Working in Turkey. How a Belarusian can get legal employment

How to find work in Turkey for Belarusians, safety rules for staying in the country.

In accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Turkey, foreign citizens residing outside the Republic of Turkey can apply for a work permit at the representative office of the Republic of Turkey in their country. The representative office directly sends applications to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection (hereinafter referred to as the Ministry). The Ministry reviews the applications and, taking into account the opinions of the relevant authorities, issues a work permit if the proper conditions are met. This permit becomes valid upon obtaining a residence permit and a work visa. Foreign citizens who have received a work permit must apply for a visa to enter the country within 90 days of receiving the permit and apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entering the country.

Documents required for submission to the embassy:

• Employment contract – in Russian and Turkish (originals)
• Application from the employer to open a work visa, if an invitation from a private individual is required, it must be notarized
• Certificate of no criminal record
• Diploma or certificate with apostille and notarized translation
• 2 photos
• Questionnaire

According to the Law No. 6468 of 2014 "On Foreigners and International Protection", which entered into force, the work permit in the Republic of Turkey is also recognized as a residence permit. Thus, foreign citizens do not need to obtain two documents from different government authorities.

Foreign citizens with a valid residence permit, as well as employers, can apply to the Ministry on the territory of the Republic of Turkey.

A preliminary permit for up to one year may be issued to a foreign citizen who will be involved in the field of professional services, until all operations related to academic or professional qualifications are completed, without prejudice to legal provisions.

The work permit is issued or extended in accordance with the Law or Regulation of this law upon submission of a written application by a foreign citizen who has a residence permit or by an employer to the Ministry.

The decision on a properly оформленному application is made by the Ministry within 30 days, provided that all documents are correctly completed.

Types of Work Permits for Foreign Citizens in the Territory of the Republic of Turkey

In accordance with Law No. 4817 "On Permit for Labor Activity for Foreign Citizens" and the application of the provisions of this law, foreign citizens who have received a permit for labor activity have the right to work both as employees and to engage in individual labor activity.

In accordance with this, permits for labor activity are divided into 4 types:

Permit for labor activity for a specific period

In cases that do not contradict the provisions of bilateral or multilateral agreements, of which the Republic of Turkey is a party, the duration of the stay permit for a foreign citizen wishing to work in a specific company in a specific position, depending on the employment contract or the duration of work, is issued for a maximum of 1 year, taking into account the labor market situation, developments in working life, sectoral and economic changes in the employment environment.

The Ministry may increase or decrease the period of validity of the labor activity permit, limited by the conditions taken as a basis for cities, administrative boundaries, or geographical areas. In this case, the Ministry must notify the relevant authorities.

At the end of one year of legal labor activity, the period of validity of the labor activity permit may be extended to a maximum of two years, provided that the foreign citizen works in the same workplace or enterprise and performs the same work.

After three years of legal labor activity, if the foreign citizen performs the same work but in a company of their own choice, the period of validity of the labor activity permit may be extended to a maximum of three years.

If the spouse and children under supervision who came to the Republic of Turkey at the same time with the foreign citizen or later have legally and continuously resided with the foreign citizen for five years, they may be issued a permit for labor activity for a specific period in accordance with the laws and regulations.

http://www.csgb.gov.tr/csgbPortal/yabancilar/ru/sss/sureli_izin.html

Permanent permit for labor activity

In cases that do not contradict the provisions of bilateral or multilateral agreements, of which the Republic of Turkey is a party, if a foreign citizen has legally and continuously resided in the Republic of Turkey for eight years or has worked in different periods for a total of six years, they may obtain a permanent permit for labor activity, regardless of the labor market situation and developments in working life, being unlimited in terms of work process, profession, civil and national fields.

A document confirming that a foreign citizen has lived continuously and legally for at least eight years must be issued and confirmed by security authorities. This document must be submitted with all other documents to the Ministry to apply for permanent work permit.

When assessing whether the condition of continuous and legal residence for at least eight years has been met, the period of study will not be taken into account. However, the period of study for the spouse and children of the foreign citizen who arrived in the Republic of Turkey with the foreign citizen, lived with the foreign citizen, and studied at the same time, will be taken into account when calculating the period of residence.

A document confirming that a foreign citizen has engaged in employment activities totaling more than six years must be issued and confirmed by the relevant authorities. This document must be submitted with all other documents to the Ministry to apply for permanent work permit.

The duration of residence permit for foreign citizens who have obtained permanent work permit is determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in accordance with the laws on the stay and movement of foreign citizens in the Republic of Turkey.

Permanent work permit, without any changes, must be used in accordance with the duration of the residence permit.

The Ministry must be informed if the security authorities do not renew the residence permit issued based on permanent work permit.

http://www.csgb.gov.tr/csgbPortal/yabancilar/ru/sss/suresiz_izin.html

Independent Work Permit

Independent work permit may be issued by the Ministry to foreign citizens who wish to work independently, provided that they have resided in the Republic of Turkey continuously and legally for at least five years and their employment activities will have a positive impact on the level of employment and economic development.

When assessing the impact on employment, decisions of the relevant authorities are also taken into account. The fact of continuous and legal residence for at least five years must be confirmed by a certificate issued by the security authority. This certificate must be submitted along with all other documents when applying to the Ministry.

When assessing whether the condition that a foreign citizen legally and continuously resided for at least five years has been met, the period of study will not be taken into account. However, the period of study of the foreign citizen's spouse and children, who arrived in the Republic of Turkey together with the foreign citizen, lived together with the foreign citizen and studied at the same time, are taken into account when calculating the period of residence.

The period of residence permit for foreign citizens who have received permission for independent labor activity is determined by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in accordance with the laws on the stay and movement of foreign citizens in the Republic of Turkey.

The permit for independent labor activity, without any changes, must be used depending on the period of the residence permit.

The Ministry must be informed if the security authorities do not extend the residence permit issued on the basis of permanent work permit.

Any foreign citizen recognized as eligible for obtaining a permit for independent labor activity must receive a "Certificate for Application for Independent Labor Activity Permit" associated with the subsequent permit. The Certificate for Application for Independent Labor Activity Permit is valid for three months from the date of issue.

A foreign citizen may be granted a permit for independent labor activity if he has already formed his workplace and in case he submits his trade register entry to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection.

Exceptions

In cases not contradicting the provisions of bilateral or multilateral agreements to which the Republic of Turkey is a party, regardless of the conditions specified in the Law, a work permit is issued to foreign citizens whose status is determined in the relevant articles of the Law, taking into account the comments of the relevant authorities, and provided that the foreign citizen does not act contrary to national rules and complies with the rules of professional services.

You can view the exceptions by following the link

http://www.csgb.gov.tr/csgbPortal/yabancilar/ru/sss/istisnai_izin.html

Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Ankara

http://www.csgb.gov.tr/csgbPortal/yabancilar/ru/index.html