Required Documents for Foreign Work Permit 2026

Documents required for a foreign work permit, varies depending on whether the application is made from within Turkey or from abroad, whether the foreigner is an employee or a company shareholder, and the sector in which the activity will be carried out. The basic file generally includes an employment contract, a copy of the passport, and a diploma or graduation certificate when necessary; on the employer's side, it includes the Trade Registry Gazette, balance sheet, and profit and loss statement. Additional permits or qualification documents may be requested in fields such as education, healthcare, tourism, domestic services, engineering, and aviation.

This guide explains step-by-step which documents must be submitted by whom when preparing a file for a foreign employee in 2026, the differences between domestic and international applications, and the risk of missing documents. For the general legal framework of the application, please also see foreign work permit requirements and application process you can review our page.

What Are the Required Documents for a Foreign Work Permit?

In short, for a standard definite-term work permit application with an employer, the file consists of two parts: documents belonging to the foreigner and documents belonging to the employer. However, this list does not change for every application and is not a closed list. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security may request additional information or documents depending on the application type and profession.

Document or Information	Who Submits?	Basic Explanation
Employment contract	Foreigner and employer	Must be signed by the parties; the duties, remuneration, and working conditions must be consistent with the file.
Passport copy	Foreigner	Must be valid; if Latin alphabet is not used, a certified Turkish translation may be required.
Diploma or temporary graduation certificate	Foreigner	If required by the profession and sector, it shall be submitted with a certified Turkish translation.
Residence permit and foreign identification information	Foreigner	It is important in terms of utilizing the application channel from within Turkey.
Trade Registry Gazette	Employer	It must reflect the company's current capital and shareholding structure.
Balance sheet and profit and loss statement	Employer	Financial data belonging to the last year and approved by the competent authority shall be submitted.
Preliminary permit, license, or activity certificate	Employer/foreigner	Required upon application in education, healthcare, tourism, and regulated professions.
Electronic application information	Employer/authorized representative	Documents can be read through the e-Permit system and must be uploaded in an up-to-date format.

The Ministry's current document titles and sector-specific explanations are published on the work permit documents page of the Directorate General of International Labor. Fields specifically opened for that file in the electronic system must also be checked.

Why Do Documents Differ for Domestic and International Applications?

The first issue to be determined when preparing a work permit file is where the application will be made. This is because for applications made from within Turkey, a residence permit and foreign national identity number stand out; whereas for applications made from abroad, foreign mission procedures and a reference number stand out.

A Residence Permit is Mandatory for Applications to be Made from Within Turkey

For work permit applications to be made from within Turkey, the foreigner must hold a valid residence permit. According to the Ministry's current statement, the domestic application route is indicated for foreigners who have a valid residence permit of at least six months and a foreign national identity number starting with 99. Therefore, merely being physically present in Turkey or being within the visa or visa exemption period is not sufficient on its own for a domestic work permit application.

Regarding the practical consequences of this distinction, obtaining a work permit without a residence permit detailed explanations can be found in our article titled. If the foreigner's residence status is to be evaluated separately Types and conditions of residence permits in Turkey guide can also be consulted.

Turkish Residence Permit Is Not Required for Applications Made from Abroad

There is no requirement to hold a residence permit in Turkey for work permit applications to be made from abroad. As a general rule, the foreigner shall apply to the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country of which they are a citizen or where they legally reside. The reference number generated by the diplomatic mission shall be transmitted to the employer; the employer or their authorized person shall complete the electronic application using this number.

The official distinction between domestic, international, and extension applications from the Ministry’s work permit application types page can be checked. Selecting the wrong application route may also lead to the incorrect preparation of the document list.

Documents Belonging to the Foreign Employee

1. Passport Copy and Validity Period

The pages of the passport showing identity information and the validity period must be submitted legibly. If the passport is not issued in Latin alphabet characters, a Turkish translation approved by a sworn translator or official authority is required. It is essential that the first name, last name, date of birth, and passport number match the information on the application form exactly.

According to the Ministry's document instructions, a work permit cannot be issued to exceed the final 60 days prior to the passport's expiration date. Applications made with a passport or substitute document having a validity of less than 60 days as of the application date will not be processed. Therefore, it should not be deemed sufficient that the passport simply has 'not expired'; the remaining period must also be calculated accordingly.

