Turkish Immigration Announces New Procedures Regarding Work Permits and Residence Permits for Foreigners

The Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management announced new procedures regarding work permits for foreigners, at a time when changes related to residency and employment in Turkey are accelerating.

The Directorate stated that the new procedures include (the conditions for obtaining work permits for foreigners, the procedures for canceling them, their direct relationship to residence permits, as well as rules pertaining to students, temporary protection holders, and those with international protection).

The new procedures were published on the Directorate General of Migration Management's official website in the "Frequently Asked Questions" section and generated widespread interaction among members of the Arab community due to their direct impact on their legal and living conditions.

One of the most noteworthy points in the new statement was the explicit confirmation that "a residence permit linked to a work permit is automatically canceled upon the cancellation of the work permit."

Therefore, if a worker's residence permit is based entirely on an employment contract certified by the Turkish Ministry of Labor, the expiration of this contract or its termination by the employer automatically results in the loss of the residence permit.

This means that a worker who loses their job in Turkey while holding only a "work permit" may also lose their right to remain in the country unless they act quickly to regularize their legal status.

However, the Turkish Directorate General of Migration Management also offered some reassurance, clarifying that this measure does not apply if the foreigner holds another type of residence permit, such as: short-term residence permit, student residence permit, humanitarian residence permit, family residence permit, or any residence permit not directly related to employment.

Key points to note:

- If you are working on a purely work permit, your residence permit may be revoked if you lose your job.
- If you are a first-year student, you cannot obtain a work permit.
- Syrians must wait six months before applying.
- Registering your address within 20 days is a mandatory step that cannot be ignored.
- International protection exempts you from obtaining a work permit.
- Residents must ensure their residence permit status is appropriate for their current employment.
- Even a minor violation may affect the possibility of future residence permit renewal.
- You must keep original and digital copies of all documents.