İŞKUR Self-Employment and Disability Project Support in Türkiye 2026

[عاشق تركيا]

İŞKUR self-employment and disability project support 2026

Türkiye’s employment agency has opened its sixth 2026 call for self-employment projects for eligible persons with disabilities and former offenders, alongside a separate institutional disability-employment project track. The individual application deadline is 13 November 2026 at 23:59 Türkiye time. Approval depends on assessment; applying does not guarantee funding.

Archival image of İŞKUR headquarters in Ankara, 2013. Photo Vikiçizer, image details, CC BY-SA 3.0.​

Two application routes

Track	Route and deadline
Individual self-employment	e-Government by 13 November at 23:59
Five institutional project types	Hand-deliver or post to the provincial İŞKUR directorate by close of business on 13 November

Institutional projects cover vocational training, workplace adaptation, assistive technology, sheltered workplaces and supported employment. Eligible organisations working with disabled people include civil society organisations, employers, universities, municipalities and public bodies. This is separate from individual self-employment support.

Individual funding ceilings

Category	Disability track	Former-offender track
Agriculture and livestock equipment	Up to 440,000 lira	Up to 440,000 lira
Equipment in other sectors	Up to 550,000 lira	Up to 550,000 lira
Official establishment costs	Up to 40,000 lira	Check track rules
Operating costs	Up to 145,000 lira, or 75,000 for agriculture and livestock	Check track rules

For the disability track, eligible operating costs are supported up to 60% within the applicable ceiling and 12-month period, with documents. Rent is excluded for agriculture and livestock. These are ceilings for different cost categories, not an automatic advance payment. Accepted costs are paid against eligible invoices or equivalent documents after the contract and subject to the commission’s decision.

Eligibility and documents
The guide lists appropriate İŞKUR registration, age 18 or over, no retirement or active business in the applicant’s name, residence in the province where the business will be established, entrepreneurship training and required professional documents. Restrictions also apply to a recently closed business in the proposed occupation and appointed guardianship.

The disability track requires the specified medical board report documenting at least 40% loss of function. The former-offender track has a defined legal status, exclusions and documentary requirements; a previous conviction alone does not establish eligibility. Livestock and beekeeping projects require additional qualifications and documents.

International applicants: Residence in Türkiye alone does not establish eligibility. Confirm your nationality, registration and work or business authorisation with İŞKUR before applying.

Application steps
1. Review the programme page, guides and forms and choose the appropriate track.
2. Check your İŞKUR registration, entrepreneurship certificate, relevant status documents, tax and criminal records and other documents for your activity.
3. Prepare an original project and itemised, tax-inclusive budget; copied applications may be rejected.
4. For individual self-employment, the announcement specifies online submission through e-Government by 13 November at 23:59. Hand or postal delivery to İŞKUR is not accepted for this individual track.
5. Former-offender applicants: The announcement specifies electronic applications while the guide also refers to relevant Ministry of Justice units. Confirm the current coordination procedure with İŞKUR and the probation directorate before the deadline; do not rely on direct delivery alone.
6. Follow your application. The guide allows an individual project returned for missing information to be completed and resubmitted by 18 November; this does not replace submitting the initial application on time.

After approval
The guide requires the beneficiary to run the business personally and continue it for at least three years, with applicable insurance and documentation duties. Breaches can result in recovery under the rules. Employee wages, utility deposits and goods bought for resale are not automatically covered. Confirm eligible items and invoice timing before committing money.

Questions
Is this a salary or loan? It is support for eligible costs of an approved project, subject to conditions.
Can one person submit several projects? The guide permits one self-employment project per person.
Where can I ask? Contact İŞKUR on 444 75 87 or call 170 and ask your provincial directorate about your circumstances.

Related topics
National internship programme
Work permits
Criminal record correction
Work permit refusals
Working without a permit
Social security for workers
Employment rights
Work permit exemption
Work permit renewal​