Here is info about the work permit process. please note that I spent a long time writing this out and have put a couple of markers in it so I will know if it gets copied and pasted to another forum without mentioning who the original author was.
The Immigration Process for Expat coming to Turkey
If an assignee would like to apply for a work permit from Turkey, s/he must be a holder of residence permit for min. 6 months and just Group A countries can apply for 6 months residence permit. However an assignee applying from abroad does not need a residence permit and all the country citizen can apply from abroad.The main important difference is that you can apply from Turkey only if you are able to apply for a 6-month's residence permit from Turkey, and that can only happen if you come from a group A country
A group country citizens can obtain a touristic residence permit residence permit for up to 5 years, but for the rest it can only be obtained up to 3 months in 12 months period. Therefore the assignee who is not Group A country citizen, must apply from abroad.
GROUP A Countries: EU member countries, OECD member countries, USA, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece, Ireland, Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Hungary, South Korea, Mexico, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Malta and Southern Cyprus.
I. What documents are needed from me to start the process?
A copy of your passport valid for at least 12 months and containing at least two (2) empty visa pages* (copies of the biographical pages containing your personal details are sufficient)
Copies of the passports for all accompanying family members valid for at least 12 months and containing at least two (2) empty visa pages* (copies of the biographical pages containing your family's personal details are sufficient)
Ten (10) recently taken passport-sized photographs - please retain one passport photo for the work visa application and send the other photos to who ever will be dealing with the application
Six (6) recently taken passport-sized photographs for all accompanying family members - please arrange for each of your family members to retain one passport photo for the visa application process
A copy of your signed assignment offer letter (signed by both your company and yourself)
A duly completed Application Form
Copies of all university diplomas that you have obtained (Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees, Doctorate Degrees, etc.)
A copy of your marriage certificate
Copies of the original long-form birth certificates of all accompanying children
II. Necessary documents required from your company;
A document provided by the Turkish company's accountant to show the last year's tax payments and profit loss table - The accounting department of Turkish company will provide it
A document to show there are no current outstanding debts with the tax office - The accounting department of Turkish company will provide it
A document showing last month's payments to the social security department of current employees - The accounting department of Turkish company will provide it
Trade gazette photocopy to be stamped and signed by authorised personnel of the Turkish company showing the entry of the applying Turkish company- The accounting department of Turkish company will provide it
Copy of authorised company signatory - The accounting department of Turkish company will provide it
A letter of employment that is addressing the Ministry of Labour and Social Security
A Letter of assignment (if the assignment is provided by the same company)
A letter of declaration ( if the assignee's social security payment and salary will be paid by overseas company)
Step 1: Submission of Work Visa Application - Turkish Embassy(ETA: 1-2 hours]
Applicants are generally required to submit their work/residence visa applications to the Turkish Embassy in person. It is generally not necessary to schedule an appointment prior to visiting the Turkish Embassy. The Embassy will usually return your original passport on the same day your application has been submitted. If you are accompanied by family members, then it may be necessary for them to submit residence visa applications together with your work visa application
Step 2: Work Permit Application - Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Ankara [ETA: 8-10 months]
Because your work permit application (Step 2) must be submitted to the Ministry of Labor in Ankara within ten days after you have submitted your work visa application to the Turkish Embassy, it is critical that your work permit application package is finalized before you submit your work visa application.
After your work visa application at the Turkish Consulate, you will receive an application number. This application number is important in order to apply for your online work permit application in Turkish. Your immigration handler should then be informed along with the application number and they will send you a document after they have made the application on line.
You need to send the application back to your company after you put your signature on it. Once they receive your application form, they have to sign and stamp it then send it back to the immigration agent. They need to present your application form and the other necessary documents to the Ministry of Labour within 6 working days. This entire work permit application process must be done within 10 days after your work visa application; Please be aware timing and logistics is critical during this process, make sure the authorised signatory has not buggered off on holiday during this time:
1- Work visa application at Turkish consulate where they will give you an application number
2- After have received the application number, your agent will then send you the online application via email for you to sign.
3- The application form with the original signature to be sent to your company in Turkey via express courier ASAP
4- Authorised person at the Turkish company to sign and stamp and then courier to us ASAP
5- Submission of work permit file by hand to the Ministry of Labor when the agent receives your application form with your signature
Step 3: Collection of your Work Visa - Turkish Embassy [ETA: 2-4 working days]
After your work permit application has been approved, the Ministry of Labour will send a fax transmission to the Turkish Embassy, authorizing the issuance of your visa and the visas of all accompanying family members. In order to be able to collect your visa stamp, you will need to visit the Turkish Embassy in person and re-submit your original passport(s). The Turkish Embassy will generally issue the work visa within 2-4 working days.
Step 4: Residence Permit Application - Immigration Department, Istanbul [ETA: 7-10 working days]
Once you have the work visa you then have 30 days to get your papers sorted out at the foreigners police department, note not to leave the country untill application has been done or your work visa will be void and the whole process would have to be started again. Please note that the personal appearance at the local Immigration Department will most likely be required when the residence permit is ready to be collected.
I. What documents do I need for my residence permit application?
Original passport
Original work permit
Petition (Dilekci)
Application form
Power of attorney (if you want a proxy)
The Turkish company documents
