Rejection of Work Permit Application 2026: Grounds and Consequences

Rejection of a work permit application, refers to the conclusion by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security that the statutory requirements or current evaluation criteria regarding the foreigner or the employer have not been met. A refusal may be based on various grounds, such as the application failing to comply with international labor policy, insufficiency of the justification for foreign employment, failure of the employer to meet employment or financial adequacy criteria, the wage not being determined in accordance with the position, lack of mandatory pre-approval, insufficiency of the foreigner's professional qualifications, obstacles arising from public order or migration legislation, and procedures not completed within the prescribed time limits.

A refusal decision does not grant the foreigner the right to work for another employer and does not automatically constitute a work permit. However, a refusal does not automatically mean a deportation decision in every case. The foreigner's work, residence, and stay in Turkey must be evaluated separately based on the existing visa, residence permit, international protection, or other legal basis of stay. If the grounds for refusal can be remedied, a new application may be filed; if it is believed that there is a factual or legal error in the decision, an online objection may be lodged with the Ministry within 30 days from notification.

regarding the general system of work permits and the distinction between domestic and international applications our foreign work permit guide you may review. This article focuses on the grounds for refusal, the consequences of the decision, and the re-preparation of the file. Administrative objections and annulment lawsuits will be covered in detail in a separate guide within our content plan.

Why Is a Work Permit Application Rejected?

A work permit application is not accepted solely upon the uploading of documents to the system. The Ministry jointly evaluates the qualifications of the foreign national, the authenticity of the position, the employer's operations, the need for foreign employment, wage and employment conditions, sectoral permits, international labor policy, and the opinions of relevant institutions. The rejection of an application often stems not from the absence of a single document, but from the legal and economic integrity of the file failing to be found convincing.

Grounds for Rejection	Typical issue in practice	Initial review
Employment criterion	Failure to meet the required number of Turkish citizen employees	Application date and SSI records
Financial sufficiency	Failure to meet the capital, net sales, or export criteria	Current balance sheet and income statement
Wage criterion	Undereporting the gross salary required for the position	Profession code, job title, and employment contract
Justification for foreign employment	Failure to explain why the position requires a foreign employee	Job description and operational need
Professional qualification	Lack of diploma, equivalency, experience, or preliminary permit	Sectoral legislation and documents
Immigration and security record	Entry ban, deportation assessment, or negative institutional opinion	Current legal status of the foreigner
Procedure and time limit	Failure to complete missing documents within the prescribed period or incorrect application type	e-Permit transaction and notification records

The documents on which the application is evaluated vary depending on the foreigner's status and the sector. For the essential document check regarding the employer and the foreigner documents required for foreign work permit 2026 you can review our article.

Work Permit Rejection Grounds Pursuant to Law No. 6735

The rejection of work permit applications is primarily based on Article 9 of the International Labor Law No. 6735. The current text of the law Legislation Information System or Ministry of Justice UYAP Legislation can be accessed through. The headings in the law must be interpreted in the specific case as follows.

Not being found compliant with international labor policy

The Ministry may take into consideration the country's labor market needs, sectoral and economic developments, changes in employment and working life, the foreigner's education and professional experience, the qualified labor force needed by Turkey, and bilateral or multilateral relations. Therefore, meeting all numerical criteria does not mean that the application will necessarily be accepted. However, this discretionary power must be exercised with a concrete, understandable justification subject to judicial review.

Submission of forged or misleading information and documents

Providing untrue information regarding the passport, diploma, employment contract, company documents, financial statements, number of employees, salary, or professional experience constitutes grounds for rejection. It is not necessary for the document to be merely forged; using a genuine document for a misleading purpose or in a manner that conceals the truth may also adversely affect the application. Furthermore, depending on the nature of the act, criminal law and administrative sanction consequences may arise. Therefore, records contrary to the facts must not be created in order to seemingly fulfill a missing requirement.

