Job Discussion Forums

[justme]

Anyone know the deal with marriage to a Turkish citizen and work/residence permits? I can't get clear or consistent answers from any Turk anywhere, and believe me, I've tried.

I gather I get a residence permit for being married-- do I have to renew it every year? I have no intention of taking Turkish citizenship, so does that mean I must still renew my work visa every year as well?

Are there any good online sources of information about this, either in Turkish or English? The consulate isn't particularly helpful, and I found an Emniyet website, but there's no link to the Yabancı section...

Any help would be appreciated!

[Faustino]

If you get married to a Turk you can get a five-year residence permit. You need to get the correct paperwork after marriage, of course.

[ImanH]

As I understand, with the change of laws last year, one is entitled to a residence permit for one year initially and then it is renewed for three years following that. Despite that I got 2 years and 9 months on my first permit (I have no idea why or how). Faustino, how did you manage a 5 year residence permit?
My husband recently called various ministries to try to establish precisely what the situation is re work permits. Finally we were told (by the Ministry of Finance and also YOK) that if one is married to a Turkish citizen one's employer still has to apply for a work permit but it is automatically given if the individual is married to a Turkish citizen - i.e. rather than one's employer having to demonstrate that a Turkish person cannot do the job (which in any case is less of an issue for EFL) no such constraints apply.
This is what we were told on 17 December 2004, by two different sources. I am not an EFL teacher so my situation is slightly different but I assume the situation is even easier if you are an EFL teacher (there are limits on the number of foreign lecturers state universities can employ, for example, and I believe foreign medics are not allowed to work in Turkey at all).
I'm a wee bit sceptical until I go through the process of trying to get a work permit myself but that's to the best of my knowledge now.

[gelin]

I suggest you talk to your consulate or embassy and they should be able to help you more than the Turkish officials. You'll get a straight answer at least.

[justme]

Thanks all for your suggestions. My husband is taking my papers to the Emniyet today to change the information on my residence permit (bit of a snafu, that, after the Evlendirme Dairesi lost our marriage papers), so maybe I'll know more after he does that...

I talked to a few people at the Consulate, but they pretty much try to avoid answering questions about the Turkish side of things-- I can't say I blame them, given how it seems to change hourly...