In Turkey, the right to work is guaranteed by the Constitution and laws, and every person is entitled to it. Foreigners who stay in Turkey and have the right to stay legally in Turkey have also the right to work. However, it is obligatory to obtain a work permit to work in Turkey.
Right to work and applying for a work permit
Obtaining a work permit is required before starting to work in Turkey. However, refugees or subsidiary protection beneficiaries, as of the date of being granted the status, may work independently or be employed.
Work permit is issued by the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services. Application can be made in two ways: domestic one and abroad. Both domestic and international applications are made through a workplace or enterprise.
Foreigners residing in our country, if they have a residence permit valid for at least 6 months; international protection applicants after six months following the application date; and refugees or foreigners benefiting from temporary protection after six months following their identification has been issued, may be entitled to apply for a work permit. If the time requirement is fulfilled, the workplace or enterprise will be able to apply on behalf of the foreigner through the online system.
Foreigners who benefit from temporary protection and only work in seasonal agriculture and animal husbandry may apply directly and in person to the Provincial Directorate of Labour and Employment Agency in their province.
Substantial information regarding work permit
In Turkey, international protection applicants or conditional refugee status holders can only work in their province of residence. If they want to work in another province, they need to get permission from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where they are located.
If a foreigner is benefiting from temporary protection and wants to work in a province other than his/her province of residence, s/he needs to get permission from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province where s/he is located.
If the temporary protection of foreigners with work permit terminates, work permit also terminates without the need for any other procedure.
When you apply for a renewal for a work permit, you can work in the same workplace and job for up to 45 days from the end of the current work permit.
An administrative fine is given to employers who employ foreigners who do not have work permits and they are fined separately for each foreigner.
In working life, both the employer and employee have rights and responsibilities. A foreigner who works with an employer by obtaining a work permit has the same rights as a Turkish citizen.
Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR)
İŞKUR is the official institution that carries out procedures of job seekers on issues such as job finding and job-related training. Besides Turkish citizens, foreigners can also be included in the İŞKUR system. If you have a foreign identity number, you can benefit from the services provided by İŞKUR by registering through the İŞKUR website or the Provincial Directorate of Labour and Employment Agency in your province. If you are staying under temporary protection in our country, you can attend courses and programs organized by İŞKUR and in this context, you can receive vocational training and on-the-job training. For more detailed information, you can call 444 75 87 or ALO 170 information line or visit www.iskur.gov.tr website.
Training courses organized by Turkish Employment Agency
Vocational training courses: These courses are provided to increase the qualifications of the
unemployed and to enable them to find a job.
On-the-job training courses: These courses are provided for the unemployed to gain professional experience, get experience and improve themselves in practice. Persons participating in the course receive on-the-job training with an employer. They can find the employer themselves or they can request from İŞKUR to find an employer.
Entrepreneurship training programs: This program is implemented to help registered individuals to start and develop their own businesses.
Business start-up in Turkey
In our country, where there are more than 50 thousand foreign companies and over 12 billion dollars of direct investments are made, foreigners can invest with the same conditions and rights as Turkish citizens.
You can invest by making a capital contribution to an established company in Turkey and it is also possible to open your own business.
If a foreign national wish, s/he can establish a private company and start a business as a small business owner, or, as a single person, establish a company as a legal entity and conclude the company establishment procedures according to the field of activity.
“If you make at least 500,000 American dollars’ worth of fixed capital investment in Turkey and enable the Ministry of Industry and Technology to confirm this investment, you may be entitled to gain the Turkish citizenship.”
“In Turkey, if you work without a work permit; you shall be subject to administrative fines, you cannot benefit from the rights and protection provided by the law to the employee.”
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
In recent years, the value placed on entrepreneurship has increased and multiple organizations and institutions have been established to support foreign entrepreneurs in Turkey. Some of these organizations are:
Economic Development Foundation (İKV),
Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work (KEDV),
Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (KOSGEB),
Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB),
Industrial Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV),
Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF),
Foundation for the Promotion of Vocational Training and Small Industry (MEKSA),
Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV)
At the same time, foreign entrepreneurs can make their own breakthroughs by taking advantage of the European Union Grant Funds below.
- Erasmus+ Programme,
- Horizon 2020 Programme,
- Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME) Programme,
- Creative Europe Programme,
- Fiscalis 2020 Programme,
- Customs 2020 Programme.
In addition, foreigners can apply to the following programs that TUBITAK carries out to support different entrepreneurship efforts.
- 1512 Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support Program (BiGG),
- 1501 TÜBİTAK Industrial R&D Projects Grant Program,
- 1503 Project Markets Grant Program,
- 1507 TÜBİTAK SME RDI Grant Program,
- 1601 Capacity Building for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support Program,
- 1514 Venture Capital Support Program (GİSDEP)
Ministry of Trade Investment Incentive Program
Ministry of Trade provides support not only to Turkish citizens but also to anyone who wants to invest in Turkey.Real people, capital companies, cooperatives, partnerships, associations and foundations and branches of foreign companies in Turkey investing abroad may apply for assistance granted under the Investment Incentive Program.Since companies established by foreign real and legal persons in Turkey have the status of Turkish companies according to the Foreign Direct Investment Law, they have the right to benefit from the incentive conditions under equal conditions.
Institutions and organizations related to work permit and entrepreneurship
Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services (https://www.ailevecalisma.gov.tr/) Ministry of Trade (https://ticaret.gov.tr/)
Directorate General of Migration Management (https://www.goc.gov.tr/)
General Directorate of Civil Registration and Citizenship (https://www.nvi.gov.tr/) Turkey’s National Agency (https://www.ua.gov.tr/)
TÜBİTAK [The Scientific and Technologıcal Research Council of Turkey] (https://www.tubitak. gov.tr/)
İŞKUR [Turkish Employment Agency](https://www.iskur.gov.tr/)
