Foreigners who are going to officially get a job in Turkey must obtain a long-term visa for staying in the country and a work permit. Find out how to complete the necessary documents and what is required for this

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A Turkish work visa and a work permit are two documents that foreigners planning to work in Turkey must obtain. Citizens of all countries of the world, except the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, can issue permits.

About the specifics of a work visa and work permit in Türkiye and the procedure for registration further.

Peculiarities of obtaining a work permit in Türkiye

The main feature that distinguishes the procedure for obtaining a Turkish work visa from other permit documents is that both the employee and the employer participate in the work permit process.

That is, before applying for a Turkish work visa, a foreigner must have a job offer or employment contract from a Turkish company.

Importantly! You cannot start the process of obtaining a Turkish work visa if you do not have a specific job offer in the country.

When should I start the procedure for obtaining a work visa?

A foreigner must apply for a Turkish work visa after receiving a job offer in Turkey. However, no earlier than two months and no later than 30 days before the contract start date.

Where to apply for a Turkish work visa?

A foreign worker must apply for a Turkish work visa at the embassy, consulate or visa center of Turkey in the country of residence.

The employer must submit a certain package of documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) within 10 days of the employee's application.

Stage 1 – Registration for an interview

You need to fill out an online questionnaire. Answer a few questions about yourself and the purpose of your visit, and the system will assign you the date and time of the interview at the Turkish embassy.

Stage 2 – Prepare a package of documents

On the day of the interview, the applicant must have a certain list of documents with him:

- Questionnaire for a Turkish work visa.

- A foreign passport that must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival in Turkey.

- Two biometric photographs.

- Certificate of no criminal record.

- A job offer from an employer or a contract. The document must contain information about the employee's position, monthly salary, and the term of the employee's contract.

- Diploma or other certificate of education with a translation.

- Medical insurance for the entire period of stay in Türkiye.

- Residence information - a housing rental agreement or a certificate of real estate availability in the country.

- Information about the availability of funds.

- Confirmation of air ticket booking.

- Depending on the specifics of each specific case and the foreigner's country of residence, the embassy may require additional documents.

Stage 3 – On the day of the interview

On the day of the interview, the applicant must come to the embassy, consulate or visa center on time with a complete package of documents.

During the interview, the representative of the consular institution will ask the applicant several questions about the future work. We advise you to prepare a little so that you are not nervous during the meeting and answer questions clearly.

After the interview, inform your employer about the successful submission of documents, because he must also submit certain documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) within ten days of your application.

Application for a work permit in Turkey

A work permit in Turkey is the second mandatory document for employment in the country. It is similar to a residence permit. An application for a work permit must be submitted by the employer.

How to apply for a work permit in Türkiye and the deadlines?

Within ten days after the employee's interview at the Turkish Embassy, the employer must fill out an online application on the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) website.

At the second stage, send a certain list of documents to the department by mail or in person.

Importantly! The employer must send the documents within 10 days after the employee's visit to the embassy and a maximum of six days after completing the online application. Be sure to calculate the time so as not to lose the chance to issue a visa.

List of documents from the employer

The package of documents that the employer must provide to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Turkey:

- Work permit letter.

- Questionnaire of a foreign worker.

- Certificate from the Turkish Trade Register detailing the current shareholding and capital structure of the organization.

- Balance sheet and profit/loss statement for the last year, certified by the tax office or a certified public accountant.

- Notarized power of attorney for a person authorized to submit an online application on behalf of the entity or organization where the foreigner is employed.

The procedure for processing visa applications and work permits in Turkey

After submitting all the documents, the foreigner and the employer can only wait for the application to be considered. The maximum period for processing documents by the Ministry is 30 days, provided that all necessary documents are submitted in full.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security forwards a positive or negative decision on the application for a Turkish work visa to the relevant consulate of the Republic of Turkey.

After obtaining a visa, a foreigner has a maximum of 180 days to enter Türkiye. After arriving in the country, it is necessary to register in the address register system within a maximum of one month.

Daria Rogova - Head of Insurance at Visit World

Use the insurance policy to obtain a residence permit in Turkey on our resource. Online registration at an affordable price.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents in Turkey;

Legal advice on immigration in Turkey;

Insurance for residence permit in Turkey.

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