Wage Criteria for Foreign Employees 2026

Salary criteria for foreign employees in 2026, are determined based on the profession and position declared in the work permit application and the gross minimum wage effective on the application date. The gross minimum wage for 2026 is 33,030 TL. Accordingly, the minimum monthly gross salary to be paid to the foreigner cannot be less than 33,030 TL for domestic services and other jobs, and not less than 165,150 TL for senior executives and pilots.

Regarding the salary criterion, not only the job title written in the employment contract, but also the actual work the foreigner will perform, their professional qualifications, the field of activity of the workplace, and the duty selected in the application are evaluated together. There must be consistency among the employment contract, e-Permit application, SGK notification, payroll, and actual payment. For the general conditions of the work permit our foreign work permit guide you may review.

What is the Wage Criterion for Foreign Employees?

The salary criterion means that the monthly gross salary pledged in the work permit application to be made on behalf of the foreign employee must not be below the lower limit determined by the Ministry for the work to be performed. This limit is calculated based on one, two, three, four, or five times the gross minimum wage in effect on the application date.

According to the current Ministry of Labor and Social Security regarding the work permit evaluation criteria salary groups are as follows:

Profession or duty group	Salary coefficient	2026 monthly minimum gross wage
Senior executives and pilots	5 times the gross minimum wage	165,150 TL
Engineers and architects	4 times the gross minimum wage	132,120 TRY
Other managers	3 times the gross minimum wage	99,090 TRY
Employees in jobs requiring expertise and mastery	2 times the gross minimum wage	66,060 TRY
Domestic services and other professions/jobs	Gross minimum wage level	33,030 TRY

The figures in the table are monthly gross amounts. The net salary to be received by the foreigner may vary depending on insurance premiums, income tax, stamp tax, exemptions, and the individual's financial situation. Therefore, the work permit salary criterion should not be checked based on the net salary.

What is the Gross and Net Minimum Wage for 2026?

Effective as of January 1, 2026, the net minimum wage has been determined as 28,075.50 TL, and the gross minimum wage as 33,030 TL. The starting point for the coefficients to be used in the evaluation of work permits is the gross minimum wage of 33,030 TL.

2026 amounts in the minimum wage announcement by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security have been published. If the minimum wage is changed during the year, the gross amount in effect as of the application date must be taken as the basis for new application and extension files.

How is the Wage Criterion Calculated?

The calculation formula is simple:

Gross minimum wage on the application date × Coefficient determined for the profession = Lowest monthly gross salary that can be declared

For example, for a position requiring expertise in 2026, the calculation is 33.030 TL × 2 = 66.060 TL’dir. Declaring a gross salary of 60,000 TL in the employment contract does not meet the criterion. The salary must be determined as 66,060 TL or higher.

Sample position	Potential group	Calculation	Gross minimum wage
General manager	Senior executive	33.030 × 5	165,150 TL
Civil engineer	Engineer	33.030 × 4	132,120 TRY
Department manager	Other manager	33.030 × 3	99,090 TRY
Software specialist	Job requiring specialized expertise	33.030 × 2	66,060 TRY
Caregiver	Domestic services	33.030 × 1	33,030 TRY

The duties listed in the table are for illustrative purposes only. In particular, the distinction between 'senior executive', 'other executive', and 'specialist' should not be made solely based on the job title used by the employer. The foreigner's authorities, responsibilities, education, and experience, as well as the organizational structure of the workplace, must be evaluated concretely.

Wage Criterion for Senior Executives and Pilots

For senior executives and pilots, the wage cannot be less than five times the gross minimum wage. For the year 2026, this amount is a monthly gross 165,150 TL.' In roles such as general manager, executive board member, or an executive within the company's core decision-making mechanism, the actual authority and responsibilities of the foreigner may be examined.

Being a company partner does not make a person a senior executive in every case; however, if the company partner assumes the role of manager or general manager, partnership records, representation authority, and actual duties are taken into consideration together. For the capital and employment conditions in company partner applications, work permit through company establishment you can review our article.

Wage Criterion for Engineers and Architects

The lower limit to be applied in 2026 for engineers and architects is a monthly amount of four times the gross minimum wage, 132,120 TRY.' In these professions, alongside the wage criterion, conditions specific to diplomas, equivalency, and professional services also come into play.

