TERCAN LEGAL

Foreigners’ Law · Workforce & Investment Advisory

WORK PERMITS AND WORK PERMIT EXEMPTIONS

A Comprehensive Legal Guide to the Right to Work in Türkiye for Foreign Nationals

UNDER LAW NO. 6735 ON INTERNATIONAL WORKFORCE AND RELATED LEGISLATION

2026 Update

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1. Introduction

Türkiye’s strategic location, growing economy and increasing appeal to international companies mean that the number of foreign nationals wishing to work lawfully in the country rises every year. Yet the right of a foreign national to work in Türkiye does not follow automatically from a residence permit or a job offer alone; the process is governed by a multi-layered legal framework at the intersection of Law No. 6735 on International Workforce, the Implementing Regulation of the International Workforce Law, and Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection.

This guide brings together, in a single source, the legal nature of the work permit and the work permit exemption, the categories of permit available, the conditions required of employers and foreign nationals, the application procedure, the grounds for rejection and the available remedies, the renewal and employer-transfer processes, and the 2026 fee schedule, based on current legislation and Ministry practice.

This document is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For an assessment of your specific circumstances, please contact Tercan Legal.

2. What Is a Work Permit?

A work permit is an official document issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security which, for its period of validity, grants a foreign national the right to work and reside in Türkiye. Under Law No. 6735, every foreign national within its scope must obtain a work permit or a work permit exemption before starting work in Türkiye; working or employing someone without such authorisation is prohibited by law.

The defining feature of a work permit is that, for as long as it remains valid, it removes the need for a separate residence permit: under Article 12 of Law No. 6735 and Article 27 of Law No. 6458, a valid work permit or work permit exemption stands in lieu of a residence permit. Conversely, a residence permit obtained on some other basis does not, by itself, confer the right to work.

The consequences of unauthorised work are severe. Under Article 54/1(ğ) of Law No. 6458, a foreign national found to be working without a permit may be made subject to a deportation decision; both the foreign national and the employer face administrative fines, and the matter is recorded in the GöçNet system, which may adversely affect the foreign national’s future applications.

3. Conditions Required for a Work Permit

3.1. Conditions Applicable to the Employer

For a foreign national’s work permit application to be accepted, the sponsoring employer must also satisfy certain conditions. The principal employer conditions are:

• The workplace must be an active employer registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK), with no outstanding premium debt.
• As a general rule, at least five (5) Turkish nationals registered with SGK must be employed at the workplace for every foreign national for whom a permit is sought (the “5-to-1” rule); this ratio may vary for certain sectors and special circumstances.
• The workplace’s paid-in capital, gross sales revenue or export volume must meet the minimum business-scale thresholds set out in the applicable legislation.
• The salary offered to the foreign national must not fall below the minimum wage threshold set by the Ministry for the relevant occupational category.
• On a first-time application, the employer must be able to present a reasonable justification as to why the position needs to be filled by a foreign national.

A failure to satisfy even one of the above conditions can result in rejection, regardless of the foreign national’s individual qualifications. A thorough review of employer eligibility before filing is therefore critical to a predictable outcome.

3.2. Conditions Applicable to the Foreign National

• Holding a valid passport or a document in lieu of a passport, valid for at least sixty days beyond the period of the permit sought.
• Presenting a valid employment contract or a signed job offer consistent with the position applied for.
• Presenting professional qualifications, diplomas or certificates appropriate to the nature of the work applied for.
• The position must not fall within an area declared “reserved for Turkish nationals”; exceptions may be recognised for certain positions in sectors such as tourism, healthcare and information technology.
• Compliance with any special restrictions arising from international agreements to which Türkiye is a party.

3.3. Occupations Closed to Foreign Nationals

Even where an employer and a foreign national satisfy all of the conditions above, Turkish law reserves certain professions exclusively for Turkish citizens, and a work permit cannot be issued to a foreign national in these fields. Principal examples include:

• The practice of law (Article 3 of Attorneys’ Act No. 1136 requires Turkish citizenship; foreign law partnerships may provide advisory services only on foreign and international law).
• Pharmacy (Turkish citizenship is required under the Pharmacists and Pharmacies Act).
• Private security services (under the Private Security Services Act).
• The position of medical director in private hospitals (under the Private Hospitals Act).

The scope and exceptions to these restrictions may change over time; whether a foreign national is entitled to work in a particular profession should be verified against current legislation.

4. Types of Work Permits

4.1. Temporary Work Permit

This is the permit issued to a foreign national whose application has been approved, tied to a specific employer, workplace and job, for an initial period of up to one year. Provided the extension application is filed within the statutory time limits, an extension of up to two years may be granted on the first renewal with the same employer, and up to three years on subsequent renewals. Applications to work for a different employer are treated as first-time applications.