2. Employment Contract

The employment contract must be signed by both the foreigner and the employer. The workplace, position, salary, and working hours information in the contract must not contradict the electronic application form. The salary must be determined not solely based on the preference of the parties, but by taking into account the applicable work permit evaluation criteria and the nature of the profession.

General and vague statements in the employment contract, discrepancies between the actual duties to be performed by the foreign national and the occupation code declared in the application, or inconsistencies in salary information across different sections complicate the adjudication of the file. When scanning the signed copy, all pages must be uploaded completely.

The salary stated in the employment contract must correspond to the occupation of the foreign national and the duties they will actually undertake. Regarding the minimum gross salary amounts to be applied based on occupational groups, wage criteria for foreign employees in 2026 you may review our article.

3. Diploma or Graduation Certificate

A diploma is not a required document in the same scope for every work permit application. For professional services and occupations deemed necessary by the Ministry, a Turkish translation of the diploma or temporary graduation certificate must be submitted. For regulated professions, equivalency, professional qualification, or a prior permit from the relevant institution may also be required. Conversely, for domestic services, a declaration regarding the last school graduated from by the foreign national may be accepted as sufficient instead of a diploma.

If the document is issued in a foreign country, merely having it translated is not always sufficient. Whether an apostille or consular legalization is required, depending on the profession in which the document will be used and the country of issuance, must be separately examined prior to the application.

4. Photograph and Identity Information

The identity, contact, and photograph fields on the electronic application screen must be completed with up-to-date information. The photograph must be recent, clearly depict the individual, and meet the standards for system and official document use. Any discrepancies in foreign identity numbers, passport, and residence permit information must be rectified before submitting the file.

Documents Belonging to the Employer

1. Trade Registry Gazette

If the employer is a corporation, the most recent Trade Registry Gazette demonstrating its establishment, current capital structure, and partners must be submitted. If the company's trade name, address, capital, or partners have changed subsequently, merely uploading the establishment announcement may not be sufficient to reflect the current status. The representation authority of the person signing or conducting the application electronically must also comply with the company records.

2. Balance Sheet and Profit and Loss Statement

The workplace's balance sheet and profit and loss statement for the latest year must be submitted, approved by the tax office or a certified public accountant. The status of newly established companies that have not yet generated annual financial statements must be evaluated separately based on the establishment date and application type. Financial documents uploaded to the system must have legible company names, periods, and approval details.

3. Records Regarding the Workplace and Employment

A work permit is not granted solely based on the availability of documents. The business activity, financial adequacy, employment of Turkish citizens, the wage to be paid to the foreign national, and the relationship of the position to the enterprise are also evaluated. Therefore, SSI (SGK) workplace information, employee counts, and financial records must be consistent with the application statements.

For current employment and financial adequacy thresholds, work permit evaluation criteria must be strictly verified as of the application date. Furthermore, the scope of the employment exemption applied regarding certain foreign nationals in 2026 is employment limit amendment in work permits discussed separately in our article.

The current conditions to be applied regarding the number of Turkish citizen employees, paid-in capital, net sales, exports, and the wage to be paid to the foreign national work permit evaluation criteria 2026 is explained in detail in our guide.

Which Documents Are Required for a Foreign Company Partner?

A foreign national becoming a partner in a company in Turkey does not automatically grant the right to work. If the foreign partner will work actively, a work permit application must be made in accordance with the partnership and representation status. In this file, the company's current Trade Registry Gazette, partnership share, capital structure, financial documents, and records indicating the foreign national's position in the company become critical.

Regarding the differences between company establishment and work permits, and the evaluation concerning partners, work permit through company establishment you may review our guide. If the stay in Turkey is solely for establishing commercial connections or conducting business meetings, residence statuses that do not grant the right to work must not be confused with a work permit. This distinction residence permit for commercial connections and business establishment purposes is explained in our article.

Additional Documents Required by Sector

Even if standard documents are complete, in certain sectors, a file cannot be finalized without the pre-approval of the relevant public institution, business license, or professional qualification certificate. The main differences are as follows:

Sector or profession	Main additional document	Points to consider
Education	Ministry of National Education preliminary permit; institution opening and commencement of education permit	The foreigner's professional qualifications and the institution's operating permit shall be examined together.
Healthcare	Preliminary permit from the Provincial Directorate of Health; healthcare facility operating permit	The professional title and duties must match the preliminary permit.
Tourism	Tourism operation or investment certificate; chamber activity certificate where necessary	Additional registrations may be required depending on the nature of the business and the type of duty.
Domestic services	Information explaining the care requirements and the circumstances of the parties	Applications are evaluated limited to elderly, patient, and childcare in accordance with the Ministry's documentation page.
Engineering and architecture	Diploma equivalency certificate and additional profession-related registrations	The employer's obligation regarding the employment of Turkish citizens in the same profession may be examined separately.
Aviation	Pilot license translation and General Directorate of Civil Aviation verification	The validity of the license and its suitability for the position are required.
Entertainment sector	Letter of clearance, bilingual contract containing special provisions, and operating certificate	Document legalization and mandatory provisions in the contract are important.

