Work permit for company partners
Work permit for company partners: do you need one?
Choose your role, the company type and where you live.
General assessment; the exact shareholding and employment criteria are set by the Ministry of Labour.
Work permit for company partners in Turkey: when it is needed and how to apply
Work permit for company partners in Turkey is required for foreigners who actively work in or manage a Turkish company. Holding shares alone neither grants nor requires a work permit. If a foreign partner is also an active manager, the company must apply for a work permit for them in the e-İzin system, and the Ministry of Labour checks specific criteria such as minimum shareholding, share value and the employment of Turkish staff.
Work permit for company partners: who needs one?
- Shareholder without management role: no work permit needed; for the stay, a short-term residence permit for business purposes may be considered.
- Partner who actively manages: a work permit for company partners is required.
- Employed foreign manager: a regular work permit under the usual employer criteria.
- Board member of an A.Ş. living abroad: usually no permit, as long as they do not actively work in Turkey.
The deciding factor is not the shareholding but the actual activity in Turkey. Someone who signs contracts, manages staff and works in the company every day is actively working.
Assessment criteria for partners
- Shareholding and share value: under the Ministry’s 2026 assessment principles, the partner should hold at least 20% of the capital with a share value of at least 500,000 TL, or a share worth at least 100,000 USD.
- Turkish employees: for partners this condition is usually checked within a period after the permit is issued, and it matters for the extension.
- Real business activity: actual operations, a business address and a tax history.
- Salary and social security: the declared salary and SGK contributions are checked at extension.
How partners apply
Formation and registration
The company is set up and the partner is published in the trade registry gazette; see foreign-owned company setup.
Appointment as manager
The appointment resolution is registered and published.
Application in e-İzin
The company files the application with company and partner documents.
Decision and social security
After approval, registration with SGK is mandatory.
General steps and documents are explained under work permit application.
Extending a work permit as a partner
The Ministry looks more closely at extensions than at first applications. It checks in particular:
- real business activity and filed tax returns,
- employment of Turkish staff,
- social security contributions paid on the declared salary,
- a timely application within the 60 days before expiry.
Alternatives for foreign partners
- Turquoise Card: for investors and highly qualified people; see Turquoise Card.
- Residence for business purposes: for partners who do not work actively; see types of residence permits.
- Citizenship by investment: through the routes set by law; see Turkish citizenship by investment.
Common mistakes
- Assuming that setting up a company automatically grants a work permit.
- Actively managing the company with a residence permit only and no work permit.
- Not hiring Turkish staff although the extension requires it.
- Declaring a salary but not paying social security contributions.
Work permit for company partners: frequently asked questions
Does setting up a company give me a work permit automatically?
No. The work permit is assessed separately under the criteria of the Ministry of Labour.
Does a shareholder without a management role need a work permit?
No. Only active work in Turkey requires a permit.
Can a manager sign documents without a permit?
Signing as the company’s representative is possible, but active and continuous work in Turkey without a work permit is not.
What is checked at extension?
Real business activity, employment of Turkish staff, social security contributions and tax history.
This guide is based on the official legislation of the Republic of Türkiye and was last updated on .
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for legal advice on a specific case. No particular outcome of any application or proceeding is promised.
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