Foreign nationals who want to work legally in Türkiye generally need a work permit. For applications made from abroad, the applicant must apply in person at a Turkish embassy or consulate general in the country where the applicant is a citizen or legally resides. The employer in Türkiye then completes the second stage of the application online.
A work permit application is different from an ordinary tourist or business visa application. A valid work permit generally substitutes for a residence permit while it remains in effect, and the work-annotated visa issued by the Turkish mission is used to enter Türkiye.
You do not need to obtain a Turkish residence permit before starting an application from abroad. A domestic application may be possible when a foreign national already has a Turkish residence permit that was issued for at least six months and remains valid on the application date. Certain legally present foreign nationals may also be eligible to apply domestically without a valid residence permit.
The exact documents and charges can depend on the applicant’s circumstances and the Turkish mission handling the case. The steps below summarize the standard process for an application made from abroad.
Steps to Apply for a Turkish Work Visa
Step 1. Get a Job Offer or a Contract with an Employer from Turkey
Start by obtaining an employment contract or a letter from an employer in Türkiye. The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a letter from the employer as one of the required documents for the applicant’s work visa filing. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security also requires an employment contract signed by the employer and the foreign national as part of the work permit application. The process cannot be completed without the employer’s participation.
Step 2. Apply for a Work Visa in the Directorate General of Migration Management
For an application made from abroad, apply in person at the Turkish embassy or consulate general in the country where you are a citizen or legally reside. The application is not submitted to the Directorate General of Migration Management. The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that visa applications for work purposes must be made through Turkish missions abroad. Applicants can use the Pre-Application System for Turkish Sticker Visa to schedule an appointment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends applying at least one month before the planned travel date to allow for possible processing delays.
Step 3. Pay the Required Fees
If the Ministry of Labor and Social Security approves your work permit application, you must pay the applicable charges. For 2026, the Ministry lists a work permit fee of 12,574.90 TRY for a fixed-term permit of up to one year and a separate valuable-paper fee of 964 TRY. Visa and residence-related charges may also apply. The exact total depends on the permit duration and the charges notified for your application. Because the amounts are updated periodically, check the Ministry’s current work permit fee page before paying. If the required work permit and valuable-paper fees are not paid within 30 days of notification, the application is rejected.
Step 4. Attend Your Visa Appointment
Attend your appointment at the Turkish embassy or consulate general as part of the initial application process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists your passport, visa application form, and a letter from your employer as the core documents for a work visa application. The mission may request additional supporting documents based on your circumstances. After the initial filing, the embassy or consulate general provides a 16-digit reference number for the employer’s online work permit application.
Step 5. Notify Your Employer After the Interview
As soon as the Turkish embassy or consulate general provides your 16-digit reference number, send it to your employer in Türkiye. Your employer must use this reference number to submit the work permit application through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security’s online system. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the employer should submit the required supporting documents to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security within 10 working days after your application.
Step 6. Get the Visa and Work Permit
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security evaluates a duly completed work permit application within 30 days, provided that the information and documents are complete. The decision is sent to the email address declared in the application and, for applications made from abroad, to the relevant Turkish mission. If your application is approved, pay the required fees and follow the mission’s instructions for obtaining the visa sticker in your passport. The work permit card is delivered to your employer’s address by PTT Cargo. After entering Türkiye with a work visa, register in the address registration system within 20 days. For an application made from abroad, you must start working and fulfill the applicable social security obligations within one month of entering the country and, in any event, within six months of the work permit’s start date.
Documents Needed for a Turkish Work Visa
The documents are divided between the applicant’s visa filing at the Turkish mission and the employer’s online work permit filing. Requirements can vary depending on the applicant, the job, and the mission handling the application, so check the relevant Turkish embassy or consulate general’s checklist before applying.
For the work visa application, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists a passport, visa application form, and a letter from the employer as the core documents. All visa applicants must also have medical insurance that remains valid during their stay in Türkiye. For the employer’s online work permit filing, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security lists a signed employment contract, a copy of the passport, a diploma or temporary graduation certificate when required, and the applicable employer documents. Additional documents may be required for certain occupations or circumstances. Review the Ministry’s work permit document requirements and the relevant Turkish mission’s instructions before submitting the application.
FAQs: Work Visa Applications for Turkey
Are there Exemptions in Applying for a Turkish Work Visa?
Yes. The rules distinguish between foreign nationals who may work without a permit under other laws, bilateral or multilateral agreements, or international agreements, and foreign nationals who may qualify for a limited work permit exemption under Article 48 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Labor Force Law. For example, the Ministry states that qualifying Blue Card holders do not need a work permit. Separate limited exemptions may apply to certain activities, such as scientific, cultural, or artistic work; machinery installation, maintenance, repair, or training; certain cross-border services; selected European Union financial cooperation projects; and specific work connected with foreign missions or international organizations. Eligibility requirements and maximum exemption periods differ by category. Check the Ministry of Labor and Social Security’s official exemption page before relying on an exemption.
Planning to work abroad can be exciting, but it is important to complete the legal process before starting employment in Türkiye. An approved work permit and the required entry visa allow eligible foreign nationals to enter the country and work legally.
We hope this article on how to get a work visa in Turkey was helpful. If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out the Study in Turkey and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more informative articles.
