Work Permits for Foreign Domestic Workers: Conditions for Hiring Foreign Caregivers

Foreign nationals may work in the home services sector in roles such as childcare, care for people with disabilities, elder care, and patient care.

The work permit application must clearly specify the type of care or patient care role in which the foreign national will be working.

In the domestic services sector, the primary focus is on employing foreign nationals for the care of children, people with disabilities, or the elderly, as well as for patient care. For this reason, work permit applications submitted solely for the purpose of house cleaning may not be approved.

If the parents are married, either the child’s mother or father may file the application.

If the parents are divorced, the application may be filed by the parent who has custody of the child.

In addition, an adoptive parent, guardian, or foster parent who meets certain requirements may also file the application.

If the child’s parents are married, either the mother or the father may submit an application for a work permit for a foreign caregiver.

If the parents are divorced, the parent who has custody of the child—whether the mother or the father—may file an application. Proof of custody must be provided in the form of an official document.

Yes. A person who has officially adopted a child may submit an application for a foreign work permit to care for the child.

Yes. If the child is under guardianship, the child’s guardian may submit an application for a work permit for the foreign child caregiver.

Yes. Under the foster care program, individuals with foster mother or foster father status may submit an application for a work permit for a foreign child caregiver.

Yes. The mother of a child born out of wedlock may submit an application.

The father may submit an application for a work permit as a foreign child caregiver, provided he has officially recognized the child.

The elderly person may submit an application for a work permit on their own behalf.

In addition, the elderly person’s first- or second-degree relatives may also submit an application for a work permit on behalf of a foreign caregiver for the elderly person.

Yes. A patient may submit an application for a work permit for a foreign national to provide care or accompany them.

The patient’s first- or second-degree relatives may also submit an application for a work permit to accompany the patient.

Yes. A person with a disability, or their first- or second-degree relatives, may submit an application for a work permit for a foreign caregiver for a person with a disability.

If the person to be cared for is under guardianship, the guardian may file the application.

With the guardian’s consent, the person to be cared for’s first- or second-degree relatives may also apply for a work permit.

Yes. When evaluating a work permit application, the age of the person who will be cared for or accompanied is taken into account.

However, the evaluation is not based solely on age. The person’s health condition and care needs are also assessed.

Yes. In applications for the care of children, people with disabilities, or the elderly, as well as for patient accompaniment, the health condition of the person requiring care is taken into account.

Documents demonstrating the need for care or accompaniment are important for the application.

Yes. The Ministry evaluates the foreign national’s education and professional experience at the time of application.

It is important that the foreign national’s education and experience in the field of caring for children, the elderly, people with disabilities, or the sick be consistent with the position for which they are applying.

A foreign caregiver’s knowledge of Turkish is evaluated as part of the work permit application.

The official criteria do not specify a particular level of Turkish proficiency that applies to everyone. However, it is important for the foreign caregiver to be able to communicate with the person they will be caring for.

Yes. Whether the foreign national has previously resided in Turkey and whether they have a work history are taken into account in the evaluation.

However, the decision is not based solely on this information. The entire application file is reviewed.

Yes. The age and marital status of a foreign caregiver are among the factors considered in a work permit application.

However, the decision is not based solely on the foreign national’s age or marital status. The specific conditions of the job and other information in the application file are also evaluated.

Yes. The employer’s socioeconomic status, assets, and regular monthly income are taken into account in the work permit application.

The employer must have sufficient, steady, and regular income.

The employer’s income must be documented with official documents issued by the relevant agencies and institutions.

The documents to be submitted may vary depending on the individual’s source of income. What is important is to document that the income is sufficient, ongoing, and regular.

Blood relatives or in-laws of the person requiring care or assistance, up to the second degree of kinship, may provide financial support.

The relative providing support must demonstrate, through official documents, that they have a sufficient, steady, and regular income.

If the person in need of care has no blood relatives or in-laws up to the second degree, another person with a family relationship may provide financial support.

This person must demonstrate, through official documents, that they have a sufficient, steady, and regular income. They must also submit a notarized letter of commitment stating that they will assist the employer with the care.

The following factors are taken into account when evaluating an application: the age of the person to be cared for or accompanied; the health condition of the person to be cared for; the foreign national’s education; the foreign national’s professional experience; the foreign national’s knowledge of Turkish; the foreign national’s history of residence and employment in Turkey; the foreign national’s age and marital status; the specific nature of the job; the employer’s socioeconomic status, assets, and monthly, steady, and regular income.

This rule applies only to foreign nationals who have obtained a work permit as a result of an application filed from abroad and who are employed by an employer.

An application for a work permit submitted by a foreign caregiver from within Turkey with the intention of switching to another employer within the first six months from the start date of the work permit will be denied, except in cases of force majeure.

This rule does not constitute a general prohibition on changing employers that applies to all foreign caregivers.

This specific criterion applies to foreign nationals who have been issued a work permit following an application filed from abroad.

Therefore, the six-month limitation should not be interpreted as a general rule applicable to all foreign nationals who obtain a work permit within the country.

The criteria include an exception for force majeure.

However, the Ministry determines which circumstances will be accepted as force majeure by reviewing the information and documents submitted. Force majeure must be explained and supported by documentation.

No. Submitting an application or meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee that a work permit will be issued.

The Ministry evaluates the applicant’s circumstances, the foreign national’s suitability for the job, the employer’s income, and other information in the application file as a whole.