Failure to consider the grounds for employing a foreigner as sufficient

The employer must explain what duties the foreigner will perform and how this employment relates to the business operations. General statements such as merely "knows a foreign language," "will be beneficial to the company," or "expert personnel" may not be sufficient. A concrete link must be established between the foreigner's education, experience, languages spoken, target market, technical knowledge, customer or supplier relations, and job description.

For example, for a foreigner who will manage commercial communications with certain countries to which exports are made, language proficiency, market experience, the company's export data, and the scope of duties can be explained together. Conversely, a title unrelated to the company's field of activity or a duty inconsistent with the foreigner's resume may create doubt regarding the authenticity of the application.

Professions reserved for Turkish citizens

A work permit cannot be granted for a job or profession reserved for Turkish citizens by special laws. Attorneyship, notary public services, private security guard services, certified public accountancy, and certain healthcare, maritime, and other duties specified in the legislation may fall within this scope. Current and detailed list is published on the Ministry's page for professions reserved exclusively for Turkish citizens. Since the actual content of the work to be performed will be taken as the basis rather than the title of the profession, simply writing a different title does not eliminate the prohibition.

Lack of required qualifications and expertise

If the position requires a diploma, equivalency, professional qualification, license, certificate, experience, or prior permission from the relevant institution, the foreigner must meet these conditions. In regulated fields such as engineering, architecture, teaching, or healthcare personnel, it is not sufficient for the foreigner to submit solely an employment contract. The profession declared with the diploma, the job description, and the wage coefficient must also be consistent with one another.

Failure to meet evaluation criteria

The general criteria applied in 2026 are grouped under the headings of employment, financial adequacy, and wages. The Ministry's current work permit evaluation criteria must be taken as the basis on the application date. Since criteria are subject to change, transactions should not be processed based on figures found in outdated online articles.

2026 general criterion	Basic metric	Important note
Employment	The employment of at least 5 Turkish citizens for each foreign national is essential	The sector, status, and the exception dated August 3, 2026, shall be examined separately.
Newly established workplace on a balance sheet basis	Minimum paid-in capital of 500,000 TRY	Intended for current-year establishments that do not yet have a year-end balance sheet.
Active workplace on a balance sheet basis	TRY 500,000 capital or TRY 8,000,000 net sales or USD 150,000 exports	Meeting any of the alternative criteria shall be taken as the basis.
Wage	1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the gross minimum wage depending on the position	The gross minimum wage as of the application date and the correct position shall be taken as the basis.

All exceptions to the criteria in this table and their application by sector work permit evaluation criteria 2026 are provided in our guide; whereas gross wage calculations by position are wage criteria for foreign employees is explained in detail in our article.

Misapplication of the exemption dated August 3, 2026

As of August 3, 2026, for certain inland applications made on behalf of foreigners who have legally resided in Turkey under a work permit, residence permit, or international protection for at least one year within the last three years preceding the application date, employment and financial adequacy criteria shall fundamentally not apply for a maximum of three foreigners at the same workplace. The number of foreigners working with a work permit in such workplaces must not exceed the number of Turkish citizen employees.

This regulation does not mean that all work permit requirements are lifted. Requirements regarding wages, professional qualifications, justification for employing foreigners, sector conditions, public order, and other statutory reviews shall continue to apply. The criteria shall also be reintroduced for the fourth and subsequent foreigners. Scope of application of the amendment employment limit amendment in work permits is examined in our article.

YUKK, obstacles arising from public order and security

The existence of an obstacle to the foreigner's entry into Turkey, acquisition of a visa, or stay in the country; the evaluation of deportation proceedings against them; or the issuance of negative opinions by relevant public institutions regarding public order, public security, or public health may affect the work permit decision. Not every judicial investigation or restriction code automatically produces the same result; the content, legal basis, currency of the record, and the opinion of the relevant institution must be concretely examined.

The work permit file is not independent of migration law records. If there is also a deportation decision against the foreigner, the consequences of our deportation guide must be evaluated within the scope of. It should be specifically emphasized that the denial of a work permit does not constitute a deportation decision by itself.

