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Global Outbound Immigration
International Immigration Overview - Turkey


Short-Term Visa Options

Business Visitor Visas

All business visitors must obtain a visa to enter Turkey. Depending on the nationality of the applicant they may apply for the business visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate in their place of residence or they can be issued a visa at the Turkish point of entry. U.S. citizens may obtain their business visa at either a Turkish point of entry or at the Turkish embassy or consulate in their place of residence. A personal appearance is normally not required when filing a Business visa application and submissions by mail are accepted. Business visas are either single entry or multiple reentry based on the needs of the employee.

In order to apply for a business visa the employee must prove that he is traveling to Turkey for business activities such as meetings, mechanical or technical repairs and training programs. The employee must include a letter from his employer describing his intended activities in Turkey. Business visas are generally valid for a period of up to ninety (90) days per entry. Additionally, the employee must present a passport valid for at least three months before the date of expiration in order to obtain a Turkish business visa.

For more information on different types of visas to Turkey and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

Long-Term Visa Options

Work Permits

In order to obtain a work permit to transfer an employee to Turkey, an employer must obtain permission from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS). In determining if the employer is eligible to bring a foreign employee into Turkey for purposes of employment, the MLSS will assess current Turkish labor market conditions and whether the Turkish employer has made attempts at recruiting someone in Turkey for the position. While the MLSS assesses whether the Turkish employer has met the necessary criteria for the issuance of a work permit, the employee must submit a work permit application to the Turkish embassy or consulate with jurisdiction over his place of residence. After determining that the employer has met all the necessary requirements, the MLSS will issue an approval for the work permit and the foreign employee will be issued a single entry work permit at the Turkish embassy or consulate abroad. The work permit is a single entry visa that will become multiple entry once the employee obtains his residence permit card in Turkey.

Within thirty (30) days of arrival in Turkey, the employee must obtain a residence permit card from the appropriate government agency. Once the residence permit card is issued the individual will be able to leave and reenter Turkey on a multiple-entry basis. Prior to the expiration of the resident permit and before the employee can travel outside of the country, the employee will need to obtain an extension of the residence permit.

Dependents

The employee’s immediate family members are allowed to accompany the employee as dependents to Turkey. Turkish law does not recognize common law or same-sex domestic partners as dependents. Turkish law grants dependents the right to employment if they have lived with the employee for a period of at least five consecutive years.

For more information on different types of visas to Turkey and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

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