Work permit exemption

• An official document issued by the Ministry; while valid, it gives the right to work and reside without a work permit.
• It counts as a residence permit and allows multiple entries and exits during its validity.
• Time spent on an exemption does not count towards legal work permit or residence permit periods.
• Family members gain no right of residence from the exemption; they need their own residence permit applications.

Installation, maintenance, repair, training

3 monthsInstalling, servicing, repairing or training on imported machinery and equipment; training on exported/imported goods and services; taking delivery of equipment; repairing broken-down vehicles (48/b)

Cross-border service providers

3 monthsBusiness visitors, contractual service suppliers or independent professionals (48/c)

Board members and shareholders

3 monthsNon-resident board members of joint-stock companies, non-managing shareholders, non-shareholder top-level representatives (48/ç)

Scientific, cultural and artistic activities

1 month48/a

Foreigners notified by public authorities as contributors

6 monthsEconomic, socio-cultural, technological and educational fields (48/h)

Tour operator representatives

8 months48/ı

Fairs and circuses

6 monthsOperating outside licensed tourism establishments (48/ğ)

Seasonal agriculture and livestock

6 monthsExcluding people under temporary or international protection (48/g)

Sporting events

4 monthsTournaments, Olympic Games and similar (48/e)

Professional athletes, coaches and sports staff

Club/federation contract term48/k

Research and training stays

2 years (not exceeding the training period)Universities and public institutions (48/j)

International internship and youth programmes

12 monthsIAESTE, AIESEC, Erasmus+ (48/i)

Inter-university student exchange internships

4 months48/f

Foreign students on compulsory internships

Compulsory internship period48/n

Türkiye–EU financial cooperation projects

Assignment periodIPA, Next Generation EU, etc. (48/m)

The full list, including seafarers, military factories and shipyards, institutions attached to foreign missions and other types, is in the Ministry's official table (opens in a new tab) (in Turkish). Some exemption applications relating to foreign missions are made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1. 1

   If you're in Türkiye

   You

   Apply without exceeding your visa or visa-free period and within 30 days of entering Türkiye at the latest. With a foreigner ID starting with 9 you log in via e-Devlet; otherwise with your passport details.

2. 2

   If you're abroad

   You

   Apply at the Turkish mission in your country of citizenship or legal residence, then use the reference number you receive to complete the application in the Ministry's online system.

3. 3

   Documents

   You

   A biometric photo, a valid passport, education and (if any) workplace details with supporting documents, plus documents proving your situation for the exemption type you apply for.

4. 4

   Decision, payment and card

   Ministry

   The decision is sent to your registered email. If approved and the fee and card charge are not paid within 30 days, the application is rejected. After payment the card is sent by courier.

• The exemption is issued for the period you request, up to the type's maximum and ending 60 days before your passport expires.
• It cannot be extended. If the work will exceed the maximum, a work permit is required. Work permit application
• A new application of the same type is only possible 6 months after issue for installation/maintenance (48/b) and cross-border services (48/c), and 12 months for other types.
• You cannot file another exemption application while one is still being assessed.
• Social security obligations are fulfilled on the salary and full-time work declared in the application.
• Start and end of work are reported within 15 days; social security start and end notifications count as reports to the Ministry. Exemptions of up to 3 months are exempt from reporting.
• Foreign architects, engineers and urban planners providing professional services need a work permit if the service exceeds one month.

The exemption certificate is subject to a fee plus a card charge; the amounts are in the same table as fixed-term work permits (official fees). No fee is charged for short exemptions. The Ministry's texts describe the limit once as “up to 3 months” and elsewhere as “shorter than three months”, so for a request of exactly 3 months it is worth confirming before applying whether a fee applies. Where no fee is charged, a card is only issued on request and on payment of the card charge.