Expanding to Türkiye will give you the chance to form new business relationships, enter promising markets, and find talented employees. However, if you plan to relocate members of your current team to Türkiye, every international worker will need both a work visa and a permit to legally work in the country.
If you’re not familiar with how to get a work visa in Türkiye, here are a few important aspects to consider.
Types of work visas in Türkiye
Türkiye has a wide variety of visa categories that can be broken down into further options, including:
- Tourist/businessperson visa
- Official visa
- Student/education visa
- Working visa
- Other visas
Most employees will need a working visa in Türkiye, and employers must apply for each work permit when each employee applies for their visa. All employees must submit their work visa and work permit application to Türkiye’s consulate or embassy in their home country. The application requires a valid passport, a completed visa application form, and a letter from the employer.
Additionally, employers must submit the necessary supporting documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) within 10 working days of the application.
For all types of visa applications, the Turkish consular offices may grant visas with a maximum stay of 90 days. International employees who wish to stay beyond this period must apply for a “Short-Term Residence Permit” at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration to extend their stay in Türkiye.
Work permits in Türkiye are initially valid for 1 year but can be extended to 2 years, then 3 years after a second extension. Once employees live and work in Türkiye for 8 consecutive years, they can apply for an indefinite work permit that does not require renewal.
Requirements to obtain Türkiye work visas
The requirements to obtain a work visa depend on the type of visa, which is determined based on the reason for entering Türkiye. Possibilities include:
- Someone with an employment or special employment purpose
- Assigned lecturer or academic
- Sportsperson
- Artist
- Free zone worker
- Journalist
- Montage and repairman
After you determine which type of visa your team members need, they can apply online, answering a few questions about their identity and the purpose of their visit. The applicant will receive a date for an interview, during which they’ll need to submit a number of documents, including:
- A valid passport
- 2 photos taken within the last 6 months
- Police clearance certificate
- Job offer or employment contract
- Translated diploma or provisional graduation certificate
- Medical insurance
- Proof of accommodation in Türkiye
Application process
As soon as employees receive a job offer, they should apply for a work visa. They can apply starting 2 months before they leave for Türkiye, and they must apply 1 month in advance at the latest. To obtain the work permit and visa, the application will need to be submitted to the nearest Turkish mission.
Within 10 days of applying, employers need to submit the necessary employment documents to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS).
Other important considerations
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security will ultimately decide if an employee can obtain a work permit or not. If the application gets approved, the work permit will be equivalent to a residence permit.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
For any other inquiries about our global employment platform, contact us today.