Work permit exemptions in Türkiye: categories, durations and the certificate
Not every foreigner who works in Türkiye needs a work permit. Law 6735 on International Labour Force, art. 13, and its Implementing Regulation list activities that are exempt, mostly short, specific and tied to a purpose: a visiting lecturer, an engineer commissioning a machine, an athlete, an artist on tour. An exemption is not automatic: the foreigner or the host applies for an exemption certificate, and the exemption lasts only as long as the activity. This guide lists the categories, the durations and the procedure.
The main exemption categories
| Category (Regulation art. 48 ff.) | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Cross-border service providers: installation, maintenance, repair, training for machinery or equipment delivered to Türkiye | Up to 3 months in a year |
| Scientific, cultural and artistic activities, conferences, performances | Up to 1 month |
| Athletes, coaches and sports staff under contract with Turkish clubs, approved by the federation | Up to 4 months |
| Lecturers and researchers invited by a university through YÖK, and foreign students on internships | Duration of the invitation or placement |
| Members of ship and aircraft crews, and tour operators' representatives | Up to 8 months in a year |
| Journalists accredited by the Presidency's Communications Directorate | Accreditation period |
| Staff of projects under international agreements or EU programmes | Project period |
| Holders of Turquoise Cards and their dependants; persons under international or temporary protection in defined cases | Per status |
| Foreign nationals of Turkish origin with a Blue Card, and others defined by regulation | Per status |
The list is longer and the conditions detailed; the Regulation and the Ministry's current guide are the sources, not this table.
How the exemption is applied for
An exemption is recorded through the same e-İzin system as a work permit. For a foreigner abroad, the application starts at a Turkish consulate; for a foreigner in Türkiye with a residence permit, it is made in the system by the host organisation or the foreigner, with the supporting documents of the category: the service contract and the machine delivery documents, the festival or conference invitation, the federation's approval, the university's letter. The Ministry issues an exemption certificate (çalışma izni muafiyeti belgesi) electronically; a certificate fee from the annual valuable-paper table is paid. The certificate serves as a residence permit for its period where the law so provides, and the holder's address must still be declared.
What an exemption does not do
- It does not allow work outside the stated activity, employer or venue; an engineer exempt for commissioning may not stay on as an employee.
- It does not extend: when the period ends, the foreigner leaves or the host applies for a full work permit under the ordinary criteria; see our work permit guide.
- It does not remove social-security obligations: depending on the category and any bilateral agreement, the host or the foreign employer may have to register the foreigner with the SGK or present a certificate of coverage from abroad.
- It does not replace a visa: entry still requires a visa or visa exemption for the purpose.
Working on a residence permit without a permit or exemption
A residence permit of any type, including a family permit, does not by itself authorise work. Working without a permit or exemption carries administrative fines for both the employer and the foreigner under Law 6735 art. 23, revalued each year, and can lead to the cancellation of the residence permit and an entry ban. Remote work for a foreign employer from Türkiye is a grey area that the law does not define; a foreigner in that position should take advice from a lawyer rather than rely on practice.
Documents commonly required
- Passport and, for applicants in Türkiye, the residence permit.
- The host's documents: trade registry extract, signature circular, contract with the foreign party.
- Category evidence: invitation, federation approval, YÖK letter, delivery documents, accreditation.
- Diploma or professional document where the category requires it, with notarised Turkish translation (≈ ₺884 per page at the 2026 notarial tariff, paid by you to the notary).
- Certificate of social-security coverage from abroad where a bilateral agreement applies.
Sources
- csgb.gov.tr — Ministry of Labour and Social Security: work permit exemptions guide
- mevzuat.gov.tr — Law 6735 art. 13 and 23; Uluslararası İşgücü Kanunu Uygulama Yönetmeliği art. 48 ff.
- e-İzin (ecalismaizni.csgb.gov.tr) — exemption applications
- sgk.gov.tr — social-security obligations for foreigners, bilateral agreements
Questions
I will install a machine my company sold to a Turkish factory. Do I need a work permit?
Installation, maintenance and training for equipment delivered to Türkiye is an exemption category, for up to three months in a year. The Turkish buyer or your company applies for the exemption certificate on e-İzin with the sale and delivery documents; you enter with the appropriate visa.
Does the exemption certificate let me stay in Türkiye?
For its period, yes: the certificate is treated as a residence permit for the activity. You must still declare your address. When the period ends, you leave or obtain another permit.
Can my spouse on a family permit work without a permit?
No. A family residence permit does not authorise work. An employer must obtain a work permit for them under the ordinary criteria, or the activity must fall within an exemption category with its own certificate.