FAQs

No, they cannot. In Türkiye, a work permit application cannot be made by the foreign employee but must be submitted by the company or individual employer they will work for. In companies, this process is usually handled by Human Resources departments. In domestic services, the application must be made by the employer of the foreign worker.

At this point, professional consultancy support is highly important. As Istanbul Relocation, we provide fully compliant, fast, and secure work permit consultancy services to both corporate HR departments and individual employers. Ensuring the process runs correctly, preventing potential mistakes, and obtaining timely permit results brings significant advantages for both the employer and the employee.

The first step in employing a foreign worker is to evaluate whether the position and company structure meet the legal requirements. The position, salary band, company profile, and employment criteria should be analyzed through a quick preliminary check.

As Istanbul Relocation, we conduct this eligibility assessment on behalf of HR departments, identify risks before the application stage, and start the process on the right foundation. This way, you avoid wasting time and money on applications that may be rejected and progress securely and efficiently.

No. A foreigner holding a valid work permit can legally reside in Türkiye without obtaining an additional residence permit. By law, the work permit document also serves as a residence permit during its validity period. This means that within the dates written on the work permit, the foreigner may stay in the country without obtaining a separate residence card.

Important: When the work permit expires, the foreigner’s right to reside in Türkiye also ends. Therefore, at the end of the work permit period, the permit must either be extended or a new residence permit (e.g., tourist residence) must be obtained. Otherwise, the foreigner will be considered to have violated residence rules and may face penalties.

A complete and properly prepared work permit application is usually finalized within 2 to 4 weeks. The duration may vary depending on the type of application and whether the foreigner applies domestically or through a foreign consulate.

As Istanbul Relocation, we monitor your applications daily and respond immediately to additional document requests. This prevents the file from being delayed and speeds up the process. Once the application is finalized, the approval information is reported to both the employer and the foreign employee. With professional follow-up, we ensure that permits are concluded without delay.

For each foreign employee’s work permit application, the employer must employ at least five Turkish citizens at the workplace. This requirement is one of the main criteria applied by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. However, in some sectors and in special cases, exemptions may apply. Additionally, certain high-turnover companies may not be required to meet this condition for limited numbers of foreign personnel.

Yes. Foreign shareholders may apply for a work permit provided that they hold a certain amount of capital share and can prove their partnership percentage. For the application to be approved, the company must meet the legal criteria.

Employing foreigners without a work permit leads to serious administrative and legal sanctions for both the employer and the foreign individual. As of 2025, the administrative fines are as follows:

• For employers employing foreigners without a permit (per foreigner): 81,683 TL
• For foreigners working dependently without a permit: 32,654 TL
• For foreigners working independently without a permit: 65,352 TL
• For employers or foreigners failing to fulfil notification obligations: 5,423 TL

According to Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force and the Misdemeanors Law No. 5326, fines are doubled in case of repetition of the violation. Fines are updated every year according to the revaluation rate determined by the Tax Procedure Law. For 2025, this rate is 43.93%.

In addition to monetary penalties, the following sanctions may also apply:

• Deportation procedures for the foreigner
• Entry ban to Türkiye
• Social security premium obligations and administrative sanctions for the employer
• Restriction on employer’s participation in public tenders (in repeated violations)

It is crucial for employers to manage the work permit process accurately and on time to avoid such serious consequences.

In Türkiye, the initial work permit period is a maximum of 1 year. After the first year, the permit may be extended for up to 2 years. Following this 2-year extension, it may be extended again for up to 3 years.

Extension applications must be submitted no earlier than 60 days before the current permit expiry date and no later than the expiry date itself. Applications submitted after the permit expires are not accepted. Upon approval, the new permit period starts from the end date of the previous permit, ensuring no interruption in the employment period.

Accurate and timely tracking of work permit durations is essential to avoid penalties and maintain continuous legal employment.

It is a legal obligation for both the employer and the foreign employee to ensure that extension applications are made before the permit expires.

As Istanbul Relocation, we automatically track all clients’ permit expiry dates through our system, providing renewal notifications and document preparation support. This ensures no permit deadline is overlooked, and the process continues smoothly. We manage all extension applications on your behalf, update required documents, and eliminate the risk of delay.

Foreigners who have legally and continuously resided in Türkiye for at least 8 years, or who have worked with a work permit for a total of 6 years, may apply for an indefinite work permit under certain conditions.

Yes. Foreign students studying in Türkiye may work legally with a work permit under certain conditions.

• Undergraduate students may apply for a work permit only after completing their first academic year.
• Master’s and PhD students may apply for a work permit from the moment they are enrolled, without any waiting period.

Work permit applications for students must always be submitted by the employer, and employment may begin only after the permit is approved. A student residence permit alone does not grant the right to work.

