How do I appeal a work permit refusal or cancellation?
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.
The appeal pathway has three stages, all set by Law 6735 Article 21.
1. Formal notification. Decisions are notified under Tebligat Kanunu (Notification Law 7201) — to the employer for employed workers, or directly to the foreigner for Bağımsız, Süresiz, or Turkuaz Kart holders.
2. Administrative objection. You can file an itiraz to the Ministry within 30 days of notification.
3. Judicial review. If the objection is rejected, you can pursue review in administrative court (idari yargı).
Watch-outs
- The 30-day window starts from the date of formal notification, not the date you informally heard about the decision. The notification slip carries the operative date.
- Save the notification slip with its date stamp. It's the proof of when the clock started — losing it is losing your appeal window.
- Administrative court review runs on its own time limits and procedures. Work with a Turkish lawyer for that stage; it isn't a self-service path.
Next step
If you receive a refusal or cancellation, contact a Turkish immigration lawyer within the first week. Don't wait until day 28 to start preparing the objection — preparing in a panic is how appeals get refused on procedural grounds.
All sources (2)
- Resmî Gazete — Law 6735, Art. 21 ↗
- Resmî Gazete — Law 7201 (Tebligat Kanunu)
Hear from someone who’s done this
Related
Was this clear?