Since each sector has sub-categories, the general table should not be used as a final checklist on its own. The Ministry's published work permit application guides and the current document fields on the application screen must be evaluated together.

Are Translation, Notarization, and Apostille Required for Documents?

It cannot be said that every document issued in a foreign language will be approved by the same method. If the passport is not issued in Latin alphabet characters, a Turkish translation is required. As for diplomas, letters of clearance, qualification certificates, or official documents issued abroad, the type of document, the country of issuance, and the request of the relevant institution are taken into consideration.

• Names and document numbers in the translation must match the original document exactly.
• Documents requiring a translator or notary public certification must not be submitted as uncertified scans.
• For documents within the scope of the Apostille Convention, the apostille endorsement must be obtained from the correct authority.
• In cases where the apostille does not apply, Turkish consular representations abroad or the relevant diplomatic certification chain may be required.
• Not only the first page of the document but all pages containing endorsements and certifications must be uploaded.

Translation costs incurred before determining the certification method may be wasted. Therefore, especially for diplomas and professional qualification documents, the specific requirements of the relevant sector must be determined first.

How Are Documents Uploaded to the e-Permit System?

Work permit applications are processed electronically e-Permit system via the system. Once the employer, authorized person, or relevant user logs into the system, they select the application type, complete the form fields, and upload the requested documents to the appropriate sections.

1. Select the application type and workplace registration correctly.
2. Verify that the passport, residence, and contract information corroborate one another.
3. Upload each document to its designated field in a legible resolution and in full completeness.
4. Maintain the page order for multi-page documents.
5. Re-verify the fee, duties, dates, and contact fields before submitting the application.
6. Track the application number and any notifications for additional documents that may be issued by the Ministry.

Electronic upload does not mean that the document is legally sufficient. Unreadable, outdated documents, those belonging to the wrong person or company, or those contradicting the statement in the form may be deemed missing/deficient.

Which Documents Must Be Submitted for Extension Applications?

The work permit extension application must be submitted before the expiration of the current permit. According to the Ministry's statements, the extension application can be made starting 60 days before the expiration of the permit duration and before the permit expires. Applications submitted after this period expire are evaluated as initial applications rather than extensions.

Although information regarding the previous permit is available in the system during the extension, current passport, workplace, and financial status records; changes in duties or wages, and sectoral permits must be re-checked. If the employer has changed, the procedure is generally treated as an initial application through the new employer rather than an extension. For the meaning of the records on the current work permit work permit annotations you can benefit from our article.

For deadlines, current documents, and the right to work while the permit is ongoing work permit extension application our guide; for the new application procedure to be applied if transferring to a different employer employer change in work permit you may review our article.

What Happens if Incomplete or Incorrect Documents Are Submitted?

A missing document does not automatically result in a rejection in every case; the Ministry may request additional information and documents during the evaluation. However, failure to remedy the deficiency within the given time frame, inability to verify the document, or failure to meet the fundamental conditions of the application may lead to an adverse outcome of the application. Submitting forged, misleading, or untrue documents may entail more severe administrative and criminal consequences.

The current text of the International Labour Law No. 6735 via the Legislation Information System. Once the permit is obtained, social security obligations must also be fulfilled separately; in this regard official statements regarding the social security of foreign employees must be taken into consideration.

In the event of an adverse decision due to missing documents or discrepancies between documents, for the review of the grounds for rejection, re-application, and legal remedies rejection of the work permit application you can obtain information from our guide.

