Turkish Work Visa
Turkish Work Visa: For Whom is it Necessary?
The Turkish work visa is an essential permit for individuals who intend to achieve their career and work goals in Turkey. For them, a work visa must be obtained along with a work permit to be able to work as foreign labor in Turkey. Iranian individuals, to enter the Turkish labor market, must first obtain a work visa from the Turkish embassy and then acquire a work permit under its coverage. This visa is also known as the Turkish work visa, and based on Turkish immigration laws, all citizens of the world, except for citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, require this visa and work permit to enter the Turkish labor market.
Residency in Turkey: Choosing One of 5 Legal Paths
Residency in Turkey is possible through 5 different paths, including study, work, investment, property rental, and marriage. Each of these paths has its own specific conditions, but generally, having sufficient financial means, meeting the relevant age requirements, having Turkish or English language proficiency, academic qualifications, expertise, and necessary skills are among the requirements for residency in Turkey.
Note that these paths do not necessarily lead to permanent residency immediately. For example, in the study path, the duration of residency is limited to the duration of study, and in the property rental path, residency is granted for one year. Therefore, if you are looking for permanent residency in Turkey, contact Atlloo consultants so that our consultants can review your conditions, introduce the best residency path suited to your circumstances, and assist you in obtaining permanent residency.
**Work Migration Steps to Turkey**
To migrate for work to Turkey, you must first obtain a job offer from an employer in Turkey. Iranian individuals, due to the possibility of entering Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days, can personally participate in international job fairs in Turkey or search for jobs from within Iran by visiting websites offering international job opportunities in Turkey.
After finding a job and receiving the consent of the Turkish employer, the employer must register the request to hire a foreign national on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of Turkey within 10 business days. Then, the job seeker has 90 days to submit their application along with all required documents to the Turkish embassy or consulate and obtain the Turkish residency card and work visa. The most important requirements for hiring foreign workers in Turkey are: having sufficient financial means, meeting the relevant age requirements, having Turkish or English language proficiency, academic qualifications, expertise, and necessary skills.
Also, proficiency in Turkish is considered an advantage and a requirement for work migration to Turkey due to the limited job opportunities in English. Other work visas are also available for specific professions, including artists, athletes, journalists, technical repairers, and university professors. Among the most needed jobs in Turkey are economic analyst, IT and computer engineer, chain restaurant manager, and civil engineer. The average salary for international workers in Turkey ranges from 35,000 to 105,000 USD.
Residency in Turkey Through Investment
Residency in Turkey through investment is possible through several methods, including:
1. Company Registration:
– You can obtain residency by registering a company in Turkey. This method can be through investment in various economic sectors.
2. Property Purchase:
– Obtaining residency in this country is possible by purchasing property in Turkey with a specified value.
3. Investment in Economic Sectors:
– Direct investment in specific economic sectors is another way to obtain residency.
4. Investment through Purchasing Stocks and Securities:
– Purchasing stocks or securities can also be a path to Turkish residency.
5. Investment in Turkish Banks:
– Individuals can obtain residency in this country by investing in Turkish banks.
6. Investment Without the Right to Work:
– Turkish residency may also be obtained without the right to work.
Minimum conditions for investment in Turkey include being at least 18 years old and having an economic feasibility plan. Industries recognized as attractive for investment in Turkey include agriculture, automotive, textiles, mining, real estate, and tourism. For more information on the minimum amount for property purchase for residency, you can contact our consultants.
Turkish Residency Through Entrepreneurship and Company Registration
One of the attractive ways to migrate to Turkey is through entrepreneurship and company registration. Turkey’s proximity to Iran, ease of travel, and better economic conditions compared to Iran have made this country an attractive destination for individuals seeking to acquire residency and desirable income conditions. Company registration and activity in various fields offer this opportunity to applicants. The minimum investment required for company registration in Turkey is at least 10,000 Turkish Lira (equivalent to 2,600 US dollars). The conditions for migrating to Turkey through entrepreneurship and company registration are as follows:
1. Submission of Business Plan:
– The applicant must submit their business plan explaining the process of starting the business and its details.
2. Approval by the Ministry of Labor:
– After preparing the business plan, it must be approved by the Turkish Ministry of Labor.
3. Job Creation:
– Under the new Turkish residency conditions, you are required to create at least 50 jobs in the country.
4. Shareholder and Board of Directors:
– To obtain Turkish residency through this method, you must have at least one shareholder and a board of directors in the company.
Note that these conditions and regulations may change, so ensure you are informed of the latest information and laws related to migration to Turkey.
Purchasing Stocks and Government Bonds as a Way to Reside in Turkey
One of the effective ways to obtain residency in Turkey is by purchasing government bonds of the country. To obtain a temporary residence permit in Turkey through this method, the applicant must have the required amount in their bank account. By paying a specified amount, a temporary residence permit can be obtained in Turkey. The cost of this type of residency through purchasing government bonds is approximately 500,000 US dollars. To obtain residency through this method, there is no need to transfer ownership of shares for a minimum of 3 years. Note that regulations and conditions may change. It is best to always stay updated on the latest information and laws regarding migration to Turkey.