If the foreigner will actually perform engineering or architectural activities, using another title falling into a lower wage group in the application does not eliminate the legal risk. The job description, diploma, contract, scope of activity of the workplace, and actual work must corroborate one another. The scope of the diploma and other documents is documents required for a work permit explained in our guide.

Wage Criterion for Other Executives

For other managers who do not hold executive status, the remuneration cannot be less than three times the gross minimum wage. In 2026, this threshold is a monthly gross 99,090 TRY‘is. Unit managers, department managers, or managers responsible for a specific operational area may be evaluated in this group.

The presence of the words “manager”, “responsible”, or “coordinator” in the contract does not constitute a definitive classification on its own. Personnel management, budget utilization, signing or decision-making authority, position within the organization, and the nature of the work performed may be examined.

Wages for Positions Requiring Expertise and Mastery

For foreign nationals to be employed in jobs requiring expertise or craftsmanship, the remuneration cannot be less than twice the gross minimum wage. The lower limit for the year 2026 is a monthly gross 66,060 TRY‘is. Duties requiring software development, technical expertise, specific production skills, or professional experience may be evaluated under this scope.

It is important that the claim of expertise is supported by the foreign national's education, certificates, professional background, and the employer's field of activity. While the employer conferring the title of "expert" may not be sufficient on its own, reporting a job that actually requires expertise as an ordinary task may also create a discrepancy between the remuneration and the duties.

Wage Criterion for Domestic Services and Other Occupations

The remuneration to be paid to a foreign national in domestic services and other professions or jobs not falling within the special groups above cannot be less than the prevailing gross minimum wage level. The lower limit for the year 2026 is a monthly gross 33,030 TRY‘is.

Work permit applications in domestic services are limited to specific tasks such as childcare, care for individuals with disabilities or the elderly, and patient companionship. Meeting the remuneration criterion does not eliminate other assessments regarding the need for care and the employer's socio-economic status.

The Difference Between Gross and Net Wage

Gross remuneration, is the total wage amount before tax and insurance deductions. Net wage , on the other hand, is the amount paid to the employee after legal deductions. Since work permit wage criteria are determined based on multiples of the gross minimum wage, calculations made using the net wage will yield incorrect results.

Concept	Meaning	Importance in terms of work permit
Gross remuneration	Total wage prior to deductions	Serves as the basis for calculating the wage criterion.
Net wage	The amount received by the employee after deductions	The coefficient is not applied directly to the net wage.
Employer cost	The sum of the gross wage and employer premiums and other burdens	Is not the same concept as the wage criterion; it is calculated separately within the employer's budget.

Since the net wage and total employer cost may vary depending on the employee's tax base, premium rates, incentives, exemptions, and tax brackets throughout the year, they should not be presented as a single fixed figure. In the work permit application file, the correct gross wage must first be determined, and then the payroll calculation must be performed by a certified public accountant/financial advisor.

How are the Profession and Job Group Determined?

To determine the correct wage coefficient, the foreigner's job group must be selected accurately. The following elements are important together in the evaluation:

• The duty and detailed job description stated in the employment contract,
• The profession and duty selected in the e-Permit system,
• The foreigner's diploma, certificates, and professional experience,
• The field of activity of the workplace in the trade registry,
• The foreigner's authority and responsibilities within the company,
• The SSI (SGK) occupation code and wage declaration,
• The work actually performed by the foreigner.

For instance, if a foreigner is to work as a general manager making strategic decisions for the company, but is designated as "sales personnel", not only the wage but also the accuracy of the application becomes questionable. Conversely, treating a person who manages a limited unit as a senior executive without any review may lead to unnecessary and incorrect calculations.

Employment Contract, e-Leave, SGK, and Payroll Must Be Compatible

The wage declared in the work permit application is not merely a theoretical figure used until the application is approved. Once the employment relationship commences, the employer must fulfill wage, insurance, and tax obligations in compliance with this declaration and applicable legislation.

Where application information and documents are uploaded, Ministry e-Permit system while filling in the wage field, the gross amount in the contract and the selected occupational group must be re-compared.

Record	Information to be checked
Employment contract	Duties, gross wage, working hours, and workplace
e-Leave application	Profession, duty, wage, and employer information
SSI (SGK) employment entry and monthly notification	Occupation code, earnings subject to premium, and working days
Payroll	Gross wage, deductions, and net payment
Bank or payment record	Actual payment of the net wage shown on the payroll

Regarding the scope of social security for foreign employees and the impact of bilateral social security agreements the Ministry's page on social security for foreign employees can be reviewed. The SGK registration timeline and employer notification periods will also be detailed in the article titled "SGK Registration and Notification Periods for Foreign Employees" in our schedule.

