Türkiye Workforce Announces New Criteria for Foreign Work Permits

The Directorate of Labor, affiliated with the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in Turkey, has announced new criteria for foreign work permits.

The Civil Society Organizations Platform, "ULFED," published these criteria, stating that they came into effect starting from October 1, 2024.

According to the platform, these modifications aim to streamline procedures for certain categories of foreigners, ensuring the regulation of the labor market and facilitating the process of obtaining work permits for foreigners within the framework of national policies.

The new criteria include several facilities provided to specific categories of foreigners exempt from general employment and financial capacity requirements.

The main categories include:

• Foreigners with Family Ties to Turkish Citizens: This includes individuals with a Turkish parent, child, or spouse, or those married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years.

• Holders of Special Residence Permits: This includes victims of human trafficking, as well as those with humanitarian or long-term residence permits.

• Long-Term Residents: Foreigners who have lived in Turkey for at least eight years under various residence permits.

• Foreigners of Turkish Descent and Turkish Cypriots.

The new law aims to improve the legal environment for foreigners with legal or family ties to Turkey, reducing social and economic pressures on them.

Additionally, the amendments seek to reduce informal labor, regulate foreign employment, and ensure balance in the Turkish labor market, fostering the social and economic integration of long-term residents or those with strong ties to the country.