Quick answer
Company ownership does not automatically grant a Turkish work permit. Learn the 2026 capital, shareholding, employment and application considerations.
Owning shares in a Turkish company does not automatically grant the right to work in Turkey. A foreign shareholder who will actively manage or work for the business generally needs an appropriate work permit, and the Ministry evaluates the application against the current criteria and the facts of the role.
2026 Criteria for a Foreign Company Partner
The Ministry’s evaluation criteria updated on 11 March 2026 state that, for a foreign company partner applying for a work permit, the company’s paid-in capital must be at least TRY 500,000, the foreigner’s capital share amount must be at least TRY 500,000, and the shareholding ratio must be at least 20%. From the beginning of the seventh month of the initial permit, the workplace must employ at least five Turkish citizens each month.
These are evaluation criteria, not an automatic approval promise. Exemptions, qualified foreign direct investment rules and other application categories may change the analysis. Confirm the live official work permit evaluation criteria.
Ownership, Management and Work Are Different Concepts
A passive shareholder, a non-resident board member and a person working day to day in Turkey are not necessarily treated the same. The title in the trade registry does not replace an immigration and labour-law analysis. The role, residence, authority and actual activity should be documented consistently.
Application Planning
- Define the person’s actual role and place of work.
- Confirm whether the application is domestic or from abroad.
- Review company capital, shareholding and employment criteria.
- Prepare corporate and personal evidence.
- Align payroll and social security onboarding with the permit result.
- Track permit duration and extension timing.
See work permit services in Turkey for the application route and company formation in Turkey for the corporate setup. Our overview of work visa and permit types explains the broader categories.
Frequent Planning Errors
- Forming a low-capital company without considering the owner’s future permit route.
- Assuming manager appointment equals permission to work.
- Treating the five-employee test as irrelevant after initial approval.
- Starting payroll before aligning work permission and social security.
- Relying on an old threshold without checking the current Ministry criteria.
Coordinate the Company and Permit Route
Celikel CPA can coordinate the company, payroll and accounting workstreams while the permit application is prepared under the correct route. Request a consultation or review work permit services.
Official Sources
Need practical support in Turkey?
Discuss the accounting, tax, payroll, or company setup implications of your situation with a licensed local professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does company ownership grant a work permit in Turkey?
No. Ownership and work permission are separate. An active foreign owner generally needs a successful work permit application under the applicable criteria.
What shareholding is required for a foreign company partner?
The Ministry’s criteria updated on 11 March 2026 specify at least a 20% share and a foreigner’s capital share amount of at least TRY 500,000, alongside the company capital criterion.
Must the company employ five Turkish citizens immediately?
For the foreign company partner criterion, the Ministry states that five Turkish employees are required each month beginning with the seventh month of the initial permit.
Can the owner apply from outside Turkey?
There is an application route from abroad, while domestic applications have their own eligibility conditions. The correct route depends on residence and current status.
Is approval guaranteed when the numerical criteria are met?
No. The Ministry evaluates the complete application, role, company and applicable legal criteria. Numerical thresholds alone are not an approval guarantee.