Work Permit in Tekirdağ & Residence Permit Consultancy

The need for a work permit in Tekirdağ comes largely from the factories along the Çorlu–Çerkezköy line: as production grows, so does demand for experienced foreign master craftsmen, technicians and machine operators. Since 2010, Fast Danışmanlık has prepared the foreign work permit files of employers in Tekirdağ, the foreign caregiver work permit files of working families, and the residence permit files of foreigners living in the province.

Work permit in Tekirdağ: the economy and foreign employment

Thanks to its proximity to Istanbul, Tekirdağ has in recent years become one of the fastest-industrializing provinces of Thrace, the European part of Turkey (officially Türkiye). The organized industrial zones (OSBs) in Çerkezköy and Kapaklı, and the textile, dyeing and finishing, food, metal and plastics plants in Çorlu and Ergene, form the backbone of the province's production. Many factories that moved out of Istanbul have also settled in this corridor.

The energy facilities around Marmara Ereğlisi, the ports in Süleymanpaşa, the vineyards and farms of Şarköy and Mürefte, and the student population of Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University create different kinds of foreign permit needs. In short, in Tekirdağ a master craftsman's application for a weaving mill, an engineer's file for an energy project and a student's residence renewal can all be running in the same week.

Foreign work permit in Tekirdağ: a practical guide for factories

The employer applies, and the permit is issued for the workplace where the foreigner will work. The process is handled through the e-İzin system of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS) via e-Devlet (Turkey's e-Government portal), without visiting any office in Tekirdağ. We explain the obligations of manufacturing businesses on our employer work permit application page, and the full set of rules in our guide to hiring foreign employees in Turkey.

Applying from within Turkey or from abroad?

New rule for foreign master craftsmen with experience in Turkey

As of 3 August 2026, the employment and financial criteria no longer apply, for up to 3 foreigners per workplace, to foreigners who have held work, residence or international protection status in Turkey for at least 1 year within the last 3 years. The number of foreigners with work permits cannot exceed the number of Turkish employees, and from the 4th foreigner onward the 5-to-1 ratio and the financial criterion apply again. This rule brings significant relief to mid-sized plants in Çorlu and Çerkezköy that want to hire master craftsmen who have already worked in Turkey.

For other applications, at least 5 Turkish citizens per foreigner and paid-in capital of at least 500,000 TL, or net sales of at least 8,000,000 TL, or exports of at least 150,000 USD are required. A salary of at least 2 times the gross minimum wage must be declared for jobs requiring skilled craftsmanship, and 4 times for engineers. The 1-year fee is 12,574.90 TL and the card fee is 964 TL. These amounts apply to 2026 and are updated whenever the legislation changes. You can see the total cost with our work permit fee calculator.

Foreign engineers on energy and port projects

On projects such as the energy facilities in Marmara Ereğlisi or the port investments in Süleymanpaşa, foreign staff usually come through the main contractor or the technology provider. In these files, the most critical question is which employer and which workplace the permit will be obtained for, because a work permit is tied to a specific workplace. A salary of at least 4 times the gross minimum wage must be declared for engineers, and 3 or 5 times for project managers depending on the nature of the role.

Foreign caregiver work permit in Tekirdağ

For couples who live in Çorlu, Çerkezköy or Süleymanpaşa and commute every day to Istanbul or an industrial zone, the biggest question is who will look after the child or elderly parent during long working and commuting hours. We support these families with the nanny work permit and the elderly caregiver permit.

The permit is granted only for childcare, elderly care, care of a person with a disability and patient companionship; no permit can be obtained for cleaning alone. For childcare, the mother or father applies, and the family's regular income, the child's age, and the caregiver's experience and Turkish language skills are assessed. There is no fixed income figure. The caregiver is employed at least at the minimum wage and registered with the Social Security Institution (SGK). For families at the decision stage, we recommend our foreign nanny guide for working mothers and couples.

Residence permit in Tekirdağ (ikamet / oturma izni)

For foreigners working in factories, a valid work permit counts as a residence permit; however, a separate family residence permit file is required for their spouses and children. A family residence permit is granted for a maximum of 3 years at a time, and a short-term residence permit for a maximum of 2 years. The application is made through the e-İkamet online residence permit system, followed by an appointment at the Tekirdağ Provincial Directorate of Migration Management with your documents.

For foreigners renting homes in neighborhoods close to the industrial zones, the address registration, the lease agreement and the health insurance documents must all be consistent with one another. The card fee is 964 TL; the permit fee varies by nationality, and the current tariff of the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) is the reference for the exact amount. If your application has been rejected, our article on reasons for rejection and ways to appeal explains the first steps.

Tekirdağ districts we serve

We serve all 11 districts of Tekirdağ: Çorlu, Çerkezköy, Kapaklı and Ergene, where industry is concentrated; Süleymanpaşa, the provincial center; Marmaraereğlisi, known for its energy facilities; Şarköy, where vineyards and coastal tourism stand out; and the agricultural districts of Hayrabolu, Malkara, Muratlı and Saray.

How we work: Tekirdağ work permit steps

• First meeting: We listen to your business's or family's situation by phone or WhatsApp.
• Eligibility check: We review your number of Turkish employees, your financial position and the employee's status, and set the permit strategy.
• Document collection: We collect the documents digitally and list those that need translation or certification.
• Application: We prepare the work permit application via e-Devlet and e-İzin, and the residence permit application via e-İkamet.
• Follow-up: We monitor the appointment, any additional document requests, the 30-day fee period and the renewal dates on your behalf.

The whole process runs remotely, without us needing to visit your facility, and we serve clients from every province of Turkey in the same way.

Why Fast Danışmanlık?

We have followed the needs of Thrace's industry closely since 2010. We never promise approval; what we do is maximize your chances of approval with a complete file. If your head office is in Istanbul, take a look at our work permit in Istanbul page; for your facilities in Lüleburgaz and Babaeski, see our services in Kırklareli; and for the rest of Thrace and the Marmara region, explore all our service regions.