Documents Issued to Foreigners

DOCUMENTS ISSUED TO FOREIGNERS BY THE DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF INTERNATIONAL LABOUR FORCE

1. Work Permit Documents

A work permit is a permit issued by the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security in the form of an official document that grants the foreigner the right to work and reside in Türkiye within the validity period. However, work permits issued to foreigners under temporary protection, international protection applicants and conditional refugees do not substitute for residence permits.

Work permit cards are issued for 5 different types. These are:

- Fixed-term Work Permit

- Permanent Work Permit

- Independent Work Permit

- Temporary Protection Work Permit

- International Protection Work Permit

A QR code is also included during the personalization and production of the Work Permit Document, that can be verified at https://izinsorgula.csgb.gov.tr. In addition, there is information that the verification and validity of the document should be done through the permit inquiry system at calismaizni.gov.tr.

The document contains the date of issue, validity dates of the permit, and annotations and the document is valid only within the validity dates. The document also includes the title of the firm and the province where the foreigner will work.

1.1. Types of Work Permits That Substitute for Residence Permits

Fixed-term, Permanent or Independent Work Permit documents have the same card design and they substitute for residence permits. Foreigners within this scope can travel between provinces with their work permit documents during the validity period without the need to obtain a travel permit.

Fixed-term Work Permit: If the application is evaluated positively, it is issued to the foreigner for a certain period of time, provided that he/she works for a specific job in a specific workplace belonging to a real or legal person or public institution or organization, provided that it does not exceed the duration of the employment or service contract.

Permanent Work Permit: It is a work permit issued without any end date and without being bound to a specific employer. The permanent work permit documents must be renewed every 5 years before the expiry date of the document. A foreigner with a permanent work permit benefits from all the rights provided by a long-term residence permit and the rights granted to Turkish citizens, except for the regulations in special laws, without prejudice to their acquired rights regarding social security and subject to the provisions of the relevant legislation in the exercise of these rights.

Independent Work Permit: It is a work permit that gives the foreigner the right to work on his/her own behalf and account in Türkiye and is issued for a certain period of time. As with the permanent work permit, it is issued on behalf of the foreigner without depending on an employer.

1.2. Work Permits That Do Not Substitute for Residence Permits

Work permits issued to foreigners under Temporary Protection, International Protection Applicants or Conditional Refugees do not substitute for residence permits and this is stated on the backside of the cards.

If the Ministry of Interior terminates the residence rights of such persons, their work permits are deemed invalid. If a work permit is issued to these persons in a province other than the province where they are registered, they must obtain a travel permit first and then travel to the province where they will work.

Temporary Protection Work Permit: In the work permit document issued to foreigners under Temporary Protection, it is written on the backside in Turkish and Arabic that it does not substitute for residence permit.

International Protection Work Permit: In the work permit document issued to foreigners under International Protection, it is written in Turkish and English on the backside that the work permit does not substitute for residence permit.

2. Turquoise Card Images

In line with the international labour force policy, a Turquoise Card can be issued to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate based on their level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investments in Türkiye on the national economy and employment, and the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.

The Turquoise Card is issued with a transition period of the three years. The Ministry may request information and documents from the employer or foreigner regarding the activities carried out during the transition period. If not canceled within this period, the condition of transition period on the Turquoise Card is removed upon the application of the foreigner and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued.

The foreigner holding a Turquoise Card shall benefit from the rights provided by the permanent work permit regulated in the Law.

The spouse and dependent children of the foreigner holding a Turquoise Card, according to the provisions of the legislation, shall be issued Card of Turquoise Card Dependent as a document showing that they are relatives of the Turquoise Card holder and replacing the residence permit during the validity period of the original Turquoise Card of the foreigner.

A QR code is also included during the personalization and production of the Turquoise Cards, that can be verified at https://izinsorgula.csgb.gov.tr. In addition, there is information that the verification and validity of the document should be done through the permit inquiry system at www.calismaizni.gov.tr.

The date of issuance and expiry dates are indicated on the document and the document is valid only within these periods.

Foreigners within the scope of the Turquoise Card can travel between provinces within the validity period without the need to obtain a travel permit.

3. Work Permit Exemption Documents

Pursuant to Article 13 of the Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force, specific groups of foreigners are considered within the scope of work permit exemption. As with work permits, work permit exemption substitutes for residence permit as per Article 27 of Law No. 6458. However, work permit exemptions issued to foreigners under temporary protection, international protection applicants and conditional refugees do not substitute for residence permits.

