2026 Work Permit Updates: Sector-Specific Exemptions

No. The general rule still applies. In workplaces subject to the balance sheet principle, the rule is that at least five Turkish citizens must be employed for every foreign national to be hired.

However, there are specific exceptions for certain workplaces, foreign nationals, and sectors. Therefore, the statement that “the ‘5 Turkish citizens’ requirement was completely abolished in 2026” is incorrect.

As of August 3, 2026, a special exception applies to applications for domestic work permits filed on behalf of foreign nationals who have legally resided in Turkey for at least one year within the three years prior to the application date under a work permit, residence permit, or international protection.

Under this provision, the employment and financial eligibility criteria generally do not apply to a maximum of three foreign nationals. However, the number of foreign employees falling under this provision at the same workplace may not exceed the number of Turkish citizen employees.

If more than three foreign nationals meeting these conditions are to be employed at the same workplace, the general employment and financial adequacy criteria apply to the fourth and subsequent foreign nationals.

Applications for work permits in the manufacturing sector are first evaluated based on general employment criteria, taking into account the number of Turkish citizens employed by the company throughout Turkey.

If there is a need for additional foreign workers, until December 31, 2027, applications for additional work permits—at a ratio of one foreign worker for every five Turkish citizens employed at the company’s relevant manufacturing facility on a branch-by-branch basis—will be exempt from the general employment criterion. This regulation is effective as of August 3, 2026.

This statement does not mean that all applications in the manufacturing sector will be calculated directly on a ratio of 5 Turks to 1 foreign national. The initial assessment is based on the general employment criterion, taking into account the number of Turkish employees at the business across Turkey.

A special provision applies when an additional need for foreign workers arises. At this stage, the application for one additional foreign worker for every five Turkish employees in the relevant manufacturing branch may be exempt from the general employment criterion.

There are two separate stages. When evaluating the general employment criterion, the number of Turkish employees at the company nationwide is taken into account.

For the special exemption regarding the additional employment of foreign workers, the number of Turkish employees at the specific workplace where manufacturing activities are carried out—that is, at the branch level—is used as the basis.

Yes. For businesses operating in the lodging sector, applications for positions other than those requiring specialized expertise or skilled craftsmanship are first evaluated based on the general employment criterion, which is determined by the number of Turkish employees the business has across Turkey.

If there is an additional need for foreign personnel, applications for one additional foreign worker for every five Turkish citizens employed at the relevant branch are exempt from the employment criteria. This regulation is effective as of March 11, 2026.

No. The general employment criterion is applied first. The branch-level “one additional foreign worker for every five Turkish workers” provision applies when there is a need for additional foreign workers for jobs that do not require specialized skills or expertise.

The employment criterion does not apply if at least 10 Turkish citizens are employed in jobs requiring specialized skills and expertise at tourism businesses licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as well as at certain establishments listed in the regulation, such as restaurants, entertainment companies, Turkish baths, saunas, and thermal hotels.

When determining the maximum number of foreign nationals to be permitted at a workplace, the workplace’s financial capacity and physical capacity are also taken into account.

Yes. For small businesses—such as hair salons, jewelry stores, and retailers of leather goods, rugs, and textiles—that operate under contract within tourism businesses holding a tourism business license from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to a maximum of two foreign nationals.

Yes. For work permit applications filed domestically on behalf of foreign nationals who will work at travel agencies licensed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism or at intermediary organizations operating in the field of medical tourism and authorized by the Ministry of Health, the employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply for up to five foreign nationals.

No. To qualify for these tasks, the business must meet one of the criteria explicitly listed in the Ministry’s guidelines. Businesses holding a tourism business license and providing proof that they operate as massage parlors, massage parlors operating under contract at the same address, Turkish baths and saunas affiliated with travel agencies, as well as officially licensed sports centers employing at least 20 Turkish citizens, may be considered eligible.

Work permit applications for positions such as male and female massage therapists, spa therapists, and similar roles submitted by workplaces that do not meet these criteria will be denied.

Yes. The operation must be registered in the Animal Information System and meet one of the specified livestock population requirements.

The required livestock inventory is at least 200 small ruminants; 100 large ruminants for a beef-producing operation; 50 large ruminants for a dairy operation; and 75 large ruminants for a mixed beef and dairy operation.

For each multiple of the specified number of animals, one foreign shepherd or animal caretaker is considered. As a general rule, work permits may be issued for up to three foreign nationals at the same livestock farm without applying the employment criteria.

The opinion of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is sought when evaluating these applications.

As a general rule, the financial adequacy criterion shall not apply to livestock operations that meet the specified livestock inventory requirements. This provision takes effect as of March 11, 2026.

