Getting a work permit in Turkey involves employer filings, sector-specific documentation, strict payment deadlines, and address registration in the right province. Mikato coordinates between you and your employer, prepares the documents on your side, and registers your address once the card arrives.
The process
The employer files the application, but there are steps on your side too - documents to prepare, fees to pay on time, and an address to register once your card arrives.
You sign an employment contract with a Turkish employer. The contract sets the permit duration (max 1 year for first-time applications).
Your employer submits the application through the Ministry of Labour’s online system. You need a passport valid for 60+ days beyond the permit duration, diploma with sworn translation, and a biometric photo.
The Ministry evaluates the application against workforce ratio, capital requirements, and your qualifications. Expect 30 days if documents are complete - longer if corrections are requested.
Once approved, you have exactly 30 days to pay the permit fee (13,539 TL for a 1-year permit in 2026). Miss the deadline and the application is rejected.
Your work permit card arrives within 7–14 days after payment. It serves as your residence permit too - no separate application needed. Register your address within 20 days.
You need the right documents ready before your employer can even start. Sector-specific requirements vary. Payment deadlines are strict. And once your card arrives, address registration has its own rules - including province limitations. Mikato keeps both sides coordinated.
Talk to usWhat we handle
We coordinate between you and your employer, prepare your documents, and handle address registration once your permit arrives.
What’s included
Passport check, diploma certification and sworn translation, biometric photo requirements, sector-specific documentation guidance.
We guide your employer through the e-İzin application, ensure all fields are correct, and flag missing documents before submission.
We monitor your approval status, remind you of the 30-day payment deadline, and confirm card dispatch.
Also included
Once your card arrives, we handle municipality registration in the correct province. Work permit holders are exempt from closed-area restrictions.
Pricing depends on your situation. Message us for a fixed-price quote.
Get a quote on WhatsAppCommon questions
Yes. When you file an extension before your current permit expires, you receive a 90-day authorization document that lets you continue working legally while the Ministry processes your renewal.
Your employer must terminate the work permit in the system. Once terminated, you have 10 days to either find a new employer who applies for a new permit, apply for a different residence permit type, or leave Turkey.
Yes. A work permit simultaneously serves as a residence permit. You do not need to apply for a separate residence permit - your work permit card is your legal stay document.
A 1-year work permit costs 13,539 TL in 2026 (12,575 TL permit fee + 964 TL card fee). Fees are paid only after approval, not at application time. You have 30 days after approval to pay.
Yes, but your new employer must file a completely new application. Changing employers is treated as a new permit, not an extension - so the 1-year initial duration applies again.
First permit: max 1 year. First renewal (same employer): up to 2 years. Subsequent renewals: up to 3 years. After 8 years of continuous legal work, you can apply for an indefinite (permanent) work permit.
Work permit holders are exempt from the closed-area rule - you can register in any neighborhood. However, you must register in the same province as your work permit. If your permit says Istanbul, you cannot register in Ankara.
The employer must submit the application - there is no way for the employee to file independently (except for independent/self-employed permits). If your employer is unresponsive, Mikato can coordinate directly with their HR team to keep the process moving.
GET IN TOUCH
Send your situation and we'll reply within a few hours during Istanbul business hours (GMT+3) with concrete next steps.
Or reach us directly:
+90 553 406 75 92
Call us
+90 553 406 75 92
hello@mikato.co
We answer in English, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic.
Tell us where you are in the process - planning your move, already in Turkey, or stuck on a specific step - and we'll tell you what comes next.
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