Foreign nationals who want to work in Türkiye legally are required to obtain a “Work Permit” or “Work Permit Exemption Certificate”.
If the foreign national will be working in Türkiye as independent he/she must obtain an “independent work permit”. If the person will work on his/her own behalf or will be a partner in a company, it is necessary to obtain an independent work permit in Türkiye. Foreign professionals can be granted independent work permit provided that the special conditions specified in other laws are met.
The independent work gives the rights of a residence permit in Türkiye as well. The family members of the foreign national granted a work permit shall apply for a residence permit and usually granted automatically.
In the evaluation of the independent work permit in line with the international labor policy, the foreigner’s level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of his/her activity or investment in Türkiye and on the country’s economy and employment, his/her capital share if he/she is a foreign company partner, and other issues determined by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in line with the recommendations of the International Labor Policy Advisory Board are taken into consideration.
If the application will be successful, the work permit will be issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, General Directorate of International Labour.
The independent work permit is issued for a limited period, not for an indefinite-period. The independent work permits, as dependent definite-term work permits, usually granted for one year in the first application with options to extend.
