Information and Documents Required in the Work Permit Evaluation Process
Work permit applications generally start with foreigners applying for a work permit and visa to the relevant foreign representative offices of the Republic of Türkiye. However, if the foreigner in Türkiye has a residence permit valid for at least 6 months, the work permit application can be made as a domestic application. The required documents are sent online through the e-permit automation system.
- Employment contract signed by the employer and the foreigner. (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.) Click to view sample employment contracts.
- Employment contract signed by the employer and the foreigner. (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
- Click here to view sample labour contracts.
- Copy of passport. (In cases where the passport is not written in Latin letters, a translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities will be attached to the application.) (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.) Important Note: Pursuant to Article 23 of Law No. 6458, work permits to be issued to foreigners whose request is approved by the Ministry are issued in a manner not to exceed sixty days before the expiry date of the passport. In addition, work permit applications made with passports and passport substitute documents with a duration of less than sixty days as of the work permit application date are not processed.
- A copy of the Diploma or Temporary Graduation Certificate, the Turkish translation of which is certified by a sworn translator or official authorities, this document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application. A diploma is compulsory for foreigners who will work within the scope of vocational services and for foreigners who will work in professions deemed necessary by our Ministry. It is not compulsory to submit a diploma for domestic services, but a declaration regarding the last school completed is sufficient.
- Turkish Trade Registry Gazette showing the latest capital and partnership structure of the organisation.
- Balance sheet and profit/loss statement approved by the tax office or sworn financial advisor for the last year.
Education Sector:
For foreigners who will work in private education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Education, a document from the Ministry of National Education showing the professional competence of the foreigner (Preliminary Permit Certificate).
"Permission to Open an Institution and Start Teaching" and "Licence" obtained from the Ministry of National Education for private education institutions that will employ foreigners.
Home Services:
Foreigners are not allowed to work in domestic services except for the care of the elderly, the sick and children.
Health Sector:
For foreign health professionals who will work in private health institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Health, a Prior Authorisation Certificate obtained from the Provincial Health Directorate of the province where the health institution where they will work is located, showing the professional competence of the foreigner. This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
For private health institutions that will employ foreigners, Activity Permit Certificate obtained from the Provincial Directorate of Health.
Tourism sector:
For foreigners to be employed in workplaces with a tourism business certificate, the Operation and Investment Certificate obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, or if it is not a certified business, the Certificate of Activity obtained from the Chamber of Commerce. This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
Entertainment Sector:
Turkish translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities. (The certificate showing that the foreigner for whom a work permit is requested has an international reputation as an artist or has worked in foreign enterprises at the same level by making programmes will have an apostille annotation or Foreign Representation certification annotation according to the 1961 Hague Convention.) (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.)
Employment Contract in Turkish and in the language of the foreigner (The employment contract with the wet signatures of the employer and the foreigner will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
Certificate of Operation obtained from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Obligatory Issues to be included in the Labour Contract to be concluded with Foreign Artists:
A record stating that foreign artists will undertake that their return tickets and travelling expenses will be covered by the employer upon their return to their countries following their working period,
A commitment that the wage will not be less than three times the minimum wage, which changes every six months,
Workplace Tax Number,
In addition to the rights of the employee, 155 Police Help Line, 157 Help Line for Victims of Human Trafficking, Alo 170 helpline numbers and the contact numbers of the Provincial Directorates of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Agency will be included for consultation when necessary.
Aviation Sector:
For foreign pilots to be employed in workplaces operating in the aviation sector, the Turkish translation of the Pilot Licence certified by a sworn translator or official authorities, This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application. The work permit to be issued by the Ministry is valid with the Validation Certificate to be obtained from the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transport, which validates the licences of foreign pilots in Türkiye.
Engineers and Architects:
"Diploma or Temporary Graduation Equivalence Certificate" to be obtained in accordance with the Regulation on Equivalence of Higher Education Diplomas Abroad in accordance with Articles 3 and 7/p of Law No. 2547, if the foreigner for whom a work permit is requested as an engineer / architect within the scope of Professional Services has received higher education abroad (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
For legal entities that will employ foreign experts as engineers/architects/urban planners, a pay slip proving that a Turk is employed in the same profession (This document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application).
Companies and Branches Operating within the Scope of Specialised Foreign Direct Investments
For the foreigners to be employed in companies and branches that meet at least one of the criteria of foreign direct investments with special characteristics stipulated in Article 10/a of the Regulation on the Employment of Foreign Personnel in Foreign Direct Investments, the application will be made according to the procedures and principles stated below.
Documents indicating that the export amount of the organisation in the last year is at least 1 million US Dollars (Documents such as bank receipt, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate, company approved income statement for the export amount)
Documents Required for Key Personnel to be Employed in the Organisation Providing At Least One of the Abovementioned Conditions:
Company Partner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Member of the Board of Directors, General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Company Manager, Assistant Company Manager and similar positions (documents such as Signature Circular, copy of the Board of Directors or Shareholders' Meeting Resolution).
For specialists with knowledge that is considered fundamental for the services, research equipment, techniques or management of the organisation (such as testimonial and its translation, copy of diploma and its translation, and documents and information and their translations regarding the field in which such personnel will be employed (for example, for export personnel, bank receipt approved by the relevant bank showing exports on the basis of countries, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate, etc.).
An assignment letter stating that the key personnel to be employed is assigned by the parent company abroad.
Liaison Offices:
Activity permit obtained from the Ministry of Economy for foreigners to be employed in liaison offices, this document will be scanned and sent online during the electronic application.
For liaison offices, documents showing that at least 200 thousand US Dollars or equivalent foreign currency has been brought from abroad in the last year (Authorisation certificate for the office official and documents such as bank receipt, bank letter, photocopy of foreign currency purchase certificate related to foreign currency transfer)