Does a work permit also serve as my residence permit in Türkiye?
General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes decisions, confirm with the official institution in the next-step below, or consult a qualified Turkish lawyer.
Pending expert review. This fact is sourced but has not yet been reviewed by an independent legal expert. Treat as a starting point.
It depends on which type of work permit you hold.
Yes — replaces the residence permit: Süreli (time-limited), Süresiz (indefinite), Bağımsız (independent), and Turkuaz Kart. Holders can travel between Turkish provinces without a separate yol izin belgesi.
No — doesn't replace the residence permit: work permits issued to holders of Geçici Koruma (temporary protection), Uluslararası Koruma Başvuru Sahibi (international protection applicant), or Şartlı Mülteci (conditional refugee) status. The card explicitly states this on its back — in Turkish and Arabic for Geçici Koruma, Turkish and English for Uluslararası Koruma.
Watch-outs
- If your protection status (Geçici Koruma etc.) is ended by the Interior Ministry, your work permit becomes invalid too. There is no automatic conversion to a standard work permit; you re-apply from scratch under the new basis.
- Holders of protection-based work permits who work outside their registered province need a yol izin belgesi (travel permit). Get it from e-Devlet or your İl Göç İdaresi Müdürlüğü.
Next step
Check the back of your work permit card. If it reads "ikamet izni yerine geçmez," you need a separate residence permit. Otherwise, the work permit alone is sufficient for both.
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