RELEVANT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES
SOURCES & CONFLICTS OF LAW
BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
SPONSORS
COMMON ISSUES OR CONCERNS FOR BUSINESS IMMIGRATION
DEPENDENTS
SETTLEMENT & CITIZENSHIP
PRESENT CLIMATE & FUTURE LEGISLATION

RELEVANT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES

ADMINISTRATIVE

The main administrative bodies responsible for immigration matters are:

• Ministry of Labor and Social Security – “MOL” (specifically the Work Permit Directorate)
• Ministry of Interior – “IM” (specifically the Migration Directorate)
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs – “MFA” (Consular Posts)

ENFORCEMENT

The Ministry of Labor (https://www.csgb.gov.tr/) and the Ministry of Interior are responsible for the enforcement of immigration laws.

LEGISLATIVE

The Parliament is the main legislative body and is responsible for adopting and amending immigration laws.

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SOURCES & CONFLICTS OF LAW

SOURCES OF LAW

The principal sources of law relating to immigration in Turkey include:

• Law No. 6735 related to International Workforce
• Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection
• Application Regulations of the Law No. 6735 on Work Permits for Foreigners
• Application Regulations of the Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection
• Regulations on the Employment of Personnel of Foreign Nationality and Direct Foreign Investment
• Regulations on the Turquoise Card
• Regulations on Citizenship related to Investors
• Law No. 7418 on Amendment of Press Law and Certain Laws
• Regulations on foreign nationals who will be employed under Free Trade Zone Areas

CONFLICTS OF LAW

Unfortunately, in Turkey, several laws and regulations have not yet been implemented, though published many years ago. A prime example includes Regulations on the Turquoise Card which was going to usher in a permanent residence program that is yet to be implemented. Additionally, several specific articles in the Law on International Protection are not implemented, including adjudication of residence permits at consular posts. Note also that several articles of the International Workforce Law are no longer being implemented such as the adjudication of unlimited and independent work permit categories. Unfortunately, those types of permits are not currently being approved.

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BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

UNSPONSORED BUSINESS-RELATED IMMIGRATION

There are few provisions currently being implemented relating to unsponsored business immigration generally.

Self-employment

According to the law, a foreign national can file an application for a work permit allowing self-employment if s/he both continuously resided in Turkey for the previous five years and can provide evidence of continuous residence permits for the previous five years. However, work permits allowing self-employment are almost never granted.

Additionally, several years ago, under Law No. 6735 on International Workforce (Work Permit Law), a category of permanent residence (named Turquoise Card) purported to usher in a program to allow for self-sponsorship of certain foreigners, including exceptional self-employed individuals. However, at the time of writing, the government has still not published an application form, nor developed a procedure for the filing of Turquoise Card applications.

Entrepreneurs

There is no specific immigration category for entrepreneurs in Turkish immigration law except under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection which contains a special residence permit category for those who establish a commercial enterprise. Unfortunately, there is little guidance on this category and informal feedback from the MOL indicates that this category does not grant work authorization.

Also, with regard to entrepreneurs, the Turquoise Card program mentioned above was to also allow for self-sponsorship for entrepreneurs. However, the government has not yet published an application form, nor developed a procedure for the filing of Turquoise Card applications.

Investors

There is no specific immigration category for investors, except under Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, which creates special residence permits for property ownership. However, most of the guidance available on these permits is not published which makes it difficult to assess what property ownership qualifies. Aside from this residence permit category, note however, that with regard to a standard work permit, certain investors are potentially exempt from the requirement to employ at least five Turkish employees per foreign national applicant and worksite for a short period of time.

Additionally, under the Turquoise Card program mentioned above, it was to also allow for self-sponsorship for investors. However, the government has not yet published an application form, nor developed a procedure for the filing of Turquoise Card applications.

Lastly, certain investors who meet the guidelines contained in the Regulations on Citizenship related to Investors may be eligible to file for Turkish citizenship.

Business visitors

Business visitors can be required to a letter of invitation from a domestic sponsor. (see Sponsored business-related immigration section)

Students & intern options

Students are not granted work authorization permits solely based on their student status. They must qualify for a work permit based on one of the enumerated categories.

