Work Permit Types in Turkey: Fixed-Term, Indefinite, Independent and Turquoise Card 2026

Under the International Labor Force Law No. 6735, foreigners may work in Turkey with four types of permit: the fixed-term work permit, the indefinite work permit, the independent work permit and the Turquoise Card. A fixed-term permit is tied to one employer; it is granted for at most one year on the first application, at most two years on the first extension with the same employer, and at most three years after that. A foreigner who holds a long-term residence permit or has a legal work permit period of at least eight years may apply for an indefinite permit; the independent permit is granted for a fixed term to those working on their own account, and the Turquoise Card is granted to qualified foreigners, with the first three years as a transition period.

What Are the Types of Work Permit in Turkey?

A work permit is a permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (the Ministry) in the form of an official document that, while valid, gives a foreigner the right to work and reside in Turkey. The permit types and their conditions are set out in the International Labor Force Law No. 6735 (the Law). The details of practice are in the Implementing Regulation of the International Labor Force Law (the Implementing Regulation), and the procedure for the Turquoise Card is in the Turquoise Card Regulation. The Law defines the four types as follows:

Article 3 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"a) Independent work permit: a work permit that gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey in their own name and on their own account, … c) Work permit: a permit issued by the Ministry in the form of an official document that, during its period of validity, gives a foreigner the right to work and reside in Turkey, … g) Indefinite work permit: a work permit that gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey indefinitely, ğ) Turquoise Card: a document that gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey indefinitely and, in accordance with the legislation, gives their spouse and the children they are obliged to support the right to reside,"

The Law's definitions do not name the fixed-term permit separately; it is the employer-bound permit regulated in the first and second paragraphs of Article 10. The Ministry's work permit types page (in Turkish) also lists the types under the same four names. Under the legislation in force as of 31 October 2026, the four types differ as follows:

The Turquoise Card, the independent work permit and the indefinite work permit are issued in the foreigner's name without being tied to an employer (Article 24/2 of the Implementing Regulation). For the fixed-term permit, by contrast, the application depends on the employer: an application made from within Turkey is completed when the required information and documents are uploaded to the online system and the employer approves the application (Article 17/3).

Foreigners covered by the Law may not work, or be employed, in Turkey without a work permit (Article 6/2 of the Law). Two concepts should not be confused with the four types:

• A work permit exemption is a document that gives a foreigner the right to work and reside without obtaining a work permit (Article 3/1(ç) of the Law). It is granted for the jobs listed in Article 48 of the Implementing Regulation, which are mostly short-term or special in nature (such as scientific, cultural and artistic activities, installation and repair of machinery, sports activities and seasonal agricultural work). Periods spent under an exemption are not counted when calculating legal work permit or residence permit periods (Article 13/6 of the Law).
• An exceptional work permit is not a separate type. Article 16 of the Law provides that exceptions regarding the application, grounds for rejection and durations (Articles 7, 9 and 10) may be granted to groups such as qualified workers and investors, foreigners of Turkish descent, citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or of European Union member states, and foreigners married to a Turkish citizen and living with their spouse in a marital union in Turkey.

Where and How Is a Work Permit Application Made?

Within Turkey, work permit applications are made directly to the Ministry; abroad, they are made to the embassies or consulates general of the Republic of Türkiye in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they are legally present. An authorized intermediary may also make the application (Article 7/1 and 7/2 of the Law). The mission abroad forwards the application to the Ministry, and the Ministry makes the decision. For applications completed by approval in the online system, no paper documents are sent separately to the Ministry (Article 15/2 of the Implementing Regulation).

The route depends on the foreigner's situation:

• Application from within Turkey: Except for exceptions determined by the General Directorate of International Labour Force (Uluslararası İşgücü Genel Müdürlüğü, the General Directorate), the foreigner must hold a valid residence permit of at least six months (Article 15/4 of the Implementing Regulation).
• Employer-based application from abroad: The foreigner first applies for a work visa at a Turkish mission abroad. Using the reference number issued by the mission, the employer must approve the application in the online system within thirty days of the work visa application (Article 17/1(a) and 17/2); an application not completed within this period is rejected (Article 23/1(h)).
• Application without an employer (such as an independent permit): Abroad, it is made to a Turkish mission; within Turkey, the foreigner uploads the required documents to the system and approves the application themselves (Article 17/1(b) and 17/3(b)).

The review of a duly made application is completed within thirty days, provided the information and documents are complete (Article 7/8 of the Law). If documents are missing, the review is postponed; except for force majeure documented by an official authority, the postponement may not exceed thirty days, and an application whose deficiencies are not remedied by the end of that period is rejected (Article 7/7).

A prior permit is mandatory for foreigners who will work in health and education services requiring professional qualification. The Ministry of Health issues the prior permit for health services, the Ministry of National Education for education services, and the Council of Higher Education for foreign academic staff; extension applications are also subject to a prior permit (Article 8 of the Law).

