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Written Agreements

Turkey's labor law does not mandate the conclusion of all employment contracts in writing. However, the written form is required for employment contracts with a fixed duration of 1 year or more. Employers and employees are free to choose the type of contract that they wish to conclude. In cases where no written contract has been made, the employer must provide a written document to the employee specifying the following information: general and special conditions of work, daily or weekly work hours, basic wage and any other benefits, frequency of remuneration, duration of the contract (if it is a fixed-term contract) as well as conditions concerning contract termination. This statement must be provided within 2 months of concluding the contract.

Oral Agreements

Turkey's labor law offers no specific guidance on oral employment contracts. The law does not mandate the conclusion of all employment contracts in writing. However, the written form is required for employment contracts with a fixed duration of 1 year or more.

Additionally, the law requires that when the contract is not made in writing, the employer must provide a written document to the employee specifying the following information: general and special conditions of work, daily or weekly work hours, basic wage, and any other benefits, frequency of remuneration, duration of the contract (if it is a fixed-term contract) as well as conditions concerning contract termination. This statement must be provided within 2 months of concluding the contract.

Implied Agreements

Turkish law enforces contracts in both explicit and implicit terms. Furthermore, when there is no requirement for clear acceptance due to the nature of the work or the law, agreement to the terms of the contract will be implied. Therefore, the conduct or omissions of the parties to a contract can create obligations without the existence of an agreement.

Turkey's labor law defines the standard workweek as 45 hours. Employees working more than these hours are eligible for overtime. Unless the employment contract stipulates otherwise, working time is to be divided equally by the number of days worked in a week at the organization.

Provided that the parties have so agreed, working time may be divided differently among the days of the week worked on the condition that the daily working time does not exceed 11 hours. In this case, within a time period of 2 months, the employee's average weekly working time shall not exceed 45 hours.

This average period of 2 months may be increased to 4 months by collective agreement.

Republic Day - October 29 (National Holiday); New Year’s Day - January 1; May Day - May 1

National Sovereignty and Children’s Day - April 23; Atatürk's Commemoration and Youth and Sports Day - May 19; Victory Day - August 30; Ramadan Feast - 3.5 days leave (Dates subject to change every year); Feast of Sacrifice - 4.5 days leave (Dates subject to change every year).

Turkey's labor code allows for the use of a probationary period in employment contracts. The maximum duration of the probationary period is 2 months but it can be extended to 4 months by collective agreement. During the probationary period, both parties are free to terminate the contract without a notice period or severance. An employee’s entitlement to wages and other rights for the days worked are preserved.

Notice Period

Turkey's Labor Act states that before terminating a continual employment contract made for an indefinite period, the terminating party must serve a notice to the other party. The minimum duration of the notice period depends on the employee's length of service as follows:

• For employees who have worked for less than 6 months, the notice period is 2 weeks
• For employees who have worked for more than 6 months but less than 1.5 years, the notice period is 4 weeks
• For employees who have worked for more than 1.5 years but less than 3 years, the notice period is 6 weeks
• For employees who have worked for more than 3 years, the notice period is 8 weeks

These are minimum periods and may be increased by agreement between the parties. The party who fails to observe the notice period must pay compensation equivalent to the wages corresponding to the notice period's duration. The employer may terminate the employment contract by paying the wages corresponding to the term of notice in advance.

Severance Benefits

Per Turkish labor law, an employee becomes eligible for severance pay if they have completed at least 1 year of service with their employer. Where an employer has dismissed an employee and has given an advance notice period, the employee is eligible to receive severance pay. If an employee terminates the contract by resignation, they will not be eligible for severance pay.

Severance pay is calculated as 1 month's gross wages for each year of employment, subject to a statutory ceiling of TRY 41,828.42 (Turkish lira) for the period between July and December 2024. Employers must also pay out any unused annual leave to employees upon termination.

Minimum Wage

Effective January 1, 2025, Turkey's monthly gross minimum wage is TRY 26,005.50. The net monthly minimum wage after taxes and deductions is TRY 22,104.67 per month. The total cost for an employer per employee is TRY 30,621.48 per month, which includes SSI premium (15.5%) and employer unemployment insurance premium (2%).

The minimum wages of underground workers employed in the fields where lignite (soot coal) and hard coal (coal) are removed cannot be less than twice the statutory minimum wage.

Overtime, Holiday & Vacation Pay

According to Turkey's labor code, any work done beyond the standard 45 hours per week is considered overtime. The wages for overtime work are equal to 150% of the normal hourly rate. If the employee chooses, they can take time off of 1.5 hours for every overtime hour worked, instead of compensation. Total overtime work done is limited to 270 hours a year. No overtime is allowed for night work or for those working in mines.

If the employee who has worked overtime so wishes, rather than receiving overtime pay, they may receive time off in the amount of 1.5 hours for each hour of overtime worked. The employee shall use this time off within 6 months, within their working hours, and without any deductions to their wages.

Employees are entitled to their normal wages while on annual leave. If employees work instead of observing a national day or public holiday, they are entitled to 200% of their normal daily wages.

Visas

The following visa categories are granted by Turkey:

Tourist or Businessperson Visas

• Touristic Visit
• Single Transit
• Double Transit
• Business Meeting/Commerce
• Conference/Seminar/Meeting
• Festival/Fair/Exhibition
• Sportive Activity
• Cultural Artistic Activity
• Official Visit
• Visit to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Official Visas

• Assigned for Duty
• Courier

Student or Education Visas

• Internship Visa
• Internship ERASMUS
• Internship AISEC
• Turkish Language Course Purpose
• Course Purpose
• Education Purpose
• Education in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Working Visas

• Employment Purpose/Special Employment Purpose
• Assigned Lecturers/Academics
• Assigned Sportsperson
• Assigned Artists
• Assigned Free Zone Workers
• Assigned Journalists
• Montage and Repairman Purposes

Other Visas

• Archeological Excavation, Exploration Purpose
• Documentary Purpose
• Tour Operator Representative
• Medical Treatment Purposes
• Accompaniment Purpose
• Family Unification Purpose
• Freight Visa
• Seafarer Visa

Work Permits

Foreign nationals who wish to work in Turkey are required to obtain a work permit. A work permit for fixed-term employment is granted for 1 year. After this duration, the permit can be extended to 3 years and 6 years thereafter as long as the employee works for the same employer and in the same profession.

Indefinite-period work permits are also issued to foreigners who have stayed uninterruptedly in Turkey for 8 years or to those who are nationals of countries with which Turkey has signed an agreement for indefinite work permits. Foreigners who wish to work in Turkey independently can obtain a work permit if they have stayed in Turkey legally and uninterruptedly for at least 5 years.

To obtain a work permit, foreign employees can apply to the Republic of Turkey consulates in their country of residence. The consulates forward applications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants the permit if an application meets requirements.