From 17 September 2026, Türkiye's Ministry of Labour and Social Security accepts work permit exemption (çalışma izni muafiyeti) applications only through its updated system at calismaizni.csgb.gov.tr. Applications filed before that date continue to be tracked in the previous e-Muafiyet system (emuafiyet.csgb.gov.tr). Here is what the exemption is, who qualifies, and where companies bringing in foreign specialists most often go wrong.
An exemption is not "no paperwork needed"
The main misunderstanding: a work permit exemption does not mean a foreign national can work without any formalities. Under the law (Law 6735, Article 13), a foreign national covered by an exemption may work only once that exemption has been issued. It is a separate ministry document which, for its period of validity, grants the right to work and stay in Türkiye without a full work permit and without a separate residence permit.
Who qualifies
The list of grounds is closed and set by the Implementing Regulation of the International Workforce Law: applications outside it are rejected. Typical cases include short-term provision of services and scientific, cultural and artistic activities. For businesses the most common scenario is technical: installation, maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment imported into Türkiye, training on its use, taking delivery of equipment, or repairing vehicles that broke down in Türkiye. On these grounds the exemption is granted for up to three months in total.
Time limits and fees
Conditions and the permitted period depend on the applicant's category. Applications for three months or longer are assessed by the ministry, which issues an exemption document. For exemptions of up to three months, no fee or document charge applies; for longer periods a fee is payable. From abroad, the application is filed through the Turkish consulate in the country of citizenship or legal residence, and it can also be filed through an authorised intermediary.
When the work goes beyond the exemption
If a foreign national providing cross-border services needs to work in Türkiye for longer than the exemption allows, a full work permit is required, which can be issued for the length of the contract, up to a maximum of three years.
Time under an exemption does not count toward residence
An important detail for anyone planning a longer stay: periods worked under an exemption do not count toward the time periods taken into account for a work permit or residence permit. If the specialist later moves to permanent employment in Türkiye, this period will not count.
Where it goes wrong in practice
A specialist comes for an installation, and the work runs over. Exemptions on technical grounds are capped at three months in total and cannot be extended "along the way" like a visa. If the project is longer, a work permit is needed, and it needs to be arranged in advance.
People arrive "on a tourist visa, just for a week". Working without a permit or without an issued exemption exposes both the employer and the foreign national to administrative fines, and for the foreign national it can be grounds for deportation.
The ground is chosen at random. Exemptions are refused where the activity is outside the closed list or falls within professions reserved by law for Turkish citizens. The right ground needs to be identified before filing, not after a refusal.
What to do now
If you are planning to bring foreign specialists to Türkiye for installation, equipment maintenance, a short-term project or training: check whether the work fits one of the exemption grounds, and assess the timeline. If it fits within three months and a suitable ground, file early through the new system. If not, plan a work permit from the outset.
Official ministry announcement: csgb.gov.tr.
Bringing specialists to Türkiye? We will identify the right ground, check the timelines and file the application through the new system. Contact us.