Work Permit Application for Employers: Process and Documents

Work Permit Application in Turkey: Employer Process

For a foreigner to work in Turkey, they must generally obtain a work permit or work permit exemption. This document, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey, grants foreigners the right to work and reside in Turkey. This process directly concerns both the foreign employee and the employer who will hire them.

For current evaluation and document requirements in work permit applications, announcements from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey should be checked separately.

From the employer's perspective, the most fundamental issue is correctly determining which route the application will take. Work permit applications generally begin with the foreigner applying for a work permit and visa at the relevant Turkish Republic diplomatic mission. However, if the foreigner is already in Turkey and has a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration, the application can be made from within the country. This distinction determines which channel the file will proceed through, so it must be clarified in the first stage of application preparation.

Differences Between Overseas and Domestic Applications

In overseas applications, the foreigner initiates the process for work permit and visa through the Turkish Republic diplomatic mission in their country of residence. If a work permit is granted, the foreigner must go to the diplomatic mission where they applied and pay the work and residence permit fees along with the visa fee. In this type of application, the employer is also expected to follow the electronic application and document upload process on the Turkish side.

In domestic applications, the foreigner's presence in Turkey alone is not sufficient. For a work permit application to be made from within the country, the foreigner must have a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration. If this condition is not met, the application must be processed through the overseas channel. Here, the determining factor is not the type of residence permit, but that it is valid and has at least 6 months duration at the time of application.

In both application routes, documents are sent online through the e-permit automation system. Therefore, it is not sufficient for the employer to have prepared documents only on paper; they must be properly scanned and uploaded to the system during the electronic application. Missing or inappropriate documents may create the need for additional procedures before the application evaluation is completed.

Basic Documents to be Prepared by Employer and Foreigner

The first document to pay attention to in a work permit application is the employment contract signed by both the employer and the foreigner. This contract is scanned and sent online during the electronic application. The employment contract should clearly state who the parties are, the nature of the work to be performed, and the framework of the employment relationship.

A copy of the foreigner's passport is also included in the application file and sent online during the electronic application. If the passport is not issued in Latin letters, a sworn translation or translation certified by official authorities must also be added to the application. The work permit is issued not to exceed sixty days before the passport expiration date. Additionally, applications made with passports or passport substitute documents valid for less than sixty days as of the application date will not be processed.

A copy of the diploma or Temporary Graduation Certificate is also important in some applications. The Turkish translation of this document must be certified by a sworn translator or official authorities and scanned and sent online during the electronic application. A diploma is mandatory for foreigners who will work in professional services and for those working in professions deemed necessary by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Turkey. For domestic services, presenting a diploma is not mandatory; a declaration regarding the last school completed is considered sufficient.

Documents showing the company's status on the employer side are also part of the file. The Turkish Trade Registry Gazette showing the organization's latest capital and partnership structure, along with the balance sheet and profit/loss statement for the last year, certified by the tax office or sworn financial advisor, are among the documents requested in the application. These documents are used to evaluate the employer's commercial and financial structure within the scope of the application.

The Employer's Role in the Online Application Process

The employer's role in work permit applications is not limited to just signing. Preparing the employment contract, obtaining company documents, and properly uploading the foreigner's passport and diploma documents (if required) to the system are the main elements of the employer-side process. The fact that documents are sent online through the e-permit automation system means the application is processed digitally; however, digital application does not mean document content is less important.

The employment contract is the central document of the application. The contract must be signed by both the employer and the foreigner. An unsigned contract, one containing incomplete party information, or one inconsistent with other information in the application can create problems in the file evaluation.

Translation issues should be separately checked for passport and diploma documents. If the passport is not written in Latin letters, certified translation is required. For diplomas or Temporary Graduation Certificates, Turkish translation must also be certified by a sworn translator or official authorities. Uploading these documents to the electronic system does not eliminate the quality of the physical document; the document must be readable, accurate, and consistent with the person who is the subject of the application.

Steps After Application Approval

If a work permit is granted, in overseas applications the foreigner must go to the diplomatic mission where they applied and pay the work and residence permit fees along with the visa fee. If the work permit fee and valuable paper fee are not deposited within thirty days after notification of the deposit requirement, the application will be rejected. This stage is a separate obligation that must be followed even after the application has been positively evaluated.

Address registration also comes into play for foreigners who obtain a work visa from the diplomatic mission and come to Turkey. These individuals must register in the address registration system within twenty days at the latest from their entry date into Turkey. It is clearly seen here that the work permit process does not end only with obtaining the permit document; the entry and registration stages in Turkey are also part of the process.

