Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum

Information and Services in Turkey Section => Residency in Turkey, Visas, Work Permit Questions => Topic started by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:18:44 PM

Title: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:18:44 PM
Hi I have read the new law starting 2014 re work and residents permits and am confused....as are most I should imagine!

Long story short I own a property in calis and look to move and start a business. I know a lot of people strongly advise against this and I can see why after extensive research, however, I have cash and want to buy a bar. No mortgages, debts, etc.

The new law says you can use your work permit as a residents permit, however, I cannot see anything further issued about work permits. So main questions are;

1. The old law states that you must live and work in turkey for 5 years to get a self employed work permit. Is this still going to be the case?

2. Will foreigners who open businesses in turkey still have to employ 5 Turkish people? I was thinking more like 2!

3. Once the new law is past how realistic is getting a work permit if you are from the UK?

4. It says under the new resident permit law that you can apply for a resident permit (short term initially) if you are opening a business. Why would you apply for this if you can use a work permit as a resident permit, which you would need to work in your own business anyway?

I am coming to Turkey next week so will enquire further, but Any help in the meantime would be much appreciated.

Thanks   :)
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Eric on May 28, 2013, 18:21:11 PM
1 Answer to all your questions.......DON'T DO IT!
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: KKOB on May 28, 2013, 18:23:07 PM
Yep. What he said.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:25:52 PM
Why not? There are English/Irish pubs in Fethiye run by English so this cannot be impossible. They seem to be doing ok!
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: KKOB on May 28, 2013, 18:30:47 PM
You'll do well. You've already got the Turkish mentality. 20 bars fighting for business on a street, let's open another.

Why don't you just put your money in a pile and set light to it. At least you'll have the benefit of some heat and light from it.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:35:25 PM
The bar for sale is English, no others in the area. They are selling due to retirement. Not quite the same. Books look good. Alternatively I can rent my house out in England, collect the money and sit on my arse. Always a good option! But firstly answers to any questions below would certainly give me more of a idea.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Scunner on May 28, 2013, 18:35:49 PM
Why not? There are English/Irish pubs in Fethiye run by English so this cannot be impossible. They seem to be doing ok!


Sorry but you won't get much encouragement to follow the path you describe, it generally ends in disaster and people are trying to help by warning you of this. You will not get a work permit to run a bar. Fact.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:42:20 PM
Hmmmmm, maybe il just rent the house out here then. Hopefully the law will change more in our favour one day. Thanks.
Title: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Lotty on May 28, 2013, 18:43:03 PM
I might be wrong but I thought that as a foreigner, to open a business here you have to have a Turkish partner in said business? I'd be very wary, those dreams often end in disaster. Actually I can't think of a purely British business.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Louz on May 28, 2013, 18:53:26 PM
I read that somewhere, certainly not a route I would go down. I think this has been lifted now. The law changes all the time which certainly doesn't help when trying to find these things out.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Dutchie on May 28, 2013, 19:05:04 PM
You don't need a turkish businesspartner to open a business but you won't be allowed to work in your own company.
Yes, there are several succesful foreigners in Turkey but most of them have been living here for years, know the culture, the way the system works and are fluent in Turkish.

Move over here, live here for a while, learn the language fluently and then you can still decide whether you would like to have a business here.
Title: Re: New law of work/resident permits 2014
Post by: Eric on May 28, 2013, 19:12:46 PM
Quote; " I think this has been lifted now"  I think, is no where near good enough.  Believe me we have only your interests at heart here.  We, collectively, have lived here a lot of years if you add us all up.  We know of the pitfalls of "I think", "A friend told me", a Turkish friend told me", "I heard it in the bar the other day"  etc etc.   Reality is you will invest a lot of money, you will need a Turkish partner, you will not be able to work in the bar, when/if you are successful rival bars will complain to the tax man, Mayor, Authorities, Police etc etc.  You would be better investing the money and sitting on your pretty little backside.  At the end of the day, no matter what the interest is, you will still have your money.  Buying a bar here risks having no return on investment and also risks losing your investment.  There will be plenty here who will give you the same info with example.  Scunner is the Oracle on this, PLEASE listen to him.