Turkey

TYPES OF TURKISH WORK VISA

Here are the major types of visas available in Turkey, which differ according to the person’s reason for travel:

1. Work Visa
This visa is issued for foreign nationals willing to work in the country for remuneration. The Turkey work permit visa is further divided into subcategories according to the nature of work:
o Assigned Free Zone Workers
o Assigned Journalists
o Assigned Lecturers/Academics
o Employment Purpose/Special Employment Purpose
o Montage and Repairman Purposes
o Assigned Artists
o Assigned Sportsperson

Alongside the work visa, the employee must also obtain a work permit as working in Turkey without a permit is illegal. The Turkey work visa can be extended for two years when it expires for the first time.

2. Business Visa
This visa is issued to people coming to the country for certain business activities. The visa is valid for a duration of up to three to six months and cannot be renewed without any proper reason for an extension.

3. Student Visa
This visa is granted to students who wish to visit Turkey to study an academic course or to perform research.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A TURKEY WORK VISA

To apply for a Turkey work visa, there are a few documents that an employee is required to submit on the day of the interview. These are the following Turkey work visa requirements:
a) A fully complete application form for Turkey work visa.
b) A passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Turkey.
c) Two passport-sized photographs that were taken within six months.
d) A valid police clearance certificate that proves that the employee is under no criminal investigation and was not involved in any legal issues in the past.
e) An official job offer or contract with information related to the job position like the monthly salary and the period of work.
f) A copy of a diploma or Provisional Graduation certificate.
g) A sworn translation – an official certified translation of the graduation or diploma certificate.
h) Medical insurance that covers the entire period of stay in Turkey.
i) A copy of the rent agreement or real estate property proof in Turkey to prove the accommodation in the country.
j) Proof of means of subsistence – This means that the employee has to give a piece of evidence to Turkish authorities about having at least €50 for daily spend during the stay.
k) A proof of the roundtrip airplane tickets that one has to present to the embassy on the day of the interview.

REQUIREMENTS FOR A TURKEY WORK PERMIT

The employer in Turkey has to submit the following documents on behalf of the employee for issuance of the Turkey Work Permit:
a) A fully completed work permit application letter
b) A foreign personnel application form
c) A Trade Registry Gazette of Turkey that holds all the details of current shareholding and the capital structure of the organization.
d) A balance sheet and the profit and loss statement for the recent year. This document should be certified by the tax office or by a public accountant who holds relevant certification.
e) A notarized power of attorney for the person who is authorized to file the online application

TURKEY WORK PERMIT VISA APPLICATION PROCESS

While applying for a Turkey work visa, the employee has to ensure that they choose the right category of visa and then follow the steps mentioned below:
a) Just after receiving the job offer, the employee has to apply for a work visa in Turkey. The ideal time to apply is two months before they plan to leave for Turkey.
b) After filling the visa application, the foreign nationals can directly submit it to their country of residence. However, some people will be required to hire an application center managed by a third party.
c) Post applying, the employees must submit the required documents to the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services within ten days.
d) Once the employee attends their visa interview, they are required to notify the employer so that the end of the application process can be taken care of by them.
e) Within ten days of the employee’s interview, the employer will send the required documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS). This is required for verification and for issuing a work permit on behalf of the employee. If the documents are not submitted within the timeline, the employee’s application will be rejected.

Note: A Turkey work visa is incomplete without a work permit application. While the employee has to submit the application for a Turkey work visa, the work permit application must be submitted by the employer in Turkey. A Turkish work permit is equivalent to a residence permit.