Cansu
Lawyer · Izmir, Turkey
- 209 cases handled · 1 in this service
- 13+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Law, Yeditepe University
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4.96(9 reviews)
Self-Employed Visa in Turkey
Turkey has no visa labelled for the self-employed: people who work for themselves use an independent work permit or a work permit through their own company. English-speaking lawyers explain which route fits.
About Self-Employed Visa in Turkey
A self-employed visa in Turkey (also freelance visa, freelancer visa, entrepreneur visa or self-employed work permit; in Turkish bağımsız çalışma izni) means the permission a foreign national needs to work in Turkey on their own account rather than as someone’s employee. It is meant for freelancers, consultants, professionals and small business owners who want to serve clients in Turkey. It is not the short business visa used for meetings and trade fairs, which some lists also call a business visa.
How it works in Turkey
Turkey does not have a single visa for the self-employed, and there are two usual paths. The first is an independent work permit, decided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı), which weighs education, professional experience, the effect of the activity on the economy and employment and, for a partner in a company, the share held. The second, more common in practice, is to set up a company (şirket kuruluşu) and obtain a work permit as its manager. A valid work permit also serves as a residence permit. The criteria change; a lawyer confirms the current ones.
What to watch for
- Remote work for clients outside Turkey may fit the digital nomad visa better.
- Applications are filed online, and both the person and the company need the right electronic accounts and tax registration.
- Some professions are reserved to Turkish citizens or need recognition of a foreign qualification.
- A company created only to obtain a permit, with no real activity, can lead to a refusal or to problems at renewal.
What a lawyer does
A lawyer looks at the planned activity and suggests the route, sets up or reviews the company together with an accountant, prepares the work permit file and follows the renewals. Related pages: business set-up, business licence application and, after a refusal, visa refusal appeals.
Questions and answers
Does a residence permit allow freelance work in Turkey?
No. A residence permit alone does not allow work. Paid activity in Turkey generally needs a work permit or another status that includes the right to work.
Is the independent work permit easy to get?
It is decided case by case and is not given automatically to everyone who registers a business. A strong professional background and a real activity in Turkey matter.
Is a Turkish partner needed to open a company?
Foreign nationals can generally own a company in Turkey on their own. Some sectors have special rules.
What is the Turquoise Card?
The Turkuaz Kart is a separate scheme for highly qualified people and investors. A lawyer checks whether it is an option.
Is this the same as a Turkish business visa?
No. A business visa covers short trips for meetings and does not allow working in Turkey.
2 lawyers who provide Self-Employed Visa in Turkey
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Mert
Lawyer · Antalya, Turkey
- 43 cases handled
- 11+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Turkish
- Bachelors of Law, Ankara University
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
Talk to a lawyer about Self-Employed Visa
2 registered lawyers provide this service in Turkey. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
We are not just a place to list a profile: we work with every lawyer individually. Each one is registered with a bar association, and their experience, languages and client reviews are shown openly on their card.
Enquiries are answered by lawyers of AdvocateAbroad. This site provides legal information, not legal advice.
What our clients say about our service in Turkey
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The lawyer was very helpful and knowledgeable. Most important to me, he communicated clearly and left no grey area. I appreciate how he follows up, and honestly I find the value for money very convenient. I was completely satisfied with the result.
— Mona13 Jun 2023 -
Working with her is very easy, and for any future needs I will hire her again.
— Fahimeh29 Mar 2021EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Residency Certificate), Turkey -
He has looked after us for several years, always professional and helpful, and his English is excellent. We highly recommend him.
— Shaunagh18 Mar 2021EU Citizen Registration Certificate (Residency Certificate), Turkey -
His service to me was very professional and prompt, and he went out of his way to keep me informed about what he was doing, all in perfect English.
— Alan16 Oct 2023 -
The lawyer went above and beyond in every possible way. Several steps had to be completed in a specific order, and she replied to everything within minutes, every time. She explained it all in perfect detail and advised us on what would give the best chance of success. She was kind and friendly yet professional. She gave us the legal help we needed and also eased our stress, because it felt like having a friend in the country who wanted to help, and we are very satisfied with the outcome.
— Brandon31 Jan 2023Residency Visa, Turkey -
A fast response and excellent advice.
— Elena03 Jan 2023 -
I experienced nothing but the highest level of professionalism and responsiveness from the lawyer. She was always extremely knowledgeable, calm and very responsive, with excellent communication skills in perfect English, and she got things done quickly. I am very grateful for all the help she gave me and would recommend her very highly.
— Michael08 Sep 2022 -
Excellent service. We needed to set up a company in Turkey and get legal support, and they quickly connected us with a lawyer there, with great results.
— Sergio27 Jun 2022 -
The lawyer knows Turkish law extremely well, including the options open to me as a dual Turkish and American citizen living abroad, and I was amazed at how fast she understood my situation. At each stage she laid out the possible next steps, and I never felt stuck or pushed in one direction. Costs were agreed in advance and were very reasonable for the work done. I truly felt she was on my side throughout, and I am completely satisfied with the result. She is extremely friendly and very professional, and I will certainly keep using her for any other legal matter I need handled in Turkey.
— Cheryl28 Apr 2022 -
The lawyer was very professional and responsive. On every matter we discussed she offered solutions drawn from her experience and expertise, and we found that very useful. We are very pleased with how she worked with us, and her English was perfect.
— Mohammed14 Feb 2022 -
He made me feel as if I were his only client, and in my view he went far beyond what was needed to look after my requirements. I felt completely safe in his hands, I am very satisfied with his work, and I count myself lucky to have him as my lawyer. I plan to use his office for as long as I am in Kusadasi.
— Dennis18 Aug 2021EU Residency Visa (Non-EU), Turkey -
The lawyer is great and guided me through the whole process. I am very happy with the help she gave, and her English was flawless. I would certainly recommend her to friends and to anyone who needs a professional with a problem-solving mindset.
— Fabio08 May 2021