Work Permit Application for Foreigners

Work permit application for foreigners are made by electronic signature via MoLSS (The Ministry of Labor and Social Security) e-government. The documents required for the work permit are uploaded though the system. Work permit fees shall be paid within 15 days upon approval of the work permit. Work permit applications can be made within Turkey and from abroad.

Application for Work Permit from Abroad

For the work permit applications, the employer is required to have e-signature and REM (Registered Electronic Mail).

• Foreigners must first apply to the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence to obtain a work visa.

• After the labor contract and other required documents have been delivered to our Embassies or Consulates, the foreigner is given a 16-digit reference number to apply for a work permit to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

• With this reference number, the employer or the proxy makes a foreign work permit application to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security through the online system and uploads the necessary documents to the system.

• After the examination the application, the Ministry requests the missing or the additional documents supporting the application if necessary from the employer.

• After the missing documents or additional documents requested are delivered to the Ministry by system or mail, the application is evaluated by the Ministry and the application is concluded as positive or negative.

• When the work permit is approved, the applicant pays the necessary fees to the Turkish Embassy or Consulate to which they apply for a work visa and then they can enter Turkey with their visa.

• The employer or the proxy will apply for insurance to SSI (Social Security Institution) within the legal term after the foreign national starts to work in Turkey.

Work Permit Application from Turkey

For the work permit applications, the employer is required to have e-signature and REM (Registered Electronic Mail).

• If the foreigner has a valid residence permit, the employer or the proxy can apply to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security via the online system and upload the necessary documents to the system.

• Ministry requests the missing or the additional documents supporting the application if necessary from the employer,

• After the missing documents or additional documents requested are delivered to the Ministry by system or mail, the application is evaluated by the Ministry and the application is concluded as positive or negative.

• With the approval of the work permit, the necessary fees are paid within 15 days. The work permit card is sent to the employer's address by PTT cargo by the ministry.

• Upon the arrival of the work permit card, the employer or the proxy will apply for insurance to SSI (Social Security Institution) within the legal term after the foreigner starts to work in Turkey.

When to Apply for Extension?

In order to extend the duration of the work permit, an extension application must be made before the expiration of the leave period provided that it is not more than two months back from the expiration date of the current work permit. Applications for extension after the expiry of the work permit shall not be processed.

The request for the extension of the work permit is made electronically via e-government as in the first application.

''e-signature'' is compulsory for work permit applications.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Security prefers to renew the work permit of foreigners in the Application System.

According to the renewal, it is obligatory that the applicant (employer or the proxy) and the foreign person requesting an independent or indefinite work permit in any work permit application to be made must have a REM account in accordance with the electronic notification and the applications must be made by electronic signature.