KAZAN DANIŞMANLIK · LAW NO. 6735
End-to-end management of application, extension and employment-criteria processes for foreign employees and companies in Turkey. Compliant with the regulations, transparent and trackable step by step.
OUR SERVICES
Complete applications through the e-İzin system for foreigners with a residence permit of at least 6 months in Turkey, or who obtained a work visa reference number abroad.
Extension applications filed from 60 days before the permit expires; up to 2 years for the first extension and up to 3 years for later ones.
Analysis of your workplace’s Turkish headcount, capital/sales/export position and the minimum gross salary payable to the foreigner, including the current exceptions.
Preparing and following up an objection filed through the e-İzin system within 30 days of notification of the refusal.
5-STAGE LEGAL PROCESS
The Ministry concludes the application within 30 days if the information and documents are complete; document preparation varies by file.
Stage 1Before applying
The workplace’s Turkish headcount, capital/sales/export position (financial capacity) and the minimum gross salary for the foreigner’s job group are checked; any exceptions (such as the 03.08.2026 rules and sector exceptions) are assessed.
Stage outputPreliminary Eligibility Assessment
Start(opens in a new tab)Stage 2Before applying
Documents are prepared in full: for the foreigner, the employment contract, a passport valid for at least 60 days, the diploma with its translation if needed, and a photo; for the employer, the trade registry gazette, balance sheet and income statement.
Stage outputComplete Application File
Start(opens in a new tab)Stage 3Application day
The application is made on behalf of the employer through e-Devlet in the e-İzin system (with the 16-digit reference number for overseas applications); documents are uploaded electronically.
Stage outputApplication Record
Start(opens in a new tab)Stage 430 days
The Ministry concludes the application within 30 days if the information and documents are complete. If additional information or documents are requested, the period starts from the date they are uploaded to the system.
Stage outputMinistry Decision
Start(opens in a new tab)Stage 530 days from the payment notification
After approval, the fee and valuable paper charge are paid through the Digital Tax Office; if they are not paid within 30 days, the application is refused. The work permit card is sent to the workplace address by PTT Cargo.
Stage outputWork Permit Card
Start(opens in a new tab)OFFICIAL FRAMEWORK
30 days
Ministry review period
If information and documents are complete; the period restarts when extra documents are requested
1 : 5
Employment criterion
At least 5 Turkish employees per foreigner; exceptions apply
1× – 5×
Gross minimum wage multiple
By job group; 2026 gross minimum wage is 33,030.00 TRY
60 days
Extension application window
From 60 days before the permit ends, and before it expires
Source: Ministry of Labour and Social Security, International Labour Force General Directorate; Law No. 6735 and its Implementing Regulation. Reviewed on 29/09/2026.
The most common questions about Turkish work permit rules.
The basic rule: for every foreigner a work permit is requested for, at least 5 Turkish citizens must be employed at the workplace. There are exceptions: at workplaces with net sales of 50,000,000 TRY or more in the last year, the criterion is not applied for up to five foreigners; since 03.08.2026, for domestic applications on behalf of foreigners who stayed in Turkey lawfully for at least one year in the last three years before the application (under a work permit, residence permit or international protection), the employment and financial criteria are not applied for up to three foreigners (the number of foreigners must not exceed the number of Turkish employees); foreigners who have lawfully stayed in Turkey for at least eight years are outside the criteria; and special arrangements exist for some sectors such as IT and tourism. We determine which case applies to your file.
Properly completed applications are concluded within 30 days, provided the information and documents are complete. If additional information or documents are requested, the period starts again from the date they are uploaded to the system. After approval the fee and valuable paper charge are paid, and the work permit card is sent to the workplace address by PTT Cargo. Document preparation time varies by file.
According to the tariff of Communiqué No. 98 of the Fees Law published in the Official Gazette dated 31.12.2025, issue 33124 (5. Mükerrer), the fee depends on the period granted: up to 1 year 12,574.90 TRY, 1-2 years 25,149.80 TRY, 2-3 years 37,724.70 TRY. In addition, a valuable paper (card) charge of 964.00 TRY is paid. If the fee and card charge are not paid within 30 days of the payment notification, the application is refused.
Generally not. The salary is required to be a multiple of the gross minimum wage on the application date, depending on the job group (since 01.10.2024): at least 5× for senior executives and pilots, 4× for engineers and architects, 3× for other managers, 2× for jobs requiring expertise or a skilled trade, and the minimum wage level for domestic services and other jobs. With the 2026 gross minimum wage at 33,030.00 TRY, the lower limit for an engineer/architect is 132,120 TRY.
Since 01.01.2025 the workplace must have paid-in capital of at least 500,000 TRY, or net sales of at least 8,000,000 TRY in the last year, or exports of at least 150,000 USD in the last year; for newly established workplaces (with no balance sheet yet) paid-in capital of at least 500,000 TRY is required. For applications on behalf of a foreign company partner, the partner’s capital share must additionally be at least 20% and at least 500,000 TRY; these criteria are not applied to foreign partners with a capital share of 100,000 USD or more.
GET ADVICE
Send us your company’s Turkish headcount and the foreign employee’s details; we will draw up your roadmap together in a free pre-assessment.