Work Permits in IT, R&D and Advanced Technology

1. Full exemption in the IT sector

In workplaces operating in the IT sector, applications for specialised jobs, professions or duties such as software development, database, mobile software, systems/network and security and enterprise architecture expertise are, as a rule, not subject to the employment and financial adequacy criteria (Work Permit Evaluation Criteria B.1.1).

In other words, for staff in these roles no 5:1 (Turkish staff per foreigner) rule and no capital/net sales/export threshold is required; the application is assessed normally as regards wages, documents and deadlines.

2. Non-IT workplaces: a maximum of two foreigners

In workplaces outside the IT sector, the same specialised roles are exempt from the employment and financial adequacy criteria for a maximum of two foreigners (B.1.2).

For example, the first two foreign specialists hired in the software team of a logistics company need not meet the 1:5 employment rule or the financial criteria; from the third onwards the general criteria apply.

3. R&D centres, design centres and technology development zones

• For foreign R&D, innovation and design staff employed by companies holding an R&D centre or design centre certificate under Law No. 5746, a favourable opinion from the Ministry of Industry and Technology is required (B.5.2).
• The same ministry opinion is required for foreigners working within a technology development zone under Law No. 4691 (B.5.2).
• Applications under these two headings are exempt from the employment and financial adequacy criteria (B.5.2).

4. Advanced technology and qualified investment

For qualified investments promised to make a high contribution to the economy or create large numbers of jobs, for jobs requiring advanced technology, or where no Turkish expert with the same qualifications exists so that skilled labour is needed, the general evaluation criteria may be waived in part or in full, provided the Directorate General approves (B.5.1).

5. The wage criterion still applies

The exemptions relate only to the employment and financial adequacy criteria; the minimum wage multiplier for the job group (criteria effective 01.10.2024) still applies. With the 2026 gross minimum wage at 33,030.00 TRY, for example, the minimum payable salary for an engineer/architect position is 132,120 TRY.

6. The six-month rule: permits granted under exemptions stay put

A foreigner whose permit is issued under a sector or occupation-based exemption and who applies domestically within six months of the permit start date to work for a different employer and outside that sector/occupation will be refused, except in force majeure situations (B.12.1).