A work permit is the only official residence permit in Turkey that allows you to work legally without encountering any illegal aspects regarding the work of foreigners in Turkey. What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit? We will detail the method for obtaining a work permit according to the following table of contents:

What is a work permit in Türkiye?

Features of work residence in Türkiye:

Conditions for accepting a work permit in Türkiye:

The most important questions that residents in Türkiye have regarding work residency (work permit):

Section One: Documents required to apply for a work permit or work permit by the applicant (employee):

Section Two: Documents required to apply for a work residence permit or work permit by the company submitting the work residence permit application:

The most important notes provided by the service spectrum:

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What is a work permit in Türkiye?

A work residence permit is a document granted to applicants seeking a work permit by the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security. In this context, the term work permit refers to a work permit and a license to practice a profession in the country. The importance of this permit lies in the fact that it allows residents to obtain Turkish citizenship after five years of continuous work and residence in Turkey, without the long-term residence requirement that applies to other types of residence permits during the year.

Features of work residence in Türkiye:

Obtaining a work permit preserves all your rights, just like Turkish workers.

You get health insurance

The work permit holder receives social security.

Possibility of applying for visas to European countries

Possibility of obtaining a retirement pension after the age of 60

Obtains the minimum wage applied by the Turkish government.

Applying for Turkish citizenship after spending 5 years working in Türkiye

Conditions for accepting a work permit in Türkiye:

Labor laws in Türkiye specify precise conditions for obtaining a work permit. Below are some of the main conditions stipulated by Law No. 4817:

Turkish workers:

Capital and Revenue:

Foreign partner percentage:

Salaries and Wages:

These terms and conditions change regularly and it is always advisable to check the latest legislation to ensure full compliance.

The most important questions that residents in Türkiye have regarding work residency (work permit):

Question: What is the difference between a work permit and a work permit?

Answer: Theoretically, there is no implicit difference. A work permit is one that is originally a work visa or a tourist residence permit and has been converted into a work permit. A work permit, on the other hand, is one that is originally a refugee status, whether for Syrians or any other nationality holding a refugee status within Turkey. The work permit is treated the same as a refugee status for movement and travel within Türkiye only, without leaving the country.

Question: Some general information about work residency, where to apply for it, what are the requirements, and what are the differences from other residencies?

Answer: Firstly, to avoid repetition and confusion between work permission and work residency, the word “work residency” has the same meaning wherever residency and permission are mentioned, there is no difference between them.

Question: Where to apply for a work permit or residence permit in Türkiye?

Answer: Applying for a work residency or work permit is done through the company you work for, and is done by the company's accountant or financial advisor. All procedures are completed online without paper submission. When the work residency or work permit is issued, it is sent to the company's address, not the home address, as is the case with other types of residency.

Question: How to apply electronically for a work permit?

Answer: Applying for a work permit involves two main steps. The first involves preparing company data using an electronic signature (E-İMZA) to register the workplace or company, also known as workplace registration. It is important to ensure that all information is 100% accurate and correct. Any errors may result in subsequent work permit rejection.

Question: What are the documents required to apply for a work permit or residence permit?

Answer: The required documents are divided into two main sections:

Section One:

1- Biometric photo, soft copy (jpg)

2- Passport soft copy (pdf)

3- The Turkish residence permit, the Kimlik, or the reference number can be obtained from the Turkish embassy, depending on the country from which you wish to apply. Of course, it is a soft electronic copy in (pdf) format.

4- The last academic certificate translated into Turkish and notarized, soft electronic copy (pdf)

5- If the employee is married, the information of the husband or wife is required to match the passport information.

6- Copies of the employment contract signed by both parties, the employee and the company.

7- Note: The tourist residency or whatever type you wish to convert to a work residency must be valid for at least 6 months (sometimes this condition is overlooked)

8- The employee’s duration of stay in Türkiye is requested in years or months.

9- Details of studies, which university, major, and what profession he practiced before working in the company.

10- Contact information in Türkiye: Turkish email and phone number.

Section Two: Documents required to apply for a work residence permit or work permit by the company submitting the work residence permit application:

1- Electronic signature or what is known as (e-imza)

2-Tax panel soft version (pdf)

3- Commercial Register and Commercial Gazette Soft Copy (pdf)

4- Bilanço requests its extraction from the company’s accountant or financial advisor.

5- Company's Social Security Number (SGK Sicil numarası)

It is not possible to obtain residency or work permits for company employees if the employer manager does not hold a work residency permit for the foreigner.

6- Additional documents may be requested when applying for a work permit, so the application must be monitored daily. If any additional documents are requested and are not added within a specified period, the application will be rejected.

The most important notes provided by the service spectrum:

After the work permit is approved, a message will appear requesting payment of the work permit fees. A screenshot or a paper copy will be taken. You can pay the fees at government banks, such as the Agricultural Bank, or at the tax department. Then, wait for the permit to arrive at the company's address.

The accountant or financial advisor must confirm that the company address is identical in the commercial register, the tax office, and the social security department. If it does not match, the work permit procedures cannot be completed.

When applying for a work permit (for asylum holders), there is no requirement to have 5 Turkish citizen employees in most cases.

An employer or company owner obtains a work permit for the first time without requesting Turkish employees. However, if the foreign company owner holds a short-term residence permit and subsequently applies for a work permit, five Turkish citizens will be required upon renewal. To avoid application errors, you can contact Tayf to ensure a perfect application.

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