Note however that there is a work permit exemption category for those foreign student graduates in mandatory internship programs. To be eligible for this immigration status, the foreign applicant must be enrolled in a Turkish university engaged in a program that requires a domestic internship. Qualifying individuals can then apply online through a Ministry of Labor portal for work permit exemptions.

Remote work

If a foreigner enters Turkey as a visitor and/or obtains a touristic residence permit and engages in remote work for an employer outside of Turkey, they may have compliance issues. Clearly a tourist visa or a short-term touristic residence permit specifically do not grant work authorization. In fact, the applicant can be requested to evidence their financial ability to support themselves (or their spouse).

However, Turkey also has a Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) which offers an opportunity for remote workers to live and work in Turkey under certain conditions for a temporary period. This new visa category was promoted by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism as of April 2024.

To be eligible, applicant must show he/she:

• will work remotely in Turkey for an employer abroad or as independent contractors (performing no work on behalf of Turkish entities or persons);
• is between the ages of 21 and 55;
• is a national of either Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States;
• holds a university diploma;
• possesses an employment contract with employer outside Turkey OR a contract that evidences applicant is self-employed;
• can evidence a monthly income of at least $3000 or annual income of $36,000.

As this visa category is new, applicants should carefully consider how long this status is granted to ensure they remain compliant.

SPONSORED BUSINESS-RELATED IMMIGRATION

Business visitor visa

Some foreign nationals must apply for a business visitor visa at the Turkish consulate of their country of legal residence. Information on whether a national is eligible for an electronic visa in lieu of a consular visa is available online (https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa). Applicants use the following site to apply for an electronic visa, if eligible (www.evisa.gov.tr/en).

To apply for a business visitor visa issued by a consulate, an applicant must log into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MFA) online application system and submit the following documents:

• A petition from the company abroad specifying the (among other things):
  • dates on which the employee will be in Turkey; and
  • activities to be conducted.
• An invitation letter from the hosting Turkish entity
• A visa application form
• Original and copy of the passport
• Biometric size photo with white background (the quantity varies depending on the consulate)
• Visa application fee (the amount varies depending on the applicant’s nationality)

The following documents may also be required, depending on the consulate to which the application is submitted:

• A return ticket and proof of accommodation reservation
• Applicant’s personal bank account records for the last several months
• Evidence of health insurance coverage for the duration of stay in Turkey
• Applicant’s personal tax records for the last several years
• Applicant’s current police clearance document issued from country of nationality or lawful residence
• International travel/health insurance

Additional documents may be required, depending on the relevant consulate. These requirements can be varied without notice. It is therefore advisable to communicate with the relevant consulate for each application. Note that some consular posts require visa applications to be processed through a designated visa agency.

Cross Border Service Provider (CBSP)

Turkey has also recently started implementing a work permit exemption for cross border service providers (similar to the internship status above). There is little public guidance to date on this category of exemption, but it applies to contract service providers, or independent professionals who are in Turkey temporarily for the purpose of providing services. Applicants similarly apply via the MOL online system either after entry as a visitor or while abroad and then apply to the consular post for an annotated visa for up to three months validity.

Assembly, Maintenance & Service (AMS) visa

An employee of a foreign entity can engage in assembly, maintenance or service work for the benefit of a receiving Turkish entity without the need for a work permit under certain conditions for up to 90 days.

An AMS visa may be applicable for many types of products and services, including for the assembly (training) and maintenance of:

• Software or computer hardware.
• Complex machinery,
• Energy, construction or manufacturing equipment.

However, it should be noted that as the products and services for which an AMS visa is required are not defined in the Foreign Ministry’s guidance, there are in practice significant variations in the interpretations adopted by the various Turkish consulates, particularly in Turkish posts in non-OECD countries. AMS visa applications must be filed at the Turkish consulate of the applicant’s country of nationality or permanent residence. An AMS visa can be issued for a maximum of one year, for up to 90 days of stay (cumulatively calculated) within that twelve-month period. Additionally, an AMS visa can only be issued once per twelve-month period for any employee.

Employees holding an AMS visa must continue to be paid by the foreign entity that sent them. The visa only allows the employee to work at the location/s and for the company designated in the visa supporting documents.

