For employers who want to hire foreign staff

• An e-signature in the name of the company's social security (SGK e-bildirge) user, who registers the workplace in the Ministry's system
• An employment contract signed with the foreign employee (the Ministry's sample contracts can be used)
• The Trade Registry Gazette and last year's certified balance sheet and income statement
• Depending on the sector, a pre-approval or operating licence (healthcare, education, tourism, etc.)

Employment

At least 5 Turkish citizens must work at the workplace for each foreign employee.Workplaces with net sales of TRY 50 million or more in the last year are exempt from this rule for up to five foreigners.

Financial strength (operating company)

Paid-in capital of at least TRY 500,000, or net sales of at least TRY 8,000,000, or exports of at least USD 150,000

Financial strength (new company)

Paid-in capital of at least TRY 500,000

Salary

Measured against the gross minimum wage on the application date: at least 5× for senior managers and pilots, 4× for engineers and architects, 3× for other managers, 2× for skilled and specialist roles, and at least the minimum wage for other jobs.

• Manufacturing, poultry farming and recycling: Until 31 Dec 2027, the employment criterion is waived for one foreigner per five Turkish employees at branch level (since 3 Aug 2026).
• IT: For specialist roles such as software, database, network and security, the employment and financial criteria don't apply at IT-sector workplaces; in other sectors they don't apply for up to two foreigners.
• R&D centres and technology development zones: With a positive opinion from the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the employment and financial criteria are waived.
• Tourism: At establishments licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism that employ at least ten Turkish citizens, the employment criterion doesn't apply for skilled and specialist roles.
• Foreign shareholders: The shareholding must be at least 20% and the capital share at least TRY 500,000; these conditions don't apply from a capital share of USD 100,000.
• Foreigners exempt from the criteria: For example, those whose parent or child is a Turkish citizen, those married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, long-term residence permit holders and those who have been in Türkiye for at least eight years.

Healthcare and education require a pre-approval from the relevant ministry. The list is long and changes often; we check which rules apply to your company before you apply.

In domestic services, work permits are only granted for childcare, care of elderly or disabled people, and patient care. The person needing care or certain relatives listed in the rules can apply. The assessment considers the cared-for person's situation, the foreigner's experience and the employer's regular income. Guide to employing a domestic caregiver

1. 1

   Social security and start of work

   For in-country applications, the employee must start work with social security registration within one month of the permit start date; for applications from abroad, within one month of entering Türkiye (and in any case within six months of the permit start date). Contributions are declared on the salary and full-time work stated in the application.

2. 2

   Notification duty

   The start and end of employment, and any circumstances requiring cancellation of the permit, must be reported to the Ministry within 15 days.

3. 3

   Termination when the employee leaves

   If the employee doesn't start or leaves, the permit is terminated in e-İzin via "Permit Termination Request" with an e-signature.

4. 4

   Extension timeline

   The extension window opens 60 days before the permit expires. About extensions