Successful Results In Work Permit Applications
Oct 3, 2024
Successful Results In Work Permit Applications
The Ministry of Labor has strict and incredibly detailed procedures for foreign nationals who seek to work and obtain a work permit in Türkiye. We provide end-to-end services and step-by-step guidance to companies that have or need staff in Türkiye with our expert team.
There are two different ways of application to obtain a work permit in Türkiye depending on the status of residency.
APPLICATION FROM TÜRKIYE
1- Workplace Registration Process & Authorization of Consultants on the Online Portal
Workplace Registration
The first step of the application is to create a workplace registration on the online portal of the Ministry of Labor. This step will be completed with the electronic signature and the Registered E-Mail (KEP) address of your Social Security Institution (SSI) workplace representative suitable for notification. At this step, no form, petition, or document will be sent to the Ministry of Labor; you will only need to authorize our consultants on the system. Afterwards, our consultants will complete the required documents for application on behalf of the workplace and submit them to the Ministry.
It is important that your SSI workplace representative has a mobile signature and KEP address.
When creating a workplace registration on the online portal of the Ministry, first the SSI workplace registration number is entered into the system, and information about the workplace is registered. Afterwards, the Trade Registry Gazette, Certificate of Activity, approved Corporate Tax Declaration for the last year should be uploaded to the system and the capital details of the workplace should be entered. The workplace registration will be finalized when these steps are completed.
Authorization
After the workplace registration is completed, the authorization process starts. At this step, the SSI representative of the workplace will log into the system and enter the name-surname, contact information, and Turkish Republic ID numbers of the consultant you will authorize and complete the authorization process by signing with e-signature. With this authorization, your consultants will be able to contact the Ministry on your behalf and follow up documents manually.
2- Delivery of the Documents to the Ministry
The Ministry requests some documents belonging to both the company and the foreign employee candidate. After these documents are submitted to the Ministry through the online system by ourselves, the work permit application is taken under evaluation.
Company Documents to be Submitted
Corporate Tax Declaration
Trade Registry Gazette
Certificate of Activity
SSI List for the relevant period
SSI clearance letter from SSI
Tax clearance letter from the Tax Office can also be requested.
Candidate Employee Documents to be Submitted
Employment contract signed with the current date (must be clearly stated as "monthly wage XXXX Turkish Liras / monthly gross" and must be necessarily signed with a blue pen)
Passport (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Certificate (of Graduation) (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Foreigner's contact information (e-mail address / phone number)
Photo (scanned portrait photo)
3- Evaluation and Approval Process
The work permit card following the approval of the application and payment of the governmental fees will be delivered by PTT (Turkish Post) to the relevant workplace.
4- Expenses
The expenses for 2024 are as follows. The consultant fee will be added on top of this cost.
Valuable paper fee [565,00 TRY]
Work permit fee for 1 year [(7.345 TRY + 565 TRY) = 7.910 TRY]
Work permit fee for 2 year [(14.690 TRY + 565 TRY) = 15.255 TRY]
Work permit fee for 3 year [(22.035 TRY + 565 TRY) = 22.600 TRY]
Notary and translation costs vary per character and page; you can get information according to the number of documents.
Work permit fees will be paid to the relevant banks in Türkiye by the company for which the foreign employee will work.
5- Minimum Gross Wages Required to get a Work Permit
Legally, updating the employee's base wage in a way not to be below the related rate in accordance with the yearly amendment of the minimum wage, and the full payment of SSI premiums is also important in this process.
Following the approval of the work permit, the registration of the foreign employee must be completed in the SSI within 30 days after the payment of the governmental fees. Otherwise, the company may face administrative penalties.
Gross Wage Amounts by Position
Ø For foreigners who will work in a household employee position > 1
Ø For foreigners who will work in staff status such as Customer Representative, Sales Agent, Marketing Officer, Export Officer > 1,5
Ø For foreigners who work in jobs as masseurs, masseuses and SPA personnel along with acrobats and similar job positions in tourism companies > 2
Ø For those who will work in jobs that require expertise and mastery, e.g. teachers, doctors > 3
Ø For department and regional/branch managers or engineers and architectures > 4
Ø For senior executives, pilots and executive engineers and architects requesting preliminary authorization > 6,5
APPLICATION FROM ABROAD
1- Workplace Registration Process & Authorization of Consultants on the Online Portal
Workplace Registration
The first step of the application is to create a workplace registration on the online portal of the Ministry of Labor. This step will be completed with the electronic signature and the Registered E-Mail (KEP) address of your Social Security Institution (SSI) workplace representative suitable for notification. At this step, no form, petition, or document will be sent to the Ministry; you will only need to authorize our consultants on the system. Afterwards, our consultants will complete the required documents for application on behalf of the workplace and submit them to the Ministry.
It is important that your SSI workplace representative has a mobile signature and KEP address.