For employers, the most critical point in work permit applications is correctly determining the application type and preparing documents appropriately for the application route. Whether the foreigner has a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration in Turkey determines whether the application can be made from within the country. The employment contract, passport copy, diploma or Temporary Graduation Certificate when required, and employer company documents constitute the basic file content of the electronic application. When this framework is correctly established, the process becomes more predictable for both the employer and the foreign employee.

Electronic Application Process and Document Upload

Documents required for work permit applications are submitted online through the e-permit automation system. In addition to physically preparing documents, they need to be scanned appropriately for electronic application and uploaded to the system. It is important during the evaluation phase that documents in the application file are readable, complete, and consistent with application information.

Since work permit applications proceed based on employment relationships, they are not limited to the foreigner's information alone. The employer's corporate documents, employment contract, and in some cases professional qualification documents also become part of the file. Therefore, application preparation requires cooperation between the foreigner and employer.

Basic Documents Required from Foreigners

• Employment Contract: The employment contract signed by the employer and foreigner is scanned and submitted online during electronic application.
• Passport Copy: When the passport is not written in Latin letters, a sworn translator or officially certified translation must also be added to the application. Applications made with passports valid for less than sixty days as of the work permit application date will not be processed. Work permits are also issued not to exceed sixty days before the passport expiration date.
• Diploma or Temporary Graduation Certificate Copy: In some applications, this document and its Turkish translation certified by a sworn translator or official authorities are required. Diplomas are mandatory for foreigners who will work in professional services and in professions deemed necessary by the Ministry of Labour.

Documents Required from Employers

Employers who will employ foreigners must also prepare certain documents within the scope of the application:

• Turkey Trade Registry Gazette: Shows the organization's latest capital and partnership structure.
• Balance Sheet and Profit/Loss Statement: These documents for the last year, certified by the tax office or certified public accountant, show the employer's financial situation.
• Sector-Specific Documents (For Private Educational Institutions): Professional qualification certificate obtained from the Ministry of National Education for foreigners who will work in private educational institutions affiliated with the Ministry of National Education; for institutions, 'Institution Opening and Education Start Permit' and 'License' are required.

Special Restriction in Domestic Services

There is an important restriction regarding work permits in domestic services. Work permits are not granted to foreigners in domestic services except for elderly, patient, and child care. Therefore, the nature of the work becomes decisive in applications made within the scope of domestic services.

Effect of Residence Permit on Work Permit Application

For a foreigner in Turkey to apply for a work permit from within the country, they must have a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration. When this condition is not met, it may not be possible to make the application from within the country, and the process may proceed through the overseas application route. If a work permit is granted, this permit also gives the foreigner the right to reside in Turkey within its validity period. Therefore, there is a direct connection between work permits and residence permits.

Importance of Document Compliance

Work permit application is a process where identity and education documents belonging to the foreigner are evaluated together with commercial and financial documents belonging to the employer. Information in the employment contract, passport information, employer records, and diploma or professional qualification documents if any, must be consistent with each other. Missing or inconsistent documents can make evaluation of the application difficult. Especially passport duration, translation requirements, and profession-specific documents should be checked before application.

Work permit application in Turkey is not a simple procedure completed with a single document. Whether the application will be made from within the country or from abroad, the foreigner's residence permit status, the employer's legal and financial documents, the nature of the work, and professional document requirements are evaluated together. Therefore, before starting the application, which application route will be used and which documents will be needed according to the specific situation should be clarified. In case of negative outcome of the application, the question what to do if work permit application is rejected should also be evaluated separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can work permit applications be made from within Turkey?

Yes, but the foreigner's presence in Turkey alone is not sufficient. For the application to be made from within the country, the foreigner must have a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration.

What is the employer's basic role in work permit applications?

The employer follows the process of preparing the employment contract, obtaining company documents, and properly uploading the foreigner's passport and diploma documents (if required) through the e-permit system.

Does passport validity affect the work permit?

Yes. The work permit is issued not to exceed sixty days before the passport expiration date. Applications made with passports or passport substitute documents valid for less than sixty days as of the application date will not be processed.

What steps are followed after work permit approval?

In overseas applications, the foreigner must go to the diplomatic mission and pay the work and residence permit fees along with the visa fee. If the fee and valuable paper cost are not deposited within thirty days after notification, the application will be rejected.