To get a work permit for a foreign employee, a Turkish company must employ five Turkish citizens per foreigner and have paid-in capital of TRY 500,000, or net sales of TRY 8,000,000, or exports of USD 150,000. The foreigner's salary must reach a multiple of the minimum wage set by role. Evaluation takes 10 to 30 days.
What must the employer have in place?
Pending lawyer reviewThe criteria are published by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
| Test | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Turkish employees per foreign employee | 5 |
| Paid-in capital | TRY 500,000 |
| or net sales | TRY 8,000,000 |
| or exports | USD 150,000 |
| Foreign partner of the company | At least 20% of shares, worth at least TRY 500,000 |
What salary must a foreign employee be paid?
Pending lawyer review| Role | Minimum salary | Monthly gross in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Senior executives and pilots | 5 × minimum wage | TRY 165,150 |
| Engineers and architects | 4 × minimum wage | TRY 132,120 |
| Other managers | 3 × minimum wage | TRY 99,090 |
| Jobs requiring expertise | 2 × minimum wage | TRY 66,060 |
The gross minimum wage is TRY 33,030 a month in 2026.
What are the work permit requirements for foreign company directors?
Pending lawyer reviewA foreign director who actively works in Turkey needs a work permit, and the company must meet the same employer tests. As a senior executive the director must be paid at least five times the minimum wage, TRY 165,150 gross a month in 2026. If the director is also a partner of the company, the shareholding must be at least 20% and worth at least TRY 500,000. A board member who lives abroad and only attends meetings is a different case, which should be confirmed before relying on it. Test your own figures with the eligibility checker.
What does the minimum local team cost?
Five Turkish employees at minimum wage cost the employer at least TRY 204,373 a month in total, at TRY 40,874.63 each without incentives. In practice skilled staff cost more. The calculator shows this in EUR, USD or GBP for the number of foreign staff you plan.
What about social security for posted staff?
Pending lawyer reviewTurkey has social security agreements with Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, among others, which can keep a posted employee in the home system for a period. There is no agreement with the United States or the United Arab Emirates. See the country pages.
Common questions
Pending lawyer reviewHow many Turkish employees do I need per foreign employee?
Five Turkish citizens for each foreign employee at the same workplace.
How much capital does the company need for a work permit?
Paid-in capital of at least TRY 500,000, or net sales of at least TRY 8,000,000, or exports of at least USD 150,000.
What is the minimum salary for a foreign employee in Turkey?
It depends on the role: five times the minimum wage for senior executives, four times for engineers and architects, three times for other managers and twice for jobs requiring expertise. The gross minimum wage in 2026 is TRY 33,030 a month.
How long does a work permit take?
Evaluation typically takes 10 to 30 days once the file is complete.
Related pages
Work permit eligibility checker
Free tool: check your company against Turkey's work permit criteria. Five-to-one staff rule, capital, sales or export test and minimum salary by role.
ReadCompany types in Turkey compared
Compare Turkish company types for foreign investors: LLC, joint stock company, branch and liaison office. Capital, liability, tax and when each fits.
ReadCan a foreign-owned Turkish company open a bank account?
Can a foreign-owned Turkish company open a bank account? Documents, beneficial owner rules, power of attorney, timelines and foreign currency rules.
ReadCompany formation in Turkey
Set up a company in Turkey as a foreigner. LLC from EUR 3,900, minimum capital TRY 50,000, 100% foreign ownership, 4 to 6 weeks.
Read