Work Permit

Employing a foreign national in Turkey legally requires a work permit. Applications are filed by the employer with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and most rejections come down to the employer not meeting the baseline requirements, mis-declared salary or a sector quota that has already been filled. Demirel Consultancy manages the full process on both the employer and employee sides and prepares the file so it passes the first time.

The work permit process is more than filling in a form — under Law No. 6735 on International Labour and its secondary legislation, dozens of criteria from the employer's financial standing to the applicant's diploma are evaluated.

Work permit categories we handle

• Fixed-term work permit — tied to an employment contract, up to 1 year for the first application
• Indefinite work permit — for foreigners with at least 8 years of legal employment
• Independent work permit — for freelancers, professionals and investors
• Turquoise Card — for qualified investors, scientists and senior executives
• Exceptional work permit — for R&D staff, engineers, architects and direct foreign investors
• Domestic services work permit — special category for caregivers of the elderly and the sick

Baseline employer requirements

• At least TRY 100,000 paid-in capital (subject to current updates)
• For every foreign hire, at least 5 Turkish employees registered with SGK at the same workplace
• Last year's turnover above TRY 800,000 (for some categories)
• Salary offered to the foreigner not below the minimum-wage multiplier (1x to 6.5x depending on the role)
• No outstanding SGK or tax debts

Step by step

1. Eligibility check. We review the company's financials, SGK headcount and salary alignment for the target position — free of charge.
2. Employer profile setup. We open the employer's account in the e-Devlet and e-İzin systems and arrange the electronic signature authorisation.
3. Document preparation. Company records, diplomas, health insurance, contract and passport copies are gathered in a single round.
4. Filing. Domestic (foreigner already resident) or overseas (consulate + Ministry) route is selected and the file is uploaded.
5. Evaluation. The Ministry usually issues a decision within 30 working days; we respond to any additional document request the same day.
6. Post-decision. After approval, the fee is paid within 30 days, the residence card is printed and the employee is registered with SGK.

Required documents

• For the company: activity certificate, trade registry gazette, last year's balance sheet and P&L, tax plate, SGK workplace declaration
• For the employee: passport, biometric photo, apostilled and sworn-translated diploma, CV, contract, health insurance, power of attorney
• For Turquoise Card: reference letters, investment records, academic CV

Work permit extensions

The first permit is granted for 1 year. With the same employer it can then be extended to 2 years, then 3 years. It is critical to start the extension application 60 days before expiry — otherwise the employee falls into illegal status and the process has to start from scratch.

Rejection grounds and appeals

The most common reasons for rejection are insufficient capital, a disproportionate Turkish-to-foreign ratio, a diploma or experience that does not match the position, a full sector quota and a salary below the required multiplier. Rejection can be challenged through an administrative objection within 30 days, followed by an annulment lawsuit — Demirel Consultancy is with you in this stage as well.

Why Demirel Consultancy?

We do not see work permit consultancy as merely a form-filling service. Up front we check the financial structure of your company, your SGK filings and the compatibility of the position description. Where needed we propose fixes before the application is ever submitted, so the process succeeds on the first try with minimum risk.