Grants a foreign employee the right to work for a specific employer and workplace for up to one year initially, within the term of their employment or service contract. If renewed on time, the first extension may be up to two years, and subsequent ones up to three years. Applications for a new employer are treated as initial applications.
Available to foreigners with a long-term residence permit or at least eight years of legal work in Türkiye. Grants the same rights as long-term residence and most rights of Turkish citizens, excluding voting, election, public office, and military service. Must be renewed every five years, with applications submitted within six months before expiry.
Authorizes a foreign national to engage in self-employment in Türkiye without an employer. Issued for a fixed term, based on qualifications such as education, experience, contributions to science and technology, economic and employment impact and other criteria set by the Ministry under international labour policy.
Years Of
Experience
In-Country Application – For foreigners residing in Türkiye with a valid residence permit of at least six (6) months. In this case, the applicant holds a Turkish Foreign ID Number starting with “99.”
Work Visa Application – For foreigners without a residence permit in Türkiye. The applicant must apply for a work visa at the Turkish foreign mission in their country of nationality and will be issued a 16-digit reference number. Using this number, the employer continues the application process within Türkiye.
International Protection Application – For foreigners in Türkiye under international protection or with a pending international protection application. The applicant holds an International Protection Residence Permit.
Temporary Protection Application – For Syrian nationals in Türkiye under temporary protection. The applicant holds a Temporary Protection Residence Permit.
Extension Application – For renewing an existing work permit issued by the Ministry. Applications must be submitted within the two (2) months prior to the expiry of the current permit.
Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force provides the legal framework for the employment of foreigners in Türkiye, outlining the rules and principles governing work permit procedures. Work permits in Türkiye are granted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Applications are processed through the Foreigners’ Work Permit Application System (e-İzin) and may be submitted either domestically — provided the applicant holds a residence permit valid for at least six months — or abroad via Turkish foreign missions.
A valid work permit grants foreign nationals both the right to work and to reside in Türkiye for its duration. Foreigners falling under the scope of Law No. 6735 must obtain a work permit or exemption before commencing employment. Those working without a valid permit or exemption are subject to administrative and legal sanctions.
A work permit or exemption issued under Law No. 6735 is deemed equivalent to a residence permit under Article 27 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458), except for those granted under international or temporary protection, which do not serve as residence permits.
Quick guide to work permit exemptions in Türkiye—who qualifies, maximum durations, and application paths.
Annual charges for work permits include both the statutory fee and the valuable paper cost.
Professions limited by law to Turkish citizens, not open to foreign nationals under current regulations.
Essential paperwork and information needed to initiate and complete a work permit application process.
Easily track the progress of your work permit application and stay informed every step of the way.
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Yes. Work permits are granted for a particular job, employer, and workplace/address. A foreign national holding a permit for one employer may not work for another employer under the same permit. To work for a different employer, a new work permit is required.
Where a permit is issued for an employer, the foreigner may perform a different role within the same employer or work at other branches in the same line of business, provided the necessary conditions are met.
Extension applications must be submitted through the system starting from sixty (60) days before the permit’s expiry and, in any case, before the current permit expires. If approved, the first extension may be granted for up to two (2) years with the same employer; subsequent extensions may be granted for up to three (3) years.
Yes. Parties may file an appeal within thirty (30) days from the date of notification of any decision to refuse, cancel, or terminate a work permit or extension request.
Appeals against refusals are filed online via the Foreigners’ Work Permit Application System (e‑İzin) with an explanatory petition and supporting documents uploaded to the system. If the appeal is rejected by the Ministry, administrative judicial remedies are available.
Social security obligations must be fulfilled in line with the wage and full‑time employment terms declared during the application.
Once a work visa is granted, the foreign applicant must visit the Turkish foreign mission where they applied to pay the applicable visa fee, while the employer is required to pay the work permit fees through the relevant payment channels in Türkiye. Payment must be completed within 30 days of notification; otherwise, the application will be cancelled. After the visa sticker is placed in the passport, the individual may enter Türkiye, and employment must commence within six months under all circumstances. The Ministry sends the work permit card to the employer’s address via PTT Cargo. Foreigners arriving with a work visa must register their address within 20 days of entry.
A work permit or work permit exemption issued under Law No. 6735 is deemed equivalent to a residence permit under Article 27 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection (Law No. 6458). However, permits issued to applicants for international protection, conditional refugees, or foreigners under temporary protection do not substitute a residence permit.
In July 2025, Türkiye enforced a new regulation linking unauthorized work to employer liability, including deportation and cost recovery for work without a permit.
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Administrative penalties and employer liability for unauthorized work in Türkiye have been revised under 2025 labor law updates.
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The work permit evaluation criteria, applied under the Additional Article of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Workforce Law, have been updated in accordance with Article 22 of the same regulation.
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Regulation on implementation of the International Labor Force Law No. 6735 entered into force upon being published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye dated February 02, 2022 and numbered 31738.
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With the amendments published in the Official Gazette on October 15, significant changes have been introduced to the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labor Force Law.
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Pursuant to Articles 11 and 25 of Law No. 6735 on International Labor Force, the detailed Turquoise Card System rules and related procedures were officially set out in the Turquoise Card Regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 30007 on March 14, 2017.
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