The application is reviewed under the evaluation criteria set by the Ministry (Articles 21 and 22 of the Implementing Regulation). The Ministry's general criteria published as of 31 October 2026 fall under three headings:

• Employment: At a workplace subject to the balance-sheet basis of accounting, the rule is that at least five Turkish citizens are employed for each foreigner to be employed.
• Financial adequacy: An operating workplace must have paid-in capital of at least TRY 500,000 (Turkish lira), net sales of at least TRY 8,000,000, or exports of at least USD 150,000.
• Wage: The wage to be paid to the foreigner may not be less than 5 times the gross minimum wage for senior executives and pilots, 4 times for engineers and architects, 3 times for other managers, 2 times for jobs requiring expertise or mastery, and the minimum wage for other jobs.

There are specific exceptions for certain sectors and certain foreigners (such as those whose mother, father or child is a Turkish citizen, and holders of a long-term residence permit); the full criteria are on the Ministry's evaluation criteria page (in Turkish).

The grounds for rejection are listed in Article 9/1 of the Law. They include: non-compliance with the international labor force policy, forged or misleading documents, an insufficient justification for employing a foreigner, jobs and professions reserved for Turkish citizens, lack of the required qualifications and expertise, failure to meet the evaluation criteria, objections on grounds of public order, public security or public health, and applications not made within the statutory period or whose deficiencies are not remedied.

Time limits continue to apply after the permit is granted. A foreigner granted a permit on an application made from abroad must come to Turkey within six months of the date on which the permit becomes valid; otherwise, the permit is canceled (Article 12/2 of the Law). The foreigner must fulfill their obligations and start work within one month of the permit's start date for applications made in Turkey, or of entry into the country for applications made from abroad (and in any case within six months of the permit's start date) (Article 25 of the Implementing Regulation); failure to start work is a ground for cancellation (Article 56/1(ı)).

What Is a Fixed-Term Work Permit and for How Many Years Is It Granted?

A fixed-term work permit gives a foreigner the right to work in a specific job at a specific workplace, tied to one employer. Its durations are set by Article 10 of the Law:

Article 10 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"(1) If the application is assessed favorably, the foreigner is granted a work permit valid for at most one year on the first application, provided that it does not exceed the term of the employment or service contract and on condition that the foreigner works in a specific job at a specific workplace belonging to a natural or legal person or to a public institution or organization, or at their workplaces in the same line of business. (2) If an extension application made under Article 7 of this Law is assessed favorably, the foreigner is granted a work permit tied to the same employer for at most two years on the first extension application and up to at most three years on subsequent extension applications. However, applications made to work for a different employer are assessed under the first paragraph of this article."

Because the Law sets the durations as "at most," one, two and three years are upper limits; in every case, the permit may not exceed the term of the employment or service contract. The permit is also granted for a period sixty days shorter than the validity of the foreigner's passport (Article 24/1 of the Law). An employer-bound work permit is valid at the workplace and address for which it was issued (Article 57/4 of the Implementing Regulation).

The one-, two- and three-year limits do not apply to everyone. Foreigners applying for an independent work permit, and foreigners granted an exception as to duration in Chapter Four of the Implementing Regulation, receive and extend their permits for a fixed term without being subject to these limits (Article 24/4 and Article 27/4). For example, a foreigner who has lived in a marital union in Turkey with a Turkish citizen for at least three years may be issued a permit for up to three years, not exceeding the term of the employment contract (Article 36).

a) When Is a Fixed-Term Work Permit Extended?

The extension application is made from the point when sixty days remain until the work permit expires, and in any case before it expires; extension applications made after expiry are rejected (Article 7/3 of the Law). The application is made through the online system (Article 27/1 of the Implementing Regulation).

A foreigner who has applied for an extension in time may continue to work from the permit's expiry date for the duration of the review, and in any case for no more than ninety days, provided that their job and workplace do not change. On request, they receive a work permit extension application certificate, which is not subject to any fee or charge (Article 27/5 and 27/6). If the extension is granted, the new period starts on the day after the previous period ended (Article 27/7). On extension, the full fee and valuable paper fee (değerli kâğıt bedeli, the charge for the security-printed document) are charged again (Article 58/3).

What Happens to the Work Permit If the Employer Changes?

The answer depends on the type of permit. Because the fixed-term permit is tied to one employer, a change of employer requires a new application; for the indefinite permit, the independent permit and the Turquoise Card, a notification is enough.

Fixed-term permit: Under the last sentence of Article 10/2 of the Law, applications made to work for a different employer are assessed like a first application; with the new employer, the permit is again granted for at most one year. If the employer changes during an extension period, the application is likewise subject to the procedures and principles of a first application (Article 27/3 of the Implementing Regulation).

The end of the foreigner's work with the former employer, for any reason, is a ground for canceling the permit (Article 15/2(ç) of the Law). An employer employing a foreigner must notify the Ministry within fifteen days of the start and end of the employment and of circumstances requiring cancellation of the permit (Article 22/1). A hiring notification filed with the Social Security Institution, and a termination notification filed on the permit's expiry date, are deemed to have been made to the General Directorate (Article 61/2 of the Implementing Regulation). When the work permit becomes invalid, the right of residence attached to it also ends (Article 57/2); a change of job is therefore a step that also affects the foreigner's right to stay in Turkey.