When creating a workplace registration on the online portal of the Ministry, first the SSI workplace registration number is entered into the system, and information about the workplace is registered. Afterwards, the Trade Registry Gazette, Certificate of Activity, approved Corporate Tax Declaration for the last year should be uploaded to the system and the capital details of the workplace should be entered. The workplace registration will be finalized when these steps are completed.
Authorization
After the workplace registration is completed, the authorization process is started. At this step, the SSI representative of the workplace will log into the system and enter the name-surname, contact information, and Turkish Republic ID numbers of the consultant you will authorize and complete the authorization process by signing with e-signature. With this authorization, your consultants will be able to contact the Ministry on your behalf and follow up documents manually.
2- Getting a Reference Number
The employee candidate must obtain a reference number by visiting the Turkish Consulate/Embassy in the country of his/her legal residence. The foreign employee candidate must complete the documents required for the Work Permit application.
Additional documents may be requested by the Consulate/Embassy in the relevant country, but the documents requested mainly are as follows. The petitions required to get the reference number are provided by us.
Employment contract signed with the current date (must be clearly stated as "monthly wage XXXX Turkish Liras/monthly gross" and must be necessarily signed with a blue pen)
Passport (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Certificate (of Graduation) (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Photo (scanned portrait photo - original can be requested as well)
Petition stating that the company (employer) wants to sponsor for a work permit (to be prepared by us) , additional documents belonging to the company may be requested by the Consulate along with the petition
A petition signed by the foreign candidate stating wish to work for the relevant company in Türkiye by obtaining a work permit (it will be prepared by us)
It should not be forgotten that the validity period of the reference number to be sent to us is ten days.
3- Delivery of the Documents to the Ministry
The Ministry of Labor requests some documents belonging to both the company and the foreign employee candidate. After these documents are submitted to the Ministry by ourselves with the authorization granted through the online system, the work permit application is taken under evaluation.
Company Documents to be Submitted
Corporate Tax Declaration
Temporary Tax Return for the last period
Trade Registry Gazette
Certificate of Activity
SSI List for the relevant period
SSI clearance letter from SSI
Tax clearance letter from the Tax Office can also be requested.
Candidate Employee Documents to be Submitted
Employment contract signed with the current date (must be clearly stated as "monthly wage XXXX Turkish Liras/monthly gross" and must be necessarily signed with a blue pen)
Passport (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Certificate (of Graduation) (with Turkish translation and notarized copy)
Photo (scanned portrait photo)
Foreigner's contact information (e-mail address/phone number)
The reference number to be provided: Since this reference number, which will be valid for 10 days if the foreigner applies for a work permit from abroad, it is important that it is shared with us right after it is sent to the foreigner by the Consulate.
The work permit card for the approved work permits will be delivered by PTT to the relevant workplace.
4- Evaluation and Approval Process
Once the application is submitted to the Ministry and the work permit is approved after the evaluation is completed, the foreign employee candidate must re-visit the Turkish Consulate and obtain the work visa. After providing a visa, he/she can enter Türkiye.
Prior to re-visiting the Consulate to obtain the work visa by the foreigner, the work permit governmental fees are to be paid by the employer company in Türkiye.
5- Expenses
The expenses for 2024 are as follows. The consultant fee will be added on top of this cost.
Valuable paper fee [565,00 TRY]
Work permit fee for 1 year [(7.345 TRY + 565 TRY) = 7.910 TRY]
Work permit fee for 2 year [(14.690 TRY + 565 TRY) = 15.255 TRY]
Work permit fee for 3 year [(22.035 TRY + 565 TRY) = 22.600 TRY]
Notary and translation costs vary per character and page; you can get information according to the number of documents.
6- Minimum Gross Wages Required to get a Work Permit
To meet the legal requirements, the employee's base salary shall be compliant with the job title and the minimum salary levels as per the job positions. When the minimum wage is amended by the authorities, the salary of the employee shall also be adjusted accordingly and the SSI premiums are to be paid fully.
Following the approval of the work permit, the foreign employee must enter Türkiye within 180 days. Following the entrance to Türkiye, the foriegner's SSI registration shall be completed by the employer company within 30 days. Otherwise, the company may face administrative penalties.
Gross Wage Amounts by Position
Ø For foreigners who will work in a household employee position > 1
Ø For foreigners who will work in staff status such as Customer Representative, Sales Agent, Marketing Officer, Export Officer > 1,5
Ø For foreigners who work in jobs as masseurs, masseuses and SPA personnel along with acrobats and similar job positions in tourism companies > 2
Ø For those who will work in jobs that require expertise and mastery, e.g. teachers, doctors > 3
Ø For department and regional/branch managers or engineers and architectures > 4
Ø For senior executives, pilots and executive engineers and architects requesting preliminary authorization > 6,5
Equivalency of Graduation Certificates in Work Permits
If the graduation certificates of foreign employees are required to be used for job positions in Türkiye, it should be regulated with the certificate of equivalence by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). This process takes time and may lengthen the period for the approval of work permit. Equivalency applications can be made online at denklik.yok.gov.tr. (The link is in Turkish.)
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