Working Permit for an indefinite period of Time

When you as a foreigner would like to work in Turkey, you will need to request a working permit by the Turkish Embassy or the Turkish consulate in your home country. Your employer needs to send the necessary documents to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Foreigners who are in Turkey with a tourist visa can not apply for a working permit.

In general a working permit has a duration of 1 year. In case you need an extension of your permit, this needs to be done in the defined period of time (rule in 2012: 2,5 months before expiration date).

After extension the working permit will be effective for 2 years. A potential second extension will be valid for 3 years. When you have lived and worked in Turkey for a full and constant period of 8 years, you will be able to request a working permit for an indefinite period of time. Your previous working permit does not need to be extended. You only have to make sure you request your indefinite permit well on time by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in Ankara.

If there is not a bilateral or multilateral agreement between Turkey and another country stating otherwise, a foreigner who has lived for a legal and constant period of 8 years or has worked for at least 6 years in Turkey, is able to extend his working permit for an indefinite period of time. This permit will not be bound to a project, profession or geographical area.

The condition that you have to have lived in Turkey for a legal and constant period of 8 years must be proven with previous residence permits and papers from the aliens police. During your request for a working permit for an indefinite period you have to produce these records to the Ministry of Labour and Social security. When the residence permit is extended, the working permit will also not be valid anymore. So, in case you have a working permit for a indefinite period of time and your residence permit expires, you will be obliged to report this to the local alien police.