To work at another branch or workplace of the same employer in the same line of business, or in a different position, the change procedure in Article 26 applies. The employer submits the change request to the Ministry through the online system; the new branch must be registered with the trade registry, the work to be performed must not require professional qualification or a prior permit and must be similar to or compatible with the current work, and the General Directorate must approve the application. If the new branch is in another province, the work permit document is renewed (Article 26/1 and 26/2 of the Implementing Regulation).

The Ministry's evaluation criteria restrict job changes in certain sectors. In the domestic services and livestock sectors, if a foreigner works under a permit granted on an application from abroad, applications made from within Turkey within six months of the permit's start date for the foreigner to work for another employer are assessed unfavorably, except in cases of force majeure. The same rule applies to an application made within the first six months by a foreigner who obtained a permit through a sector-specific criteria exemption, to move to another employer and another sector.

Indefinite permit, independent permit and Turquoise Card: These permits are not tied to an employer. The foreigner must notify the Ministry of a change of workplace or position no later than ten days before starting work at the new workplace (Article 26/3 of the Implementing Regulation). A foreigner with an indefinite or independent permit must also notify the start and end of work within fifteen days (Article 22/1 of the Law). The administrative fine for breaching the notification obligation is set out below, under the heading on working without a permit.

What Are the Requirements for an Indefinite Work Permit?

An indefinite work permit gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey indefinitely. Its requirement and the rights it grants are set out in Article 10 of the Law:

Article 10 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"(3) Foreigners who hold a long-term residence permit in Turkey or who have a legal work permit of at least eight years may apply for an indefinite work permit. However, the foreigner's meeting the application requirements does not give the foreigner an absolute right. (4) A foreigner with an indefinite work permit benefits from all the rights granted by a long-term residence permit. Except for provisions in special laws, a foreigner with an indefinite work permit benefits from the rights granted to Turkish citizens, provided that their acquired social security rights are reserved and that the exercise of these rights is subject to the relevant legislation. A foreigner with an indefinite work permit does not have the right to vote, to stand for election or to enter public service, and has no obligation to perform military service."

Either of two routes is enough to apply: a long-term residence permit or a legal work permit period of at least eight years. A long-term residence permit is an indefinite residence permit granted by governorships to foreigners who have stayed in Turkey on a residence permit for at least eight uninterrupted years, or who meet the conditions determined under Law No. 6458 (Article 42/1 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458).

Meeting the requirements does not automatically give rise to the permit; the Law states expressly that it does not give the foreigner an absolute right. A foreigner granted an indefinite permit may work independently or for one or more employers; they must notify the Ministry no later than ten days before starting work at a new workplace (Article 28/2 of the Implementing Regulation). Indefinite work permits granted under the legislation in force before Law No. 6735 that remain valid continue to be valid unless canceled (Provisional Article 1/2 of the Law).

a) Which Periods Count Toward the Eight-Year Legal Work Period?

The Law defines the legal work permit period as the period during which the foreigner has worked with a work permit while fulfilling their legal obligations (Article 3/1(e)). The definition requires not only that a work permit existed but also that the obligations were fulfilled. Under Article 59 of the Implementing Regulation:

• periods of annual paid leave, and periods during which allowances for work accidents and occupational diseases, illness and maternity, and temporary incapacity were received, are included in the legal work period;
• beyond these, the General Directorate determines which periods are counted and publishes them on its official website;
• the date of the application to the Ministry is the basis for the calculation.

Periods spent under a work permit exemption are not counted in the legal work permit period (Article 13/6 of the Law). Whether periods not listed in Article 59/1 of the Regulation, such as periods when the permit was suspended due to unpaid leave, are counted depends on the General Directorate's determination; the eight years are calculated according to that determination.

b) Is the Indefinite Work Permit Document Renewed Every Five Years?

Yes. The permit is indefinite, but its document is renewed at the end of every five years from the permit's start date. The renewal application is made within the six months before the five-year period ends, and in any case before it ends (Article 28/4 of the Implementing Regulation). The renewed document is not subject to a fee; only the valuable paper fee is charged (Article 58/5).

If the document is not renewed in time, the indefinite work permit is suspended and remains suspended until the document is renewed (Article 30/3). During the suspension, the right to work cannot be exercised from the date of suspension, and the right of residence attached to the permit cannot be exercised once the ten-day period following the suspension has ended (Article 30/4). Suspension of an indefinite permit for more than one uninterrupted year is a ground for cancellation (Article 56/1(ö)).

c) Does Staying in Turkey for Eight Years Exempt a Foreigner from the Evaluation Criteria?

