Work residence in Turkey

In our blog, we will highlight all the details and documents that you need to know to obtain a work permit in Turkey

This blog aims to explain the process of setting up work in Turkey and provide valuable advice and guidance to individuals who wish to explore job opportunities in this attractive country and we will highlight the paperwork required, the financial requirements, the legal procedures, the professional standards that must be considered, and the factors considered in estimating your application for a work permit.

What is meant by what is meant by establishing work in Turkey?

The work permit is referred to as the document granted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to applicants who wish to obtain a work permit and in Turkey, the term work permit refers to work residence and a license to practice a profession in the country and the importance of this residency lies in the holder’s opportunity to apply for Turkish citizenship after five years of continuous work and residency in Turkey, without the need for the eight-month residency requirement in the country during the approved year for short-term residencies (such as tourism, property, etc.).

Mechanism for obtaining a work residence permit in Turkey

All papers required to obtain a work permit in Turkey are submitted through the Ministry of Labor via the electronic portal, if the person is inside Turkey, and but if the application is outside Turkey, the necessary papers are submitted to the Turkish embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country or in the country in which he resides officially, or with the help of a legal advisor to submit them from Turkey.

And according to Law No. 4817, every person who does not have Turkish citizenship is required to obtain a work permit in Turkey to practice work officially, and the Ministry of Labor reviews the application file for obtaining a work permit in Turkey and takes into account the residence, skills and level of education of the foreigner.

Most importantly, it also considers the status of the employer and the company in which the person wishes to work, as the employer and the foreigner concerned with obtaining the work permit must meet all the requirements required to secure the permit.

Factors that are considered when applying for work residency in Turkey

1. The evaluation is carried out by the competent authority to determine the extent of the job's contribution to the general economy.

2. It requires that there is no Turkish citizen with the same qualifications and experience as the required foreign worker.

3. It takes into account the factors surrounding the geographical area, the economic situation and the sector that is being targeted to determine the company's need for a foreign worker.

4. The foreign worker's specialization and qualifications are considered to ensure that they match the company's needs and the job position.

5. The company's developments and performance in practical life are reviewed to assess the need for the foreign worker and its potential impact on productivity.

6. The country of the applicant is considered to determine the actual need to bring in foreign labor from that country.

7. The company's position and activity in the labor sector are considered to determine the actual need for a foreign worker.

8. The educational level and academic qualification of the foreign worker are considered to confirm his suitability for the required job position.

9. The security and personal stability of the foreign worker is considered to ensure his safety and the safety of the working environment.

What are the conditions for accepting the application for a work permit in Turkey?

1. It is required that five Turkish citizens work at the company’s headquarters for each foreign employee, knowing that this requirement is postponed in the first six months if the applicant is a partner in the company, and five additional Turkish citizens will be requested for each foreign worker later.

2. Paid-up capital or net sales or value of exports: The paid-up capital of the company must be at least 100,000 TL regardless of the total value or the annual net sales should not be less than 800,000 TL, or the value of exports in the last year should not be less than 250,000 USD.

In addition, the share of the foreign partner must not be less than 20% of the capital value, i.e. not less than 40,000 TL.

The monthly pension to be paid to the foreign worker is determined according to his job position and the minimum wage, for example for a high-ranking manager, pilot, first order for civil engineer and architect, and the pension shall be 6.5 times the minimum, while for the Divisional Director, Architect and Civil, the pension shall be 4 times the minimum.

For the competent and experienced worker, teachers, and workers in other fields, the pension is determined based on the minimum wage at that time.

Documents for obtaining work residency in Turkey

1. A letter requesting a work permit addressed to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

2. Four copies of the 3-page foreign worker registration form, in addition to a recent personal photo and copies must be signed with a watermark by the employer.

3. The official Commercial Register newspaper that shows the latest data of the partners' shares and the capital.

4. Official company balance sheet for the last year, issued by the IRS or notarized by a sworn financial advisor.

5. The salary table shows the salaries of Turkish employees and their job ranks in the company.

6. A tourist residence valid for a period of not less than six months in the case of applying from within Turkey and an exception to this requirement is if the applicant is a student, as students are allowed to work 24 hours per week as per the 2015 law.

7. Equivalency of the certificate of civil, architectural or planning engineer in the event that the applicant obtained his certificate from outside Turkey.

8. Marriage document in case the applicant is married to a Turkish citizen.

9. Certified translation of academic qualification certificates submitted for work.

10. Certified translation of the passport.

11. CV of the applicant.