Turkic-origin foreigners are assessed in a framework (Law No. 2527) separate from the standard work permit. Presidential Decree No. 10476 (Official Gazette of 10 October 2025, No. 33043) updated this regulation: the Turkic-origin communities within scope are now determined by Presidential decree (Article 2/A), and the work permit application conditions were detailed in 10 items (Article 3). Important: the obligation to apply for a work permit was not removed — on the contrary, it was clarified.
What Is Turkic-Origin Foreigner Status?
Apart from the general order by which Türkiye grants work permits to foreigners (Laws No. 4817 and No. 6735), there is a special legal framework for “Turkic-origin” foreigners: Law No. 2527 — by its full name, the “Law on the Free Exercise of Professions and Crafts by Foreigners of Turkic Origin in Türkiye and Their Employment in Public or Private Institutions, Organizations or Workplaces.”
The aim of this framework is to regulate the ability of foreigners accepted as being of Turkic origin to practise their professions in Türkiye and to be employed, on principles separate from the standard work permit order. That is, this is not a separate permit type but a special assessment regime for a specific group of foreigners. (For the documentation of Turkic-origin status, see also Turkish Ancestry Certificate.)
What Did Decree No. 10476 Change?
Presidential Decree No. 10476, published in Official Gazette No. 33043 of 10 October 2025, amended the regulation on the implementation of Law No. 2527 and entered into force on the date of its publication. Factually, the three main changes are these:
| Article | Change |
|---|---|
| Article 2/A (new) | Which Turkic-origin communities will be within scope is determined by Presidential decree. |
| Article 3 (amended) | The conditions required for a work permit were reorganized as 10 items (e.g. residence permit, professional qualification documents, diploma/document equivalence, security check, foreigners’ registry record, professional-body membership, being from a Turkic-origin community determined by Presidential decree). |
| Article 20 | The phrase “by the Council of Ministers” was changed to “by the President.” |
Source: Official Gazette, 10 October 2025, No. 33043, Presidential Decree No. 10476. This article conveys only the general framework of the legislation in force; it does not contain individual legal interpretation.
Common Misconception: NOT “Work Permit Abolished”
When the decree was published, an impression formed in some content that “the work permit condition for Turkic-origin foreigners has been abolished.” Looking at the text of the legislation, the situation is different: the obligation to apply for a work permit was not removed. On the contrary, the conditions required for the application were increased from 7 to 10 and defined in more detail, and the determination of the communities within scope was tied to a Presidential decree.
The correct framework is this: Turkic-origin foreigners are assessed in their own special regime, different from some general conditions of the standard work permit order (such as workplace-based quotas) — but this does not mean “no permit is required.” An application is made, the conditions are documented, and the process is assessed. Setting up this distinction correctly from the start prevents time lost to wrong expectations.
Who Is in Scope? How Is Scope Determined?
After the decree, this is the most critical question. Article 2/A is clear: which Turkic-origin communities will be within scope is not a general and fixed list, but a matter determined by Presidential decree. Therefore, making a categorical generalization such as “the citizen of such-and-such country is automatically in scope” would not be correct; the scope depends on an official decree and on the person’s situation.
In practice, this requires answering two separate questions for each applicant: (1) Is the person within a Turkic-origin community determined by Presidential decree? (2) Do they meet the other conditions of the regulation (residence, document equivalence, security, etc.)? Both of these doors are individual — so the scope assessment is the most important step before the application.
Process and Documents — What We Do
In this framework, the backbone of the process is correct scope determination + flawless document preparation + follow-up of the application at the relevant authority. The regulation refers to document categories such as residence permit, professional qualification and diploma/document equivalence, security check, foreigners’ registry record and professional-body membership. Which document is required in your situation and how it will be subject to equivalence/approval differs from person to person — so instead of a single “to-do list,” a list specific to your file is drawn up at the initial consultation.
Our role is clear: we carry out the document preparation and process coordination on your behalf; we follow the stages of the application and respond quickly to missing-document requests. For points requiring individual legal interpretation or representation, we refer you to our long-standing partner law office, coordinating both sides from a single point. Thus both the process follow-up and, when needed, the legal side proceed in a single flow. Details: Work Permit Consultancy.