Yes, but this is not an indefinite permit. A subparagraph in force since 3 August 2026 was added to the Ministry's evaluation criteria: the employment, financial adequacy and wage criteria do not apply to work permit applications made for foreigners who have been in Turkey for at least eight years on a work permit or on a short-term, family, student, long-term, humanitarian or human trafficking victim residence permit. This rule only means that the five-Turkish-citizens, capital and wage thresholds are not required; being exempt from the criteria does not give an absolute right to be granted a permit either. For an indefinite permit, the requirement in Article 10/3 of the Law must be met separately.

Who Can Obtain an Independent Work Permit?

An independent work permit is a work permit that gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey in their own name and on their own account (Article 3/1(a) of the Law). The Law provides that this permit may be granted to foreign professionals (profesyonel meslek mensubu), provided that special conditions in other laws are met. The assessment considers the foreigner's level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the effect of their activity or investment in Turkey on the economy and employment, and, if they are a company shareholder, their share of capital (Article 10/6 and 10/7).

Under Article 29/1 of the Implementing Regulation, an independent work permit may be granted to the following foreigners:

• professionals to be determined by the General Directorate;
• cross-border service providers whose activities in Turkey will exceed the periods provided for an exemption;
• a manager who is a shareholder of a limited liability company, a board member who is a shareholder of a joint-stock company, and a general partner who is a manager of a partnership limited by shares, established under the Turkish Commercial Code;
• foreigners who are shareholders and managers of other companies.

A foreigner granted a permit as a professional may not perform work incompatible with their profession (Article 29/2). Provided that the relevant legislation is complied with and the application is made through the online system, the right to work at more than one workplace may be granted; a foreigner who completes their application may be issued a fee-free independent work permit application certificate (Article 29/3 and 29/4).

The independent permit is issued for a fixed term, without being subject to the duration limits in Article 10 of the Law (Article 10/8). In other words, it is not indefinite and must be extended before it expires; the one-, two- and three-year limits do not apply to extensions either (Article 27/4 of the Implementing Regulation).

The position of foreign company shareholders deserves particular attention. A board member of a joint-stock company who does not reside in Turkey, and a shareholder of other companies who does not hold a manager position, fall within the work permit exemption (Article 13/7 of the Law). A shareholder who is a manager, a board member or a managing general partner may work by obtaining a work permit (Article 10/5). Under the Ministry's criteria, two conditions apply to a foreigner who opens a new workplace or becomes a partner in a workplace:

• provided that the workplace's paid-in capital is at least TRY 500,000, the foreigner's capital contribution must be at least TRY 500,000 and their shareholding at least 20%;
• at least five Turkish citizens must be employed at the workplace; the first permit is issued with an annotation, and the rule is that at least five Turkish citizens are employed every month from the seventh month of the first permit period.

These two criteria do not apply to a foreign shareholder with a capital share of USD 100,000 or more. The steps of company formation are explained in our article on company formation in Turkey, and the opening of a branch in Turkey by a foreign company in our article on branch opening by foreign companies (in Turkish).

What Is the Turquoise Card and Who Can Obtain It?

The Turquoise Card is a document that gives a foreigner the right to work in Turkey indefinitely and, in accordance with the legislation, gives their spouse and the children they are obliged to support the right to reside. Under Article 11 of the Law, the card is granted to foreigners whose application is found suitable after assessment, in line with the international labor force policy, against criteria such as level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, and the effect of their activity or investment in Turkey on the national economy and employment. The Law treats as qualified foreigners those with internationally recognized academic work, those who stand out in a strategic field of science, industry or technology, and those who make a significant contribution to the national economy through their export, employment or investment capacity (Article 11/5).

Article 5 of the Turquoise Card Regulation lists five groups to whom the card may be granted: highly qualified workers, highly qualified investors, scientists or researchers, those who have achieved international success in cultural, artistic or sports activities, and those who contribute to the international recognition or promotion of Turkey or of Turkish culture. Acquiring citizenship in return for an investment amount is a separate route, explained in our article on Turkish citizenship by investment.

Applications are assessed through a scoring system built on criteria set by the General Directorate, and applications that receive a sufficient score are assessed favorably (Article 9/1 and 9/2 of the Turquoise Card Regulation). The Regulation does not state a score threshold; the General Directorate is authorized to change the scoring system and to publish it in six-month periods (Article 11/3). For investors, scientists and internationally successful figures in culture, art and sports, a certificate of suitability obtained from the relevant public institution may be included in the scoring (Article 9/3).

The Turquoise Card is therefore not a right granted to everyone who meets the conditions; it depends on the Ministry's assessment under the international labor force policy. An application that does not meet the criteria set by the Ministry or does not comply with the international labor force policy is rejected (Article 12/1(a) and (b)).

The application is made directly through the online system within Turkey, and abroad through the Turkish mission in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they are legally present; an authorized intermediary may also apply (Article 6). As a rule, the residence permit application for the spouse and children is made at the same time as the Turquoise Card application (Article 7/1). The foreign spouse of a Turquoise Card holder, and the minor or dependent foreign children of the holder or of the spouse, are issued a Turquoise Card Holder's Relative Card, which replaces a residence permit during the card's validity (Article 4/1(f) and Article 20).

