INFORMATION ON WORK VISA REQUIREMENTS

For the application of work visa for Turkey , the first requirement is to have a letter of job offer or employment contract on which the application could be based since work permit applications are always for a specific position and they are employer driven.

The application should be made from the country of origin, that is via the Turkish Consulate in London for British nationals as well as foreign nationals resident in the UK , unless they are the holder of a residence permit for Turkey which is valid for at least 6 months. Applications for extension of a given work permit can be made in Turkey if accompanied by a valid residence permit.

The fees for work permit and subsequent entry clearance are charged once the application is approved. The fees for work permit and entry clearance are respectively 72 GBP and 50 GBP for British nationals. The Consulate does not withhold the passport during the processing of the application.

It is important to know that work visa procedure is double application in nature, that is while the employee puts a claim for work visa in London, the employer makes a simultaneous application in Turkey by submitting a file to the competent authority, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Department for Work Permits for Foreigners. There should not be more than 3 working days between the employee's and the employer's applications. Some employers who have the experience of employing foreign employees are well informed about this double application feature of the work permit procedure whereas some others might totally be unaware of it. Therefore, foreigners to work in Turkey are advised to make their application only after they have checked that their employers are ready as well to submit an application so that both applications can be combined and processed.

The documents required from the employers are specified in the web page of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security: www.yabancicalismaizni.gov.tr . The web page is currently available only in Turkish.

It usually takes 2 months for the application to be processed. Upon the receipt of the approval of the Ministry for a work permit application, the applicant is immediately notified of the result and is required to come to the Consulate again with his passport to get the work visa that is the stamping of the work permit in his passport. Applicants who fail to ask for work visa within maximum 3 months after notification have to renew their applications. Issuing work visa takes maximum 3 working days and if the applicant cannot collect it in person, he can give a postal order to the Consulate so that the passport can be posted to him. Foreigners who enter Turkey on the basis of work visa are expected to get a residence permit within 30 day's of their entry.

Work visa applications are taken between 09.00-12.30 and the applicants are advised to call the Office of Labour and Social Security Attaché at telephone number 0207 591 69 18.