Applications not made or completed within the statutory period

Selecting the wrong application type, failing to meet the in-country application requirement, failing to complete the foreign representation reference process, failing to upload the additional information and documents requested by the Ministry within the given period, or making an extension application after the expiration of the permit period may lead to a negative outcome. Creating a draft does not mean that the application has been completed; the electronic transaction record and application status must be checked.

The extension application must be made within the last 60-day period and before the permit expires. For the same employer condition, continuation of work up to 90 days, and period calculation work permit extension application you may review our guide.

Refusal Due to Sectoral Requirements

In addition to general criteria, there may be conditions specific to the sector in which the work is performed. Preliminary permits in education and health; the nature and certification of the enterprise in tourism; the need for care or companionship and the socio-economic status of the employer in domestic services; roles requiring expertise in IT; criteria such as capital share and operations for foreign company partners are evaluated separately.

• Education: The necessary preliminary permit must be obtained from the Ministry of National Education or the Council of Higher Education.
• Healthcare: The preliminary permit from the Ministry of Health and professional working conditions must be fulfilled.
• Domestic services: The scope of childcare, elderly or disabled care, and patient companionship, as well as tangible needs, must be demonstrated.
• Tourism: The tourism enterprise nature of the workplace, the activity certificate, and the duties of the foreigner must be compatible.
• Information technology: To benefit from the criteria exemption, the assignment must be an IT job that genuinely requires expertise.
• Company partner: Partnership shares, capital, and permit annotations must be examined together.

Regarding foreign partners or workplace owners, the matter that the application structure and company establishment do not grant the right to work solely by themselves work permit through company establishment is explained in our article. For the current documents requested by the Ministry according to the sector and status, from the official documents page accessible.

How is the Work Permit Refusal Decision Notified?

The positive or negative result of the application is notified to the email address provided during the application and can be viewed via the e-Permit system. For applications made from abroad, the result is also transmitted online to the relevant foreign representation. Article 21 of Law No. 6735 regulates the notification of rejection and revocation decisions to the interested party and that an objection can be made against the decision within 30 days from the date of notification.

When calculating periods, rather than relying solely on the email subject line or the day the result is displayed in the system, notification and service records must be kept together. The law article, subparagraph, explanation, application number, and notification date in the rejection text constitute the starting point of the file review. The Ministry's work permit frequently asked questions page explains the topics of result notification, objection, and re-application.

What Happens If the Work Permit Is Refused?

The outcome of the rejection decision varies depending on the type of application and the current legal status of the foreigner. If an initial application has been rejected, the foreigner cannot start working based on this application. In applications from abroad, the work visa and the associated entry process cannot be completed. In domestic applications, however, the foreigner's existing residence permit is not automatically revoked solely because the work permit was rejected; nevertheless, the duration and purpose of the residence permit must be independently maintained.

When the extension application for an expired work permit is rejected, the temporary work continuation provided during the evaluation terminates with the rejection decision. The foreigner continuing to work based on the old, expired card creates the risk of unauthorized employment. The employer's employment relationship, wages, SSI (SGK) deregistration, and notification obligations must be executed separately in accordance with labor and social security legislation.

Application type	The primary consequence following the rejection	Points to take into consideration
Initial application from abroad	The work visa process tied to the work permit cannot proceed	A new application or an appeal against the decision is evaluated.
Initial application from within the country	The foreign national cannot work based on the application	The validity of the current residence permit is also checked.
Extension application	Temporary employment continuation ends upon notification of the decision	If the previous permit has expired, work must not be continued.
New employer application	The right to work with the new employer does not arise	If an existing permit exists, it is evaluated solely within its own scope.
Approved file with unpaid fees	If the fee is not paid within the specified period, the application shall be rejected.	Underpayment or overpayment may also render the procedure inconclusive.