A Turquoise Card holder benefits from the rights granted by an indefinite work permit; they are exempt from military service and do not have the right to vote, to stand for election or to enter public service (Article 19/1). No work permit or residence permit fee is charged to a Turquoise Card holder, and no residence permit fee is charged to their relative (Article 14/1). The Turquoise Card provisions do not apply to foreigners granted temporary protection (Article 11/6 of the Law).

a) How Does the Transition Period of the Turquoise Card End?

The Turquoise Card is granted with the first three years as a transition period. The card does not become indefinite automatically; the foreigner must apply in time:

Article 11 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"(2) The Turquoise Card is granted with the first three years as a transition period. During the transition period, the Ministry may request information and documents on the activities carried out from the employer or the foreigner. For a Turquoise Card not canceled under Article 15 during the transition period, the transition period annotation on the card is removed upon the foreigner's application and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued. This application is made from the point when one hundred and eighty days remain until the end of the transition period, and in any case before the transition period ends. An application to remove the transition period annotation made after this period has ended is rejected, and the Turquoise Card becomes invalid."

The application window is the last one hundred and eighty days of the transition period. An application made after the period has ended is rejected and the card becomes invalid; the Turquoise Card Regulation repeats that the card becomes invalid if no application is made within this period (Article 17/1).

During the transition period, the General Directorate assigns a specialist to monitor the foreigner's activities and commitments. A monitoring report is prepared for each twelve-month period, and the foreigner must provide the requested information and documents within fifteen days. Three months are given to remedy deficiencies identified in the report; if they are not remedied, the transition period may be terminated and the card canceled (Article 15 of the Turquoise Card Regulation).

Upon a request to remove the annotation, the specialist prepares a final report within thirty days of the request. If the report is favorable, the transition period annotation is removed and the card becomes indefinite; if it is unfavorable, the General Directorate decides to extend the transition period or to cancel the card (Article 17/2 and 17/3, and Article 18).

b) In Which Cases Is the Turquoise Card Canceled?

Apart from at the foreigner's own request, the Turquoise Card is canceled mainly in the following cases (Article 22/1 of the Turquoise Card Regulation):

• not coming to Turkey within six months of the card's validity date, or staying abroad continuously for more than two years without force majeure;
• not working for at least one uninterrupted year;
• working in breach of the Law or informally (unregistered);
• not extending the validity of the passport (except with the favorable opinion of the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
• the later discovery that the application was made with forged or misleading documents;
• not submitting the requested documents on time during the transition period, or losing the qualifications of a Turquoise Card holder according to the monitoring report;
• notification of an objection on grounds of public order, public security or public health.

If the Turquoise Card becomes invalid, the card issued for the relative is also canceled by the General Directorate (Article 20/3).

In Which Cases Is a Work Permit Canceled?

A work permit loses its validity when its term ends or when it is canceled by the Ministry (Article 15/1 of the Law). The grounds for cancellation other than at the request of the foreigner or the employer are listed in the second paragraph; the main ones are:

• not coming to Turkey within six months of the permit's validity date;
• failure to extend the validity of the passport (except with the favorable opinion of the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
• a finding that the foreigner has worked in breach of the Law;
• the end of the employment for any reason;
• the later finding that the application was made with forged or misleading documents;
• notification of an objection on grounds of public order, public security or public health;
• except for force majeure such as health reasons or compulsory public service, staying outside Turkey for more than six uninterrupted months on a fixed-term permit, or more than one uninterrupted year on an independent or indefinite permit; for the Turquoise Card, exceeding the period set by the Ministry.

Article 56 of the Implementing Regulation adds further grounds. These include: on an independent or indefinite permit, an interruption of work, without force majeure, of more than three uninterrupted months or more than six months in total within one year; amendment of the employment contract after the permit is issued so as to provide for a wage below the wage declared in the application, or to convert full-time work into part-time work; failure to fulfill social security obligations; and the foreigner's failure to start work on time (Article 56/1(d), (n), (o) and (ı)). A canceled document must be returned to the Ministry within fifteen days of the notification of cancellation (Article 56/3).

Cancellation also affects the right of residence. If a work permit becomes invalid for any reason, the right of residence attached to it ends; a valid residence permit that the foreigner obtained on a ground other than the work permit is not affected (Article 57/2 and 57/3).

Rejections and cancellations based on public order are also subject to judicial review. In the case underlying the decision of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State (Danıştay) dated 22 June 2022, Case No. 2017/3116, Decision No. 2022/3433 (E. 2017/3116, K. 2022/3433), the work permit of the claimant, a Russian national who had graduated from a university in Turkey with high honors, was canceled following a letter from the Undersecretariat of the National Intelligence Organization stating that the claimant might pose a risk, and the administrative court (idare mahkemesi) had dismissed the action. The Chamber reversed the dismissal, noting that no concrete supporting information or documents beyond the intelligence information had been submitted and that there was no information that a criminal investigation or prosecution had been brought against the claimant:

Decision of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State dated 22 June 2022 (unofficial translation):
"However, there is no doubt that, when the administration takes action in this context to reject foreigners' work permit applications or to cancel a work permit already granted, the existence of the circumstances set out in Article 14 of Law No. 4817 cited above must be established with sufficient and serious information concerning the foreigner to whom the work permit is to be granted."

