Working or running a business in Turkey as a foreigner is possible – but moving without understanding the system can create serious problems. This article tells you the truth: when it is straightforward and when it gets complicated.

54a. Work permit – your employer applies, you prepare

In Turkey, the work permit application is submitted by the employer, not by you. The process works like this: your employer applies through the Ministry of Labour and Social Securitys online system. You then go to the nearest Turkish consulate or embassy in your home country to obtain a work visa. The employer completes the application on the ministry system and a decision is typically issued within 30 days.

The main documents required: passport, diploma (with certified Turkish translation), employment contract, and the employers trade registry certificate and tax records. Additional prior authorisation from the relevant authority is required for positions in education, healthcare, and academia.

54b. The 5-to-1 rule – still in force, but with exceptions

Under Turkish employment law, for every foreign employee a company wishes to hire, it must have at least five Turkish nationals registered with SGK (Social Security). This can be a real barrier for small businesses. However, meaningful exceptions have been introduced since October 2024:

• Companies with annual net sales exceeding 50 million TL can employ up to five foreign workers without being bound by the 5-to-1 ratio
• IT and technology companies are fully exempt from both the ratio and financial criteria for technical roles
• The tourism and entertainment sector has specific rules for roles requiring specialist expertise

54c. Setting up a company – The door is open

Foreigners can set up a company in Turkey. Under the Foreign Direct Investment Law, foreigners have equal rights to Turkish citizens when it comes to company formation. The most common choice is a Limited Liability Company (LLC / Ltd. Şti.):

• Minimum share capital: 50,000 TL (can be paid within 24 months of registration)
• Formation costs: approximately 30,000 TL (excluding share capital)
• Can be established by a single shareholder; residency in Turkey is not required
• Corporate tax rate: 25% (2024/2025)
• Monthly accountancy fee: from approximately 4,750 TL

If you are only a shareholder and do not plan to live or work in Turkey, no work permit is needed. However, if you will serve as company director and reside in Turkey, a work permit or residence permit is required.

54d. Working without a permit – The risk is real

Foreigners working without a permit do exist in Alanya – particularly in real estate, tourism, and hospitality. But the risk is genuine. The employer is required to notify the Ministry within 15 days of a foreign employee starting or leaving; failure to do so results in administrative fines for both the employer and the foreign worker. A foreigner caught working illegally can be deported and banned from re-entering Turkey.

Enforcement is not constant – but when it happens, the consequences are serious. Short-term convenience can turn into long-term problems very quickly.

Source: T.C. Ministry of Labour and Social Security – https://www.calismaizni.ailevecalisma.gov.tr

EXPERT ADVICE: Working or setting up a business legally in Turkey is possible and relatively straightforward once you know the system. Know the rules and the obstacles are manageable. Ignore them and both you and your employer pay the price. Work with a labour lawyer or accountant – The cost always pays for itself.
Sources: T.C. Calisma ve Sosyal Guvenlik Bakanligi – https://www.csgb.gov.tr | T.C. Ticaret Bakanligi – https://www.ticaret.gov.tr | Mevzuat 4817 – https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr

P.S. Whatever you do here employment, freelance work, running a business do it legally. No exceptions. The short-term convenience of working informally is never worth the long-term consequences. And whatever structure you choose, have a good lawyer involved from the start. Not after something goes wrong. From the beginning.