Permission Types

Temporary Work Permit

According to the International Labor Force Law No. 6735, which came into force after being published in the Official Gazette No. 29800 dated 13.08.2016, the foreigner whose work permit application is evaluated positively  is granted a work permit maximum for one year at the first application provided that it does not exceed the duration of the employment or service contract and work in a specific job on-site or in workplaces in the same line of business.

In the case of the work permit extension application is approved, the foreigner can be granted a work permit for a maximum of two years in the first extension application and up to three years in subsequent extension applications, depending on the same employer. However, applications made to work for a different employer are evaluated within the scope of the first paragraph of Article 7.

Permanent Work Permit

Foreigners who have a long-term residence permit in Türkiye or a legal work permit for at least eight years can apply for an permanent work permit. However, the foreigner's fulfilment of the application conditions does not provide the foreigner with an absolute right.

A foreigner who owner an permanent work permit benefits from all the rights provided by a long-term residence permit. Foreigners who owner an permanent work permit benefit from the rights granted to Turkish citizens, except for the regulations in special laws, provided that their acquired rights regarding social security are reserved and they are subject to the relevant legislation in the use of these rights.

A foreigner who owner an permanent work permit does not have the right to elect, be elected and hold public office and is not obliged to perform military service.

Independent Work Permit

Foreigners with professional occupations can be granted an independent work permit, provided that the special conditions specified in other laws are met.

In the evaluation of the independent work permit in line with the international labour force policy, the foreigner's level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of his/her activity or investment in Türkiye on the national economy and employment, his/her capital share if he/she is a foreign company partner, and other issues to be determined by the Ministry in line with the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board are taken into consideration. Independent work permit is issued for a period of time.

Turquoise Card

In line with the international labour force policy, a Turquoise Card is issued to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate based on their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investments in Türkiye on the national economy and employment, and the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.

The Turquoise Card is issued with a transition period of the first three years. The Ministry may request information and documents from the employer or foreigner regarding the activities carried out during the transition period. The transitional period record on the Turquoise Card, which is not cancelled in accordance with Article 15 during the transitional period, is removed upon the application of the foreigner and an permanent Turquoise Card is issued. This application is made one hundred and eighty days before the expiry of the transition period, in any case before the expiry of the transition period. After the expiry of this period, the application for the removal of the transitional period is rejected and the Turquoise Card become invalid.

The spouse and dependent children of the Turquoise Card holder foreigner, according to the provisions of the legislation, are given a document showing that they are relatives of the Turquoise Card holder and replacing the residence permit.

Turquoise Card holder foreigner benefits from the rights provided by the permanent work permit regulated in the Law.

Foreigners under temporary protection are excluded from the Turquoise Card application.