AMS visa applications are first filed on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa website (https://www.konsolosluk.gov.tr/) or with the consular posts’ designated visa agency. The visa application is uploaded with the supporting documents, and the applicant can then request an appointment at the relevant Turkish consulate. There is no application or documentation to file in Turkey.

The following must be filed in order to apply for an AMS visa:

• Petition from the company abroad specifying the (among other things) the dates on which the employee will be in Turkey; and the work to be conducted
• An invitation letter from the hosting Turkish company where the employee will perform the work
• Original and copy of the passport
• A visa application form and fee (varies on nationality)
• Biometric photograph with white background (the quantity varies depending on the consulate)
• Round-trip ticket and proof of accommodation reservation
• Evidence of health insurance coverage for the duration of stay in Turkey

The following documents may be required, depending on the consulate to which the application is submitted:

• Applicant’s personal bank account records for the last several months
• Applicant’s personal tax records for the last several years
• Applicant’s up to date police clearance document issued from country of nationality or lawful residence
• Sale agreement or pro-forma invoice of the equipment/product for which the applicant will provide maintenance, installation and assembly services
• Other corporate documents from the sending employer

Certain consulates may require additional documents and may change their requirements without notice. It is advisable to communicate with the relevant consulate for each application.

AMS visa applications are generally processed within two to seven business days of application appointment depending on the consulate’s workload. However, on rare occasions, at the discretion of the relevant consulate, the application can be forwarded for review to the Ministry of Interior in Ankara. If that is the case, the application process will take longer.

Work visa

There are two types of application procedures depending on the applicant’s status. Work permit applications can be filed either with:

• A Turkish consulate abroad (where they are a national or a lawful resident)
• The Labour Ministry (MOL) in Turkey (if applicant currently possesses a valid work or residence permit)

 Applications filed abroad with a Turkish consulate

The application can be filed at the Turkish consulate (or occasionally through MFA designated visa agencies) in the applicant’s country of residence or nationality. This option involves a two-step application process:

• The applicant must log into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ online visa appointment system to obtain an appointment for filing a work visa application at the Turkish consulate.
• Within thirty days of filing with the Turkish consulate, the sponsor company must file the employer’s section of the application with the Labour Ministry’s online system.

The following documents must be filed with the consulate:

• Petition letter on the hosting company letterhead signed by an individual with authority to act on behalf of the company and containing information on the intended employment (including term of employment and work duties)
• Standard visa application form and fee (available on the MFA’s online system)
• Original and copy of the passport (valid for at least six months after the expiry date of the requested work visa)
• Biometric size photos with white background
• Employment contract signed by an individual with authority to act on behalf of the sponsor company and assignee (containing information on the intended employment, salary, term of employment and work duties)
• If the person applies from a country other than the country of his nationality, a valid residence permit or evidence of legal status in the country of residence
• Police clearance document from country of nationality and/or country of residence (depends on consular post)
• International health insurance (depends on consular post)

The consulate will inform the applicant (normally by e-mail) when his/her application has been officially registered (and issue a reference number) so that the employer can submit to the MOL’s online system the required documents (see below) within the thirty-day deadline.

Documents relating to the foreign employee:

• electronic scanned biometric -size photograph with white background
• diploma/degree of the educational institution from which the applicant last graduated (notarized and translated into Turkish)
• passport page showing biographical information
• signed/stamped employment agreement with sponsor

Documents relating to the employer:

• previous year’s balance sheet and profit and loss statement certified by the Tax Office or a certified public accountant
• Trade Registry Gazette showing company’s most recent capital and shareholding structure
• recent document from the Tax Office certifying that the company has no tax debt (only required for renewals)

Applications should be processed by the Labour Ministry within 30 days following submission of all required documents, unless the Ministry requests additional documents.

After the work permit has been approved, the joint work-residence card will be posted to the employer’s address. The Ministry will instruct the Turkish consulate where the original application was filed to issue the work visa. The applicant must then return to obtain the work visa from the Turkish consulate within 90 days of approval and must ensure that s/he enters Turkey on his work visa (and not a tourist visa) within six months. A work visa is issued for single entry only. The work visa allows the foreign national to enter Turkey for work purposes within the visa validity period.

