Pehlivan & Güven Law FirmPublished:
Presidential Decision No. 10476, published on 10 October 2025, changed the regime governing whether foreigners of Turkish descent may work in professions and jobs reserved for Turkish citizens. In this article, we look at the scope of the change, the two separate regimes, the ten conditions and what they mean in practice.
Short answer
Presidential Decision No. 10476, published on 10 October 2025, made it harder for foreigners of Turkish descent to work in professions and jobs reserved for Turkish citizens. Which communities are considered of Turkish descent is now determined by Presidential decision, and ten conditions, including holding a residence permit, must all be met together.
The change was made to the implementing regulation of Law No. 2527 of 1981 on the Free Exercise of Professions and Trades in Türkiye by Foreigners of Turkish Descent (Official Gazette, 10.10.2025, Issue 33043) and entered into force on the date of publication.
There are two different concessions for foreigners of Turkish descent, and the October 2025 change directly regulates only one of them:
| 1. Criteria Exemption | 2. Freedom to Practise a Profession | |
|---|---|---|
| What it provides | For an ordinary work permit, the "5 Turkish employees", financial sufficiency and salary criteria do not apply | The possibility of working in professions and jobs for which the law requires Turkish citizenship |
| Legal basis | UİGM Assessment Criteria Ç-1.1(g) | Law No. 2527 and its Regulation, Art. 2/A, Art. 3 |
| Who benefits | Persons notified as being of Turkish descent by the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or deemed eligible by the Directorate General | Those who meet all ten conditions together |
| Effect of October 2025 | The text of the criterion remained the same; however, the framework for determining "Turkish descent" changed | Changed directly |
In other words, a foreigner of Turkish descent who will work in an ordinary job (for example, as a sales employee in a company) still obtains a work permit but is exempt from the criteria. If they wish to practise a profession reserved for citizens, they must meet the ten conditions below.
Under the new Article 3 of the Regulation, all of the following conditions must be met together:
| Condition | What It Means in Practice |
|---|---|
| 1. Having been granted a residence permit by the Ministry of Interior | A valid residence permit is required at the time of application; those in the country on a visa cannot apply. |
| 2. Proving, with documents from the competent Turkish authorities, the qualifications required for the profession by special laws | The qualification requirements for the profession in Türkiye apply in the same way. |
| 3. Having had the equivalence of foreign diplomas approved | An equivalence decision from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) or the Ministry of National Education (MEB) is required. |
| 4. Posing no security concern in respect of the profession | A security investigation is carried out. |
| 5. Civil registration in the special registers kept for foreigners | Registration must be made at the population directorate. |
| 6. Documenting membership of a professional body if membership is mandatory | Registration with the relevant chamber or association is required. |
| 7. A decision on the equivalence of foreign journeyman and master craftsman certificates | For crafts and technical professions. |
| 8. Belonging to a community of Turkish descent identified by Presidential decision | The person's community must be listed in that decision. |
| 9. Being unable to practise the profession in the country of citizenship for reasons beyond one's control, and being compelled to live in Türkiye | A compelling circumstance such as oppression, conflict or a professional ban must be shown. |
| 10. Having an ethnic and cultural identity different from the overwhelming majority of the country of citizenship | The most decisive condition (see below). |
Read together, these three conditions show that the concession is aimed at Turkish communities that are minorities in their own country and cannot practise their profession there. According to the wording of the text, a citizen of a state whose population is mostly of Turkish origin may find it difficult to meet condition 10. For this reason, before applying, the person's citizenship, the community they belong to and the content of the Presidential decision should be assessed together.
The Regulation contains no separate transitional provision. Since the change entered into force on the date of publication, the new conditions are expected to apply to future applications and renewals. Disputes concerning acquired rights are likely to be taken to the administrative courts.
No. A foreigner of Turkish descent also obtains a work permit; only the employment, financial sufficiency and salary criteria do not apply.
Not directly. The change regulates working in professions and jobs reserved for Turkish citizens. However, since the framework for determining "Turkish descent" has changed, it may also have an indirect effect on the criteria exemption.
Under the new Article 2/A of the Regulation, this is determined by Presidential decision. The decision in force should be checked before applying.
No. The first condition is having been granted a residence permit by the Ministry of Interior.
The October 2025 change has made the ability of foreigners of Turkish descent to work in professions reserved for Turkish citizens conditional on meeting ten conditions together. In particular, when conditions 8, 9 and 10 are considered together, it is clear that the concession is aimed at communities that are minorities in their own country. As there is no transitional provision, uncertainty continues for existing right holders. You are advised to consult a lawyer about your specific situation.
