Job Discussion Forums

[The Steakinator]

Does anyone have any idea what the current waiting time is for a Turkish work visa (for a uni job, if that makes a difference)? I've heard 6-8 weeks, but does anyone have personal experience with this?

[gator07]

I filed for my work visa (uni work) from the U.S. and it took about 3-4 weeks to be sent to me. Then once I was in Turkey it took another 3 weeks or so to get my residency permit. That was about 4 years ago so I don't know if things have changed but I found the process to be really simple and quick.

[krcal25]

I don't know how it works if you're applying while still outside Turkey, but once you are here it can take some time. You first have to get your residency visa which takes a few weeks, then once all the required documents are translated and your residency visa is notarized the work permit process can start. I've been told from that point it takes a minimum of 8 weeks. I haven't got mine yet, it's been about 3 weeks, but the veteran teachers at my school have all got theirs in years previous, so I know it will come through. Last school I worked at in Turkey dragged their heels and it never came through, so it depends on the school.

[Larryj917]

Any updates to this discussion? I've been waiting for about 6 weeks.
My school says they're keeping my job for me, but I'm starting to get nervous.

[citadel]

I just got a notice from the Turkish consulate in New York and I am far from pleased.
I have to show up in person, which is costly since I live near Miami and then have to pick it up in 8 weeks. That would be two trips to NYC, plus 400 USD fee.

Is there anything wrong here? Does not sound right to me at all.

[londone7]

what is the process/required documents for a work visa? first you get a residence permit before you can get a work visa?

I'm reading 6-8 wks and in other threads people are claiming they keep your original BA degree and Tesol/Celta

I want to keep my original documents in my possession at all times, I'm happy to give them notarized copies and sealed transcripts.

Do I need a criminal check from back home?

[Larryj917]

They don't need originals of your documents, and don't let anyone sell you that bill of goods. Copies were good enough for me. I didn't need a criminal check, although I suppose that could vary with your school.

[contented]

I gave my original documents and they were photocopied and returned all in 5 minutes. I didn't need a criminal background check either.

[Lev]

First time you get it, you have to go to your country of origin to get it. After that you can get it renewed here.
Waiting times here have been pretty long though for the last couple of years. You can check what the appointment schedules are like at https://e-randevu.iem.gov.tr/yabancilar/dil_sec.aspx although your uni should sort out that side of things for you.

A couple of friends have had problems with late renewals. They were leaving the country for holidays, previous visas/ permits had expired and new ones hadn't come through yet. Both were deported and had a one month ban on reentry

[wander&teach]

It all depends on your schools influence with the local authorities, the Foreign Police Department, and the ambition of the schools H.R. staff. The bigger the better. In one school H.R. escorted us (teachers and family members) to the various official offices in a private van and we were whisked past the waiting room full of applicants into a private room to sort out the paperwork. 3 weeks later all was good.

[Kim Macintosh]

Any current experience, details or thoughts here?

It appears the residency business is now irrelevant, except as a vulnerability if you get caught working on it.

So it's now a matter of first getting a work permit as a work visa percolates through the system (?). Any special links or description/timing of the current steps?

[JohnRambo]

Typically, what's the process in Turkey when you get an offer in terms of the paperwork needed? In Korea, you need a copy of your diploma that's apostilled, an FBI check that's apostilled, your resume, a copy of your passport, some photos, and a signed contact.

[Kim Macintosh]

Here's link to a Life in Turkey forum which goes into this stuff in reassuring detail.

http://www.turkeycentral.com/topic/18168-article-how-to-get-a-work-visa-to-work-in-turkey/

The trouble is that the law will change in about a month, AND, at least at this time, procedures vary from province to province.

With the new procedures, applying for the Work PERMIT (not visa) from within the country, it appears you get a Residence Permit from local municipality (as described above, more or less) while the Work Permit wends its way through Anakara (and this is something your school needs to contend with). Your RP, a little "Blue Book" will specify "no right to work." But when the Work Permit is approved your local police will then endorse the BB with "right to work."

At least this appears to be the case as I am now working the system.

[JohnRambo]

[Kim Macintosh]

There is a separate procedure for applying for the WP before entering the company, and officially this is recommended and "usual", when you think of a multinational arranging one for a mgr, or what have you. You'll find people referring to having gone through that procedure and it is nothing if not onerous.

However, for TEFL instructors and others already in-country, the above more or less hold, and it isn't all that tough. Universities follow a variation of proper WP documentation developed especially for them, the responsibility typically being assuming by competent HR departments.

Wisdom is that upwards of 95% of journeymen English teachers get a simple RP and work illegally for a many years as they can afford ($300-$1000 month, depending on the cost of living). The fines/deportation ramifications of being caught are non-trivial, but I haven't heard of a case of the hammer coming down on anyone, at least not recently.