The Legal Framework Governing Work Permits
An official Turkey Work Permit (Çalışma İzni) is governed by the International Labor Force Law No. 6735 (Uluslararası İşgücü Kanunu) and administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı — CSGB).
Obtaining a work permit involves a dual-track process between the candidate and the Turkish employer, specific legal rules, and distinct permit categories.
Residence permits do NOT grant local work rights: holding a standard Tourist or Short-Term Residence Permit (e-İkamet) under Law No. 6458 strictly permits living in Türkiye, but does not grant the legal right to work for a local employer.
A Work Permit replaces a Residence Permit: a valid Work Permit issued by the CSGB automatically serves as a valid Residence Permit for the duration of its validity — you do not need to apply for or hold a separate e-İkamet card while holding an active work permit.
Governing law
Law No. 6735
Ministry evaluation window
Up to 30 days
Turkish workforce ratio
5 Turkish employees per foreign worker
Step-by-Step Application Process (Applying From Abroad)
For candidates residing outside Türkiye, the application requires coordinated filings between the employee and the Turkish sponsoring company.
- 1
Employee application at a Turkish consulate
- The foreign candidate applies in person at the nearest Turkish embassy or consulate in their country of citizenship or legal residence.
- You submit your valid passport, a completed visa application form, and an official employment contract or job offer letter signed by your Turkish employer.
- Upon submission, you receive an official Reference Number.
- 2
Employer submission to the CSGB (10-day window)
- Within 10 working days after the employee submits their file at the consulate, the sponsoring Turkish employer must log into the CSGB online application portal in Türkiye, enter the employee's Reference Number, and upload required corporate documents (company tax boards, trade registry gazette, balance sheets).
- 3
Ministry evaluation & approval
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Security evaluates the application and finalizes its decision within 30 days at most.
- 4
Visa stamping & arrival
- Once approved, the candidate pays the work visa and card fees at the consulate, receives their work visa stamp, and enters Türkiye to begin employment.
In-Country Application Exception
Already Hold a Valid e-İkamet?
Foreigners who already hold a valid Short-Term Residence Permit (e-İkamet) with at least 6 months of remaining validity can have their prospective Turkish employer submit a work permit application directly to the CSGB inside Türkiye, without the employee needing to apply through a consulate abroad.
Categories of Work Permits
Temporary Work Permit (Süreli Çalışma İzni)
- Duration & Renewal
- Initial: up to 1 year. First renewal: up to 2 years. Subsequent renewals: up to 3 years
- Tied to Employer?
- Yes — same employer and role
- Who Qualifies
- The most common category, granted for a specific workplace and role
Indefinite Work Permit (Süresiz Çalışma İzni)
- Duration & Renewal
- Indefinite
- Tied to Employer?
- No — free to change employers or start a business
- Who Qualifies
- Holders of a Long-Term Residence Permit, or those with 8+ years of continuous legal work/residence history under Law No. 6735
Work Permit Exemption (Çalışma İzni Muafiyeti)
- Duration & Renewal
- Temporary exemption status
- Tied to Employer?
- No
- Who Qualifies
- Specific qualified groups, such as tech startup founders under programs like the Türkiye Tech Visa, or short-term technical experts — grants a Foreigner ID Number (YKN 98/99) while establishing operations
| Permit Category | Duration & Renewal | Tied to Employer? | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Work Permit (Süreli Çalışma İzni) | Initial: up to 1 year. First renewal: up to 2 years. Subsequent renewals: up to 3 years | Yes — same employer and role | The most common category, granted for a specific workplace and role |
| Indefinite Work Permit (Süresiz Çalışma İzni) | Indefinite | No — free to change employers or start a business | Holders of a Long-Term Residence Permit, or those with 8+ years of continuous legal work/residence history under Law No. 6735 |
| Work Permit Exemption (Çalışma İzni Muafiyeti) | Temporary exemption status | No | Specific qualified groups, such as tech startup founders under programs like the Türkiye Tech Visa, or short-term technical experts — grants a Foreigner ID Number (YKN 98/99) while establishing operations |
Mandatory Employer & Salary Requirements
The CSGB evaluates work permit requests against strict corporate and economic benchmarks:
- The 5:1 Turkish Workforce Ratio: for every foreign worker hired, the sponsoring company must employ at least 5 Turkish citizens registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK)
- Company capital criteria: sponsoring companies must meet minimum paid-in capital thresholds (typically at least 100,000 TRY in paid-in capital, or specific gross sales targets)
- Scaled minimum salary multipliers: employers must pay foreign staff salaries scaled above the official Net Minimum Wage depending on the position — executives and senior managers require higher minimum multipliers than engineers, architects, or general staff
Frequently Asked Questions
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