4.2. Permanent Work Permit

Foreign nationals holding a long-term residence permit in Türkiye, or who have held a lawful work permit for at least eight years, may apply for a permanent work permit. Meeting the eligibility conditions does not confer an absolute right; the application remains subject to the Ministry’s assessment. A holder of a permanent work permit enjoys all the rights conferred by a long-term residence permit and, subject to acquired social-security rights and applicable legislation, the rights available to Turkish citizens — with the exception of the right to vote and stand for election, access to public office, and the obligation of military service. The certificate is renewed every five years from the permit’s start date, with the renewal application to be filed within the six months preceding expiry.

4.3. Independent Work Permit

This permit allows a foreign national to work on their own account, without being tied to an employer. It requires at least five years of lawful, uninterrupted residence in Türkiye, and the activity must create economic added value and have a positive impact on employment; the views of relevant authorities are taken into account in assessing that impact. Proof of the five-year residence requirement is obtained from the security authorities; upon approval, the foreign national is issued an “Independent Work Permit Application Certificate” valid for three months, and the permit itself is granted once the trade registry record of the established business is submitted to the Ministry.

4.4. Turquoise Card

The Turquoise Card is granted, on the recommendation of the International Workforce Policy Advisory Board, to foreign nationals considered qualified by reference to their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, or the impact of their activity or investment in Türkiye on the national economy and employment. A Turquoise Card holder enjoys the rights conferred by a permanent work permit. The first three years of the card constitute a transitional period, during which the card may be revoked if the qualifying condition ceases to be met. The spouse and dependent children of a Turquoise Card holder are issued a document that stands in lieu of a residence permit. Foreign nationals under temporary protection fall outside the Turquoise Card scheme.

4.5. Student Work Permit

Foreign nationals enrolled in an associate or bachelor’s degree programme in Türkiye may apply for a work permit after completing the first year of study, and may work up to twenty-four hours per week during term time; this weekly limit does not apply to postgraduate (master’s or doctoral) students.

4.6. Overview of Work Permit Types

5. Additional Pre-Authorisations for Certain Professions

Even where all standard work permit conditions are satisfied, certain regulated professions require a separate pre-authorisation or credential-recognition procedure from the relevant authority before a work permit application may be filed. An application submitted without this pre-authorisation will be rejected by the Ministry.

• Healthcare professions: before a foreign physician, dentist or nurse may practise in Türkiye, their qualification must first be recognised by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) and then separately authorised by the Ministry of Health; a work permit application cannot be finalised until both stages are complete.
• Engineering professions: foreign engineers must register, or obtain temporary registration, with the relevant chamber of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) according to their discipline.
• Education sector: foreign teachers at private schools require the approval of the Ministry of National Education (MEB); foreign academics at universities are subject to a separate authorisation process under YÖK.

Sector-specific pre-authorisation procedures can take several months and are often the single most determinative factor in the overall work permit timeline; timeline planning for any mandate should therefore begin with identifying whether pre-authorisation is required.

6. 2026 Work Permit Fees and Official Document Charge

The 2026 fees have been set by General Communiqué No. 98 on Fees, published in the Official Gazette of 31 December 2025:

In the case of a replacement card, half of the fee previously collected and the full official document charge are collected again.

Current fee information is also available on the official website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security: csgb.gov.tr — Fees and Official Document Charge.

7. How to Apply for a Work Permit

In Türkiye, work permit applications are filed electronically through the Foreigners’ Work Permit Application System (e-Permit), operated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The applicable procedure depends on whether the foreign national is inside or outside Türkiye at the time of application, and is accordingly divided into domestic and overseas applications.

7.1. Application from within Türkiye

Foreign nationals present in Türkiye who, as of the application date, hold a valid residence permit with at least six months remaining may apply domestically. The application is filed by the employer who will employ the foreign national, through e-Government via the e-Permit system; the employment contract and the information and documents requested by the Ministry are uploaded electronically.

7.2. Application from Abroad

Foreign nationals outside Türkiye first apply for a work visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate-general in the country of which they are a citizen or in which they are lawfully resident. The 16-digit reference number issued by the diplomatic mission is provided to the employer, who uses it to complete the application through e-Government via the e-Permit system. The process is thus carried out in two stages: first the consulate, then the Ministry’s assessment.

The completeness of the application file has a direct bearing on the outcome. Documents to be supplied by the employer typically include the application letter, the trade registry gazette, the most recent balance sheet and profit-and-loss statement, and a power of attorney; documents to be supplied by the foreign national typically include a notarised translation of the passport, a biometric photograph, a notarised translation of the diploma or professional qualification, and the signed employment contract.

8. Rejection: Objection and Judicial Review

A rejection of a work permit application by the Ministry is a reasoned administrative decision, and as such is subject to administrative objection and judicial review before the administrative courts. The most common grounds for rejection in practice are the employer’s outstanding SGK premium debt, failure to meet the 5-to-1 quota, an offered salary below the applicable minimum, missing documentation, and a finding that the position is one reserved for Turkish nationals.

