What Is a Work Permit in Turkey?
Foreign nationals who wish to work legally in Turkey must obtain a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. As of 2026, all applications are submitted electronically through the e-Government portal.
Documents Required from the Employer
- Application petition (completed via the e-Government system)
- Signed balance sheet and income statement for the previous year
- Company establishment notice published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette
- Letter from the Trade Registry Office showing current capital and partnership structure
- List of employees registered with the Social Security Institution (most recent month)
- Employment contract (signed by both the foreign employee and the employer)
Documents Required from the Foreign Employee
- Notarised Turkish translation of passport (valid for at least 18 months)
- Diploma or professional qualification certificate (apostilled, with notarised Turkish translation)
- Biometric photo (taken within the last 6 months)
- Foreign health insurance policy (valid throughout Turkey)
- Previous work permit document (if applicable)
2026 Work Permit Fees
Fees published in the Official Gazette dated 31 December 2025 (source: csgb.gov.tr/uigm):
| Permit Duration | Fee | Document Fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | 12,574.90 TRY | 964.00 TRY | 13,538.90 TRY |
| 1–2 years | 25,149.80 TRY | 964.00 TRY | 26,113.80 TRY |
| 2–3 years | 37,724.70 TRY | 964.00 TRY | 38,688.70 TRY |
| Indefinite | 125,802.20 TRY | 964.00 TRY | 126,766.20 TRY |
Source: Official Gazette 31.12.2025 — csgb.gov.tr
Minimum Wage Requirement
The wage paid to a foreign employee depends on the role and is measured against the gross minimum wage in force on the application date:
| Gross monthly (2026) | |
|---|---|
| 2026 Gross Minimum Wage | 33,030.00 TRY |
| 2026 Net Minimum Wage | 28,075.50 TRY (net) |
| Senior executives and pilots (×5) | 165,150.00 TRY |
| Engineers and architects (×4) | 132,120.00 TRY |
| Other managers (×3) | 99,090.00 TRY |
| Skilled / specialist jobs (×2) | 66,060.00 TRY |
| Domestic services and other jobs (×1) | 33,030.00 TRY |
Source: ÇSGB Work Permit Evaluation Criteria, A.3.1 — the wage is measured against the gross minimum wage in force on the application date.
Application Process
- e-Government application: The employer logs into the e-Government system, fills in the online form and uploads documents.
- Document review: The Ministry notifies applicants of any missing documents within 30 days.
- Evaluation: Decisions are made within 15–30 business days for complete applications.
- Permit card delivery: The physical work permit card is sent to the registered address.
Common Mistakes
Passport validity: The passport must remain valid for at least 60 days after the requested permit expiry date.
Diploma equivalency: For regulated professions (engineer, doctor, lawyer), an equivalency certificate is mandatory.
SGK employee ratio: As a general rule, for each foreign employee the company must have at least 5 Turkish citizens registered with the SGK. Since 3 August 2026, for in-country applications on behalf of foreigners who have legally stayed in Turkey for at least 1 year within the last 3 years, this rule and the financial adequacy criterion do not apply to the first 3 such foreigners per workplace; foreign staff may not outnumber Turkish staff. Source: ÇSGB work permit evaluation criteria.
Related Services: Work Permit · Residence Permit · Turkish Citizenship