A new work permit application filed within the country by a foreign national employed by an employer under a work permit issued in response to an overseas application in the livestock sector, seeking to work for another employer within six months of the permit’s start date, will be denied unless there are compelling reasons.

In the poultry farming sector, applications are first evaluated based on the general employment criterion, which takes into account the number of Turkish employees at the business across Turkey.

If there is an additional need for foreign workers in animal care, poultry house maintenance, and similar jobs, until December 31, 2027, any additional application for one foreign worker for every five Turkish citizens employed at the relevant workplace on a branch-by-branch basis will be exempt from the employment criterion. This regulation is effective as of August 3, 2026.

Yes. If fewer than 5 Turkish citizens are employed at a workplace falling under this category, the employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to a maximum of 2 foreign workers, provided that the number of foreign workers does not exceed the number of Turkish workers in applications submitted from within the country.

For example, if there is one Turkish citizen at the workplace, the number of foreign workers cannot exceed one under this special provision; if there are two or more Turkish employees, up to two foreign workers may benefit from this exemption, provided they meet the other conditions.

For waste collection, recycling, and disposal activities, applications are first evaluated based on the general employment criterion, which is determined by the number of Turkish employees the business has throughout Turkey.

If there is an additional need for foreign workers in waste collection, recycling, and similar roles, until December 31, 2027, any additional applications submitted for one foreign worker for every five Turkish citizens employed at the relevant workplace on a branch-by-branch basis will be exempt from the employment criteria. This regulation is effective as of August 3, 2026.

Yes. For work permit applications filed within the country, the employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to a maximum of two foreign workers, provided that the number of foreign workers does not exceed the number of Turkish workers.

For work permit applications submitted for jobs, professions, or positions requiring specialized expertise—such as software development, database management, mobile software development, systems and networking, and security, as well as enterprise architecture—at workplaces operating in the information technology sector, the employment and financial eligibility criteria generally do not apply.

Yes. For IT positions requiring the same level of expertise at workplaces operating outside the IT sector, the general rule is that employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply, provided that the number of foreign nationals is limited to a maximum of two.

Yes. However, foreign nationals who will be working in positions requiring professional qualifications at educational institutions must obtain the necessary prior approval from the Ministry of National Education or the Council of Higher Education when applying for a work permit.

In work permit applications filed on behalf of foreign faculty members who have been granted preliminary authorization by the Council of Higher Education, the evaluation criteria set forth in the relevant provisions of Law No. 6735 do not apply.

In work permit applications for foreign nationals who will work in occupations or professions requiring prior authorization under the Ministry of National Education’s Regulation on Private Educational Institutions, the criteria regarding employment and financial eligibility do not apply.

Yes. For work permit applications submitted on behalf of foreign nationals who will be working in professions and positions requiring professional qualifications at healthcare institutions, prior authorization from the Ministry of Health is mandatory.

Employment, salary, and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to work permit applications submitted by foreign nationals who will work in positions requiring professional qualifications at public institutions in the healthcare sector.

Employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to applications from foreign nationals seeking to work in senior management or specialized positions at the Turkish offices of foreign flag-carrier airlines.

Yes. In the case of qualified investments that will make a significant contribution to the national economy or generate a significant number of jobs, in jobs requiring advanced technology, or in situations where there is a need for qualified foreign workers because no Turkish citizen with the same qualifications is available, the general evaluation criteria may be partially or completely waived, subject to the approval of the General Directorate.

A favorable opinion from the Ministry of Industry and Technology is required for foreign nationals who will work as R&D, innovation, and design personnel at companies holding an R&D or design center certificate, as well as for foreign nationals who will work in technology development zones.

Employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to work permit applications under this scope.

Employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to foreign nationals who will work on projects implemented in Turkey under bilateral or multilateral agreements to which Turkey is a party, or within this scope.

Furthermore, employment and financial eligibility criteria do not apply to foreign nationals who will work for public institutions and organizations in the procurement of goods and services through contracts or tenders, or for subcontractors of companies operating within this scope.

No. Sector-specific regulations generally do not mean an exemption from the work permit requirement, but rather that certain evaluation criteria are not applied when applying for a work permit. The foreign national may still be required to obtain a work permit.

If a foreign national who has been issued a work permit based on sector-, occupation-, or job-specific exemption criteria submits a new application from within the country within 6 months of the permit’s start date to work for a different employer or in a sector, occupation, or job other than the one for which the specific criterion applies, the application will be denied unless there are force majeure circumstances.

In cases where there are no provisions regarding specific criteria based on sector, profession, or job, the general work permit evaluation criteria shall apply.

No. The fact that one or more evaluation criteria are not applied does not mean that the application will automatically be approved. The application is evaluated by the Ministry in light of other relevant legislation and conditions.