Turkey Work Permit
Turkey TUR
Turkey's Work Permit (Çalışma İzni) is employer-sponsored and applied for by the Turkish employer on behalf of the foreign national through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The employer must meet a quota requirement, generally permitting one foreign employee per five Turkish staff. Permits are initially granted for one year, renewable up to three years, then five years, with long-term (indefinite) work permit eligibility after eight years of continuous legal employment.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $100
- Minimum Income
- N/A
- Minimum Investment
- N/A
- Family Included
- Spouse and dependent children may apply for a family residence permit (aile ikamet izni) linked to the work permit holder
- Path to PR
- Yes — 8 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 5 years
- Physical Presence
- Continuous employment with the sponsoring employer required. Changing employers requires the new employer to apply for a new work permit. Absence from Turkey for more than 120 days per year can affect long-term residency qualification.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Work permit holders are generally Turkish tax residents and subject to Turkish income tax (progressive rates 15–40%) and social security contributions. Turkey has double taxation treaties with approximately 90 countries.
- Renewal Cost
- $100
Salary must be at least the Turkish minimum wage, but in practice work permits are only granted where the salary is commensurate with the role and higher than the statutory minimum. Specific salary floors apply for certain regulated professions.
Key Requirements
- ✓Job offer from a Turkish employer who initiates and submits the application to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security
- ✓Employer must satisfy the 1-in-5 foreign-to-Turkish employee ratio (or qualify for an exemption)
- ✓Applicant must hold a relevant educational or professional qualification for the role
- ✓Valid passport
- ✓Biometric photographs
- ✓Diploma or professional qualification documents (apostilled and translated into Turkish)
- ✓Applicant must apply for a work visa at a Turkish consulate in their home country before entering Turkey
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: Employer must satisfy the foreign employee quota: generally no more than 1 foreign employee per 5 Turkish employees (the 1-in-5 rule), though exceptions apply