Can a Lower Salary Be Paid After Obtaining a Work Permit?

Reporting a high salary to meet the criteria during the application and paying a lower salary to the foreign national after obtaining the permit is legally unsafe. This situation may give rise to risks of breach of the employment contract, underpaid social security contributions, wage claims, tax and administrative penalties, and may also result in adverse evaluations in extension or subsequent work permit applications.

A work permit is issued for a specific employer, workplace, and scope of duty. For the scope of limitations and annotations on the document, what are work permit annotations? our guide titled can be consulted. Whether a new application is required in the event of a material change in salary, duty, or workplace must be examined separately.

Does the Foreign Employee's Salary Change If the Minimum Wage Changes?

The gross minimum wage in effect on the application date is taken as the basis for the work permit evaluation criteria. Current calculations must be made based on the amount valid at that time for new and extension applications. In the existing employment relationship, the wage under no circumstances can remain below the mandatory minimum wage in effect, and the employment contract and SGK notifications must reflect the truth.

In the event that the minimum wage changes during the year or the Ministry updates the criteria, the permit document annotation, the employment contract, and current administrative practice must be evaluated together. Especially before an upcoming extension application, compliance of the wage with the new coefficient must be checked.

Wage criteria in effect on the application date and the current employment contract are taken into account in the extension of the work permit. For the application timeframe, the same employer requirement, and the documents to be submitted for extension, work permit extension application 2026 you may review our guide.

Foreigners Exempt from the Salary Criterion

According to the Ministry's evaluation criteria, the employment, financial adequacy, and wage criteria are generally not applied to work permit applications made on behalf of certain foreigners. These include:

• Those whose mother, father, or child is a Turkish citizen,
• Those granted a humanitarian residence permit,
• Victims of human trafficking who have been granted a residence permit or who benefit from the victim support program,
• Holders of Stateless Person Identity Documents,
• Those granted a long-term residence permit,
• Those married to a Turkish citizen for at least three years,
• Foreigners who have resided in Turkey under the legal statuses specified in the criteria for at least eight years,
• Foreigners of Turkish descent notified or deemed appropriate by the competent authorities,
• Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

The exemption status must be proven with official documents. Furthermore, criteria exemption does not guarantee that a work permit will be granted and does not eliminate the obligation to pay the minimum wage arising from labor law. Regarding the relevant statuses humanitarian residence permit, long-term residence permit and right to work of TRNC citizens you can review our articles.

The wage criterion exemption and the employment and financial sufficiency exception introduced on August 3, 2026, are not the same regulation. The limits of the new employment exception employment limit amendment in work permits are explained in our article.

Salary Criterion for Foreign Students

Foreign students enrolled in formal education at the associate or undergraduate level in a higher education institution in Türkiye may work part-time after completing their first year of study. This limitation does not apply in the same manner to graduate students. The student's right to work must be based on a work permit, distinct from the student residence permit.

In part-time employment and wage calculations, the level of education, working hours, duties, and the Ministry's special criteria regarding students must be examined together. For the conditions of student residence status, student residence permit 2026 you can check our guide.

Does the Salary Criterion Change for Domestic and International Applications?

The wage coefficient is fundamentally tied to the foreigner's profession and duties; whether the application is made from within Türkiye or from abroad does not alter the standard wage brackets on its own. However, the application type, the foreigner's status, and applicable special exemptions may affect the outcome.

A valid residence permit complying with the Ministry's conditions is required to submit a work permit application from within Türkiye. A residence permit in Türkiye is not required for applications from abroad, and the process proceeds with a reference number obtained from a Turkish diplomatic mission. The official distinction on the Ministry's work permit application types page .

Regarding the difference between the residence condition in domestic applications and applications from abroad can a work permit be obtained without a residence permit? you can find detailed information in our article titled.

Consequences of Incorrect or Incomplete Salary Reporting

Submitting an application below the minimum wage threshold appropriate for the position may lead to a negative evaluation of the file. Although the Ministry may request additional information or an updated contract, it should not be assumed that an application submitted without meeting the baseline wage criterion will necessarily be rectified subsequently.

• The rejection of the work permit application,
• The request for additional documents or explanations,
• Premium and delay liabilities due to incomplete reporting of SSI (SGK) premiums,
• The foreign national's claim for wage receivables,
• Administrative consequences under labor law and tax legislation,
• The negative evaluation of the work permit extension application,
• More severe legal consequences may arise depending on the nature of the false statement.

