In Turkey, foreigners who want to work dependently or independently must obtain permission from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in accordance with the International Labor Law No. 6735. The applications are evaluated within the scope of the legislation, and those that do not comply with the legislation are rejected, while those that comply are accepted, and a work permit is issued to the relevant foreigner. The work permit issued to a foreigner who is employed by an employer is valid for a maximum of one year from the first application.
This article explains the process of evaluating work permit applications, issuing work permit decisions, starting work and notifying the social security institution for foreigners.
I- Evaluation of Work Permit Application According to Article 21 of the International Labor Law Implementation Regulation, work permit applications are evaluated based on the work permit evaluation criteria determined by the General Directorate.
The evaluation of completed applications in accordance with the procedure is completed within thirty days, provided that the information and documents are complete. The thirty-day period begins from the date the application is completed through the system or from the date the requested information and documents are uploaded through the system in case of additional information and document request. Foreigners or their employers who have applied for a work permit may be invited to the General Directorate if deemed necessary.
II- Work Permit Decision If the application is evaluated positively, a work permit is issued to the foreigner. Turquoise card, independent work permit and indefinite work permit are issued for the foreigner without being dependent on an employer.
A work permit issued to a foreigner employed by an employer is valid for a maximum of one year from the first application, provided that they work in a certain job in a certain workplace belonging to a real or legal person or a public institution or organization or in the same sector as these workplaces, without exceeding the duration of the work or service contract (*).
Work permits are issued for a limited period without being subject to the time restrictions specified in paragraph three for foreigners who have applied for an independent work permit or for foreigners who have been granted an exception regarding the work permit period in the fourth section of this Regulation.
The work permit is issued for a period shorter than sixty days from the validity period of the foreigner’s passport or passport substitute.
III- Starting to Work for Foreigners A- Starting to Work in Domestic Applications In domestic applications, the foreigner must start working within one month from the start date of the work permit by fulfilling their obligations within the scope of the relevant legislation.
B- Starting to Work in Foreign Applications In foreign applications, the foreigner must start working within one month from the date of entry into the country and within six months from the start date of the work permit, in any case, by fulfilling their obligations within the scope of the relevant legislation.