Once the foreign employee has entered Turkey with a work visa, he/she is not required to obtain a separate residence permit from the Ministry of Interior. The work permit card approval acts as both a work and residence permit. However, the work permit holder must register his/her residential address within 20 business days following arrival in Turkey with the Migration Directorate (Göç İdaresi) of their place of residence (Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection).

Applications filed domestically in Turkey with the Labour Ministry

As an alternate route to the above, a domestic application may be filed under certain conditions. To file a domestic work permit application in Turkey, the applicant must already possess a valid residence permit or work permit issued for a minimum of six months. The documents that must be filed with the Ministry are the same as for the domestic step of an application first filed at a Turkish consulate abroad (see above), but with the addition of a copy of the residence or work permit.

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SPONSORS

REQUIREMENTS FOR SPONSORS

Requirements to become a sponsor

Employers that wish to sponsor a work permit must meet certain conditions, which include:

• Be a legal entity under Turkish law.
• Have at least five Turkish citizen employees per sponsored foreign applicant and per worksite, as evidenced by payroll records (certain waivers available).
• Have paid-in share capital of not less than TRY100,000. Alternatively, the employer can show gross annual sales amounting to TRY800,000 or exports for a gross annual value of USD250,000 (certain waivers available).
• Acquire an e-signature tool issued on behalf of the sponsor’s designated social security e-notification authority who must also be an e-signature holder. This designated authority must complete registration for the company through the MOL’s online system to delegate authority to log in and pursue work permit applications. This account must be updated annually.
• Offer a salary commensurate with the applicant’s position.

An employer must provide evidence that these conditions are satisfied for each work permit application that it sponsors. The requirements are somewhat different if the legal entity sponsor is a Liaison Office or a non-profit organization.

Sponsor waivers of 5:1 ratio

Sponsoring employers may show they meet one of the waivers of the 5:1 ratio. They include:

• Employer is engaged in a government service or procurement project for which the foreigner will be working;
• Certain foreigners engaged in advance technology activities for which Turkish nationals could not be found;
• Certain foreigners who will work for a foreign public airline, within the education sector or are domestic household workers, or who is the spouse of a Turkish national;
• A newly established entity may allow waiver for certain investor/founders;
• Employer meets the Foreign Direct Investment Law definition, and the foreigner is a key employee;
• Engineering Project Waiver.

Depending on the type of waiver category, the waiver application may be filed with the MOL prior to the work permit applications or concurrently.

Role of sponsors

Sponsors are local employers and must comply with the terms of Turkish immigration and employment law.

Reporting duties of sponsors

Sponsors are responsible for filing work permit applications and have few additional reporting duties to the MOL, provided that the foreign national remains employed at the same location, at the same salary, in the same position and for the term specified in the work permit. If any of these factors change, this must be reported to the MOL. If the worksite location or social security registration number changes, a new work permit must be filed and approved. If the foreigner quits or is removed from the position prior to expiration of the permit, a cancellation petition must be timely filed.

Record-keeping duties of sponsors

Sponsors must keep a record of the front and back of the work permit cards, AMS visas or work permit exemption certificates issued to foreigners. These records must be shown in the event of an audit or inspection. Based on the employment laws in Turkey, it is advisable that these records are kept for ten years from the end of the foreigners’ assignment.

SANCTIONS, CIVIL & CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR SPONSORS

Sanctions

There are no criminal sanctions arising out of violation of immigration laws for sponsors of work permits. For civil penalties, see below.

Monetary penalties

Employers and/or foreign employees who fail to comply with immigration laws and regulations are subject to the following Turkish Lira (TRY) penalties for 2024:

• 768,00 TRY (approx 116 €) imposed on an employer or a self-employed foreigner who does not fulfill the abovementioned notification requirement;
• 688,00 TRY (approx 694 €) imposed on the foreigner employee who works without a work permit;
• 752,00 TRY (approx 1734 €) imposed per foreign employee on an employer (or employer representatives) employing illegal foreign workers; and
• 406,00 TRY (approx 1388 €) imposed on a self-employed foreigner who works without work permit and his/her workplace shall be closed down.

If there is a second violation by the foreign employee or the employer, the applicable penalties are doubled. Employers are also liable for the return travel, accommodation and medical expenses for the illegal worker and his/her dependents (Article 23(9)).

