Turkey Work Visa - Definitive Guide

Turkey work visa for Indian citizens an entry permit that lets Indian nationals enter Turkey for taking part in employment. Although this is only an entry permit valid for 90 days, upon arrival in Turkey, the individual will have to collect the work residence permit, allowing them to stay for longer periods. This may be 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, or longer depending on the decision made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The work entry visa is issued as a single-entry type.

The application for the Turkey work visa from India can be done in multiple ways. However, before starting your application, you must check that you are eligible to apply for the work permit. You may then proceed as follows - 

At Embassy

1. Visit the website of the Turkish diplomatic mission in India as per your state of residence.
2. Start by filling the online visa application form ( pre-application) available on the website accordingly. 
3. Proceed to book an appointment at the diplomatic mission as per the jurisdiction. 
4. Download the offline application form and fill it manually. You must mention the purpose of your visit as ‘work’.
5. Attend the appointment along with the duly signed application form, documents, and the fees.
6. Submit the application and pay the fees at the mission.
7. You will receive an email with a reference number within 2-3 days. 
8. Send the reference number to your employer in Turkey. 
9. Your employer in Turkey will have to apply to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) in Turkey for the work permit within 10 days of receiving the reference number.
10. If approved, you will receive a confirmation mail. You can then collect your work visa from the embassy. 

At Visa Application Centres (VAC)

1. Visit the website of the embassy outsourced VAC as per the jurisdiction. 
2. Fill out the application form manually with a blue or black ink pen, and in capital letters. Mention the purpose of the visit as ‘work’.
3. Contact the call centre of the VAC and proceed to book an appointment for the application submission. 
4. Along with the application form, documents, and the fees, attend the appointment slot.
5. Submit the application and pay the fees at the VAC. 
6. You will receive an email with a reference number within 2-3 days. 
7. Send the reference number to your employer in Turkey. 
8. Your employer in Turkey will have to apply to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) in Turkey for the work permit within 10 days of receiving the reference number.
9. If approved, you will receive a confirmation mail. You can then collect your work visa from the VAC.

To be able to apply for the work permit, you must meet the following criteria - 

• You must be living in India while lodging the application. If you are living on a residence permit in another nation, you will have to apply to the respective authority there.
• You must hold a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry in the country. 
• You must be invited by a company in Turkey to join them for work.
• You must possess an employment/job contract.

As per the Turkey work visa requirements from India, the following are the list of documents you must possess for the work visa application. However, note that the documentation requirements may slightly vary based on the Turkish mission you are applying to.

• Fully filled and signed application form.
• 2 photos as per the specifications. 
• Invitation letter from the Turkish company. 
• Employment/job contract. 
• Confirmed flight tickets. 
• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC).

As per the Turkey work visa photo requirements, the photos to be submitted must meet the following conditions - 

• 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Thin framed and prescription glasses only
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

It takes around 4 working days for the embassy to issue your reference number. However, it can depend on the volume of applications at the embassy/consulate, your previous travel history, the authenticity of your documents, and so on. Once you get the reference number, your Turkish employer should apply to the MLSS within 10 days. The confirmation from the MLSS may take up to 30 days. As a result, ensure that you apply well in advance. 

The fees for the work permit includes the Entry Visa Fee, Work Permit Certificate Fee and the Residence Fee as the work permit is like a residence permit. The fee may also vary upon the foreign exchange rates as well. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting your application.

Once you have made the application, it will be processed accordingly. Even if you have applied at a VAC, the work visa application is forwarded to the embassy/consulate for the processing. The VAC has no influence regarding the processing. Once you have received confirmation from the MLSS in Turkey, you can collect the passport directly from the mission/VAC or you can have the VAC deliver it to you for an additional charge. The jurisdiction of the Turkish missions in India are as follows - 

• Turkish Embassy in New Delhi - If your state of residence* is Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
• Turkish Consulate in Mumbai - If your state of residence is Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar, Lakshadweep Islands
• Turkish Consulate in Hyderabad - If your state of residence is Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.

*   - State of residence refers to the state where you have been residing for the past 6 months.

There are multiple ways in which you can check the status of your work visa application depending upon your mode of application. 

Embassy - If you have applied at the embassy/consulate, you can track your application status by clicking here and entering your reference number and passport number. 

VAC - If you have applied at a VAC, you can check the status here. Alternately, you can call or email the VAC to know the status.

You can also contact the travel agency you have applied through, to check the status.

Once you receive your work visa, you must keep in mind the following few points to ensure that you have a hassle-free journey -

 Before you travel - 

• Note the validity and number of entries mentioned on your visa. You must not stay in the country beyond this period. You must also follow the entry type given. 
• Carry all your travel documents before you travel to the country. 

At the border

• You must show your passport with the visa to the immigration officer. Your entry stamp will be stamped on the passport.
• You may be asked to show the copy of the other documents submitted as part of your application. 
• You may be asked about the basic details of your visit, including details of the Turkish company you will be working for. Ensure that you answer honestly and without any hesitance. 

When you enter Turkey

• Visit the local police office and register for your residence permit within 30 days of your arrival. 
• You must respect the culture and customs of the country, as well as abide by the immigration laws during your stay.