The fact that a valid work permit replaces a residence permit does not mean that a rejected application will also grant the right of residence. For application conditions from within Turkey and residence connection, can a work permit be obtained without a residence permit? our article may be reviewed.

Can a New Work Permit Application Be Filed After a Refusal?

Yes. According to the official statement of the Ministry, the rejection of a work permit application does not solely constitute an obstacle to making a new application. Once the grounds for rejection are eliminated, a new file can be created based on the foreigner's application conditions from either within or outside the country. However, resubmitting the same documents and statements without modification will, in most cases, lead to the same result.

A new application or an administrative appeal?

If the ground for rejection constitutes an actual deficiency as of the application date and this deficiency can be subsequently remedied, a new application may be more functional. For instance, if a capital increase has just been made, the required number of employees has been subsequently provided, or the missing preliminary permission has been obtained, a new file can be prepared with conditions reflecting the new date. Conversely, if the criteria were already met as of the application date, but SGK records were not observed, the correct document was improperly evaluated, or the decision lacked concrete justification, an administrative appeal may be considered.

Status	The potentially more appropriate route	Why
The condition was truly absent on the application date and was completed later	New application	It ensures the reassessment of the new financial/material status.
The condition existed on the application date but was overlooked	Administrative appeal	The material error in the current file can be demonstrated with documents.
The rejection is based solely on an abstract provision of the law.	Lawsuit based on the objection and conditions	The justification and grounds elements of the transaction are debatable.
The foreigner's status is not suitable for a new application.	Concrete legal assessment	The right to apply domestically cannot be presumed.
There is an allegation of fraudulent documents or a security record.	Prior examination of records and evidence	Uncontrolled re-application may create new risks.

The objection is made through the e-Permit system by uploading an explanatory petition and documents. The 30-day period starting from the notification is crucial. This article merely indicates the fork in the road; the petition for objection, annulment action, competent and authorized court, limitation period for filing the action, and stay of execution will be examined separately and comprehensively in our 6th article titled 'Objection to Work Permit Rejection and Annulment Action'.

How Should the Refusal File Be Examined?

1. The date of service or notification of the rejection decision is determined.
2. The article and sub-clause of Law No. 6735 indicated in the decision are determined.
3. The e-Permit application form, all uploaded documents, and system messages are downloaded.
4. The evaluation criteria valid as of the application date are established; subsequently modified criteria shall not be applied retroactively.
5. The employer's SSI employee list, financial statements, capital, sales, and export data are reviewed.
6. The foreigner's diploma, experience, position, occupation code, contract, and wage are compared.
7. The scope and validity date of the sectoral pre-permit, license, or activity certificate are examined.
8. The foreigner's residence, visa, entry ban, restriction, and other immigration law records are investigated.
9. It is distinguished whether the grounds for refusal are based on an actual deficiency, a factual error, or a legal assessment.
10. The deadlines and outcomes of new application, administrative appeal, and litigation options are evaluated separately.

It is also important to correctly understand the employer, position, and address limitations on the permit document prior to the application. In this regard, you can benefit from our what are work permit annotations? article. For the electronic application screen, e-Permit system, and for the transaction steps, the Ministry's application guidelines shall be taken as the basis.

Council of State (Danıştay) Precedents Regarding Work Permit Refusals

The following decisions illustrate how the administration's discretionary power is reviewed in cases of rejection or revocation of permits. Two of the decisions directly concern the rejection of an application, while two concern the revocation of a granted permit. Each decision must be evaluated within the framework of its own factual circumstances and the legislation in force at the date of the administrative act; a single decision does not automatically produce binding results for all work permit files.