The above fines are not the only risk when using unauthorized foreign workers. Non-compliance with immigration rules often also entails breaches of social security, labor, and tax provisions. These are subject to specific administrative fines, penalties and late fees, which often result in much higher amounts than immigration penalties.

Non-monetary consequences

Anecdotal evidence suggests that an employer can be “blacklisted” if the Labour Ministry is aware that it has abused work permit laws. Additionally, labor law violations (including those related to work authorizations) can disqualify an employer from special corporate or social security tax benefit programs, such as those provided in the Research and Development Law. This can eliminate valuable tax benefits and social security exemptions for employers in breach, which can be far more onerous than the applicable immigration monetary fines.

A foreign employee who remains in Turkey after the expiry of his work visa or is engaged in activities inconsistent with his visa category, can be fined and/or banned from returning to Turkey for a period of time. When a foreign national overstays for more than 10 days, this will be noted by the passport exit control authorities, which have discretion to fine the foreign national and/or bar him from re-entry. The time for which a person can be barred from re-entry is at the discretion of the officer, who will be influenced by the length of overstay and whether the person is a repeat offender.

Impact on existing sponsored migrants

See Non-monetary consequences.

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COMMON ISSUES OR CONCERNS FOR BUSINESS IMMIGRATION

The 5:1 ratio requirement of Turkish employees to foreigners continues to be one of the most common concerns for employers wishing to sponsor work permits. Additionally, the restriction of work permits to the sponsors’ worksite listed on the work permit is also a common concern. This restricts work permit holders from easily performing work on a customer site or additional worksites of the sponsor.

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DEPENDENTS

PERSONS QUALIFYING AS DEPENDENTS

Under Turkish law, only lawfully married opposite sex spouses and children under the age of 18 qualify as dependents. Only one spouse qualifies as a dependent.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS

Once a foreign employee and his dependents have entered Turkey, the work permit holding employee must file a residence permit application for his dependents within the validity period of their visas/visa exemptions status in Turkey (that is, while they are still in lawful visitor status). While a foreign employee receives his/her work-residence card from the Ministry of Labour, residence permit applications for dependents are filed with the Migration Directorate (MD) under the Ministry of Interior. The dependents’ residence permits will be issued with the same expiration date as the employee’s work permit, provided that their passports remain valid for 60 days beyond the expiry of that period.

To apply for a dependent residence permit, the foreign employee must file the following documents on behalf of his/her dependents:

• Residence permit application form (available on the online system)
• Four biometric photographs per applicant and two biometric photos of principal per applicant
• Original and copy of the passports of the employee and dependents, copy of e-visa (if any) and copy of pages showing all entries into Turkey
• Original legalized and translated/notarized marriage certificate
• Original legalized and translated/notarized birth certificate (for children)
• Original and copy of the work-residence card of the principal
• Original and copy of local health insurance coverage
• Original legalized and translated/notarized (current) police clearance certificate for the principal issued by the country of origin (and police clearance relating to the spouse if the application is for a child)
• Principal’s monthly payment slip or salary confirmation letter signed/sealed by the company
• Principal’s SSI listing (with QR code) issued from Turkish e-devlet (online government) system
• Principal’s current address registration document issued from e-devlet (online government) system
• Current Turkish Police clearance certificate of principal: a local Turkish police clearance is required of the main employee and spouse if filing for children
• Turkish Tax ID number issued for each dependent
• Notarized power of attorney given by the applicant and spouse authorizing a law firm (if any) to pursue the application

Additional documents may be requested at the discretion of the MD. Principal and all dependents must be present when filing the application(s). Residence cards are posted to the applicant’s residential address within about four to six weeks from the submission date.

ENTITLEMENT TO WORK

Dependents are not entitled to work solely based on their dependent status. They must independently qualify and be granted work authorization.

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SETTLEMENT & CITIZENSHIP

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

As explained above, a true permanent residence as envisioned in the Turquoise Card program is not yet being implemented. Also mentioned above, the category of unlimited work permits (which could be considered similar to permanent residence) also are not currently being approved.

Aside from these programs, there is a “long-term” residence permit category that actually may be issued without expiration. However, this category of residence permit is not generally considered true permanent residence as it does not grant work authorization and is likely intended for retirees who have lived in Turkey for some time. To be eligible, the applicant must have continually and legally resided in Turkey pursuant to work or residence permits for at least eight continuous years, among other criteria. Applications are reviewed by a commission in the Migration Directorate so often take several months to adjudicate.