The decision was rendered by majority vote and was open to a request for rectification of the decision (karar düzeltme); the dissenting opinion argued that the administrative court's decision should have been upheld. In the file, the administrative court complied with the reversal and annulled the act, and that judgment was upheld unanimously, again open to a request for rectification of the decision, by the decision of the 10th Chamber of the Council of State dated 15 October 2024, Case No. 2024/2178, Decision No. 2024/4049. The decision is a single Chamber decision from the period of the repealed Law on Work Permits for Foreigners No. 4817 and should be read in light of the rules in force on the date of the decision. Today, the same ground is regulated in Law No. 6735 as a ground for rejection (Article 9/1(g)) and for cancellation (Article 15/2(g)).

Does a Work Permit Replace a Residence Permit?

Yes. A foreigner with a valid work permit does not need to obtain a separate residence permit; conversely, a residence permit does not give the right to work:

Article 12 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"(1) A work permit or work permit exemption granted under this Law replaces a residence permit pursuant to Article 27 of Law No. 6458. However, except for the refugee or subsidiary protection status defined in Law No. 6458, a foreigner's holding a residence permit for any reason does not give the foreigner the right to work."

A work permit or exemption replaces a residence permit for as long as it is valid; if the permit becomes invalid for any reason, the right of residence attached to it also ends (Article 57/1 and 57/2 of the Implementing Regulation). Therefore, a foreigner staying in Turkey on a short-term, family or student residence permit must obtain a separate work permit to be able to work; the sanction for working without a permit is explained below.

Work Permit Fees and Valuable Paper Fee 2026

A work permit is subject to a fee under the Fees Law No. 492; a valuable paper fee is also charged for the document (Article 58/1 and 58/2 of the Implementing Regulation). The amounts announced on the Ministry's fee and valuable paper fee page (in Turkish) as valid from 1 January 2026 are as follows (confirmed on 31 October 2026):

In addition to the fee, a valuable paper fee of TRY 964.00 is charged for 2026. The fee amounts were set by the General Communiqué on the Fees Law (Serial No. 98), published in Official Gazette No. 33124 (5th Repeated Issue) of 31 December 2025, and the valuable paper fee by the General Communiqué of the General Directorate of Public Accounts (No. 97), published in Official Gazette No. 33117 of 24 December 2025.

The fee and the valuable paper fee are paid separately; if they are not paid within thirty days of the notification date, the application is rejected (Article 23/1(j) of the Implementing Regulation). On extension, the full fee and valuable paper fee are charged again; if the document is renewed because it was lost, half the fee and the full valuable paper fee are charged (Article 58/3 and 58/7). The indefinite permit document renewed every five years is not subject to a fee; only the valuable paper fee is charged (Article 58/5). The fee is paid by the person requesting the transaction (Article 58/10). No work or residence permit fee is charged to a Turquoise Card holder; the card is issued as a valuable paper (Article 14 of the Turquoise Card Regulation).

What Can Be Done If a Work Permit Is Rejected or Canceled?

An objection against a rejection or cancellation decision is filed with the Ministry within thirty days of service; if the objection is rejected, an action is brought before the administrative court. The time limit for the action is sixty days; the safe course is to deduct from this period the days that elapsed until the objection (see below). Decisions rejecting an application or canceling a permit are served under the Notification Law No. 7201 on the employer employing the foreigner, or directly on the foreigner holding an independent work permit, an indefinite work permit or a Turquoise Card (Article 21/1 of the Law). The Law first provides for an objection to the Ministry against these decisions:

Article 21 of the International Labor Force Law (unofficial translation):
"(2) Those concerned may file an objection with the Ministry against decisions taken by the Ministry under this Law within thirty days of the date of service. If the objection is rejected, recourse may be had to the administrative courts."

Objection: It is filed through the online system within thirty days of the date of service; the information and documents relating to the objection are attached to the application (Article 66/2 and 66/3 of the Implementing Regulation). Although the Law frames the objection as something that "may" be filed, it refers to recourse to the administrative courts only in the event that the objection is rejected. Since the Law does not expressly regulate whether an action may be brought directly without an objection, the prudent course, to avoid losing rights, is to first file an objection with the Ministry within the thirty-day period.

