A Turkish company can be the employer or the operating vehicle behind a work-permit application. It does not give its foreign shareholder or director permission to start work by itself. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security’s company-owner guidance, checked on 13 July 2026, says that a foreigner opening a workplace must obtain a work permit before starting work.
That distinction changes the order of the file. Form the company, establish the tax and registry record, then test the appropriate work-permit route against the current Ministry criteria.
Can your Turkish company sponsor your work permit?
Yes, where the company and role fit the legal route. A company can apply as employer, and a foreign owner intending to work for their own account applies after establishment formalities are completed. Registration is evidence for the file. It is not an automatic employment authorization.
Start with the corporate file. Our guide to starting a company in Turkey as a foreigner explains the incorporation layer. Keep it separate from immigration and labour compliance.
Which application route applies?
The Ministry separates domestic and abroad applications. Domestic applications are for foreigners holding a valid Turkish residence permit for at least six months. Otherwise, the foreigner normally applies for a work visa at the Turkish mission in their country of nationality and receives a 16-digit reference number for the process.
Use the official application-types page before filing. It also says extension applications are electronic and must be made before the existing permit expires, beginning 60 days before expiry. A late extension is assessed under first-application rules.
What must the company show before filing?
The Ministry evaluates the workplace, the proposed role and the foreign worker. Under the current general criteria, a balance-sheet workplace ordinarily needs five Turkish citizens for each foreigner sought, while newly established workplaces need at least TRY 500,000 paid-in capital. Exceptions exist, so this is a screening point, not a promise of approval.
The same official criteria page sets alternative financial tests for established workplaces and salary floors linked to the gross minimum wage. Check the live work-permit evaluation criteria on the day the application is prepared. Do not use an old capital figure from an incorporation checklist. VAT registration is another operational layer, covered in our Turkey KDV registration guide.
What does the first permit allow?
A positive first definite work permit is valid for up to one year, tied to a specified employer, workplace and job, and cannot exceed the employment or service contract. Changing employer is treated as a first application. The permit is not a general right to work for any business.
The Ministry states that a first extension can be for up to two years and later extensions for up to three years with the same employer. A valid work permit is generally treated as a residence permit for its validity period, subject to the statutory exceptions described in the Ministry FAQ.
What happens after approval?
Approval is the start of an operating checklist. The employer must make required notifications, keep the employment facts aligned with the permit, and complete social-security obligations in time. For foreign hires, the Ministry says employers and relevant permit holders must notify commencement and termination within 15 days.
The official social-security guidance also distinguishes domestic and abroad start rules. For a practical payroll handover, see SGK basics for a Turkish company’s first employee. Keep the permit, employment agreement, payroll setup and actual role consistent.
Frequently asked questions
Does owning a Turkish company automatically give me a work permit?
No. The company must be established first, then the foreigner who will work applies under the applicable Ministry route and criteria.
Can I apply inside Turkey?
The Ministry’s domestic route is for a foreigner with a valid residence permit of at least six months. Other cases generally use the abroad route through a Turkish foreign mission.
Can I change to another employer with the same permit?
No. The Ministry treats work for a different employer as a first application. Plan a move before the existing authorization ends.
Is a work permit also a residence permit?
Usually yes for the permit’s validity period under the Ministry FAQ, but there are statutory exceptions. Check the status that applies to the individual.
What should be reviewed first?
Review the corporate record, the real job, Turkish headcount, capital or turnover evidence, salary, and the applicant’s route. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
For a coordinated company-formation and permit file, contact Corpenza’s residence-permit team.