CITIZENSHIP

The process for the acquisition and loss of Turkish citizenship is regulated by the:

• Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, which came into force on 12 June 2009
• Regulation No. 27544 regarding the Application of the Turkish Citizenship Law dated 6 April 2010
• Regulation on Citizenship related to Investors, dated January 2017, Dec 2018

Turkish citizenship can be acquired in any of the following ways:

• By birth or adoption to a Turkish national
• By marriage to a Turkish citizen
• Based on long-term residency
• Based on exceptional circumstances
• By voluntary reacquisition
• By investment

The process and time frame for obtaining citizenship is determined by the type of application and the location where the application is filed. As applications must be filed at the local office of the Interior Ministry where the person resides, the timelines fluctuate significantly. Certain qualifying applicants who reside abroad can file an application for citizenship with the Turkish consulate of his country of citizenship, depending on the application category.

Although persons who previously held Turkish citizenship or are of Turkish origin may apply for citizenship, applications are most commonly filed by non-Turkish origin persons for acquisition by marriage or based on long-term residency or by investment.

With regard to acquisition based on residency, a foreign national can acquire Turkish citizenship, at the discretion of the competent authority, if he/she meets the following conditions (Article 11, Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901):

• Mental capacity under his own country’s laws, or under Turkish law if he is stateless
• Five years’ continuous residence in Turkey prior to the application (and no cumulative absence of 180 days or more)
• Intention to settle in Turkey, supported by relevant evidence
• Absence of disease that constitutes a danger to public health
• Good morals
• Sufficient level of Turkish
• Income or profession that provides financial self-sufficiency and for any dependents
• Does not pose a threat to national security and public order

The documents required for a citizenship application vary greatly depending on the category and the location of filing. The initial filing location is the police station of the place where the person resides. The documents below are commonly requested for a citizenship application following five years of residence in Turkey:

• Application form (form VAT-3)
• Certified translations of passport and other identity documents
• Notarized and apostilled copies of birth, marriage and divorce certificates
• Notarized copy of the most recent work or residence permit, valid for a minimum of six months beyond the application date
• Notarized copy and translation relating to any criminal arrests/convictions
• If the applicant has first or second-degree ancestors who are Turkish citizens, proof of their civil registrations in Turkey
• Certification of the applicant’s ability to speak Turkish, issued by the Ministry of Education, or any document certifying his education in an institution affiliated with the Ministry of Education (discretionary)
• Medical certificate confirming the applicant’s good health and the absence of any infectious diseases that may endanger public health
• Evidence of continuous residence in Turkey for five years before the application date. This consists of a police authorities document showing entry and exit dates from Turkey and other documents certifying residence for five years in Turkey
• Evidence of financial means, proving that the applicant’s income is sufficient for himself and any dependents (which can include a copy of the applicant’s work permit)

Once these documents are presented to the local citizenship office of the Interior Ministry, after review, further documentation is often requested, and an interview will be conducted. A commission is then convened to make a final decision on the application.

A citizenship application is generally processed within about 12 to 24 months.

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PRESENT CLIMATE & FUTURE LEGISLATION

PRESENT CLIMATE & TRENDS

In the last several years, there has also been an increased burden on employers to evidence compliance with social security requirements relating to foreign employees. Although it is not part of the adjudication process for work permits, social security compliance documents are shared by the Work Permit Directorate with the Social Security Directorate, which is also under the authority of the Labour Ministry. The Social Security Directorate is quite active in auditing and assessing penalties for non-compliance with social security requirements relating to foreign employees.

Since early 2023, there has also been a significant increase in Russians immigrating to Turkey while Syrian immigrants remain in Turkey in the millions. This has caused changes in residence permit processing where there is more investigation of where the foreigner resides and how they financially support themselves. It has also caused an increase in denial of short term touristic residence permit applications.

FUTURE LEGISLATION

It is hoped that the procedure and application for the Turquoise Card will be clarified and that applications will be accepted for adjudication (see Unsponsored business-related immigration section). It is also hoped that residence permits based on investment will be more thoroughly implemented and clarified.

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