How Turkic Citizens Can Work in Turkey Without a Work Permit in 2025
Turkey Simplifies Employment for Citizens of Turkic Countries: What Changed and How to Use It
In October 2025, important legislative changes took effect in Turkey regarding foreigners of Turkic origin. These open up new opportunities for citizens of several countries, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and others.
In this blog we will cover:
📜 What changes have been adopted
🛂 Who can gain the right to work without a permit
✅ How to make use of this in practice
⚠️ What the new law does NOT grant
🔎 And which documents are needed to prove status
📜 What happened: changes in Law No. 2527
Back in 1981, Turkey passed Law No. 2527, allowing persons of Turkic origin to freely engage in professions and trades in Turkey without needing a work permit. However, in practice it was difficult to apply — there was no clear definition of who exactly is a “Turkic foreigner.”
🔔 In October 2025, Decree No. 10476 was published, which:
-
Clearly defines the concept of “Turkic origin”
-
Delegates the power of recognizing the status to the President of Turkey
-
Simplifies access to employment in private and some public institutions
-
Removes the necessity to obtain a standard work permit (çalışma izni)
📌 Source: Official text of the law and its amendments
✅ What is now permitted
Under the new norms:
-
Persons officially recognized as of “Turkic origin” can work in Turkey without a work permit
-
They may work in:
• private companies
• institutions not related to security or intelligence
• carry out entrepreneurial activity -
They are allowed to open sole proprietorships, businesses, hold commercial real estate, sign contracts
🛂 Who can take advantage of the new law
Important: the law does not automatically apply to all citizens of certain countries. The decisive factor is Turkic origin, confirmed by official documents.
📌 Citizens of countries most often mentioned in the context of the law:
-
Kazakhstan
-
Uzbekistan
-
Azerbaijan
-
Kyrgyzstan
-
Turkmenistan
🧬 And also ethnic groups:
-
Uyghurs
-
Crimean Tatars
-
Iraqi Turkmens
-
Ahıska (Meskhetian) Turks
-
Tatar and Bashkir diasporas
-
Gagauz
-
Certain groups from East Turkestan, Xinjiang, etc.
❗️ Important: possessing just the passport of one of those countries does not automatically grant the right to work. You must prove your origin and obtain corresponding recognition by Turkish authorities.
⚠️ What the law does NOT provide
❌ Citizenship of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, etc. does not automatically give the right to work
❌ Visa-free stay (for example, 90 days) is not a work permit
❌ The law does not apply to professions connected with security, military, intelligence and law enforcement
❌ It does not replace diplomas, licenses or professional accreditations — those remain necessary
📋 What must be done to gain the right to work
-
Prove Turkic origin
You must provide official documents:
-
Genealogy (şecere)
-
Nationality in passport, migration card
-
Confirmations from ethnic organizations
-
Decree of the President or decision of Turkish government bodies
-
Obtain residence permit (ikamet izni)
For long-term stay and work you need legal residence status. Without it, even recognized Turkic origin status does not grant the right to work.
-
Submit an application to the Ministry of Labor of Turkey
Through the e‑Devlet system or in person
Attach supporting documents
Await decision and status confirmation
-
Register with professional organizations (if required)
For example, doctors, engineers, lawyers need recognition of their diplomas and registration in relevant chambers
-
Begin legal employment
🕵️♂️ How long does the right to work last?
Once official status is granted, you obtain:
-
the right to work indefinitely, as long as your residence permit is valid
-
if status is lost — the right to work also lapses
🌍 Example: a citizen of Kazakhstan
-
Has a Kazakh passport
-
Obtains residence permit in Turkey
-
Proves origin (e.g. via parents or ethnic certificates)
-
Receives a decision from ministry recognizing Turkic origin
-
Works without a work visa in any field except those restricted by law
📌 Conclusions
🔍 Question | ✅ Answer
Can you work in Turkey without a çalışma izni? | Yes, if you’re recognized as Turkic origin
Is having a Kazakh passport enough? | No, you need proof of origin
How long can you stay visa-free? | Up to 90 days — but that does not grant the right to work
Who decides Turkic origin status? | The President of Turkey / authorized governmental bodies
Can you open a business? | Yes, with recognized status — without requiring a work permit
🤝 Need help?
If you want:
-
To prepare documents
-
To gain status of Turkic origin
-
To apply for residence permit
-
To find a job or open a business in Turkey
— we recommend consulting licensed immigration lawyers in Turkey.