Within the scope of work permit exemption, different types of documents are issued to foreigners in different situations. These are

- Work Permit Exemption Document

- Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption

- Work Permit Exemption Information Forma

               a)Exemptions for Seasonal Agricultural and Livestock Work (For Temporary Protection and International Protection)

              b)Exemptions for Foreigners Notified by the Ministry of Interior within the Scope of Paragraph 48/1-ş of the Implementing Regulation of the International Labour Force Law (For Temporary Protection and Humanitarian Residence)

3.1. Work Permit Exemption Document

Pursuant to Section 5 titled "Work Permit Exemption" of the Implementing Regulation of International Labour Force Law, in case a work permit exemption is granted to foreigners for a period of 3 months or longer, the Work Permit Exemption Document is issued as a card and sent to the address specified in the application. For exemptions of less than 3 months, no card is issued unless the foreigner requests it; only a "Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption" is issued.

As long as the work permit exemptions are valid, they substitute for residence permit.

When a Work Permit Exemption Document is printed, a QR code is added to the document so that it can be verified at https://izinsorgula.csgb.gov.tr. In addition, there is information that the verification and validity of the document should be done through the permit inquiry system at www.calismaizni.gov.tr. The document includes the date of issue, validity dates of the permit, it is valid only within these periods.

3.2. Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption

Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption is produced with a QR code allowing inquiry at https://emuafiyet.csgb.gov.tr/verify as for all work permit exemptions approved in the e-Muafiyet system. At the same time, all exemptions issued can be verified at https://izinsorgula.csgb.gov.tr.

For exemptions of less than 3 months, only a "Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption" is issued and no card is printed unless the foreigner requests. For exemptions of 3 months or longer, this document is valid for a maximum of 3 months as of the exemption start date. Afterwards, it is obligatory to use the Work Permit Exemption Document printed as a card.

Proof Document of Work Permit Exemption

3.3 Work Permit Exemption Information Form

a) Exemptions for Seasonal Agricultural and Livestock Work (For Temporary Protection and International Protection)

Foreigners under temporary protection, international protection applicants and conditional refugees do not need to obtain a work permit to work in seasonal agriculture and livestock, and it is sufficient for them to obtain a work permit exemption.

Foreigners within this scope apply to the Provincial Directorate of Labour and Employment Agency in the province where they are registered with an identity document indicating their status (temporary protection identity document, international protection application identity document or conditional refugee identity document) and an exemption certificate is issued for up to one year.

Foreigners under temporary protection can be issued a certificate for a maximum of 3 months outside the province where they are registered, while international protection applicants and conditional refugees can only apply for exemption to work in seasonal agriculture and animal husbandry in the province where they are granted the right to stay. These persons must obtain a travel permit from e-Government or the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in order to travel after the exemption is issued.

In addition, foreigners under temporary protection who have received a work permit exemption information form from their province of registration to work in seasonal agricultural works in the provinces of Adana, Antalya, Bursa, Hatay, Isparta, Konya and Mersin provinces, will be able to apply for an additional 3 months (3+3 months) work permit exemption information form if they apply to the Provincial Directorate of Labor and Employment Agency of their province before the current 3-month exemption period expires.

The issued Work Permit Exemption Information Form is produced with a QR code for inquiries at https://izinsorgula.csgb.gov.tr.

Work Permit Exemption Information Form for Seasonal Agricultural or Livestock Work for Foreigners under Temporary Protection

Work Permit Exemption Information Form for Seasonal Agricultural or Livestock Work for Foreigners under International Protection

b) Exemptions for Foreigners Notified by the Ministry of Interior within the Scope of Paragraph 48/1-ş of the Implementing Regulation of the International Labour Force Law (For Temporary Protection and Humanitarian Residence)

Foreigners under temporary protection and humanitarian residence holders who are notified by the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security through the system are considered within the scope of work permit exemption for the scope and periods specified in the notification. The Work Permit Exemption Information Form issued to such persons is valid together with the Temporary Protection Identity Document / Humanitarian Residence Permit Document, unless it is terminated between the validity dates.

Work Permit Exemption Information Form for Foreigners Under Temporary Protection

Work Permit Exemption Information Form for Foreigners with Humanitarian Residence Permit