At a glance
- Two routes: through an employer, or through your own company.
- Cost with ATIELIT: about USD 1,000 through your own company (on top of the registration), or TRY 16,000 through an employer.
- Timeline: about one month, depending on the case.
- Turkish employees: five per foreign partner if you have never held Turkish residence, one if you have. The startup route needs none.
- Family: your spouse and children under 18 can get family residence.
- Renewal: apply from 60 days before expiry, and never after it.
Route 1: through an employer
If you have found a job and a company in Türkiye hires you, the permit is applied for on the basis of that job, and we handle the paperwork for TRY 16,000. Finding a job depends on your field and your CV, but for most jobs in Türkiye speaking Turkish matters a great deal.
Route 2: through your own company
You don't need an employer: you can register your own company and apply through it. Each case is assessed on the company's capital, your residence history, the number of Turkish employees, the company's profit and your job title, so we review it before anything is filed.
For each foreign partner, five Turkish employees are required if you have never held Turkish residence, and one if you have. The first year can be issued without actual hires, but by the second year at least one Turkish employee is needed. Once you hold the permit through your company, self-employment insurance is currently about TRY 11,000 a month.
Residence for your family
Once one family member holds a work permit, the spouse and children under 18 can get family residence. Children with legal residence can attend Turkish public and private schools.
Renewal, travel and refusals
- Renewal opens 60 days before the permit expires and must be filed before the expiry date; an application filed after expiry is refused. The ministry usually decides within about 30 days.
- You can travel in and out with a valid permit, but long absences can affect the renewal, so talk to us before a long trip.
- If an application is refused, you can object online to the Ministry of Labour within 30 days of notification; if the objection is also refused, a case can usually be brought at the administrative court within 60 days. Often the reason is a missing document or the company's situation, and a corrected application can be filed.
Other routes worth knowing
If you work in technology, the startup route of the Tech Visa needs no Turkish employees at all. Highly skilled professionals and investors may qualify for the Turquoise Card, which gives unlimited work and residence rights. We compare the three in a separate article.
Common questions
How much does a work permit in Turkey cost?
With ATIELIT, about USD 1,000 through your own company (on top of the company registration) or TRY 16,000 through an employer.
How many Turkish employees do I need for a work permit through my own company?
Five per foreign partner if you have never held Turkish residence, one if you have. The first year can be issued without actual hires; by the second year at least one is required. Rules can change and every case is assessed individually.
Can I get a work permit without an employer?
Yes, through your own company.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 can get family residence once you hold a work permit.
This article is general guidance and doesn't replace a review of your own case. Rules and figures can change, and no one can guarantee a residence or visa approval.