Ruling	Dispute and reasoning	Conclusion
Council of State, 10th Chamber, E. 2017/1899, K. 2021/5435, 10.11.2021	The application for the employment of a SPA therapist at a boutique hotel was rejected on the grounds of the company's periodic losses and failure to contribute to the economy. An assessment based solely on financial outcomes without citing sufficient statutory basis was found to be unlawful.	In favor of the applicant: The decision annulling the rejection act was upheld.
Council of State, 10th Chamber, E. 2019/10332, K. 2022/3164, 08.06.2022	The application for a foreigner to work as a general manager was rejected based on the company's capital and the lack of Turkish employees. The annulment decision, which took into account the specific characteristics of the case, passed appellate review; the dissenting opinion argued that the economic and employment contributions were insufficient.	In favor of the applicant: The annulment decision was upheld.
Council of State, 8th Chamber, E. 2023/2174, K. 2024/1058, 01.03.2024	The work permit of a foreigner at a private educational institution was revoked on security grounds. It was stated that an acquittal in criminal proceedings does not, by itself, invalidate the administrative security assessment, and that administrative facts must be investigated separately.	Against the applicant: The regional administrative court's decision in favor of annulment has been reversed.
Council of State 10th Chamber, E. 2017/144, K. 2021/4588, 06.10.2021	The domestic work permit was revoked upon the determinations of the Ministry of Interior that immigration and asylum procedures were abused for the purpose of legal stay. The majority deemed the administrative findings sufficient; the dissenting opinion argued that there was no concrete determination.	Against the applicant: The decision to dismiss the lawsuit has been upheld.

Is the company's periodic loss alone a sufficient ground for rejection?

In the case file of the Council of State 10th Chamber numbered E. 2017/1899, the company's incurring losses, failure to form a tax base, and assumption of not contributing value-added to the national economy were made the grounds for rejection. The Chamber evaluated that the legislation in force at the date of the transaction did not grant the administration the authority to reject the application solely based on the company's periodic financial outcome, and upheld the annulment decision.

This decision does not mean that the numerical financial adequacy criteria announced today can never be applied. On the contrary, current criteria such as 500,000 TL capital, 8,000,000 TL net sales, or 150,000 USD exports can be concretely examined in the 2026 application. The current significance of the decision demonstrates that the administration must rely on legal criteria existing at the date of application and evaluate the applicant's situation with a reasoned basis.

Does an acquittal make the issuance of a work permit mandatory?

The decision of the Council of State 8th Chamber numbered E. 2023/2174 indicates that criminal proceedings and administrative security assessments are not the same. An acquittal in the criminal court does not alone ensure the issuance of a work permit or cause the revocation act to be automatically deemed unlawful. Nevertheless, the administration should not content itself with merely an abstract security statement; it must set forth the administrative facts upon which it relies and the current assessment.

Common Mistakes in Work Permit Applications

• Using figures from former assessment criteria rather than those at the date of application.
• Assuming that the five Turkish employees rule has been lifted for all foreigners due to an exception.
• Selecting mismatched job descriptions, occupation codes, and wage coefficients in the employment contract.
• Explaining the grounds for foreign employment with general and undocumented statements.
• Assuming that the establishment of a company or partnership alone grants the right to work.
• Completing an education or healthcare application that requires prior authorization without obtaining such authorization.
• Failing to check the residence and legal status of the foreigner for domestic applications.
• Failing to monitor missing document notifications or the electronic mail account.
• Attempting to file an extension application after the work permit has expired.
• Continuing to employ the foreigner in the same capacity after a rejection decision.
• Resubmitting the same file without rectifying the actual deficiency.
• Assuming that the appeal period is automatically stayed due to the filing of a new application.

Checklist to Minimize Refusal Risk Prior to Work Permit Application

• Has the application type been correctly determined as domestic, consular (abroad), or extension?
• Are the foreigner's passport and legal status of stay suitable for the application?
• Is there a genuine and documentable link between the employer's activity and the foreigner's duties?
• Are the employment and financial adequacy criteria met based on the data as of the application date?
• If an exception is relied upon, are the conditions regarding the person, number, sector, and date of the exception fulfilled?
• Has the gross wage been determined in accordance with the correct occupational group coefficient?
• Are the employment contract, e-Permit form, occupation code, and SSI (SGK) notification consistent with one another?
• Are the diploma, translation, equivalency, certificate, and experience documents ready?
• Is the sectoral preliminary permit, license, or activity certificate valid?
• Is there a profession or duty reserved exclusively for Turkish citizens?
• Are the capital share and operational conditions fulfilled for the company shareholder?
• Are the documents legible, up-to-date, and uploaded to the correct application field?
• Has it been verified that the application was completed with an electronic signature?
• Are additional documents and result notifications monitored on a regular basis?

