📊 Work Permit Evaluation Criteria in Türkiye in 2026: Staffing, Finances and Salary

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1️⃣ 📊 Work Permit Evaluation Criteria in Türkiye in 2026: Staffing, Finances and Salary​


A genuine contract is only one part of a work permit application. The Ministry assesses Turkish staffing, financial capacity, salary, the role’s fit with the business, qualifications and sector-specific rules. Meeting numerical criteria does not guarantee approval.

The official e-İzin sign-in for work-permit applications and follow-up is the Ministry’s portal.

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Preparing a passport for travel​

2️⃣ 📊 Practical overview​

Occupation2026 gross monthly minimum
1️⃣ Senior managers and pilotsTRY 165,150: five times
2️⃣ Engineers and architectsTRY 132,120: four times
3️⃣ Other workVaries: three times, twice or minimum wage

3️⃣ 👥 Turkish employee numbers​

For workplaces using balance-sheet accounting, the general rule is at least five Turkish citizens for each foreign worker: five for one, ten for two and fifteen for three. They must be genuinely employed and recorded with SGK; names on a private list are insufficient.

The relevant workplace, branch or nationwide workforce depends on the applicable general or sector rule. Select the correct SGK workplace record in e-İzin rather than assuming every employee in the company can always be counted.

If the workplace’s previous-year net sales are TRY 50 million or more, the staffing criterion does not apply to applications for up to five foreign workers. This exception concerns staffing; other applicable conditions remain.

4️⃣ 💼 Financial capacity​

A newly established balance-sheet business in the current year without annual accounts must have at least TRY 500,000 paid-up capital. An established business must meet one of these alternatives:
  • Paid-up capital of at least TRY 500,000; or
  • Net sales of at least TRY 8 million; or
  • Exports of at least USD 150,000.
For an ordinary partnership formed by balance-sheet businesses, at least one partner must meet an applicable capital, sales or export alternative. Evidence can include annual accounts, profit/loss statements, capital and trade registry documents, export records, tax-office certification and accountant/sworn financial adviser approval. Forecasts or unsupported figures are not substitutes for official records.

5️⃣ 💵 Gross salary thresholds​

Use the gross minimum wage in force on the application date. For 2026 it is TRY 33,030 monthly; the published net minimum of TRY 28,075.50 is not the permit calculation base.
  • Senior executives and pilots: five times gross minimum = TRY 165,150.
  • Engineers and architects: four times = TRY 132,120.
  • Other managers: three times = TRY 99,090.
  • Specialist or skilled work: twice = TRY 66,060.
  • Domestic services and other work: at least TRY 33,030.
These are gross amounts before deductions, subject to applicable special criteria or exceptions. Reconcile the contract, e-İzin commitment, permit conditions, SGK contribution earnings, payroll and bank payment. Underdeclaring pay after obtaining a permit on a higher salary can cause penalties and renewal problems.

6️⃣ 🆕 Previous lawful stay: the August 2026 exception​

Effective 3 August 2026, a domestic applicant who has spent at least one year of the preceding three years lawfully in Türkiye under a work permit, residence permit or international protection may benefit from a staffing and financial-capacity exception, for up to three qualifying foreign workers at the workplace.

Foreign staff working with work permits must not outnumber Turkish employees. A workplace with two Turkish employees cannot use this route for three foreign workers. For a fourth and subsequent qualifying foreign worker, the general staffing and financial rules apply, subject to the applicable protection legislation and other specific rules.

7️⃣ 👤 Personal-status exceptions​

Specified categories can be exempt from staffing, financial and salary criteria, including a foreign national with a Turkish parent or child, a humanitarian residence holder, a supported trafficking victim, a stateless-person document holder, a long-term resident, someone in an ongoing marriage to a Turkish citizen for at least three years, qualifying eight-year lawful residents, officially recognised persons of Turkish origin and citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prove the exact status with official documents. Exemption from criteria is not automatic approval or exemption from obtaining a permit.

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Organising documents and an online application​

8️⃣ 🎓 Foreign students​

Students in formal associate/undergraduate study may work part time after completing the first year, with permission. The same first-year restriction does not apply to qualifying postgraduate students. YÖK records establish student status and additional student/sector conditions may apply.

9️⃣ 🏭 Sector-specific rules​

Special criteria exist for IT, education, domestic care, healthcare, tourism, aviation, entertainment, advanced technology/construction, qualifying foreign investment, livestock, manufacturing, poultry and waste/recycling work. A specific rule takes priority in the matter it regulates.

Changes effective 3 August 2026 cover manufacturing, poultry and waste/recycling, including qualifying additional employment arrangements running to 31 December 2027. They have conditions concerning Turkish/foreign numbers, branch records and the occupation. Read the current sector text; do not rely on the five-to-one rule alone.

1️⃣0️⃣ 🧑‍💼 Foreign company partners​

A shareholding does not automatically authorise active work. Partner criteria consider the ownership percentage, capital stake, business capital and history, Turkish staffing and actual role. A foreign capital share of USD 100,000 or more can trigger specified exceptions under the official partner rules; verify their exact scope rather than assuming all criteria disappear.

1️⃣1️⃣ 📌 Other grounds still matter​

An application can fail despite satisfying staffing, capital and pay because the occupation is reserved to citizens, the role does not fit the business, qualifications or prior approvals are missing, the business need is inadequately explained, records conflict, documents are false/incomplete, or residence/security/labour-policy grounds apply.

1️⃣2️⃣ 🧮 Example: an engineer at an established business​

Check five genuine Turkish employees unless an exception applies; capital of TRY 500,000 or net sales of TRY 8 million or exports of USD 150,000; gross monthly pay of at least TRY 132,120; a suitable business activity; the degree, translation and any required equivalence/professional registration; and consistent contract, e-İzin and SGK data. Failure on one essential requirement can defeat the application.

1️⃣3️⃣ ✅ Check before submission​

Verify Turkish and foreign employee numbers, paid-up capital, net sales/export evidence, the correct gross salary and occupation, business activity, qualifications, professional approvals and documentary proof of any exception. Avoid outdated wages, net-pay calculations, fictitious staff, inaccurate job titles, unapproved accounts or confusing total sales with net sales. Company formation and criterion exemptions do not guarantee approval.

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Discussing documents during a legal consultation​

1️⃣4️⃣ ✅ Records and checks​

ElementWhat to establish
1️⃣ StaffingTurkish staffing and the correct exception
2️⃣ Financial capacityCapital, sales or exports
3️⃣ Salary and exceptionGross pay and evidence of the exception

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