Time limit for bringing an action: Since the Law does not set a special time limit for bringing an action, Article 7 of the Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (APL) applies: the time limit for bringing an action before the administrative courts is sixty days and starts on the day following the date of written notification. Neither the Law nor the Implementing Regulation regulates how an objection to the Ministry affects this period. If the objection is treated like an application under Article 11 of the APL, the period is merely suspended: it resumes running upon the rejection of the objection, and the time that elapsed before the objection date is also counted. The safe course is therefore to deduct from the sixty days the days that elapsed between service of the original decision and the objection date, and to bring the action within the remaining period after service of the rejection of the objection. For example, if the objection was filed twenty days after service of the original decision, the action must be brought within forty days of service of the rejection of the objection. Under Article 11 of the APL, if no response is given to an application within thirty days, the request is deemed rejected; if the Ministry does not respond to the objection within thirty days, the safe course is to bring the action without waiting for a response, applying the same remaining-period calculation.

Court with venue: If neither the APL nor a special law designates the administrative court with venue, the court with venue is the administrative court of the place where the administrative authority that took the contested administrative act is located, and venue is a matter of public order (Article 32 of the APL). Since work permit decisions are taken by the Ministry's General Directorate of International Labour Force, located in Çankaya, Ankara, the action is brought before the Ankara administrative courts; the fact that the application was made through a mission abroad does not change this, because the mission only forwards the application to the Ministry.

Defendant: The action is brought against the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which took the decision.

Appeal: An appeal (istinaf) against the administrative court's judgment may be lodged with the regional administrative court (bölge idare mahkemesi) within thirty days of service (Article 45/1 of the APL). Article 46/1, which lists the cases that may be appealed to the Council of State (temyiz), does not separately list work permit cases; decisions of regional administrative courts that are not open to appeal to the Council of State under Article 46 are final (Article 45/6). However, the second paragraph added to Article 46 by Law No. 7589, which entered into force on 31 July 2026, created an exception: in cases not covered by the first paragraph, decisions in which the regional administrative court sets aside the first-instance decision and renders a new decision may be appealed to the Council of State within thirty days of service. This option is not available in the exceptions listed in that paragraph, such as cases heard by a single judge and cases arising from the application of Law No. 6458. The new provision applies to decisions rendered by regional administrative courts after its entry into force (Provisional Article 1/3 of Law No. 7589).

Free zones have a separate regime. The application of a foreigner legally present in Turkey to work in a free zone is made by the user holding an operating license in the free zone to the relevant free zone directorate; the directorate enters the application into the system and forwards it for review (Articles 4 and 6 of the Regulation on Work Permits of Foreigners to Work in Free Zones). The Law and this Regulation assign the review to the Ministry of Economy, the name used in their texts (Article 18/1 of the Law; Article 6/4 of the Regulation); today, free zones are administered by the Ministry of Trade's General Directorate of Free Zones and by the free zone directorates in its provincial organization (Article 450 of Presidential Decree No. 1; Article 32 of the Regulation on the Provincial Organization of the Ministry of Trade). Articles 21, 22 and 23, which govern objections, notifications and administrative sanctions, do not apply in free zones; on these matters, the provisions of the Free Zones Law No. 3218 apply (Article 18/3 of the Law).

What Is the Penalty for Working Without a Permit and How Can It Be Challenged?

Working without a work permit and employing a foreigner without a permit are both prohibited and trigger an administrative fine (Article 6/2 and Article 23/5 of the Law). The base amounts in the Law are increased every calendar year by the revaluation rate under Article 17/7 of the Law on Misdemeanors No. 5326. The 2026 amounts announced on the Ministry's administrative fines page (in Turkish) (revaluation rate 25.49%; confirmed on 31 October 2026) are as follows:

If the violations are repeated, the fines are doubled (Article 23/6). The fine is imposed by the Provincial Director of the Labor and Employment Agency (Çalışma ve İş Kurumu il müdürü), following inspections by the Ministry's labor inspectors and by the inspectors and auditors of the Social Security Institution, or following notifications by other public administrations and law enforcement (Article 23/1, 23/2 and 23/3). The fine is paid within one month of service (Article 23/4). Under the general rule in Article 17/6 of the Law on Misdemeanors, if an administrative fine is paid within the payment period, a 25% discount applies, and payment does not affect the right to challenge the decision.

Beyond the fine, there are two further consequences. A foreigner found to have worked without a work permit is reported to the Ministry of Interior for removal (deportation) (Article 23/8). The employer or the employer's representative must also cover the accommodation costs of the foreigner working without a permit and of their spouse and children, if any, the costs necessary for their return to their country and, where necessary, their health expenses; if these costs have been covered from the budget of the General Directorate of Migration Management, they are collected from the employer under Law No. 6183 (Article 23/9).

The removal decision is taken by the governorship; a foreigner found to have worked without a work permit is listed among those against whom a removal decision is to be taken (Article 53/1 and Article 54/1(ğ) of Law No. 6458). The foreigner, their legal representative or their attorney may apply to the administrative court against the decision within seven days of service, and must also notify the authority that took the decision of the application; the court's decision is final. Unless the foreigner consents to removal, the foreigner is not removed during the time limit for bringing the action or until the proceedings are concluded (Article 53/3). This route is separate from the fifteen-day route before the Criminal Judgeship of Peace, explained below, which applies only to the administrative fine.

