Work Permit FAQ

In almost all cases the Turkish employer applies, not the foreign employee. The employer must be a registered Turkish entity, must demonstrate that the role cannot reasonably be filled by a Turkish citizen, and must meet the capital and Turkish-employee-ratio thresholds set by Law 6735. The foreign employee provides documents but does not control filing.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Most employers must employ several Turkish citizens for each foreign worker on the payroll, with the exact ratio set by sector regulation and routinely cited as roughly 5 Turkish to 1 foreign employee in mainstream sectors. Holding companies, R&D centres, and special economic zones operate under different rules. Verify the current ratio for your sector with MoLSS or a Turkish labour lawyer before assuming you qualify.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Typical processing runs from a few weeks to a few months once the employer has filed a complete e-İzin application. Initial permits are normally issued for up to one year, with renewals extending the duration in steps. Border-security checks for some applicant nationalities can extend the timeline noticeably — plan generously rather than relying on the headline minimum.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Both routes exist. From abroad, the foreign worker first obtains a work-visa from a Turkish consulate, then the employer files the e-İzin application within ten business days of arrival. From inside Türkiye, the employer can file directly if the worker holds a valid residence permit issued at least six months earlier. The right route depends on your current status — confirm with the employer's HR or a labour lawyer.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Yes. Once issued, the work permit functions as the holder's residence permit for the duration of validity — you do not need a separate ikamet izni on top of it. The card is issued by MoLSS and registered with the Presidency of Migration Management. If the work permit is cancelled (resignation, dismissal, employer closure), the residence right cancels with it.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Not automatically. A Türkiye work permit is tied to a specific employer, and switching jobs requires the new employer to file a fresh application before the previous permit lapses. Working for an unrelated employer on the existing permit is unauthorised employment and triggers cancellation plus possible deportation. After several years on consecutive permits, the worker can apply for an independent work permit under Article 7.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

An independent work permit (bağımsız çalışma izni) lets the holder work without a sponsoring employer — for freelancers, founders and senior professionals. Eligibility typically requires several years of continuous lawful residence in Türkiye and evidence of economic contribution. The bar is high in practice; most foreigners spend years on employer-sponsored permits before qualifying.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

The biggest single rejection driver is failure to meet the Turkish-employee ratio at the sponsoring employer. Other recurring reasons are insufficient employer paid-in capital, missing or expired social-insurance registration, an unconvincing role description that looks like a routine job a Turkish national could fill, and incomplete supporting documents from the foreign worker (apostilled diplomas, sworn translations).

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Foreign nationals working remotely for non-Turkish employers, paid offshore, with no Turkish client base, generally do not need a Turkish work permit; they can live in Türkiye on a short-term residence permit. The line gets blurry once the work generates Turkish-source income (local clients, Turkish-incorporated entity, payroll on Turkish books) — at that point local employment rules can engage. Confirm your specific setup with a Turkish tax and labour lawyer.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Renewals are filed by the employer through e-İzin within sixty days before the existing permit expires. Continuous renewals build toward longer-validity permits — after several uninterrupted years on the same employer, terms can extend to multi-year cards. A break in employment usually resets the clock.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Yes. Spouses and minor children can apply for a family residence permit linked to the worker's status under Law 6458 Article 34 — the work-permit holder is the sponsor and must show sufficient income and health insurance covering all dependants. Adult children and other relatives must qualify on their own basis.

Source: Law 6458 (Law on Foreigners and International Protection / YUKK) and the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM / Göç İdaresi)