Legal type · FDI partner
Partner of Foreign-Capital Company
Foreign partners and key personnel of foreign-capital companies in Türkiye apply under a streamlined regime under the FDI Law (Law 4875) and the Foreign Personnel Regulation, with relaxed Turkish-staff ratios and dedicated salary multipliers.
Legal anchor
Law 4875 FDI + Law 6735, Article 7
- Türkçe
- Yabancı sermayeli şirket ortağı çalışma izni
- English
- Partner of Foreign-Capital Company
Overview
The partner-of-foreign-capital track sits at the intersection of Law 4875 (Doğrudan Yabancı Yatırımlar Kanunu, the FDI Law) and Law 6735. Foreign partners (shareholders) and designated key personnel of qualifying FDI companies apply for work permits under Article 7 of Law 6735, but enjoy easements set out in the dedicated MoLSS regulation on foreign personnel of FDI companies.
Qualifying companies are those that meet the FDI thresholds in the regulation — typically minimum paid-in capital, foreign-shareholder share or annual turnover criteria, plus minimum prior-year exports for some categories. Once the company qualifies, the 5:1 Turkish-staff rule is relaxed for designated key personnel, and the salary thresholds applicable to managerial roles apply.
Foreign shareholders who are also active in management commonly use this track to secure their own work permit alongside the company's general staff. The regime is also widely used for senior managers seconded from foreign parent companies and for technical key personnel.
Eligibility
- Company side: meets the FDI thresholds in the Foreign Personnel Regulation — paid-in capital, foreign-shareholder share, turnover, exports, or designated strategic-sector status.
- Company side: registered Turkish entity with active SGK workplace number, current tax registration and no outstanding tax / SGK debt.
- Foreigner side: shareholder, director or designated key personnel as defined in the regulation (manager, senior specialist, technical key personnel).
- Foreigner side: qualifications and experience consistent with the role (apostilled diplomas, references).
- Salary at or above the elevated multiplier-of-minimum-wage threshold for the role category.
- No public-order, public-security or public-health flag against the foreigner.
Documents required
- Standard e-İzin document set (passport, photograph, employment contract or directorship document).
- Trade registry gazette showing the foreigner's shareholding / directorship.
- Company's financial statements and annual accounts evidencing the FDI threshold.
- Foreign Personnel Regulation declaration of key-personnel status, signed by an authorised signatory.
- Apostilled diplomas, references and CV evidencing qualification for the role.
- Signature circular and authority document for the company signatory.
- Address registration and standard residence-component documents.
Application process
- 1
Confirm the company qualifies under the Foreign Personnel Regulation
Run the FDI thresholds — paid-in capital, foreign-shareholder share, turnover, exports — against the company's most recent financials. If the company does not qualify the application falls back to the standard Article 10 regime, including the 5:1 rule.
- 2
Designate the foreigner as key personnel
The Foreign Personnel Regulation requires the company to formally designate the foreigner as key personnel (or shareholder) in the e-İzin file. The designation has to align with the actual role description and salary.
- 3
File via e-İzin
The employer initiates the application in e-İzin under the FDI track. The foreigner countersigns. Application fee is paid at submission.
- 4
MoLSS evaluation
MoLSS evaluates against the relaxed FDI rules. Typical processing time runs 4–8 weeks; verify with the e-İzin portal.
- 5
Approval, harç and card
On approval, the foreigner pays the work-permit harç and the kart bedeli. The card is delivered by PTT and authorises the role and workplace described.
- 6
SGK enrolment and ongoing compliance
The company must register the foreigner on SGK within the legal window. The company must also maintain its FDI qualifying status — falling below the threshold can affect renewal.
Validity and renewal
First grant up to one year, then renewals on the standard 1+2+3 progression of Article 10 (FDI track inherits the duration rules). Renewal requires the company to still qualify under the FDI thresholds and the foreigner to still hold the designated role.
Salary thresholds and fees
FDI key personnel (senior managers, directors, designated specialists) typically face an elevated salary multiplier — historically around 6.5× minimum wage for senior managers and lower multipliers for technical key personnel, but always set as multipliers rather than fixed lira figures. The exact multiplier table is in the MoLSS regulation and is updated alongside minimum-wage revisions; verify the current numbers on the e-İzin portal as of your application date.
Common rejection reasons
- Company falls below the FDI threshold at the time of application.
- Salary offered below the elevated multiplier for FDI key personnel.
- Designation as 'key personnel' inconsistent with the actual role and salary structure.
- Outstanding tax or SGK debt against the company.
- Ownership documentation in the trade registry inconsistent with the application narrative.
- Foreigner's qualifications insufficient for the designated key-personnel role.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- Does buying a Turkish company give me a work permit automatically?
- No. Holding shares in a Turkish company does not by itself authorise work — you still need a work permit. The FDI track simply gives qualifying companies a relaxed framework to obtain that permit faster, with fewer Turkish-staff ratio constraints.
- What FDI thresholds must my company meet?
- The MoLSS regulation on foreign personnel of FDI companies sets the operative thresholds — typically paid-in capital, foreign-shareholder share, turnover, exports or strategic-sector designation. The numerical thresholds are updated periodically; verify against the current regulation.
- Is the 5:1 Turkish-staff rule waived?
- Substantially, yes. The Foreign Personnel Regulation relaxes the 5:1 rule for designated key personnel of qualifying FDI companies. The number of designated key personnel must still be reasonable relative to the size of the operation.
- I am a passive shareholder — can I get a work permit?
- Generally not under this track alone. The FDI track requires you to actually hold a designated role (director, key-personnel) and earn an associated salary. Passive shareholding without a role does not constitute work and does not justify a work permit.
- Can I bring my spouse and children?
- Yes. Once your work permit is approved, family members can apply for residence permits under Articles 34–37 of Law 6458. The spouse needs a separate work permit to work — the family residence permit alone does not authorise employment.
- If my company drops below the FDI threshold, what happens?
- Renewals are at risk. MoLSS may decline the renewal under the FDI track and require the application to be re-evaluated under the standard Article 10 regime — including the 5:1 rule and the standard salary multipliers. Plan for the threshold to be re-tested at every renewal.
Source: Law 4875 FDI; Law 6735, Article 7
Source: MoLSS Regulation on Foreign Personnel of FDI Companies
Source: MoLSS Regulation on Foreign Personnel of FDI Companies
Source: Law 6735, Article 7; MoLSS Implementing Regulation
Source: Law 6458, Articles 34–37
Source: MoLSS Regulation on Foreign Personnel of FDI Companies
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