Who is eligible for an indefinite (Süresiz) work permit in Türkiye?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
Foreigners in Türkiye who meet one of the following can apply for a Süresiz Çalışma İzni: hold a long-term residence permit (Uzun Dönem İkamet İzni), or have at least 8 years of legal work-permit history in Türkiye.
Important: meeting the criteria doesn't grant an absolute right. The Ministry of Labour (CSGB) decides on the merits of each application. Eligibility is the door; the decision sits inside.
Süresiz holders enjoy most rights of Turkish citizens — with social-security carve-outs — except the right to vote, stand for election, hold public office, or serve in the military.
Watch-outs
- "Legal work-permit history" means continuous, properly renewed permits. Gaps reset the clock — and the gap doesn't have to be long to count.
- Even with 10 years of history, CSGB can decline if your application doesn't otherwise meet policy criteria. The 8-year threshold is necessary but not sufficient.
- Uzun Dönem residence and Süresiz work are different doors to similar status. The residence-permit route is sometimes faster than the work-permit route depending on your trajectory.
Next step
Confirm eligibility by reviewing your permit history — request the report from CSGB if you don't have your own records — before applying. The application is paperwork-heavy; not eligible means rejection at the door.
All sources (1)
- CSGB — Law 6735 (Uluslararası İşgücü Kanunu) ↗
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