Employment Visa

Employment visa aka work visa is given to the work permit holders and is issued for single entry.

The person can only apply for a work visa after he/she has signed a work contract with a Turkish employer and has applied for a work permit to the Ministy of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) of the Republic of Turkey.

Application for Work Permit inside Turkey Foreigners who have already been granted residence permits in Turkey which is valid for at least six months (for any reason, except education and training) may apply for work permits to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Application for Work Permit from Abroad Foreigners may submit their application forms for work permits through Turkish Embassies/Consulates. Work permits are generally valid for one year. Please click here to visit the homepage of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for detailed information concerning the work permits for foreigners.

What are the requirements for work visa applications?

First Step: In the first step, the applicant should submit the following documents to the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate in person to apply for a work permit and work visa. Valid travel document (passport) (It should be valid at least three months longer than the expiry date of the requested work visa), Completed work visa application form,

One passport size photograph of the applicant (It should be affixed on the top left side of the visa application form), One copy of the work contract,

If the person applies from a country other than his/her homeland, then he/she should also submit his/her valid residence permit or any document that proves he/she legally stays in that country.

The issue of work permit by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security may take 6-8 weeks after the application has been lodged. Once the application is approved, the applicant will be informed about the outcome through e-mail or phone. When the work permit is issued and work visa application is approved by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the applicant must submit the following documents in person to the Turkish Embassy/Consulate where he/she has lodged the work permit application.

Second Step: Valid travel document (passport) (It should be valid at least three months longer than the expiry date of the requested work visa), Non-refundable work visa processing fee (the amount may differ depending on the nationality), Non-refundable work permit processing fee

Note: If the relevant Turkish Embassy/Consulate receives the visa applications by mail or by courier service in exceptional cases, the applicant must send the above mentioned documents and also a pre-paid or self-stamped return envelope (DHL, Fed Ex, Express, UPS, or some sort of insured/certified mail is highly recommended, as the original travel document will be sent inside the return envelope). Please contact with the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate to learn whether they receive the applications by mail or not.

Work visa and work permit holders must apply to the Alien’s Branch of Local Police Department (Emniyet Mudurlugu Yabancilar Subesi) within 30 days upon their arrival at Turkey to obtain a residence permit. Once the person is granted with the residence permit, he/she can enter into Turkey multiple times as long as his/her residence permit is valid and thus he/she does not need a visa for entry into Turkey. If the extension of the residence permit is required, the extension or renewal should be made timely before the expiry date. The person is recommended to have the validity of the residence permit extended before leaving Turkey, if the validity of residence permit is to expire or has already expired.

2. Academics desiring to work at a university in Turkey

University instructors are exempt from work permit. Thus, they can set aside the first step described above and directly apply for a work visa to the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate. However, a letter of permission from Turkish Higher Education Board (YÖK) is necessary. In addition to this letter, they are requested to submit the following documents for work visa application.

Valid travel document (passport) (It should be valid at least three months longer than the expiry date of the requested work visa), Completed work visa application form, One passport size photograph of the applicant (It should be affixed on the top left side of the visa application form), Letter of permission from Turkish Higher Education Board, Non-refundable work visa processing fee (the amount may differ depending on the nationality), If the person applies from a country other than his/her homeland, then he/she should also submit his/her valid residence permit or any document that proves he/she legally stays in that country.

Note: If the relevant Turkish Embassy/Consulate receives the visa applications by mail or by courier service in exceptional cases, the applicant must send the above mentioned documents and also a pre-paid or self-stamped return envelope (DHL, Fed Ex, Express, UPS, or some sort of insured/certified mail is highly recommended, as the original travel document will be sent inside the return envelope). Please contact with the nearest Turkish Embassy/Consulate to learn whether they receive the applications by mail or not.

Academics must also apply to the Alien’s Branch of Local Police Department (Emniyet Mudurlugu Yabancilar Subesi) within 30 days upon their arrival at Turkey to obtain a residence permit. Once the person is granted with the residence permit, he/she can enter into Turkey multiple times as long as his/her residence permit is valid and thus he/she does not need a visa for entry into Turkey. If the extension of the residence permit is required, the extension or renewal should be made timely before the expiry date. The person is recommended to have the validity of the residence permit extended before leaving Turkey, if the validity of residence permit is to expire or has already expired.

C- Entry visas with special annotations (Work, Education and Research Visas) Foreigners who intend to work, study or conduct an academic or a scientific research in Turkey are obliged to obtain their visas at the Turkish Embassies/Consulates prior to their arrival.

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