Internship Visa / Work Permit Exemption

Conditions you must meet

• Passport valid at least 60 days beyond the visa’s duration of staySet by Article 7.1b of Law no. 6458. This is a validity margin ON TOP of the stay, not six months from arrival — the authority works both examples through on the page.

  As of 1 January 2015, in accordance with the article 7.1b of “the Law on Foreigners and International Protection” no. 6458, foreigners wishing to enter Türkiye should carry a travel document (passport) with an expiration date at least 60 days beyond the “duration of stay” of their visa, e-Visa, visa exemption, or residence permit.

• Maximum 90 days of stay within any 180 daysBinding on all foreigners, whether they travel on a visa or a visa exemption.

  The length of stay provided by visa or visa exemption cannot exceed 90 days within each 180 days. The regulation of 90 days of stay within the last 180 days is binding for all foreigners that will travel to Türkiye.

• A visa does not guarantee entryStated by the authority in its own words.

  The visas submitted to foreigners do not guarantee absolute rights of entry to Türkiye.

• Staying longer than 90 days requires a short-term residence permitA consular visa cannot exceed 90 days in any category; a longer stay is a separate application to the provincial migration directorate.

  In all types of visa applications, Turkish consular offices may issue visas with a maximum duration of stay of 90 days. The foreigners who wish to stay longer than 90 days in Türkiye, should apply for “Short Term Residence Permit” at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration in order to extend their residence.

• A private internship outside Article 55 needs a work permitThe default, stated before the exemptions.

  Applicants need to obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security pursuant to the Law numbered 4817 for private internship applications outside the provisions set forth in the Article 55 "Work Permit Exemption" title of Law Enforcement Regulation about Working Permits of Foreigners.

• Article 55 defines who is exempt and for how longThe authority’s framing of the list that follows.

  Article 55 of the Law Enforcement Regulation on Working Permits of Foreigners no. 4817 regulating working permit exemptions, the extent and the lengths of time the foreigners are exempt from working permit are stated. Those who meet the requirements below do not need to obtain a work permit.

• Exempt: scientific, cultural or artistic visits under one month; sport under four monthsOne clause, two different limits. Quoting either alone would give the wrong ceiling to the other group.

  the foreigners holding permanent residences abroad and wishing to visit Türkiye temporarily with purposes of scientific studies, cultural and artistic activities for a period shorter than a month and with the aim of sporting activities for a period less than four months,

• Exempt: installing, maintaining or repairing imported machinery — three months in a year, and it must be evidencedThe three-month ceiling is measured from the date of entry and the traveller carries the burden of proving it.

  For the purpose of installation, maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment imported to Türkiye, providing training for their utilization or transporting of defective equipment from Türkiye and provided that they do not exceed the total stay of three months within a year as of the date of entry into Türkiye and verify this condition with the documents that they will submit, the ones coming to Türkiye,

• Exempt: entertainers and performers at fairs and circuses — six monthsScoped by the authority to activity OUTSIDE certificated tourism establishments.

  Being an entertainer, performer and etc. in charge at fair and circuses which are going to carry out activities outside the borders of certificated tourism establishments and provided that they do not exceed six months as of the date of entry into Türkiye and verify this condition with the documents that they will submit, the ones in Türkiye

• Exempt: study visits to state institutions and universities — up to two yearsLimited to the period of study, and evidenced by documents.

  On condition that it does not exceed two years and it will be limited to the period of study, the foreigners coming to state institutions and organizations together with the universities so as to enhance their information and good manners by verifying their state via the documents that they will submit,

• The exemption can be used once per calendar year, and only three months after the last permit expiredThe sting in the tail of Article 55, and the reason a second short assignment in the same year needs a work visa.

  Within the scope of article 55, residence permits of the foreigners coming to Türkiye are given as “Short Term" residence permits by Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration. Exemption periods cannot be extended, the foreigners under this provision can make use of exemption rules only once within one calendar year. However, it is required that it must have been three months as of the expiry date of the residence permit granted to the foreigner with the same purpose in order to exercise this right. In case of the need of working longer than the exemption period allows, the foreigner has to obtain a work visa through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Documents you must provide

• Medical insurance valid for the whole stayRequired of all applicants, not of a particular route.

  All applicants are required to have a medical insurance that will be valid during their stay in Türkiye.

• Applicants under 18: written approval from BOTH parentsThe authority names the exceptions itself — divorce with proven custody, or a deceased parent — and they are quoted in the same sentence rather than dropped.

  Any applicant under the age of 18 must submit official written approvals from both parents. For those applicants who certify that their parents are officially divorced and prove the parent holding their custody as well as for those with one parent deceased, visas may be issued in accordance with their purpose of visit.

Government fees

• Visa fees are not refunded if the application is rejectedThe authority states this without qualification.

  Visa fees are not refundable in cases where applications are rejected

VisaAI suggestions

Not required by the authority. These are VisaAI’s suggestions for presenting a clearer application.

• Apply at least one month before travelThe authority’s own recommendation, stated as a processing-delay precaution.

  In order to avoid inconveniences that may be caused by delays in processing, it is recommended to apply for visas at least one month in advance before the planned travel.