Work Permit in Turkey (Çalışma İzni): Concept and Conditions:
According to Article 4 of the Work Permit Law for Foreigners in Turkey, numbered 4817, every foreign national, before starting work in Turkey, whether employed (employee or worker) or self-employed (entrepreneurship and company registration), is required to obtain a work permit in Turkey, also known as “Çalışma İzni”. This permit, issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Services of Turkey as an official document, allows foreign nationals to work and reside in Turkey. To obtain a work permit in Turkey, you must first find a job or position in Turkey and then ensure that this job is covered by the regulations for issuing work permits in Turkey. The work permit process starts from the time you are hired by an employer and is issued with the approval of the Labor Office and the confirmation of the Ministry of Labor. This work permit grants you the right to work and reside in Turkey.
Conditions for Obtaining Turkish Work Residency:
To obtain a work permit and work residency in Turkey, you must pay attention to the following conditions:
– Finding a Suitable Job: The first and most important condition for applying for a work permit in Turkey is finding a job or position that is eligible for obtaining a work visa in this country.
– Job Suitability: The desired job must belong to the categories of jobs that are eligible for obtaining a work visa in Turkey.
– Employment by a Turkish Company: The company that hires you must be a Turkish company and have the necessary conditions for employing foreign labor.
– Number of Employees and Company Capital: The Turkish company in question must have at least 5 Turkish employees and its capital must be over 100,000 Turkish Lira.
– Official Request from the Company: You must have received an official job offer or letter from the Turkish company.
By meeting these conditions and obtaining all necessary documents, you can apply for a work permit and work residency in Turkey.
Permitted Jobs for Obtaining a Turkish Work Visa:
To apply for a Turkish work visa, you can seek employment in Turkish companies in the following categories and obtain a Çalışma İzni:
1. Professors and Academics:
– Residency permit in the Turkish higher education system
2. Artists:
– Activity permit under the supervision of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Arts
3. Free Zone Workers:
– This visa is approved by the Turkish Ministry of Economy
4. Assembly and Repair Jobs:
– Installation, repair, and maintenance of machinery and equipment imported into Turkey
5. Special and Specialized Jobs:
– Jobs that require specialized labor in Turkey and such labor is not available in this country.
Depending on the type of job you intend to pursue, you can apply to these categories according to your expertise and experience.
Turkish Work Visa Conditions:
Since the Turkish economy is most prosperous in the fields of production and tourism, it is one of the countries with the highest statistics in creating jobs and employment in these areas. One of Turkey’s main laws is that you can obtain residency in Turkey with a Turkish work visa, but you cannot work in this country by obtaining Turkish residency. This means that if you obtain residency in this country through any other means than a Turkish work visa, you will still need a Turkish work visa to work in this country.
One of the most important conditions for a Turkish work visa is that you must first be invited to work by a Turkish employer. In other words, it can be said that it is the Turkish employer who informs the Turkish government that they need you for work and approves you at the Turkish Ministry of Labor, and then applies for a work visa for you through the consulate. Other conditions for a Turkish work visa include being of legal age (18 years), being in full health and not suffering from contagious diseases, not posing a threat to Turkish national security, being familiar with the Turkish language and being able to communicate with people, proving the intention to work in a face-to-face interview with the Directorate General of Migration Management, and not engaging in illegal transactions.
Conditions for a Turkish Work Visa Through a Job Offer:
Since having a valid job offer from a Turkish employer is one of the main documents for obtaining a Turkish work visa, it is not possible to obtain a work visa without a job offer. Given that Turkish employers pay attention to Turkish or English language knowledge and a valid academic degree when hiring their workforce, having these two is among the most important conditions for a Turkish work visa through a job offer. Also, having useful work experience is of high importance. If your application is for a company whose clients are generally foreign, proficiency in English will be considered an advantage, and you may be hired with only English language knowledge. Along with these skills, familiarity with other languages such as Arabic, German, etc., increases your chances of finding a job in Turkey.
Conditions for a Turkish Job Seeker Visa:
Turkey is one of the countries that is very similar to Iran. Therefore, Iranians have a great desire to work in Turkey and obtain a visa for this country. Although there is no Job Seeker visa or a visa titled “Job Search Visa” in Turkey, there are various methods for obtaining a job offer from a Turkish employer. One of the simplest of these methods is contacting international recruitment agencies and institutions. The cost of services provided by these institutions is usually around 250 USD. However, before contacting these institutions and paying the fee, it is recommended to thoroughly review them and if they have a good performance and are trustworthy, ask them to help you in obtaining a job offer in Turkey.
Advantages of a Turkish Work Visa:
1. It is possible for the applicant to obtain a long-term residence permit in this country.
2. After four years of working and living in this country, the applicant can submit their application for permanent citizenship from the Turkish government and proceed to obtain Turkish residency through work.
3. The applicant who can obtain a Turkish work visa will benefit from the health insurance and healthcare services of this country and be exempt from paying treatment costs.
4. By obtaining this visa, the applicant can gain international work experience, which is considered a great advantage for easy migration to other prominent countries around the world.
Extension of Turkish Work Visa:
If you wish to extend your residency in Turkey, you can apply for a work visa extension through the Directorate General of Migration Management, police station, or embassy. The officials of these departments will evaluate your reasons for extension and issue a new visa based on your reasons and nationality. The Turkish work visa is initially granted for one year. If you need to extend your work permit, you must apply for an extension within 45 days. If your work residency permit is on the list of required professions in Turkey, you can extend your work visa. The extended work permit will be valid for two years. If you need to extend it in the next two-year period, under the necessary conditions, you can apply for a Turkish work visa extension for another three years. You should note that if you have resided in Turkey for eight consecutive years and your work permit is extended, you can apply for a permanent work permit and submit this application at the office of the Ministry of Labor and Social Services in Ankara.
