Turkish work permit

Every foreign national working legally in Turkey needs a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, regardless of position, industry, or contract length. Diplomats, foreign press, and certain short-stay specialists are the rare exceptions. Working without a permit results in fines for both the employee and the employer, deportation of the foreigner, and possibly a re-entry ban.

The sponsoring Turkish company must meet a financial test: a company founded this year needs at least TRY 500,000 paid-in capital, and an established company needs one of TRY 500,000 paid-in capital, TRY 8 million net sales or USD 150,000 in exports (latest year-end figures). It must employ at least 5 Turkish nationals per foreign worker (the 5+1 rule) and pay at least the multiple of the gross minimum wage set for your role: 5× for senior executives and pilots (TRY 165,150 per month in 2026, about USD 3,400), 4× for engineers and architects, 3× for other managers, 2× for skilled roles and 1× for other jobs. If you are a foreign shareholder applying through your own company, your capital share must be at least TRY 500,000 and your stake at least 20%. Exemptions from the 5+1 rule are specific: key personnel of qualifying foreign direct investments, R&D and design centres or technology development zones with a favourable opinion, companies with at least TRY 50 million net sales (up to 5 foreigners), and, from 3 August 2026, applicants already legally resident in Turkey for at least 1 year in the last 3 (up to 3 per workplace, never more than the Turkish headcount). Long-term residents and some other groups are exempt entirely. Being foreign-owned is not enough on its own. We assess company eligibility before any application.

Only if you currently hold a valid Turkish residence permit issued for at least 6 months. Otherwise you must apply from your home country: first obtain a work-permit reference number at the Turkish consulate, return to Turkey on the work-visa sticker, then collect your work-permit card from the employer. We handle both routes.

Approximately 4 to 8 weeks from a complete application to permit approval, plus another 1 to 2 weeks for the work-visa sticker if applying from abroad. Total from initial inquiry to physical work-permit card in hand: typically 6 to 10 weeks for an in-country application, and 8 to 14 weeks via a consulate. Some professions need an opinion from the relevant ministry (for example health or education), which can extend the timeline.

The Turquoise Card gives highly skilled foreign professionals, qualified investors, and other strategic categories indefinite work and residence rights, starting with a 3-year transition period: the card becomes indefinite if the holder applies in the last 180 days of that period and is assessed positively. It removes the 5+1 employer rule, and the holder's spouse and dependent children receive a document that replaces a residence permit. Eligibility is selective and points-based: the Ministry scores factors such as education, salary, professional experience, R&D, investment, and export contribution. Typical applicants include highly qualified professionals who score well on these criteria, qualified investors, prominent academics, and recognised cultural or sport contributors.

No. A family residence permit grants legal residence only, not the right to work. Your spouse needs their own work permit, sponsored by a Turkish employer. Children of legal working age who hold a family residence permit can apply for a work permit if a qualifying employer hires them. We frequently coordinate parallel work-permit applications for spouses joining a foreign worker in Turkey.