Independent Work Permit

Eligibility

• At least five years of continuous lawful residence in Türkiye (the implementing regulation conditions independent permits on a residence track record).
• Demonstrable qualifications and experience in the declared activity (apostilled diplomas, professional licences, portfolio).
• Business plan or activity dossier showing economic contribution — employment creation, exports, technology transfer, or sectoral fit.
• Sufficient financial means to fund the declared activity for the application period.
• Sector-specific licences where the activity is regulated (e.g. independent medical practice requires MoH licensing on top of the MoLSS permit).
• No public-order, public-security or public-health flag; no entry ban.

Documents required

• Application via e-İzin portal as 'independent work permit' applicant.
• Detailed business plan / activity dossier covering planned activities, customer base, projected turnover and any local employment.
• Apostilled diplomas, professional licences and references evidencing competence in the activity.
• Trade registry gazette and tax registration if the activity will be conducted through a Turkish entity.
• Bank statements showing sufficient capital to fund the activity.
• Residence-history printout demonstrating the five-year continuous lawful residence test.
• Sector-specific licence (e.g. MoH practice licence for independent doctors, Bar registration for foreign lawyers in permitted activities).
• Address registration and standard documentation (passport, photographs).

Application process

1. 1

   Confirm the activity is open to independent foreign workers

   Some activities are reserved for Turkish citizens (e.g. notary, dentist outside permitted exceptions, judge, customs broker). Confirm your activity is permitted before investing in the application.

2. 2

   Build the activity dossier

   MoLSS evaluates economic contribution, so the dossier matters. Include market analysis, projected employment, expected exports, sector references and any client commitments. Weak dossiers get rejected at evaluation.

3. 3

   Obtain sector licences before applying

   Where the activity is regulated (medicine, architecture, engineering, certain consulting categories), obtain or be in the recognised process for the sector licence first. MoLSS will not grant an independent permit to operate without the underlying competence to operate legally.

4. 4

   Apply via e-İzin

   Independent applications are filed by the foreigner directly (not by an employer). Upload the dossier, qualifications and evidence; pay the application fee.

5. 5

   MoLSS evaluation with sector consultation

   The General Directorate consults the relevant ministry. Typical processing time runs 4–8 weeks but commonly extends with sector consultation — verify with the e-İzin portal.

6. 6

   Approval, harç payment and card delivery

   On approval, pay the harç and the kart bedeli. The card is delivered by PTT and authorises the declared independent activity for the granted period.

Validity and renewal

Independent work permits are typically issued for up to three years on first grant under the Article 14 regime; renewals depend on continued substance in the declared activity. Failure to actually carry out the declared activity is a renewal-blocker.

Salary thresholds and fees

Article 14 does not apply a salary multiplier in the employee sense — there is no employer paying a salary. Instead, MoLSS evaluates whether the proposed activity is economically substantive. The implementing regulation can demand minimum capital, projected turnover or projected employment in lieu of a salary test. Verify current expectations on the e-İzin portal because the criteria are updated periodically without notice.

Common rejection reasons

• Failure to meet the five-year continuous residence prerequisite.
• Activity dossier weak — no employment creation, no exports, no clear economic contribution.
• Activity reserved for Turkish citizens or otherwise restricted.
• Sector licence missing or rejected by the sector regulator.
• Insufficient financial means to fund the declared activity.
• Inconsistency between the declared activity and the foreigner's actual qualifications and experience.

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