• Where the rejection is based on missing documents or a factual error, a corrected re-application curing the deficiency is generally the fastest route to resolution.
• Where the rejection is based on the quota, salary threshold or SGK compliance, the applicable administrative objection mechanisms may be pursued.
• Where the rejection rests on the Ministry’s discretionary assessment (grounds of labour-market protection), an annulment action may be filed before the administrative court within sixty days of notification, under the Code of Administrative Procedure (Law No. 2577); a request for a stay of execution may be filed together with the action.

A stay of execution does not, by itself, authorise the foreign national to begin working during the proceedings; it does, however, prevent the administration from giving further effect to the decision and preserves the party’s legal position.

9. Renewal and Change of Employer

9.1. Extension of a Temporary Work Permit

Filing the extension application through the e-Permit system up to sixty days before the current permit’s expiry ensures the continuity of the foreign national’s legal status while the application is being processed. Applications filed after expiry do not benefit from this continuity, and the foreign national may face the risk of unauthorised work during the assessment period.

9.2. Change of Employer

A work permit is employer-specific; a foreign national beginning work with a different employer does not automatically transfer the existing permit. The new employer must file a new work permit application through the e-Permit system, and that application must be approved; commencing work with the new employer before approval constitutes unauthorised employment. Employer transitions should accordingly be managed without legal exposure — for example, through a start date in the new contract deferred until the new permit’s approval.

10. What Is a Work Permit Exemption?

A work permit exemption is an official document issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security which, for its period of validity, grants a foreign national the right to work and reside in Türkiye without obtaining a work permit. The matter is governed by Law No. 6735 and the Implementing Regulation of the International Workforce Law.

10.1. Nature of the Work Permit Exemption

• For as long as it remains valid, the exemption stands in lieu of a residence permit.
• Periods spent under the exemption are not counted towards the calculation of lawful work-permit or residence-permit periods.
• Where the exemption ceases to be valid for any reason, the associated right of residence also ends.
• Where a foreign national holds a valid residence permit obtained on some other basis in addition to the exemption, the termination of the exemption for any reason does not invalidate that other residence permit.

10.2. Who May Benefit from a Work Permit Exemption?

The categories of exemption are set out in detail in Article 48 of the Implementing Regulation. The principal categories are:

• Foreign nationals of Turkish descent (subject to certain conditions)
• Foreign spouses married to a Turkish citizen, where the marital union continues
• Foreign nationals holding a long-term residence permit in Türkiye
• Academic staff at higher education institutions in Türkiye
• Representatives of international organisations in Türkiye
• Official representatives of foreign states and governments, and accredited diplomats
• Cross-border service providers (in certain sectors)
• Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

10.3. Application Procedure

Foreign nationals in Türkiye holding a Foreigner Identification Number beginning with 99 may apply through e-Government; those without such a number may apply through the Ministry’s electronic exemption system using their passport details. Foreign nationals outside Türkiye apply to the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country of which they are a citizen or in which they are lawfully resident; the mission’s application is transmitted to the Ministry through the electronic system, and, if approved, a Work Permit Exemption Certificate is issued in the foreign national’s name.

10.4. Required Documents and Duration

• A biometric photograph of the foreign national
• A valid passport or document in lieu of a passport
• Educational background and, where applicable, workplace information, together with supporting documentation

The exemption is granted for the period requested, subject to the maximum periods prescribed in Article 48 of the Implementing Regulation for each category of foreign national.

11. Differences Between a Work Permit and a Work Permit Exemption

12. Why Legal Counsel Matters at Every Stage

Work permit and exemption processes require far more than the completion of a single application form. Identifying the correct type of permit, screening employer eligibility, determining whether sector-specific pre-authorisation is needed, assessing eligibility for exemption, preparing documentation in line with the applicable legislation, and tracking the application within statutory time limits — each of these has a direct bearing on the outcome. A small error made at the outset can lead to rejection, months of delay, or the loss of an existing right of residence.

For this reason, engaging legal counsel from the very start of the process — counsel familiar with current Ministry practice and experienced in administrative objections and litigation — is the most reliable route to a predictable and secure outcome.

13. Securing Your Right to Work in Türkiye: Tercan Legal

At Tercan Legal, we support our foreign clients with accurate and secure guidance throughout work permit and work permit exemption applications. From identifying the appropriate permit or exemption category, through preparing the required documentation and liaising with official authorities, to advancing the application in accordance with the applicable legislation and, where necessary, pursuing administrative objections and proceedings before the administrative courts against a rejection, we provide professional guidance at every stage of the process.

Our aim is not merely to complete your application, but to guide you through the correct steps within the Turkish legal system so that you build a sound legal foundation for living and working in Türkiye with confidence. At Tercan Legal, we are driven not by fees alone, but by a shared vision of success.

READY TO BEGIN YOUR WORK PERMIT PROCESS?

Contact us to determine the permit or exemption category that suits you and to have your application managed securely from the very outset.

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The information contained in this document is provided for general informational purposes only, does not constitute legal advice on any matter, and should not be treated as legal counsel. Fee amounts and legislative provisions are subject to change; verification against official sources is recommended for current information. Please contact us to obtain legal advice specific to your circumstances.