The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has published the “Regulation on Amendments to the Implementation Regulation of the International Labour Code” in the Official Gazette dated October 15, 2024 and numbered 32693 and thus entered into force.
The Implementation Regulation of The International Labour Code aims to determine, implement and monitor policies regarding international labour in accordance with the International Labour Code No. 6735, and to regulate the procedures and principles, authorities and responsibilities to be followed in the process and transactions regarding work permits and work permit exemptions to be granted to foreigners, and the rights and obligations in the field of international labour.
In this context, the international labour force and foreigners working in Türkiye, receiving vocational training, doing internships, providing cross-border services or applying for a work permit or work permit exemption to operate within this scope, and real and legal persons who employ or apply to employ these foreigners constitute the scope of the regulation.
The Article 48 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labour Code states “Foreigners who will be exempted from work permits”, the Article 49 states “Application for work permit exemptions” and the Article 53 states “Other issues regarding work permit exemptions”.
With the Regulation on the Amendment of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labour Code, the phrase “six months” in subparagraph (h) of the first paragraph of the Article 48 was changed to “three years”, the phrase “with a sports-annotated visa” in subparagraph (k) of the same paragraph was repealed and subparagraphs (ş) and (t) were added to the same paragraph.
Accordingly, foreigners who are notified by the relevant public institutions and organizations that they can provide significant services and contributions to Türkiye in economic, socio-cultural, technological and educational fields will be evaluated within the scope of work permit exemption for up to three years.
Likewise, with the latest amendment, it has been introduced that work permit exemption applications made from within the country must be made within the period during which the foreigner is legally in Turkey.
In addition, with the third paragraph of the Article 49 and the first paragraph of the Article 53 of the Regulation were amended and new paragraphs were added to the regulation.
