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Turkey Work visa

A Turkish Work Visa is the permission given by Turkey to a foreign national to enter Turkey for work. The Turkish Work Visa application process involves you applying for and obtaining a valid Turkish Work Permit during the Turkish Work Visa application process.

A Turkish Work Permit is the permission given by Turkey to a foreign national to work in Turkey. The Turkish Work Permit application process involves BOTH the employer and the foreign national, although, it is really the Turkish employer/company who is applying for your Turkish Work Permit.

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Types of Turkish Work visas

Applying for a Turkey Work Visa pertains to the following “types of employment”:

  • Employment and Special Employment Purposes
  • Assigned Lecturers and Academics
  • Assigned Sportsperson
  • Assigned Artists
  • Assigned Free Zone Workers
  • Assigned Journalists
  • Montage and Repairman Purposes
 

Successfully fulfilling the Turkey Work Visa application process involves applying for a Turkey Work Permit.

Types of Turkish Work Permits

Temporary Turkey Work permit

  • If you are a first-time applicant, you are given a limited period of no more than 1 year to work in Turkey.
  • If you want to work beyond the 1-year limit, you must apply for an additional 2 years and be in the same line of work with the same employer.
  • If you wish to work beyond the extended 2 years limit, you must apply for an additional 3 years and be in the same line of work with the same employer.

Indefinite Turkey Work permit

If you are a foreign national, who has been legally residing/working in Turkey for at least 8 uninterrupted years, you can apply to work for an unlimited period of time. Your education/work experience, contribution to science, or investment in Turkey are factors taken into consideration.

Independent Turkey Work permit

If you are a professional foreign national, who has been legally residing in Turkey for at least 5 uninterrupted years, you can apply to work for a (limited) period of time.

You must meet all conditions of relevant Turkish laws.

You must prove that your work has a significant impact on Turkey’s economy and employment through your:

  • level of education
  • professional experience
  • contribution to science and technology
  • investment in Turkey, or capital share (if you are associated with a foreign company)

Turkey Work visa requirements

The foreign applicant must apply for a Turkey Work Visa with the following documents:

Employment contract

Signed between you and your Turkish employer (or employer’s authorized representative)

Passport

Valid for at least sixty (60) days after the approved and stipulated duration of stay in Turkey. Two (2) blank passport pages for official use

Passport photo

- Biometric (ICAO standards)
- Plain white background (no pattern or design)
- 50mm x 60mm

Copy of educational diplomas or certificates

- This applies to you if your profession is considered necessary by the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS).
- If your services are domestic, a final school level statement is sufficient.
- These documents must be approved by a sworn Turkish translator or authorized official

Application form

A completed and signed Turkish Work Visa application form

The Turkish Employer must apply in Turkey for the Turkey Work Permit on behalf of the foreign applicant with the following requirements:

Tax sheet

Document showing the amount of earnings for tax purposes (determined by the Turkish Ministry of Finance).

Trade Registry

Trade Registry Gazette that shows the company’s most recent capital and partnership set-up

Company balance sheet

Workplace activity certificate

Preliminary permit document

For example, a Ministry of Health permit must first be obtained if the foreign employee is a healthcare professional.

How to apply for a Turkish Work visa:

If you are a foreign national living outside of Turkey, you must apply at your nearest Turkish embassy, consulate, or Visa Applications Center (VACs) licensed by Turkey.

Obtain an employment contract

The employment contract should be signed by both the foreign employee and Turkish employer.

Apply online

Fill out the online Turkish visa application form to apply.

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment at your nearest Turkish embassy or consulate from the dates available to you while filling out the online visa application.

Attend the appointment

Gather the required documents (listed above), and go to your appointment on the scheduled date. At your appointment in the Turkish embassy/consulate, you will receive a 16-digit reference number, which you MUST send to your Turkish employer.

At this point, the Turkish employer takes over the process and initiates your application for your Turkish Work Permit.

Employment record

Turkish employer, or their e-declaration authorized user, must create an employment record with e-signature in the Foreigners Work Permit Automation System via the Turkish e-Government.
NOTE : Some countries are visa exempt and can enter Turkey with their passport or national ID.

Turkish employer completes the Turkish Work Permit application online:

- Enters the 16-digit reference number in the “Apply” section.
- Enters the requested information and uploads the required documents in the “Abroad Application” section.
- Approves the Turkish Work Permit application with their e-signature.
NOTE : The employer can track the status of your application form the “Application Tracking Menu”.

Pay the fees

When your Turkish Work Visa application is approved by the relevant Turkish Ministry, the following fees must be paid:
- The Turkish employer must pay the both the Turkish Work Permit fee and valuable paper fee by separately depositing amounts in the proper bank accounts in Turkey.
- The foreign applicant must pay the obligatory Turkish Work Visa application fee at the Turkish embassy/consulate/VAC where you applied.
NOTE : Turkish Work Visa applications are processed and finalized by the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS), within thirty (30) days at the most, on the condition that the required documents are fully complete.

How to register Turkish work permit information for foreign employees who have a valid residence permit

The Turkish employer must:

  • Apply to the Turkish Social Security Center (in the area where the foreign employee will be working) within thirty (30) days from the date the foreign employee entered Turkey.
  • Submit an entry declaration that the foreign employee is insured.
 

The foreign employee must register his/her address at their nearest civil registry office, within twenty (20) days from the date you entered Turkey

Turkey visa FAQ

If you are a foreign national living outside of Turkey, you can start the application process for a Turkish work visa and permit at your nearest Republic of Turkey foreign representation office. Required documents include a signed employment letter/contract by a Turkish employer.
Foreign nationals, who hold a valid Turkish residence permit for at least 6 months, can apply for a Turkish work permit from within Turkey through their prospective Turkish employer. Foreign nationals living outside of Turkey must apply for a Turkish work visa and permit at a Republic of Turkey foreign representation office. Required documents include a signed employment letter/contract by a Turkish employer.
The Turkish work visa application process takes 30 days to be fully processed and approved. The Turkish work visa is processed through Turkish embassies or representation offices abroad and approved by the Turkey Ministry of Labor.

All foreign nationals are eligible to work in Turkey and apply for a Turkish work visa and work permit, with the exception of nationals from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who do not require a Turkish work visa and permit to work in Turkey.