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 have at least TRY 500,000 paid-in capital, employ at least 5 Turkish nationals per foreign worker (the 5+1 rule), and pay you at least 6.5 times the statutory minimum wage (approximately USD 3,500 per month in 2026). Foreign-owned companies and start-ups in special zones may qualify for exemptions to the 5+1 rule. We assess company eligibility before any application.

Only if you currently hold a valid Turkish residence permit with at least 6 months of remaining validity (and not a tourist short-term permit). 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. Some sectors (oil and gas, mining, defence) require additional security clearance that extends the timeline.

The Turquoise Card is a permanent work and residence permit for highly skilled foreign professionals, qualified investors, and other strategic categories. It removes the 5+1 employer rule, includes residence rights for spouse and children, and grants near-permanent status. Eligibility is selective: typical applicants include senior executives with USD 200,000+ annual income, 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 an independent work permit sponsored by their own Turkish employer. Children over 15 holding a family residence permit may also apply for their own work permit if hired by a qualifying employer. We frequently coordinate parallel work-permit applications for spouses joining a foreign worker in Turkey.