Turkey Work Visa 2026: Work Permit Steps and Rules
Working in Türkiye needs a work permit or a work permit exemption under the International Labour Force Law No. 6735, issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. From abroad, you start at the Turkish embassy or consulate, which gives you a reference number, and your employer completes the application online. The Ministry evaluates complete applications within thirty days, and a work permit also counts as a residence permit. This guide sets out the steps, the employer criteria, the fees process and what Pakistani applicants should know, as published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and read on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
Apply for a work visa at the Turkish mission in your country to get a 16-digit reference number; your employer then applies online through e-Government. Complete applications are evaluated within thirty days. If approved, you pay the work and residence permit fees and the visa fee at the mission within thirty days of notice. A first permit lasts up to one year, then up to two and three years with the same employer. After entry, register your address within twenty days.
Who needs a work permit
Under Law No. 6735, foreigners must hold a work permit or a work permit exemption before they start working. Working without one leads to criminal and administrative action. A work permit or exemption is also treated as a residence permit under the Law on Foreigners and International Protection, No. 6458.
How to apply from abroad
- At the Turkish mission: if you do not hold a residence permit in Türkiye, apply for a work visa at the Turkish foreign representative office in your country of nationality. You receive a 16-digit reference number.
- The employer applies online: the employer in Türkiye completes the application electronically through e-Government, using your reference number.
- Evaluation: complete applications are evaluated within thirty days, counted from the date the application is completed or any requested documents are received.
- Pay the fees: if the permit is granted, you go back to the mission where you applied and pay the work and residence permit fees and the visa fee. Applications whose fees are not paid within thirty days of the payment notice are rejected.
- Travel: the mission puts a visa sticker in your passport and you can enter Türkiye. The work permit card is delivered to the employer's address by PTT Cargo.
- Register your address in the address registration system within twenty days of entry.
Foreigners already in Türkiye with a residence permit valid for at least six (6) months apply domestically through the employer instead.
What the employer must show
- Employment: at least five Turkish citizens employed at the workplace for each foreigner, in workplaces using balance-sheet accounting. Workplaces with net sales of 50,000,000 Turkish Liras or more are exempt for up to five foreigners.
- Finances: a newly established workplace needs paid-in capital of at least 500,000 TL.
- Salary: pay set as a multiple of the gross minimum wage at the date of application, for example five times for senior executives and pilots, four times for engineers and architects, and three times for other managers.
- Health jobs: a pre-permit from the Ministry of Health is mandatory for jobs requiring professional qualifications in health institutions.
Types and length of work permits
| Permit | What the Ministry says |
|---|---|
| Definite (fixed-term) | Up to one year at the first application, for a specific job and employer. On extension, up to two years at the first extension and up to three years after that, with the same employer. |
| Permanent | For foreigners with a long-term residence permit or at least eight years of legal work permits |
| Independent | Issued without an employer, for working on your own account, for a definite period |
| Turquoise Card | Granted in line with international labour force policy |
Extensions can be applied for from 60 days before the permit expires. A refusal can be appealed within thirty days of notification.
Fees
Work permits are subject to fees under the Law on Fees No. 492 and to a valuable-paper fee under Law No. 210. For applications from abroad, the fees are paid at the Turkish mission after approval, and the amounts are notified to you. The Ministry pages we read do not list the amounts, so we do not print them here.
Pakistani applicants
- Visa: ordinary Pakistani passport holders need a visa to enter Türkiye. Those with a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit may get a one-month single-entry e-Visa for visits.
- Work: the work route is the same: apply at the Turkish mission in Pakistan for a reference number, and your employer applies online.
- Price in Pakistan: the fees are notified after approval and paid at the mission. The Ministry pages we read publish no amounts.
For the wider move, see our moving to Turkey guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Turkey work visa online?
Partly. You start at the Turkish mission to get a reference number, and your employer files the work permit application online through e-Government.
What is the Turkey work visa processing time?
The Ministry evaluates complete applications within thirty days. Fees must then be paid within thirty days of the payment notice.
What is the Turkey work visa fee for Pakistani applicants?
The work and residence permit fees and visa fee are notified after approval and paid at the Turkish mission. The Ministry pages we read do not list the amounts.
Do Pakistani citizens need a visa for Turkey?
Yes, for ordinary passports. Holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit may get a one-month e-Visa for visits.
How long is a Turkish work permit valid?
Up to one year at first, then up to two years at the first extension and up to three years after that, with the same employer.
Does a Turkish work permit count as a residence permit?
Yes. Under Law No. 6735, a work permit or exemption is treated as a residence permit.
What salary does a foreign worker need in Turkey?
It is set as a multiple of the gross minimum wage, for example four times for engineers and architects and three times for managers.
Official sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security — Work permit FAQ
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security — Application types
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security — Work permit types
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security — Evaluation criteria
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye — Visa information for foreigners
All steps, criteria and time frames verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.