Yes, it is possible. To legally employ a foreign individual in household services in Türkiye, a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is mandatory. Foreigners may be employed in childcare, elderly care, patient care, or disability support roles.

Employers must document the need for care (child, elderly, disabled, etc.). Health reports, birth certificates, or disability documents may be requested during the application. Employers must also prove that they have sufficient income to employ the foreign worker.

For some foreign applicants, the employer company is exempt from criteria normally required for work permit evaluation. This exemption does not remove the foreigner’s obligation to obtain a work permit; it only eliminates the employer’s obligation to meet conditions such as employing 5 Turkish citizens, capital structure requirements, financial adequacy, and position-based minimum salary levels.

This exemption applies only to the following groups of foreigners:

• Foreigners whose mother, father, or child is a Turkish citizen
• Holders of humanitarian residence permits
• Victims of human trafficking who hold residence permits or are supported under the Victim Support Program
• Stateless persons holding a stateless identity document
• Holders of long-term residence permits
• Foreigners who have been married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years
• Foreigners who have stayed in Türkiye for at least eight years with a work permit, short-term residence, family residence, long-term residence, humanitarian residence, or human-trafficking-victim residence permit
• Persons of Turkish descent as notified by the Ministry of Interior or Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

In such applications, the employer is not required to meet standard criteria; however, the granting of the work permit is still evaluated according to the general labour market policies of the Ministry.

As Istanbul Relocation, we analyze whether the employer qualifies for such exemptions, ensure correct documentation, and manage the entire application process without errors.

Some foreigners may work temporarily in Türkiye without a work permit due to the nature and duration of their activities. This is called “work permit exemption” and is regulated in detail in Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force and related regulations.

In summary, the following groups may be exempt from a work permit:

• Participants in short-term scientific, cultural, or artistic activities
• Foreign experts temporarily coming for installation, maintenance-repair, training, or similar technical services
• Foreigners providing cross-border services for a short period
• Foreign board members of companies who do not reside in Türkiye
• Professional athletes and technical teams coming for short-term sports events
• Interns or exchange students arriving under inter-university agreements
• Foreigners working for limited periods in seasonal agriculture and livestock sectors
• Personnel working in fairs, circuses, and similar temporary events
• Foreigners temporarily conducting research, education, or specialization activities at universities (such as medical specialization)
• Employees of diplomatic and consular missions or affiliated schools/cultural/religious institutions, and their private household workers
• Experts under EU financial cooperation programs and certain special-status personnel

Exemption periods vary depending on the activity type, generally ranging from one month to several years.

No. Holding a residence permit alone does not grant a foreigner the right to work. A residence permit only allows the foreigner to legally stay in Türkiye; to work legally, a separate work permit is mandatory. For example, a foreigner with a tourist residence permit or student residence permit cannot legally work without a valid work permit.

If a foreigner with only a residence permit works without a work permit, both the foreigner and the employer are subject to penalties. Therefore, foreigners planning to work must obtain a work permit.

The Blue Card is an identification document issued to individuals who were Turkish citizens by birth but later withdrew from citizenship, as well as their descendants. Blue Card holders enjoy many rights granted to Turkish citizens. Regarding employment, Blue Card holders may work in Türkiye without obtaining a work permit. Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 states that Blue Card holders may work without a work permit.

Foreigners must obtain a residence permit suitable for their purpose of stay in order to reside legally in Türkiye. The main types of residence permits are as follows:

Short-Term Residence Permit: Issued for various purposes such as tourism, ownership of property, establishing a business, scientific research, or job-seeking after graduation, for up to 2 years and may be extended if necessary.

Family Residence Permit: Issued to foreign spouses and children of Turkish citizens or to spouses and children of legally working/foreign residents. Usually issued for up to 3 years and extended as long as the family unity continues.

Student Residence Permit: Issued to foreigners studying at universities or similar educational institutions in Türkiye. Granted according to the duration of education (e.g., 1 year) and extended as long as education continues.

Long-Term (Permanent) Residence Permit: Grants permanent residence rights to foreigners who have legally resided in Türkiye continuously for at least 8 years and meet other criteria. Holders enjoy rights similar to Turkish citizens, except for some public rights.
Humanitarian Residence Permit: Issued exceptionally by the Ministry of Interior in extraordinary circumstances (war, humanitarian situations).

Human-Trafficking Victim Residence Permit: A special residence type issued for rehabilitation purposes to victims of human trafficking (initially 30 days, extendable).

In addition, a work permit also functions as a residence permit (a foreigner with a work permit does not need to obtain a separate residence permit). Foreigners may obtain lawful stay in Türkiye by applying for the residence permit type appropriate to their purpose.