LumenCan I work in Turkey with a residence permit?
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No. The Presidency of Migration Management says a residence permit gives no right to work in Turkey; foreigners who will work need a work permit under International Labour Law No. 6735. Under Law No. 6458, a valid work permit itself counts as a residence permit. Students also need a work permit; bachelor's students can work after year one.
Key facts
| What | The law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Does a residence permit allow work? | No. A residence permit does not give the right to work in Turkey | e-İkamet document list, “Bilgilendirme” |
| What you need to work | A work permit under International Labour Law No. 6735, or a work permit exemption | e-İkamet document list, “Bilgilendirme” |
| Work permit as residence | A valid work permit, or a work permit exemption confirmation document, counts as a residence permit | Law 6458, art. 27(1); Regulation, art. 25(1) |
| Fees and card | Work permit holders pay the residence fee and don’t get a separate residence permit document | Regulation, art. 25(1) |
| When it ends | The work permit’s end date is also the residence end date | Regulation, art. 25(3) |
| Students | Associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students in formal education can work with a work permit; associate and bachelor’s students only after the first year | Law 6458, art. 41(1) |
| Working without a permit | A deportation decision is taken | Law 6458, art. 54(1)(ğ) |
Residence and work are separate permissions
The Presidency of Migration Management’s e-İkamet document list states it directly: a residence permit does not give the right to work in Turkey. Foreigners who will work must get a work permit under International Labour Law No. 6735, and those who qualify for an exemption must apply for it.
It works the other way round as well. The law says a valid work permit counts as a residence permit (art. 27(1)), and the Presidency’s general information page says a work permit holder can stay in Turkey for the length of the work permit without getting a residence permit. The regulation adds that these people pay the residence fee but don’t receive a separate residence permit document (art. 25(1)), and that the residence right ends with the work permit: if you don’t extend it or get a new permit that fits your situation, you are in breach of residence rules (art. 25(3)).
Students
The law lets students in formal associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes work, provided they get a work permit. For associate and bachelor’s students, the right to work begins after the first year (art. 41(1)). The Presidency’s guidance says work permit applications go to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Related questions
- Time spent on a work permit counts toward the total residence period (Regulation, art. 25(4)).
Sources
- Presidency of Migration Management, e-İkamet: documents required for short-term residence permit applications, 'Bilgilendirme' section checked 2026-10-25
- Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection, arts. 27, 41 and 54(1)(ğ) (consolidated text, mevzuat.gov.tr) checked 2026-10-25
- Regulation on the Implementation of Law No. 6458, art. 25 (consolidated text, mevzuat.gov.tr) checked 2026-10-25
- Presidency of Migration Management: residence general information (İkamet Genel Bilgiler), 'Çalışma İzninin İkamet İzni Sayılması' checked 2026-10-25
- Presidency of Migration Management: residence permit types (İkamet İzni Çeşitleri), student residence permit section checked 2026-10-25
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