Who can get a Bağımsız (independent) work permit?
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.
Bağımsız çalışma izni can be issued to foreigners who plan to work for themselves — not under an employer — in Türkiye, and who meet the international workforce policy criteria. Evaluation runs on five dimensions: education level, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, economic and employment impact of the activity or investment in Türkiye, and capital share (for foreign company shareholders).
Applications are evaluated by Uluslararası İşgücü Politikası Danışma Kurulu's guidance and Ministry-defined additional criteria. The rule is in Implementation Regulation 6735 Article 29.
Watch-outs
- Bağımsız is not automatic for self-employed foreigners. It's an evaluation-heavy category with a real refusal rate.
- Many self-employed paths actually use Süreli permits under specific corporate structures — workplace ownership plus işyeri açma ruhsatı. See work-09 for that route.
- The right choice between Bağımsız and Süreli-via-owned-company depends on your structure and tax planning. Discuss with a Turkish business consultant before committing.
Next step
If considering Bağımsız, prepare a portfolio — education, professional experience, planned investment, projected economic impact — before submitting. A weak portfolio is the most common refusal reason.
All sources (1)
- Resmî Gazete — Implementation Regulation 6735, Art. 29 ↗
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