Türkiye · Business / Startup
Türkiye Independent work permit
Independent work permit (self-employed)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Independent work permit is a business / startup route for Türkiye. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Independent work permits are issued for a limited period and can be extended.
Permanent residenceAfter 8 years of residence
A work permit also serves as the residence permit; a permanent work permit needs a long-term residence permit or 8 years of legal work permits in Türkiye.
ProcessingUp to 30 days
Applications are evaluated within thirty days when complete.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply from abroad through a Turkish embassy or consulate in a two-stage process, or domestically through the e-Izin system.
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The foreigner works on their own account, not tied to an employer.
- Assessment covers education, professional experience and contribution to science and technology.
- Assessment also covers the economic and employment impact of the activity or investment, including capital share.
When you become tax resident
How Türkiye decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
Income tax residence is separate from immigration status.
- Foreign-source income
New-resident relief (20 years)
Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years.
- Special regime
Foreign-source income exemption · 0% tax
All tax rules for Türkiye Tax records checked
Full official text
Work permit not tied to an employer that lets the foreigner work on their own account, assessed on education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, and economic and employment impact of the activity or investment, including capital share. 1
Requirements
- The foreigner works on their own account, not tied to an employer. 1
- Assessment covers education, professional experience and contribution to science and technology. 1
- Assessment also covers the economic and employment impact of the activity or investment, including capital share. 1
Stay
- Issued for a limited period.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work on own behalf and account.
Official sources
- Work permit FAQ: temporary, independent and permanent work permits · Ministry of Labour and Social Security · checked 2026-10-11
Independent work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent work permit | – | – | – |
| Business contacts residence | Needs income of TRY 28k+ a month ≈ $570 | 2 yr, renewable | No |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Independent work permit?
Issued for a limited period.
How long does the Independent work permit take to process?
Applications are evaluated within thirty days when complete.
Can I work on the Independent work permit?
Work on own behalf and account.
Does the Independent work permit lead to permanent residence in Türkiye?
Time on the Independent work permit counts toward permanent residence in Türkiye, which the rules allow after 8 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Independent work permit holders in Türkiye?
Foreign-source income exemption for new tax residents (Income Tax Law repeated Art. 20/D): Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Foreign-source income exemption for new tax residents (Income Tax Law repeated Art. 20/D)
0% tax
Details
- On: Foreign-source income and gains (kazanç ve iratlar) earned outside Türkiye
- Who: Natural person treated as resident in Türkiye on or after 1 January 2026
Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income and gains (kazanç ve iratlar) earned outside Türkiye.
Who it applies to
- Natural person treated as resident in Türkiye on or after 1 January 2026 (domicile in Türkiye or staying continuously more than six months in a calendar year, Art. 3-4).
- No domicile and no tax liability in Türkiye during the three calendar years before becoming resident.
- Earlier Türkiye-source rental, securities income or capital gains liability does not prevent the exemption; a salary or business taxed in Türkiye in those three years does.
- An exemption certificate must be obtained from the tax office: the application is due by the end of the calendar year in which the person becomes resident, or by the end of February of the next year for those who become resident in November or December. A late application is refused.
Exclusions
- Income earned in Türkiye is not covered.
- Costs and expenses of exempt income are not deductible; foreign taxes paid on exempt income cannot be credited against Turkish income tax.
- No annual return is filed for the exempt income; the exemption is lost with retroactive tax if the conditions were not met.
Tax residence
Applies from 1 January 2026 to persons who become resident; added by Law 7582 of 21 May 2026, published 4 June 2026. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance sets procedures.
Visas
Tax residence arises from presence or domicile, not from a particular residence permit.
Other taxes
Social security, VAT and local taxes are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Türkiye
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 1 official source. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Work permit FAQ: temporary, independent and permanent work permits · Ministry of Labour and Social Security · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.