I understand that the Turkish government provides residence permits for a period of five years and that it should be renewed when expired. My question is how many times can it be renewed? Thanks.”Law 5683, Article 9 states, “Residence permits granted to foreigners shall not be more than five years.” The exception is that if there is reciprocity between Turkey and a foreigner’s country, then a longer or shorter period for a residence permit may be granted. Residence permits are granted a maximum of four times for a foreigner.
The next question is about family law -- registration of marriage. It reads as follows: “Dear Mr. Çektir: I had the pleasure to learn about you from your column in Today’s Zaman. I would very much appreciate a recommendation about where I can learn about how to register a marriage of a Turkish man to a foreign lady. What are the requirements of officially registering this marriage in Turkey, and how can I learn about the laws concerning marriage in Turkey? My daughter is in love with a Turkish man, and they are planning to get married. But I need to guarantee that her rights are protected. I very much appreciate your most urgent reply. Thank you very much, a worried mother.”
Dear reader: I am afraid there is no detailed and comprehensive source in English for marriage matters in Turkey. The UK, American and Australian consulate Web sites provide some information on these matters. I would highly recommend drawing up a prenuptial agreement before the couple gets married and registering their marriage both in the UK and Turkey. If the marriage takes place in the UK, once the couple is married they should inform the Turkish consulate and register their marriage. Finally, I repeat that it would be a wise idea to get legal assistance from a professional for further information.
The next question is from the UK again. “Hello. A friend forwarded your address to me. I’m an ESL teacher from England, and I’ve been offered a teaching job in Turkey. I’ve read that foreign teachers are not legally allowed to work without a work permit. However, my recruiters have told me that it wouldn’t be a problem to start working without a work permit. Is this true? Is it legal? I would love to come to Turkey but not to work illegally. Looking forward to your response.”
Dear reader, the Law on Work Permits of Foreigners No: 4817, dated Feb. 27, 2003, abolished the old legislation concerning the “professions designated only for Turkish citizens,” and since then, it is easier to obtain a work permit. If the applicant does not have a residence permit, the applicant should first obtain a residence permit (if feasible) or the application should be made through the Turkish consulate where the applicant resides. This does not necessarily mean that the latter procedure takes longer since the communication is carried out via e-mail. If the ministry grants a work permit, it will be valid only while the required working visa and residence permit are also valid.
I would like to underline that the law does not say you can start working without a work permit and get it later. Ask your employer to apply for your permit prior to the commencement of your work.
NOTE: Berk Çektir is a licensed attorney at law and available to answer questions on the legal aspects of living in Turkey. Send enquiries to b.cektir@todayszaman.com The names of the readers are disclosed only upon written approval of the sender.DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is intended to give basic legal information. You should get legal assistance from a licensed attorney at law while conducting legal transactions and not just rely on the information in this corner.