Challenge: Since Law No. 6735 does not provide a separate remedy against the administrative fine, the general provision of the Law on Misdemeanors applies. An application against the decision may be made to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace (sulh ceza hâkimliği; called the criminal court of peace in the text of the Law) within fifteen days at the latest from the date of service or pronouncement; if no application is made within this period, the decision becomes final (Article 27/1).

The decision of the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation (Yargıtay) dated 4 June 2024, Case No. 2022/16380, Decision No. 2024/6010 (E. 2022/16380, K. 2024/6010) shows how this route works. The Kayseri Provincial Directorate of the Labor and Employment Agency had imposed an administrative fine on a company for violating Law No. 6735, and the Criminal Judgeship of Peace had dismissed the challenge against the fine. In its written request for reversal in the interest of the law (kanun yararına bozma), the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Cassation argued that, according to the inspection report and the situation assessment report, the foreigner without a permit had been found working at a workplace belonging to another person, not to the offender. The Chamber found the point raised in the request well founded, unanimously reversed the judgeship's decision in the interest of the law, and decided to lift the administrative fine. In this case, the lifting of the fine was based on the fact that the unauthorized work had not been found at the workplace of the employer who was fined. The procedure for the application and the points to watch in the petition are explained in our article on challenging administrative fines (in Turkish).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner work in Turkey on a residence permit?

No. Except for refugee and subsidiary protection status, a foreigner's holding a residence permit for any reason does not give them the right to work (Article 12/1 of the Law). A foreigner staying on a short-term, family or student residence permit must obtain a separate work permit to work. The reverse holds true, however: a valid work permit replaces a residence permit.

Does a foreigner with a long-term residence permit have to obtain a work permit?

Yes. A long-term residence permit does not give the right to work either: Article 12/1 of the Law states that, except for refugee and subsidiary protection status, a foreigner's holding a residence permit for any reason does not give them the right to work. Article 44 of Law No. 6458 grants holders of a long-term residence permit the rights granted to Turkish citizens but reserves the provisions of special laws; the special law on the work of foreigners is Law No. 6735. A holder of a long-term residence permit may apply for an indefinite work permit without the eight-year legal work period being required (Article 10/3), and is exempt from the Ministry's employment, financial adequacy and wage criteria. If they work without a permit, the administrative fines in Article 23 apply.

After how many years can a foreigner move from a fixed-term to an indefinite work permit?

With a legal work permit period of at least eight years. This period includes the periods worked with a work permit while fulfilling legal obligations, and periods of annual paid leave and of receiving work accident, occupational disease, illness, maternity and temporary incapacity allowances; periods spent under a work permit exemption are not included. A foreigner with a long-term residence permit may apply regardless of the legal work period.

Does the Turquoise Card become indefinite automatically after three years?

No. The transition period annotation is removed upon the foreigner's application; the application must be made from the point when one hundred and eighty days remain until the end of the transition period, and before the period ends. An application made after the period has ended is rejected and the card becomes invalid (Article 11/2 of the Law).

What happens if the extension application is not made in time?

The application is rejected. The extension application must be made from the point when sixty days remain until expiry, and before expiry; extension applications made after expiry are rejected (Article 7/3 of the Law). The option of continuing to work for up to ninety days is available only to a foreigner who applied for an extension in time, so it does not arise in this case (Article 27/5 of the Implementing Regulation). Working after the permit has expired is working without a work permit: the administrative fines in Article 23 are imposed on the foreigner and the employer, and the foreigner is reported to the Ministry of Interior for removal. A new application is required to work again. When the permit becomes invalid, the right of residence attached to it also ends.

How long does it take for a work permit application to be decided?

Within thirty days if the information and documents are complete. The period starts on the date the application is completed in the online system or the requested additional documents are uploaded; a postponement for missing documents may not exceed thirty days except for force majeure (Article 7/7 and 7/8 of the Law; Article 21/2 of the Implementing Regulation).

How long can a work permit holder stay outside Turkey?

Six uninterrupted months on a fixed-term permit, one uninterrupted year on an independent or indefinite permit, and two uninterrupted years on a Turquoise Card. If these periods are exceeded other than for force majeure, such as health reasons or compulsory public service, the permit is canceled (Article 15/2(ğ) of the Law; Article 22/1(a) of the Turquoise Card Regulation).

How can a foreigner married to a Turkish citizen work?

By obtaining a work permit; marriage and a family residence permit do not by themselves give the right to work. A foreigner who has lived in a marital union in Turkey with a Turkish citizen for at least three years may be issued a permit for up to three years, not exceeding the term of the employment contract (Article 36 of the Implementing Regulation). Foreigners who have lived in a marital union with a Turkish citizen for at least three years are also exempt from the Ministry's employment, financial adequacy and wage criteria. A report by the relevant authorities that the marriage is a sham marriage is a ground for canceling this permit (Article 56/1(k)).