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a new application be made if the work permit application is rejected?

Yes. A rejection does not constitute an absolute bar to a new application. However, the grounds for rejection must first be determined and the deficiencies remedied; resubmitting the exact same file without modification is generally insufficient.

Within how many days must an appeal be filed against a work permit rejection?

An objection to the Ministry's decision can be filed through the e-Permit system within 30 days from the date of notification, accompanied by a detailed petition and supporting documents.

Can a new work permit application be made without filing an objection?

A new application is possible provided that the grounds for rejection have been addressed and the requirements for a new application are met. However, a new application does not automatically preserve the period for objecting or filing a lawsuit against the previous decision.

Is an application invariably rejected if there are not five Turkish employees?

Not automatically in every case. While the general rule is five Turkish employees for each foreign national, the sector, the status of the foreign national, and the limited exemption dated August 3, 2026 must also be evaluated.

Is a work permit rejected if the company is operating at a loss?

The periodic loss of a company is not solely and in all cases an automatic ground for rejection. However, the employer must meet the applicable financial adequacy criteria valid as of the application date and be able to demonstrate the economic substance of the file.

If a work permit application is rejected, is the residence permit also revoked?

An existing and valid residence permit is not automatically revoked merely because a work permit application has been rejected. The foreign national's right to stay in Turkey is evaluated separately based on their residence or other legal status.

Will a foreign national whose work permit is rejected be deported?

A rejection decision does not constitute an automatic deportation order on its own. However, the absence of another legal right to stay for the foreigner, unauthorized employment, or the presence of a separate deportation ground within the scope of YUKK may yield different results.

Can a foreigner whose extension application has been rejected continue to work?

Following a rejection decision, work cannot be continued based on the expired former permit and the temporary continuation of work during the evaluation period. If there is no other valid right to work, continuing employment creates the risk of unauthorized work.

What is done if a rejection is issued due to missing documents?

It must be checked whether the document was submitted within the prescribed period and its registration in the system. If the document was submitted on time, it can be proven in the appeal; if it was never submitted and the deficiency was subsequently remedied, a new application may be evaluated.

Does an acquittal decision guarantee the issuance of a work permit?

No. An acquittal in criminal proceedings and an administrative security assessment may be based on different criteria. Nevertheless, the administration's adverse decision must have a concrete, current, and legally reviewable ground.

Within how many days is a work permit rejection decision issued?

As a rule, the evaluation of duly filed applications with complete documents is completed within 30 days. If additional information or documents are requested, this period starts from the date the requested documents are uploaded to the system.

Conclusion

The rejection of a work permit application should not be viewed merely as a "lack of documents." A rejection decision is the result of the joint evaluation of the employer's financial and employment structure, the qualifications of the foreigner, the authenticity of the position, remuneration, sector, migration status, and public order records. The first step to take is to compare the decision text with the legislation in effect on the application date and the documents uploaded to the file.

If the actual deficiency has been remedied, a new application may be filed. If it is believed that there was an evaluation error despite the conditions being met on the application date, the 30-day administrative appeal period must not be missed. Although the rejection does not automatically result in the cancellation of the residence permit or deportation, the foreigner's work and stay status must be checked separately. For current official regulations, General Directorate of International Labor legislation page shall be taken as the basis.

For our areas of practice under immigration and foreigners law our immigration law service page you may review.

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Author Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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Communication and Legal Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

Yakuplu Mahallesi, Hürriyet Bulvarı, Skyport Residence Kat:12 No:133, Beylikdüzü, İstanbul

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