Basic provisions regarding work permits and unauthorized employment under the International Labour Law No. 6735; while general wage provisions regarding the employment relationship are set forth in the Labor Law No. 4857 is governed by.

Declaring the wage below the lower limit determined for the position or inconsistencies among the contract, e-Permit, SSI (SGK), and payroll records may result in the rejection of the application. For grounds for rejection, re-application, and legal remedies rejection of the work permit application you may review our guide.

Salary Checklist Before Application

• Has the current gross minimum wage as of the application date been verified?
• Have the foreigner's actual duties and responsibilities been clearly defined?
• Has the position been matched with the correct salary tier?
• Was the calculation made on the gross salary rather than the net salary?
• Does the salary criterion in the employment agreement meet the requirements?
• Are the profession, position, and salary in the e-Permit system identical to the employment agreement?
• Are the SSI (SGK) occupation code and the earnings subject to premium consistent with the application?
• Is there any discrepancy between the payroll records and the actual payment records?
• Does the foreigner hold a status exempt from the salary criterion?
• Is the official document proving the exemption ready?
• Are there any special salary or pre-approval regulations for the sector or profession?
• Has the current coefficient been recalculated for the upcoming extension application?

Common Mistakes in Foreign Employee Salaries

• Calculating the multiplier based on the net minimum wage.
• Confusing the employer cost with the gross salary.
• Classifying the position solely based on the title in the employment contract.
• Registering a foreign employee who will work as a manager under a different job category.
• Remunerating an engineer or architect according to their specialty group.
• Declaring a high salary in the application while reporting a lower salary to the SSI and on the payroll.
• Failing to take minimum wage changes into account in the extension application.
• Interpreting the wage criteria exemption as the removal of the general minimum wage payment obligation as well.
• Assuming that the wage criteria will not apply to a foreign national simply because they are a company partner.
• Believing that the wage pledged in the application loses its significance once the work permit is granted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What must the minimum salary of a foreign employee be in 2026?

It ranges between 33,030 TL and 165,150 TL gross per month depending on the position. The exact lower limit is determined according to the foreigner's profession and occupational group.

Is the work permit wage criterion calculated on a gross or net basis?

It is calculated based on the gross wage. For 2026, the basis of the coefficients is the gross minimum wage of 33,030 TL; calculations are not made based on the net minimum wage of 28,075.50 TL.

What should the foreign engineer's salary be in 2026?

For engineers and architects, the salary cannot be less than four times the gross minimum wage. The monthly lower limit for 2026 is 132,120 TL gross.

What should the salary of a foreign company manager be?

If considered a senior executive, a monthly gross lower limit of 165,150 TL applies; if considered another type of manager, the lower limit is 99,090 TL. The classification must be made based on the person's authority and actual duties rather than their title.

What is the minimum wage for a specialized foreign employee?

For jobs requiring expertise or mastery, the 2026 lower limit is twice the gross minimum wage, which is 66,060 TL gross per month.

Can a foreign employee be paid a lower salary after obtaining a work permit?

Making payments below the wage declared in the application and agreed upon in the contract creates risks regarding employee claims, underpaid social security premiums, administrative sanctions, and extension applications.

Can a foreigner who is exempt from the wage criterion be paid below the minimum wage?

No. Exemption from work permit evaluation criteria does not eliminate the mandatory minimum wage and contractual wage payment obligations under labor law.

Will a work permit certainly be granted if the wage criterion is met?

No. The wage is only one of the evaluation criteria. Employment, financial sufficiency, application documents, professional competence, and sectoral conditions must also be met.

Conclusion

The correct wage for foreign employees is determined by matching the gross minimum wage as of the application date with the foreigner's actual profession and job group. In 2026, the monthly gross lower limits are 33,030 TL for other jobs and domestic services; 66,060 TL for specialized jobs; 99,090 TL for other managers; 132,120 TL for engineers and architects; and 165,150 TL for senior executives and pilots.

Consistency must be maintained among the employment contract, electronic application, SSI (SGK), payroll, and payment records. The wage criterion should not be considered independently of other work permit conditions. All employment and financial sufficiency criteria work permit evaluation criteria 2026 are explained in our guide. You can find information about our practice areas regarding immigration law on our immigration law service page.

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Author Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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