Pre-Application Document Checklist

• Has the application type—domestic, international, or extension—been correctly determined?
• Are the required residence permit and foreign identification number available for the domestic application?
• Has the foreign representation reference number been obtained for the international application?
• Has the passport validity period been checked against the 60-day limit?
• Is the position and remuneration in the employment contract identical to the electronic form?
• Are the diploma, equivalency certificate, or preliminary permit required for the profession?
• Have the translation, notarization, or apostille procedures been performed using the correct method?
• Does the Trade Registry Gazette reflect the current structure of the company?
• Are the balance sheet and income statement pertaining to the correct period and duly approved?
• Have the sectoral license, certificate of activity, or institutional preliminary permit been attached?
• Have all pages of the documents been uploaded in a legible format?
• Do the contact details ensure that requests for additional documents can be tracked?

Common Mistakes in Foreign Work Permit Documents

• Assuming that being in Turkey is sufficient for an application from within the country.
• Checking the passport validity only in terms of the expiration date and overlooking the 60-day rule.
• Attempting to demonstrate the current partnership structure using an outdated Trade Registry Gazette.
• Declaring different job titles or salaries in the employment contract, application form, and SGK records.
• Assuming that a diploma is required for every application or failing to submit documentation for a profession that requires a diploma.
• Completing a health or education application that requires prior approval without obtaining such pre-approval.
• Submitting the translation of a document without examining the necessity of an apostille or legalization.
• Uploading only the first page of a document that consists of multiple pages.
• Evaluating company partnership directly as a right to work.
• Failing to monitor the Ministry's request for additional documents within the prescribed period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a diploma mandatory for a work permit?

It is not mandatory for every application. A diploma or graduation certificate is required for professional services and professions deemed necessary by the Ministry. Equivalency or pre-permission may also be required for regulated professions.

Is a residence permit required to apply for a work permit from within Turkey?

Yes. For the in-country application route, the foreigner must hold a valid residence permit with a duration of at least six months, complying with the conditions announced by the Ministry, and a foreign identification number starting with 99. Merely being within the visa duration period is not sufficient.

Is a residence permit required to apply for a work permit from abroad?

No. A residence permit in Turkey is not required for applications made from abroad. The foreigner applies to the Turkish foreign representative office; the employer in Turkey completes the electronic transactions using the generated reference number.

What must the validity period of the passport be?

Applications made with a passport or a document substituting for a passport with a validity of less than 60 days as of the application date will not be processed. Furthermore, the permit duration cannot exceed the last 60 days prior to the passport expiration date.

Are the originals of the documents sent to the Ministry?

As a rule, application documents are uploaded electronically to the e-Permit system. However, the Ministry or the relevant institution may request the original document, certified copy, or additional verification record during the review process.

Is an apostille required for every foreign document?

No. The need for an apostille is determined based on the type of document, the country where it was issued, and the request of the relevant institution. While a certified translation is sufficient for some documents, an apostille or consular legalization may be required for others.

Does the foreigner or the employer make the work permit application?

In the standard employer-sponsored work permit process, the foreign national and the employer have separate procedures. For applications from abroad, the foreign national initiates the procedure at the foreign representative office, and the employer completes the e-Permit application using the reference number. For domestic applications, electronic procedures are carried out by the employer or an authorized user.

Can missing documents be submitted later?

The Ministry may request additional information or documents during the evaluation. Such requests must be fulfilled within the given timeframe and in the requested format. However, applications should not be submitted with the assumption that a deficiency constituting a fundamental requirement of the application can be remedied later.

Conclusion

The correct document list for a foreign work permit file is compiled by evaluating the application route, employment relationship, corporate structure, profession, and sector together. It is necessary to carefully verify the residence permit requirement for domestic applications, the foreign representative office reference number for applications from abroad, and passports, contracts, employer records, and sectoral documents for both methods.

Even a seemingly complete file does not guarantee a favorable outcome if it does not comply with current evaluation criteria. Each specific application must be examined in light of the foreign national's status and the workplace conditions. Regarding our practice areas in immigration law immigration law on our immigration law service page.

---

Author Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ
Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

Compliance Statement with TBB Professional Rules and Advertising Prohibition

This content is for informational purposes only. It does not aim to advertise, secure business, acquire clients, solicit, claim professional superiority, or guarantee results for any person or institution.

While preparing the content the Professional Rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the provisions regarding the prohibition of advertising for the legal profession have been observed. The information in this article does not constitute legal counsel or a definitive legal opinion with respect to any specific case.

---

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

Telephone: 0 (532) 669 34 90
Alternative Telephone: 0 (532) 732 34 90

This contact section has been prepared solely for the purpose of indicating communication channels regarding legal services and does not carry the purpose of advertising, solicitation, acquiring clients, or claiming professional superiority .