Turkey’s on your radar, and for good reason. You’re eyeing a vibrant market with top-tier talent in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir—engineers fluent in English, marketers with international experience, and finance pros who know their way around complex regulations. But when it comes to actually hiring someone there? Things get real, real fast.
Employment contracts need specific clauses you’ve never seen. Payroll rules don’t translate neatly from what you’re used to. And before you even start recruiting, you’ve got to get your business legally set up to hire.
This guide walks you through every practical step—without the fluff. Let’s break down exactly what you need to legally hire and pay employees in Turkey.
Understand legal hiring requirements in Turkey
Before you start interviewing candidates, there’s groundwork to cover. You need the proper legal setup, the right employee documentation, and contracts that follow local labor laws.
Here’s the playbook:
- Make sure your company is authorized to hire in Turkey (entity setup or employer of record)
- Confirm your new hire’s eligibility to work (especially if they’re not a Turkish citizen)
- Use a locally compliant employment contract
- Register with Social Security and tax authorities before payday rolls around
Work permits and employee eligibility
Turkish citizens and residents are ready to go—no extra paperwork needed. But if you’re hiring a foreign national, it gets more complex.
You’ll need to apply for a work permit through the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. That means demonstrating that you couldn’t fill the role with a local candidate, meeting capital requirements, and showing your hire’s qualifications match the job.
Permits come in different flavors: short-term (up to one year), indefinite (for long-term residents), and independent (for self-employed professionals). Some industries have stricter rules, so double-check if you’re in fields like education, aviation, or media.
You can learn more about the steps in Turkey’s work authorization process.
Company setup and registration
If you’re setting up shop yourself, you’ll likely register as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). That involves opening a Turkish bank account, depositing startup capital (usually TRY 10,000 or more), registering with the Trade Registry, and getting a tax ID from the Turkish Revenue Administration.
You’ll also need to register with the Social Security Institution (SGK) and have a local address—and possibly a local director.
Not ready for that kind of lift? You can partner with an Employer of Record (EOR). They already have a legal entity in Turkey and can hire on your behalf—saving you months of setup.
Legal contracts and compliance
Turkish labor law requires written contracts. Verbal agreements? Not going to cut it. Your contract needs to include job details, work location, start date, pay, working hours, benefits, and notice terms.
Most companies include a two-month probation period. And when it’s time to offboard? Local laws dictate how much notice and severance you owe.
Make sure your contract is in Turkish—or at least bilingual. And don’t DIY this part unless you’re fluent in local employment law. Reference Labor Law No. 4857 for details.
Hiring channels and sourcing talent in Turkey
Once your setup is sorted, it’s time to find your people.
Where to look
Start with Kariyer.net—it’s one of Turkey’s top job boards. Eleman.net works well for operations and admin roles, while LinkedIn is a go-to for corporate, tech, and remote hiring.
For hard-to-fill positions or exec searches, local recruiting agencies can help you navigate language and cultural nuances. And don’t underestimate the power of referrals—networks matter in Turkey.
What roles are in demand?
Software engineers, data analysts, and bilingual professionals are in short supply. If you’re hiring in these sectors, expect stiff competition. Remote flexibility and globally competitive pay can tip the scales in your favor.
For broader strategies on sourcing talent, check out our post on talent recruitment and workforce hiring.
Setting up payroll and payment methods in Turkey
Hiring someone is one thing. Paying them legally—and on time—is another.
How employees get paid
Most employers use local bank transfers to pay in Turkish lira (TRY). You can only pay in a foreign currency under specific conditions, which you need to spell out in your employment contract.
What gets deducted
Here’s the breakdown:
- 14% of gross salary goes to employee social security
- 1% to unemployment insurance
- Employers contribute 1% to 6.5% of gross salary for social security (based on the risk category of the job) and 2% for unemployment
You’ll withhold and submit taxes monthly. Rates are progressive, from 15% up to 40% depending on salary. Use the Turkish Revenue Administration’s calculator to estimate costs.
What you need to report
You’ll file payroll data monthly with the SGK and submit tax declarations to the Revenue Administration. You’ll also issue annual employment summaries. If you’re not fluent in local filings, a payroll provider or EOR can save you a ton of time and stress.
Avoiding roadblocks when hiring in Turkey
Know the costs
Mid-level professionals earn around TRY 20,000–25,000 monthly (US$485-606). Senior engineers can expect TRY 45,000 (US$1,091) or more. Many employers add private health insurance, meal stipends, and transportation support.
Stay out of the gray zone
Informal employment is common in Turkey—but don’t risk it. Misclassifying someone as a contractor or skipping official registration can lead to fines and serious legal trouble. Stay compliant from day one.
Tips and resources for a smooth hiring process
Hiring internationally means learning a new playbook. But you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
That’s where an employer of record comes in because they act as the legal employer for your international hires. They manage everything from work permits and contracts to payroll, benefits, and tax compliance—so you don’t have to.
Here’s how to set yourself up for success:
- Start early. Permits and registrations take time.
- Use official sources for legal requirements.
- Partner with an expert in global employment and EOR services to skip the entity setup and get right to hiring.
The right support helps you focus on building your team—not interpreting tax codes or employment statutes.
Your hiring playbook for Turkey: Get it right from the start
Here’s what to lock in before you hire:
- Legal setup (your own entity or an EOR partner)
- Work permit process (if hiring a foreign national)
- Compliant employment contracts
- Payroll and tax reporting systems
Document every step, and stay up to date with local laws. When you get it right from day one, you avoid surprises and build trust with your new team.
You can also explore how to hire globally with confidence, no matter where your next candidate lives.
How Pebl can help
Setting up a Turkish entity just to hire that brilliant engineer in Istanbul? That’s months of paperwork you don’t need. Plus, Pebl’s employer of record service in Turkey cuts through the bureaucracy, handling employment contracts, social security registration, and those complex compliance requirements—so you can make the offer today, not next quarter.
We manage everything from compliant payroll to benefits administration across 185+ countries. You focus on finding great people. We’ll make sure they get paid legally and on time.
Hiring that awesome engineer in Istanbul has just become your reality. Let’s talk.
This information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or tax advice and is for general informational purposes only. The intent of this document is solely to provide general and preliminary information for private use. Do not rely on it as an alternative to legal, financial, taxation, or accountancy advice from an appropriately qualified professional. The content in this guide is provided “as is,” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.
© 2025 Pebl, LLC. All rights reserved.
