TURKEY WORK PERMIT APPLICATION UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT PROCEDURE

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Revised June, 2023 – Resource, Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security
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FOREIGNERS TO ENTER TURKEY BY TOURIST VISA OR E-VISA AND WHO OBTAINS TOURISTIC RESIDENCE PERMIT ID CARD (WITH MIN 6 MONTHS VALIDITY) MAY AT ANYTIME FIND A JOB IN TURKEY AND APPLY TO THE MINISTRY OF THE LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY WITH THEIR EMPLOYER TOGETHER, FOR FOREIGNER WORK PERMIT ID CARD TO BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY.
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1. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR WORK VISA TO ENTER TURKEY
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Ordinary e-passport holders require Work visa to enter Turkey. For employment purpose travel, single entry sticker Visas upto 90 days is decided by the Ministry of Labor and given by Turkish Embassy or Consulate missions abroad. Work visa process time is 20 days.
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You may find more about Visa types here, or visit the Turkish Ministry of Foreigner Affairs website for Visa information to foreigners. Learn about Turkish health insurance prices for foreigner residence permits.
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From yearly 52 million Tourist visa visits, only 100.000 enter Turkey by Work visa way. For example the foreigner to find employment in Turkey and whom is invited to work, must apply together with the Turkish company sponsor for process to enter Turkey fast and easy.
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NEW EMPLOYEE WHO ENTER TURKEY BY WORK VISA AND AFTER DECIDE NOT TO TAKE THE JOB POSITION MAY EXIT TURKEY IN THE FIRST 15 DAYS FROM ENTRY DATE TO AVOID VISA OVERSTAY.
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IMPORTANT – Turkish employer to sponsor a foreigner from abroad to enter Turkey by Work visa, and after entered Turkey within the first 15 days must continue to activate Foreigner Work Permit ID card by first month SGK social security fee and registration for government healthcare benefit, or ID Card will cancel.
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An employee who enters Turkey (on travel purpose for employment / special employment or labor purpose) by Work visa must be insured under the Turkish government SGK social security and healthcare at all times, to stay longer and safe in Turkey, and work legal.
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IMPORTANT – Foreigner employee after entered Turkey within the first 20 days must inform their Turkish home address to activate Residence Permit ID card that must be registered in the Turkish address grid system,  or ID Card will cancel.

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Foreigners who live abroad and who will travel to Turkey for employment / special employment, or labor purpose, the employee shall enter by Work permit and Visa under the employment procedure in Turkey.
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Methods and principles concerning Foreigner work permits to be issued to foreigners vary by relevant sectors such as, Education, Housekeeping, Tourism, Aviation, Entertainment, and others.
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Just as foreigner may not work at every job in Turkey, not just every Turkish employer may hire a foreigner to work on the job site.
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Find out more about work permit criteria for employer and foreigner employee in Turkey.
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2. FOREIGNER WORK PERMIT IS PERMISSION TO WORK IN TURKEY
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In this case the foreigner above age 18 and who is offered a job in Turkey, he or she may be qualified and hired by the sponsor Employer or Turkish company by the method of an employer and employee, signed labor Contract and company Invitation letter for completion..
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The Consulates of the Republic of Turkey will execute online permit procedures for Work Permit application filed abroad, however Work permit applications are concluded by Ministry of Labor and Social Security within 30-days in Turkey, and not by the Turkish Embassy or Consular missions abroad. Upon Work Permit approvals, the Ministry of Labor sends out the Turkish Embassy or Consular missions an instruction online, to issue the Work Visa to the foreigner employee to enter Turkey.

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Check here for step by step infographic process on Turkish work permit applications from abroad.
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  • Work Permits have equivalence to Residence Permit when applied from outside Turkey. Upon a Work permit approved by the Ministry, the foreigner is charged an entry visa fee, work permit fee and residence fee by the Turkish consular offices.
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  • Since Work Permits when applied from abroad, includes Residence Permit also, the annotated Work Visa issued in Passport by these offices, can only be used for single entrance and for 90 days at maximum.
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NEXT FOREIGNER WORK PERMIT ID CARD IS AVAILABLE AT ENTRY IN TURKEY FIRST-TIME 3, 6 MONTHS UPTO 1 YEAR ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOR AND POSTED TO TURKISH EMPLOYER WITH COMPANY NAME ON BACK. YOU ARE NOW INSURED AND A WORK PERMIT BEARER, YOU ARE SAFE.
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  • By the Turkish employer monthly salary and continued government SGK social security contributions you are active within the Turkish labor system, and protected under government medical insurance, future retirement and pension rights as foreigner. (like Azad visa Open visa must keep active with payroll in Saudi or KSA Dubai)
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  • Turkey citizenship 2020 – The foreigner employee to start and complete 60 months total stay in Turkey with completed SGK premium fees may option to apply for citizenship and passport in Turkey without the condition to buying real estate in Turkey nor investment by recent parliament legislative change.

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3. BENEFITS OF EMPLOYEE TO ENTER TURKEY WITH FAMILY TRAVEL
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During the employee Work visa confirmation, should family travel be required with the applicant (under the family unity clause) the applicant may sponsor family for Tourism visa without extra documents and enter Turkey at the same time. Each family member is required to obtain different reference number from online visa application system. Each family member should have a separate and complete file and pay the visa fees.
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  • Upon entered family member should lodge Touristic residence permit ID Card online application in Turkey and continue to live legal and longer.
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    [In any case family member may option to exit Turkey in 30 days and return back to the country of citizenship or legal stay]
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  • Persons above age 18 with valid Touristic residence permit ID card, may enroll in higher education or work in Turkey.
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  • Children under age 18 may attend public elementary, secondary and high school for Turkish and English language and education.
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4. FOREIGNERS WHO ENTER BY TURKISH EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACT EXPIRES
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The employee inherits the option to,
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  1. continue Work permit extension 1 upto 2 years – with current Turkish employer
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  2. transfer to new Work permit 1 upto 2 years – to new Turkish employer
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  3. depart Turkey in 10 days to avoid any overstay violation
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  4. transfer in 10 days to Touristic residence permit ID card and search work again

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Foreigner work permit ID card may be used to enter and exit Visa-free at 66 Turkish airports, 180 harbors, and 26 borders of the Republic of Turkey, North Cyprus, Georgia and Ukraine on travel.
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Foreigner employee may apply with documents below to the Turkish Embassy and pay the transaction fees for entry Visa. For India applicants apply to Gateway VAC in Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad. Pakistani must apply to Anatolia VAC in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi. All Arab and Gulf countries must apply to VFS Global offices.
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UPDATE AFRICA COUNTRIES – In 2021 the Turkish Work visa applications are processed at Voya Visa Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana and Hargeisa in Somalia, Yaoundé in Cameroon. Ethiopia may process directly at TSA Turkish Service Agency.
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Other African countries including Kenya shall submit WORK VISA application at Turkish Embassy / Consulate missions on schedule.
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Start your experience in beautiful Turkey, and enjoy to live and work, or retire as planned.

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