Unofficial English translation for information only. In case of discrepancy, the Turkish text prevails. This translation is not legal advice.
Turkish source: Law No. 6735, Official Gazette 13/08/2016, No. 29800. Turkish text as published on mevzuat.gov.tr, checked on 26 October 2026: https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=6735&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5
CHAPTER ONE – Purpose, Scope and Definitions
Article 1 – Purpose
(1) The purpose of this Law is to regulate the determination, implementation and monitoring of policies concerning the international workforce; the procedures and principles, powers and responsibilities to be followed in work and transactions relating to work permits and work permit exemptions to be granted to foreigners; and the rights and obligations in the field of the international workforce.
Article 2 – Scope
(1) This Law covers foreigners who apply to work or work in Türkiye; apply to receive or are receiving vocational training with an employer; apply to undertake or undertake an internship; foreigners who are cross-border service providers present in Türkiye for the purpose of providing services of a temporary nature; and natural and legal persons who employ or apply to employ foreigners.
(2) The work and transactions of foreigners exempt from obtaining a work permit shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
(3) In the implementation of this Law, the provisions of bilateral or multilateral agreements and international conventions to which Türkiye is a party are reserved.
Article 3 – Definitions
(1) For the purposes of this Law, the following definitions apply:
a) Independent work permit: a work permit granting a foreigner the right to work in Türkiye on their own behalf and account,
b) the Ministry: the Ministry of Labour and Social Security,
c) Work permit: a permit issued by the Ministry in the form of an official document, granting a foreigner the right to work and reside in Türkiye during its period of validity,
ç) Work permit exemption: an exemption issued by the Ministry in the form of an official document, granting a foreigner the right to work and reside in Türkiye without obtaining a work permit during its period of validity,
d) General Directorate: the Directorate General of International Labour Force,
e) Lawful work permit period: the period during which a foreigner works under a work permit by fulfilling their legal obligations,
f) Cross-border service provider: a foreigner present in Türkiye temporarily for the purpose of providing any service and receiving remuneration from a source in or outside Türkiye,
g) Permanent work permit: a work permit granting a foreigner the right to work permanently in Türkiye,
ğ) Turquoise Card: a document granting a foreigner the right to work permanently in Türkiye and, in accordance with the provisions of legislation, the right to reside to their spouse and dependent children,
h) Long-term residence permit: a residence permit granted pursuant to Article 42 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 dated 4/4/2013,
ı) Foreigner: a person who has no citizenship bond with the Republic of Türkiye,
i) Authorised intermediary institution: an institution or organisation whose qualifications and scope of duties are determined by regulation and which is authorised by the Ministry,
CHAPTER TWO – Determination and Monitoring of International Labour Policy
Article 4 – Determination of the international workforce policy
(1) The Ministry is authorised to determine policies concerning the international workforce, taking into account the decisions of the International Workforce Policy Advisory Board, and to conduct activities at national and international level for the implementation of the policies determined.
(2) The international workforce policy shall be determined taking into account international workforce mobility and regional developments; decisions of the Migration Policies Board; developments concerning employment and working life; sectoral and periodic economic changes; development plans and programmes; bilateral economic, social and cultural relations with the foreigner’s country of nationality; bilateral or multilateral agreements and international conventions to which Türkiye is a party; public order, public security and public health.
(3) In preparing the international workforce policy, the Ministry shall obtain the opinions of the relevant institutions and organisations.
(4) (Repealed paragraph: 2/7/2018-Decree-Law-703/212 art.)
(5) (Repealed paragraph: 2/7/2018-Decree-Law-703/212 art.)
(6) (Repealed paragraph: 2/7/2018-Decree-Law-703/212 art.)
(7) (Repealed paragraph: 2/7/2018-Decree-Law-703/212 art.)
(8) (Repealed paragraph: 2/7/2018-Decree-Law-703/212 art.)
Article 5 – Monitoring and evaluation of the international workforce
(1) The Ministry shall establish the Foreign National Application, Evaluation and Monitoring System to receive and evaluate requests for the employment of foreigners and to monitor the effects of the international workforce.
(2) Subject to matters relating to public security, the Ministry may request information and documents from public institutions and organisations and natural and legal persons concerning foreigners, the need for the employment of foreigners and other matters within the scope of this Law.
(3) The procedures and principles concerning the sharing of information shall be determined by the Ministry after obtaining the opinions of the relevant institutions and organisations.
CHAPTER THREE – Work Permit and Exemption
Article 6 – Authority and obligation concerning work permits
(1) A work permit shall be granted by the Ministry on the basis of the international workforce policy determined in accordance with Article 4.
(2) It is prohibited for foreigners within the scope of this Law to work or be employed in Türkiye without a work permit.
(3) Foreigners who are stated in other laws or in bilateral or multilateral agreements or international conventions to which Türkiye is a party to be able to work without obtaining a work permit may work or be employed without obtaining a work permit pursuant to this Law.
(4) The right to work of persons within the scope of Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 dated 29/5/2009 is reserved.
Article 7 – Application for and evaluation of a work permit
(1) Applications for work permits shall be made directly to the Ministry in Türkiye and, abroad, to the embassies or consulates general of the Republic of Türkiye in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they are legally present. Applications for work permits made abroad shall be transmitted to the Ministry by the embassies or consulates general of the Republic of Türkiye.
(2) Applications for work permits may also be made by an authorised intermediary institution.
(3) An application to extend a work permit shall be made starting from sixty days before the expiry of the work permit and, in any event, before the work permit expires. Extension applications made after this period has elapsed shall be rejected.
(4) An application for a work permit shall be evaluated in accordance with the international workforce policy.
(5) Where deemed necessary by the Ministry, the opinions of the relevant public institutions and organisations and professional organisations having the status of public institutions shall be taken into account.
(6) The Ministry shall determine the criteria to be used in evaluating applications for work permits and in establishing the work permit scoring system, in line with the decisions of the International Workforce Policy Advisory Board.
(7) If information or documents are missing from an application, evaluation of the application shall be deferred until the deficiencies are remedied. The deferral period may not exceed thirty days, except where the existence of a force majeure event delaying the remedying of the missing information or documents is certified by an official authority. Applications whose deficiencies have not been remedied by the end of the deferral period shall be rejected.
(8) Evaluation of applications duly made shall be completed within thirty days, provided that the information and documents are complete.
Article 8 – Prior authorisation
(1) Prior authorisation must be obtained when evaluating applications for work permits of foreigners who will work in health and education services requiring professional qualifications.
(2) In health services, the Ministry of Health, and in education services, the Ministry of National Education, are authorised to grant prior authorisation to foreigners who will engage in professional activity in those services. The professions for which prior authorisation is required shall be determined by the Ministry after obtaining the opinions of the said ministries.
(3) In evaluating applications for work permits of foreigners who have obtained prior authorisation, the provision of subparagraph (d) of the first paragraph of Article 9 of this Law shall not apply.
(4) A work permit for foreign academic staff to be employed pursuant to Article 34 of the Higher Education Law No. 2547 dated 4/11/1981 shall be granted by the Ministry on the basis of prior authorisation to be given by the Council of Higher Education in accordance with the relevant legislation. In evaluating applications for work permits of foreign academic staff to be employed on the basis of prior authorisation, the fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of Article 7 of this Law and the first paragraph of Article 9 shall not apply, except that subparagraphs (f), (g) and (ğ) of the first paragraph of Article 9 shall remain applicable.
(5) Applications to extend work permits are also subject to prior authorisation by the relevant ministry or the Council of Higher Education.
(6) Applications for work permits of foreigners to be employed as research and development personnel at companies holding an R&D Centre Certificate under the Law on Supporting Research, Development and Design Activities No. 5746 dated 28/2/2008 and the relevant legislation shall be evaluated if the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology gives a favourable opinion.
Article 9 – Rejection of an application for a work permit
(1) As a result of the evaluation conducted pursuant to Article 7 of this Law;
a) those not in compliance with the international workforce policy,
b) those made using false or misleading information and documents,
c) those for which the justification for employing a foreigner is not deemed sufficient,
ç) those made for jobs and professions reserved for Turkish citizens under other laws,
d) those concerning foreigners found not to possess the required qualifications and expertise,
e) those that do not meet the evaluation criteria determined by the Ministry,
f) those concerning foreigners reported by the Ministry of Interior as falling within the scope of Articles 7, 15 and 54 of Law No. 6458,
g) those concerning foreigners whose working in Türkiye is considered objectionable in terms of public order (ordre public), public security or public health,
ğ) those made for citizens of countries not recognised by the Republic of Türkiye or with which it has no diplomatic relations, except where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives a favourable opinion,
h) those not made within the statutory period or whose deficiencies have not been remedied,
shall be rejected.
Article 10 – Types of work permits
(1) If the application is favourably evaluated, the foreigner shall be granted, for an initial application, a work permit valid for a maximum of one year, on condition that it does not exceed the term of the employment or service contract and that the foreigner works in a specific job at a specific workplace belonging to a natural or legal person or a public institution or organisation, or at the workplaces of the same in the same line of business.
(2) If an application for extension to be made pursuant to Article 7 of this Law is favourably evaluated, the foreigner shall be granted a work permit for a maximum of two years for the first extension application and up to a maximum of three years for subsequent extension applications, working for the same employer. However, applications made to work for a different employer shall be evaluated within the scope of the first paragraph of this Article.
(3) Foreigners who hold a long-term residence permit in Türkiye or have held a lawful work permit for at least eight years may apply for a permanent work permit. However, the foreigner’s meeting the application requirements does not confer an absolute right on the foreigner.
(4) A foreigner holding a permanent work permit shall enjoy all the rights conferred by a long-term residence permit. Except as provided in special laws, a foreigner holding a permanent work permit shall enjoy the rights granted to Turkish citizens, provided that acquired rights relating to social security are reserved and that the provisions of the relevant legislation apply to the exercise of those rights. A foreigner holding a permanent work permit has no right to vote, stand for election or enter public service, and is not obliged to perform military service.
(5) Foreigners who hold the following positions in companies established pursuant to the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 dated 13/1/2011:
a) managers who are partners of limited liability companies,
b) members of the board of directors who are partners of joint-stock companies,
c) partners with unlimited liability who are managers of limited partnerships divided into shares,
may work after obtaining a work permit.
(6) An independent work permit may be granted to foreigners in professional occupations, provided that the special conditions specified in other laws are met.
(7) In evaluating an independent work permit in line with the international workforce policy, the following shall be taken into account: the foreigner’s level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investment in Türkiye on the national economy and employment, their capital share if they are a company partner, and other matters to be determined by the Ministry in line with the recommendations of the International Workforce Policy Advisory Board.
(8) An independent work permit shall be issued for a fixed period, without being subject to the time limits set out in this Article.
Article 11 – Turquoise Card
(1) A Turquoise Card shall be granted to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate in accordance with the international workforce policy, based on their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investment in Türkiye on the national economy and employment, the recommendations of the International Workforce Policy Advisory Board, and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.
(2) A Turquoise Card shall be granted with an initial transition period of three years. During the transition period, the Ministry may request information and documents from the employer or foreigner concerning the activities carried out. If the Turquoise Card is not cancelled pursuant to Article 15 during the transition period, upon application by the foreigner, the entry concerning the transition period on the Turquoise Card shall be removed and a permanent Turquoise Card shall be granted. This application shall be made starting from one hundred and eighty days before the end of the transition period and, in any event, before the transition period expires. An application to remove the entry concerning the transition period made after this period has elapsed shall be rejected and the Turquoise Card shall become invalid.
(3) A document showing that the spouse and dependent children, in accordance with the provisions of legislation, are relatives of the Turquoise Card holder and replacing a residence permit shall be issued to them.
(4) A foreigner holding a Turquoise Card shall enjoy the rights conferred by a permanent work permit regulated in this Law.
(5) In the implementation of the Turquoise Card, persons with internationally recognised work in the academic field, those who have distinguished themselves in a field considered strategic for our country in science, industry and technology, and those who make or are expected to make a significant contribution to the national economy in terms of export, employment or investment capacity shall be considered qualified foreigners.
(6) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to foreigners granted temporary protection.
Article 12 – Nature of the work permit
(1) A work permit or work permit exemption granted under this Law shall replace a residence permit pursuant to Article 27 of Law No. 6458. However, the fact that a foreigner has a residence permit for any reason, other than refugee or subsidiary protection status as defined in Law No. 6458, does not confer the right to work on that foreigner.
(2) A foreigner granted a work permit on the basis of an application made abroad must come to Türkiye within six months from the date on which the work permit becomes valid. The work permit of a foreigner who does not come to Türkiye within this period shall be cancelled.
(3) Without prejudice to the rights conferred by bilateral or multilateral agreements to which Türkiye is a party, and within the framework of the principle of reciprocity, work permits may be restricted for a specified period by agricultural, industrial or service sector; a specific profession or line of business; or an administrative or geographical area, where required by labour market conditions and developments in working life and by sectoral and economic conditions relating to employment.
Article 13 – Work permit exemption
(1) Foreigners within the scope of a work permit exemption may work, provided that they obtain a work permit exemption.
(2) Applications for a work permit exemption shall be made directly to the Ministry in Türkiye and, abroad, to the embassies or consulates general of the Republic of Türkiye in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they are legally present. Such applications made abroad shall be transmitted to the Ministry by the embassies or consulates general of the Republic of Türkiye.
(3) Applications for a work permit exemption may also be made by an authorised intermediary institution.
(4) The fourth, fifth and seventh paragraphs of Article 7 of this Law shall apply to applications for a work permit exemption.
(5) A work permit exemption shall be issued by the Ministry to foreigners whose applications are favourably evaluated.
(6) Periods spent under a work permit exemption shall not be taken into account in calculating periods of lawful work permits or residence permits.
(7) A member of the board of directors of a joint-stock company established pursuant to Law No. 6102 who does not reside in Türkiye, a partner of another company who does not have the status of manager, and a cross-border service provider whose activities in Türkiye do not exceed ninety days within one hundred and eighty days shall be considered within the scope of a work permit exemption.
Article 14 – Applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(1) Foreigners employed in the following institutions associated with the diplomatic and consular missions of foreign countries in Türkiye may work subject to the following requirements:
a) Those employed in schools, cultural institutions and religious institutions operating as affiliated units of those missions must obtain a work permit exemption;
b) Those employed in schools, cultural institutions or religious institutions not considered affiliated units of those missions under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations dated 18/4/1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations dated 24/4/1963 must obtain a work permit.
(2) In respect of persons serving as members of the diplomatic staff, consular officers, members of the administrative and technical staff or consular service staff at the diplomatic and consular missions of foreign countries in Türkiye, and as international officials or administrative and technical personnel at international organisations in Türkiye:
a) Their spouses and children, and their relatives determined on the basis of reciprocity or under a bilateral agreement concluded with the relevant country, may work in Türkiye after obtaining a work permit, without prejudice to the provisions on work permit exemptions set out in this Law, the relevant bilateral agreement and legislation,
b) Foreigners employed in their private service may work after obtaining an exemption from a work permit.
(3) Domestic applications made by the foreigners referred to in subparagraph (b) of paragraph two of this Article for a work permit or an exemption from a work permit to work for an employer not having the status specified in that paragraph shall not be accepted.
(4) Applications within the scope of this Article shall be made to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applications deemed appropriate by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall be forwarded to the Ministry. The positive opinion of the Ministry of Interior shall be required for the issuance of a work permit or an exemption from a work permit for applications forwarded to the Ministry.
Article 15 – Validity and cancellation of work permits and work permit exemptions
(1) A work permit or an exemption from a work permit shall cease to be valid upon expiry or cancellation by the Ministry.
(2) A work permit or an exemption from a work permit shall be cancelled, other than at the request of the foreigner or the employer, in the following cases concerning the foreigner:
a) Failure to come to Türkiye within six months from the validity date of the work permit or the exemption from a work permit,
b) Failure to extend the validity period of the passport or document replacing a passport, except where the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has given a favourable opinion,
c) It is determined that the foreigner has worked contrary to the provisions of this Law,
ç) The foreigner’s work ends for any reason,
d) It is subsequently determined that the work permit application was made using false or misleading information and documents,
e) The foreigner falls within the scope of Article 11 and fails to submit the requested information and documents within the transition period, or it is understood that they no longer meet the relevant qualifications,
f) The Ministry of Interior notifies that the foreigner falls within the scope of Articles 7, 15 and 54 of Law No. 6458,
g) The relevant public institutions and organisations notify that there is an impediment to the foreigner working in Türkiye on grounds of public order, public security or public health,
ğ) The foreigner remains outside Türkiye continuously for more than six months in the case of work permits for a specified period, or continuously for more than one year in the case of independent and indefinite-term work permits, except for reasons of force majeure such as health reasons or compulsory public service,
h) Where the foreigner holds a Turquoise Card, the period of stay abroad exceeds the period determined by the Ministry.