The employer applies for the work permit, and the permit is tied to a specific employer, workplace and occupation. The criteria (number of Turkish employees, capital / turnover, salary by occupation) are on Legislation › Work permits; this page covers the application process.
Permit types
| Type | Duration |
|---|---|
| Fixed-term work permit | Up to 1 year on first application; 2 years on renewal with the same employer, then up to 3 years |
| Indefinite work permit | Holders of a long-term residence permit or at least 8 years of legal work permit |
| Independent work permit | Professionals working on their own account; fixed-term |
| Turquoise Card | Foreigners with high education, experience, investment or employment contribution; 3-year transition period, then indefinite; documents also issued to relatives |
From inside or outside Türkiye?
- Inside: the foreigner needs a valid residence permit of at least 6 months (not a student permit) and a passport valid at least 60 days beyond the permit. The employer applies via the e-Permit system.
- Outside: the foreigner applies to a Turkish consulate and gets a 16-digit reference number; the employer completes the e-Permit application within 10 business days. Once approved, a work visa is issued. The foreigner must enter Türkiye within 6 months of the permit start and start work within 1 month of entry, otherwise the permit is cancelled.
Process and timing
| Step | Approx. time |
|---|---|
| Eligibility test (employment, financial criteria, salary) and cost model | 1–2 weeks |
| Company side: e-Permit registration, e-signature, registered e-mail (KEP) | 1–3 days |
| Preparing documents, prior approvals and diploma recognition if needed | 2–6 weeks |
| Application | 1 day |
| Ministry review | 30 days for a complete application; postponed if documents are missing |
| Paying fees and card cost | Within 30 days of notification |
| SGK hiring notification | Before work starts |
Typical documents
Employment contract, passport, diploma (and recognition for regulated professions), current trade registry gazette, last year's balance sheet and income statement, sector approvals (health, education, civil aviation, tourism). For key personnel of foreign-capital companies, signature circular, board resolution and assignment letter. For a liaison office's foreign representative, at least USD 200,000 transferred from abroad in the last year.
After approval
- The declared salary must appear on payroll and be reported to SGK at that amount; payroll and bank records are reviewed at renewal. Salary calculator
- If the employee never starts or the employment ends, the Ministry is notified.
- Renewal: within the 60 days before expiry and in any case before expiry. Those who apply on time may keep working in the same job for 90 days until a decision; a late application counts as a new one.
- A change of employer is treated as a first application.
- A work permit replaces a residence permit; spouse and children get family residence permits. Residence permits
Consequences of employing without a permit
Administrative fines for the employer and the foreigner (increased on repetition), deportation proceedings for the foreigner with return costs charged to the employer, retroactive SGK premiums and late payment surcharges.
Common mistakes
- Applying without testing the criteria and being refused (refusals stay on record for later applications).
- Paying below the salary stated in the permit.
- Leaving renewal to the last day and losing the 90-day continuation right.
- Employing the person at another branch or company (the permit is tied to the workplace).
Sources
International Labour Force Law No. 6735 and its Implementing Regulation; Ministry of Labour work permit evaluation criteria; Turquoise Card Regulation; Law No. 5510. Application: ecalismaizni.csgb.gov.tr