Does a foreigner have the right to work with a residence permit?

A residence permit, like owning property in Turkey, does not give the right to work. More precisely, having a residence permit does not mean a foreign national will necessarily be hired. To work, you need a permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The reverse rule also applies: a valid work permit itself replaces a Turkish residence permit, so no separate ikamet is needed. Renting out your own apartment does not require a work permit: this is not employment but income from property, on which tax is paid.

There are 3 types of work permits:

There is also the Turquoise Card (Turkuaz Kart), a permit for qualified professionals and investors with a simplified procedure.

Refugees, EU citizens and their family members, spouses and children of Turkish citizens, professional athletes and certain other categories of foreign nationals can obtain a permit without a fixed term or place of work. For children of Turkish citizens, there is a condition: the child must have entered the country before the age of 18 and completed a local school or university.

If a foreign national holds a residence permit valid for at least six months, they can obtain a work permit in Turkey from the Ministry of Labor in Ankara. In this case, the employer submits the application online through the e-İzin system, using the foreign national's identification number, which starts with 99.

If there is no residence permit, the work permit must be applied for at the Turkish consulate in your home country. For this, you need to prepare the following documents:

• the employment contract – original and copy;
• a document confirming the signature of the company director – original and copy;
• the application form.

When the documents are accepted, the application is given a number. You must pass this number on to your employer. The number has 16 digits, and the employer must submit an online application using it no later than 10 working days after your visit to the consulate. The employer must then submit the following documents to the Ministry of Labor on its own behalf:

• the work permit application;
• an extract from the Trade Registry showing the shareholders and the amount of capital;
• the company's tax report;
• the prospective employee's passport, school certificate and diploma with a certified translation.

As a rule, applications are submitted by large companies and rarely by state organizations. Employers must also meet a number of strict criteria. The application is reviewed within 1 to 1.5 months. The result is announced in the e-İzin system. If you plan not to take a job but to open your own business, the procedure is different: in that case, the work permit is obtained through your own Turkish company.

Contents:

• What criteria an employer must meet
• What has changed since August 3, 2026
• How much a work permit costs in 2026
• When you do not need a work permit, or when it will not work
• Frequently asked questions

What criteria an employer must meet

In 2026, the strict criteria mentioned in the previous section look like this:

• 5 Turkish citizens on staff for each foreign employee. This is the general rule for companies.
• Financial stability. For a new company, paid-in capital of at least TRY 500,000 (about €9,060). For a company that has been operating for at least a year, one of three: capital of at least TRY 500,000, revenue of at least TRY 8,000,000 (about €145,000) or exports of at least $150,000.
• A salary no lower than the set minimum for the position. The minimum is calculated as a multiple of the minimum wage and is higher for managers and specialists than for regular staff.

Euro amounts are converted at the Central Bank of Turkey exchange rate on October 6, 2026: €1 = TRY 55.19.

What has changed since August 3, 2026

Since August 3, 2026, the criteria have been relaxed for some foreign nationals:

• Those who have legally lived in Turkey for at least one year of the last three years on a residence permit, work permit or international protection: the requirements for 5 Turkish employees and for the employer's financial stability do not apply to them. The limit is no more than three such foreign nationals per company.
• Manufacturing: until December 31, 2027, factories can apply under a rule of one foreign employee for every 5 Turkish citizens at each individual site.
• Those who have lived in Turkey for 8 years on a residence permit, work permit or family residence permit: the staffing, financial and salary criteria do not apply to them.

For a property owner with an ikamet, this is the key change of 2026: after a year of legal residence, it is easier to find an employer, because a small company no longer needs five Turkish employees for each foreign one.

"Buyers often ask whether they can work in Turkey after buying an apartment. We explain it like this: an ikamet gives you the right to live here, but only a permit obtained by an employer allows you to work. The good news in 2026 is that after a year of living in Turkey, this has become noticeably easier," says a sales manager at Yekta Homes.

How much a work permit costs in 2026

The fee is paid after the application is approved. The 2026 rates are:

When you do not need a work permit, or when it will not work

• Renting out your own apartment. This is income from property: you do not need a work permit, but you do need to file a tax return.
• A tourist visa or visa-free entry. You cannot work on these under any circumstances, not even temporarily.
• Working without a permit. Both the employee and the employer are fined, and the foreign national can be deported with an entry ban.

These situations can be foreseen: if working in Turkey is part of your plans, it is best to choose how you will obtain the permit before you move.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work in Turkey with an ikamet?

No. An ikamet gives you the right to live in the country, but work requires a separate permit obtained by your employer.

Do I need an ikamet if I have a work permit?

No. A valid work permit itself serves as a residence permit.

Can I apply for a work permit from inside Turkey?

Yes, if you hold an ikamet valid for at least 6 months. In that case, your employer submits the application online. Without an ikamet, you must apply through the Turkish consulate in your home country.

How much does a work permit cost?

In 2026, the fee for a permit of up to 1 year is TRY 12,574.90, plus TRY 964 for the card.

Do I need a permit to rent out my own apartment?

No. Renting out your own property is income from property: you pay tax on it, but no work permit is required.