salary Thresholds Based on Position:

a) For senior executives and pilots: Not less than 5 times the minimum wage
b) For engineers and architects: Not less than 4 times the minimum wage
c) For other managers: Not less than 3 times the minimum wage
ç) For jobs requiring expertise or craftsmanship: Not less than 2 times the minimum wage
d) For foreigners working in domestic services and other professions: Not less than the minimum wage.

Some work permit applications may be finalised without taking standard assessment criteria into account.

It is advisable to contact our company for up-to-date information on current procedures.

Other Important Information:

The first work permit is issued for a maximum of one year.
It can then be extended for two years, and then three years.
The extension process must begin two months before the expiry date of the valid work permit.

Penalties for Employing Illegal Foreign Workers (2026):

For a foreigner working without a work permit (as an employee): 40.977 TRY
For a self-employed foreigner working without a work permit: 82.010 TRY
For employers employing foreigners without a work permit: 102.503 TRY per foreign worker
For foreigners who fail to report in time (paid by the company): 6.805 TRY

If these offences are repeated, administrative fines are double

Independent Work Permit

Foreigners who are professional in some jobs can be granted an independent work permit is issued for a limited period provided that the conditionals are met.

The Labor Ministry considers the foreigners’ professional experience, education level, the contribution to technology & science, or the impact of the activity in Turkey on the economy and employment.

The first application for work permit is given for a maximum of one year then it is extended for two years and for three years . The extension period starts two months before the valid work permit date

The fines for illegal foreign workers are as follows (for in 2026)

A foreignerwho works in a company without a work permit will be fined 32.654 TL

A foreigner who works independently without a work permit will be fined 65.352 TL

Employers who employ foreigners who do not have a work permit will be fined 81.683 TL ( for each foreign employee)

If a foreigner , works for a company and the relevant company does not notify authorities in due time are also subject to fines 5.423 TL ( This amount must be paid by the company for each foreign employee)

In case of repetition of these acts, the administrative fines are doubled.

Turquoise Card:

This card can be given to the following foreigners

The foreigners, considered as highly qualified investor in terms of investment or export level, size of employment to be provided, contribution to scientific and technological development and similar features.

The foreigners considered as a highly qualified workforce in terms of education level, Professional knowledge and experience, contribution to science and technology and similar qualifications,

For the scientists or researchers who contribute to scientific and technological development or conduct study and research in the fields of science, industry, and technology that are considered strategic for the benefit of the country at the international level.

The foreigners who are successful at the international level in the terms of cultural, artistic, or sport activities.

The foreigners who contribute to the intenational recognition or promotion of Turkey of Turkish culture, acting at the international level in matters related to Turkey’s national interests.

Application Process:

Turquoise card application is made directly in the country through the system, and abroad through the Turkish embassy or Turkish foreign representative in the country where the foreigner is a citizen or legally residing.

** The information and documents regarding the application made from abroad are transmitted to the Ministry in electronic environment by the Turkish foreign representation.

** A foreigner legally residing in Turkey can apply directly through the system with his/her foreigner identification number.

** Turquoise card application can also be made by the authorized intermediary institution on behalf of the foreigner in Turkey or abroad.

**The application is completed by uploading the required documents in the system

Note: For the residence permit application to be made for the relatives of the Turquoise card holder, the documents showing the marriage bond for spouse of the foreigner, the custody relationship and the dependents for the child are attached to the application file.

Application Documents: