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Can International Students Work in Turkey?
International students who are enrolled in formal graduate programs, who are not receiving state scholarships during their study, such as; Master’s or Ph.D. program in a higher education institution in Turkey can apply for a student work permit in Turkey and after obtaining a work permit from the authorities, can legally work in Turkey.
Our experienced legal firm in Turkey can help you with this regard.
International students who are enrolled in a degree or any other undergraduate program can apply for a work permit in Turkey at the end of the first year in the university. To apply for a work permit in Turkey, firstly, an international student must find a job in Turkey.
After finding a job, their future employer will apply for a work permit in Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey is responsible for setting the standard principles as well as the procedures that will govern the employment of these foreign students. They will decide based on these principles as well as the guidelines that are set by the Immigration Policies Committee.
Are International Students Eligible for Work Permit in Turkey?
International students who want to obtain a student work permit in Turkey must have a valid student residence permit for at least six months in total for them to apply for a work permit, otherwise, they cannot apply for a student work permit in Turkey. Obtaining a work permit will not terminate an international student’s valid student residence permit.
An international student who completes his/her higher education in Turkey can apply for a work permit within one year of their graduation date even if they are graduated from the university.
Unfortunately, undergraduate international students cannot obtain work permits in Turkey, even if they apply for a work permit.
Work Permit Only Grants You to Work At The Company You Are Employed At
If you decide to leave your job and start working at a different company or business, then you will have to apply for a work permit in Turkey once again from the new company or business you will start to work with. To sum it up, a work permit only allows you to work at the company you have been employed from.
Once you gain a work permit in Turkey, you will be allowed to reside in Turkey, you will not need to apply for a residence permit in Turkey. But if you only have a residence permit in Turkey, it will not allow you to work in Turkey.
Related Article: How Long Does it Take to Obtain a Student Visa in Turkey?
