Hiring Employees in Turkey: 2026 Guide
SGK registration, employment contracts, work permits for foreign staff and the key deadlines for your Turkish company.
The key points
Core rules of Turkish labor law for employers.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Trial period | maximum 2 months, extendable to up to 4 months via collective agreement |
| Weekly working hours | 45 hours, maximum 11 hours per day |
| Notice period | staggered by tenure, 2 to 8 weeks |
| Foreign employee ratio | generally 5 Turkish employees per foreign employee, with exceptions above certain revenue/capital thresholds |
| Work permit portal | e-İzin (Ministry of Labour), not to be confused with e-İkamet for residence permits |
| Turquoise Card | indefinite status after a 3-year transition period, apply for conversion within the final 180 days |
How to hire your first team
Six steps from registration to ongoing filing.
Check SGK registration
For capital companies (LTD, A.Ş.), employer registration with the SGK social security system happens automatically through the trade registry entry.
Draft the employment contract
Written form is mandatory for fixed-term contracts and contracts of one year or longer, in practice it's advisable for every contract.
File the İşe Giriş Bildirgesi
The SGK notification for the new employee must be filed before the start of employment.
Work permit for foreign employees
For non-Turkish employees, the employer applies for the permit via the e-İzin system, processing usually takes about a month.
Set up payroll & monthly filing
The combined payroll tax and SGK filing (MUHSGK) runs monthly through your Mali Müşavir.
Keep the ratio & deadlines in view
The foreign-employee ratio, minimum wage and severance ceiling change regularly, your partner keeps you up to date.
Frequently asked questions about hiring employees
Does a non-operating shareholder need their own work permit?
Non-managing shareholders who don't reside in Turkey generally don't need a work permit. Managing or resident partners are subject to different rules, we clarify this case by case with a licensed partner.
How does the 5:1 rule for foreign employees work?
Generally a company must employ 5 Turkish staff per foreign employee. Exceptions apply above certain revenue or capital thresholds, these thresholds change and should be checked case by case with a partner.
Does the employment contract need to be in Turkish?
Not strictly required, but for legal certainty before Turkish authorities and courts a Turkish version is common practice and advisable, often bilingual.
How much is severance pay (kıdem tazminatı)?
Severance is calculated based on years of service and capped at a maximum amount that's adjusted twice a year. Your licensed partner confirms the current figure.
How long does a work permit take?
Processing through the e-İzin system usually takes about a month, depending on document completeness and the authority's workload.
At what point does direct employment make more sense than an Employer of Record?
For a first employee or two, an Employer of Record can be practical, as the team grows your own structure usually pays off. We help you assess the right timing for your case.
Keep reading
Ready to build your team in Turkey?
We coordinate SGK registration, employment contracts and work permits with a licensed partner on the ground.