Introduction
The legislation regarding residence and work permits for foreigners in Turkey is continuously updated in line with migration movements, economic needs, and the dynamics of the labor market. In particular, the increase in the number of foreigners who continue to stay in the country after their visa or residence permit expires, i.e., those commonly referred to as “undocumented,” has increased control and inspection problems for public authorities and has also led to the widespread practice of unregistered employment. To address this problem, a “special regulation for foreigners working in domestic services” came into force at the beginning of 2025. This regulation, commonly referred to as “amnesty,” is not actually a general amnesty; it is an exceptional measure that grants the right to obtain residence and work permits without leaving Turkey, only to foreigners who meet specific conditions.
1. Purpose and Rationale of the Regulation
The primary aim of the 2025 Amnesty regulation is to reduce unregistered employment by integrating both foreigners and employers into the registered system, and to pave the way for legal employment in labor-intensive sectors such as domestic services. In Turkey, particularly in areas such as child, elderly, and patient care, the demand for foreign labor has rapidly increased, consequently leading thousands of foreigners to continue working in these fields without residence or work permits. The new regulation grants these individuals an opportunity to transition to legal status, provided they meet certain conditions, thereby ensuring legal security for employers and facilitating public oversight.
2. Scope of Amnesty and Eligibility Conditions
The amnesty application does not, in general, grant a right to all foreigners. Only individuals who meet the following conditions can benefit from the regulation:
Legal entry requirement: The foreigner must have entered Turkey legally with a passport and through official border gates. Those who enter illegally are excluded.
Passport validity: On the application date, the passport must be valid for at least 8 more months.
Irregular status: The foreigner must not have been taken to a removal center, must not have entered conditionally, and must not have a restriction code.
Area of work: The regulation is only valid for domestic services. This means foreigners working in areas such as childcare for children under 12, elder care for individuals over 65, and patient care can apply.
Criminal record: The foreigner must not have a criminal record in their judicial records.
Application history: New applications rejected in 2025 cannot benefit from the amnesty. However, individuals whose applications were rejected in 2024 or earlier and who remained irregular are covered by the regulation.
3. Employer’s Conditions and Obligations
The amnesty regulation requires not only foreigners but also employers to meet certain conditions. This is because the employer is legally responsible for ensuring the foreigner’s legal employment conditions. The basic obligations expected from the employer are as follows:
Income requirement: The employer’s monthly income must be at least 4 times the minimum wage. In practice, some immigration authorities request a declaration of regular income for the last 6 months (approximately 110,000 TL).
Notarized undertaking: The employer must undertake before a notary that the foreign employee will only be employed in household services and that all legal obligations will be fulfilled.
SGK registration: After obtaining a work permit, the foreigner’s social security registration must be completed, and premiums must be paid regularly.
Address and notification obligation: In case of a change in the work address, the Directorate of Migration Management must be notified within the legal period.
Care need certificate: If applying for elderly or sick care, a health report showing that the person in question is in need of care must be submitted.
4. Application Process and Stages
For foreigners who wish to obtain a residence and work permit under the scope of the amnesty, the application process consists of several main stages:
Manual appointment request: In cases where an appointment cannot be made via the e-residence system, the foreigner or their lawyer must personally go to the Fatih District Directorate of Migration Management in Istanbul to make a manual application request.
Preparation of documents: All documents such as passport, biometric photograph, notarized undertaking, petition, entry stamp, income documents, invoices, and settlement documents must be prepared completely.
Submission on appointment day: On the determined appointment date, the foreigner and the employer go to the Directorate of Migration Management together to submit the documents. If necessary, fingerprint and biometric procedures are carried out.
Residence permit approval: As a result of the document review, a short-term residence permit is issued, and the card is sent to the address via PTT.
Work permit application: After the residence card is obtained, the employer completes the work permit procedures by applying to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security system via e-Devlet.
5. Common Mistakes in the Application Process
A significant portion of applications are rejected due to missing or incorrect documents. The most common mistakes are:
Passport validity being less than 8 months.
The entry stamp not being legible or its photocopy being incompletely submitted.
Absence of bank stamp, signature, or signature circulars in income documents.
The notary undertaking not being specifically prepared for household services or the spouse’s signature being missing.
Incomplete submission of the health report (especially in applications for male workers – elderly care).
Fee receipts not being submitted on time.
Conclusion: A Strategic Opportunity for Transition to Legal Status
The foreign amnesty regulation, which came into force in 2025, offers a significant opportunity for thousands of foreigners working in domestic services in Turkey. This regulation not only facilitates the transition to legal status but also provides a great advantage for employers in terms of legal security and the fulfillment of social security obligations. However, the process is a complex procedure full of technical details and legal requirements. Even the smallest error in documents or missing deadlines can lead to the rejection of the application, or even the risk of deportation. Therefore, conducting the application process through an experienced lawyer, especially one specializing in foreigners’ law, will both increase the likelihood of a positive outcome for the application and ensure the full exercise of all legal rights. A suggested article.
Why is Expert Legal Support Necessary?
The special regulation for foreigners working in domestic services, which came into force in 2025, although referred to as an “amnesty”, is actually a technical and complex process that grants residence and work permit rights to individuals who meet certain conditions without having to leave Turkey. Even the smallest error in this process — such as failing to check passport validity, an incomplete or unreadable entry stamp, incorrect preparation of a notary undertaking, or improper submission of income documents — can lead to serious consequences, ranging from the rejection of the application to the deportation of the foreigner.
The manual application process, especially at the Istanbul Fatih Provincial Directorate of Migration Management, consists of detailed procedures that intertwine foreigner law, administrative law, and labor legislation. From the first step of the application to the delivery of the residence permit card, and from the work permit application to SGK (Social Security Institution) obligations, every stage must be completed flawlessly. An experienced lawyer plans every step of this process without errors, eliminating risks from the outset.
Requests for employing foreign nationals in domestic services are quite common in regions such as Istanbul, Tuzla, Pendik, Kadıköy, Kartal, Gebze, Beykoz, Bayramoğlu, and Tepeören. In applications within these regions, each migration management office may follow different practices and procedural details. An expert lawyer, knowing the local practices and the expectations of the Directorate of Migration Management in advance, prepares the application file accordingly; making all documents, from notarized undertakings to income statements, legally compliant.
Consequently, professional management of the process is of great importance for the successful completion of a foreign employment application. Lawyer support not only reduces the risk of the application being rejected but also ensures that the process is completed more quickly, securely, and in compliance with the law. Especially for employers planning to hire in domestic services, this professional support is the most effective and reliable way to achieve legal status.
