On 23 July 2025, the Turkish Government published a new regulation aiming to strengthen the enforcement of foreign labor laws in Türkiye, by holding employers financially accountable for certain deportation-related costs incurred due to employing unauthorised foreign nationals.
Turkish Immigration authorities have the legal authority to initiate deportation proceedings against any foreign individual detected working without necessary work permits. A new regulation published in the Official Gazette on 23 July 2025 introduces significant obligations for employers in Türkiye, who hire foreign nationals without valid work authorisation.
Accordingly, if a foreign employee is found to be working without a proper work permit, the employer will be held financially responsible for the costs of the foreign employee and, if applicable, their spouse and children, detention and deportation process.
Which Costs Are Charged to the Employer?
The following costs associated with deportation procedures are now recoverable from the employer:
These amounts will be determined based on fixed rates set annually by the Directorate General of Migration Management.
The Provincial Directorate of Migration Management notifies the employer in writing of the costs incurred and grants one month to the employer to make payment. If unpaid, the amount is treated as a public receivable and collected under the procedures set out in Law No. 6183, including seizure of assets, bank accounts, etc.
Legal and Financial Risks for Employers
Failure to comply with foreign employment regulations now carries the following consequences for employers:
This regulation represents a significant shift in the enforcement of labour and immigration law in Türkiye. Employers should take proactive steps to ensure that all foreign nationals they engage are duly authorized to work and avoid any exposure to these newly introduced liabilities.
Based on the recent update, it has become evident that foreign nationals employed in Türkiye will be subject to more systematic and stricter inspections. The associated sanctions are expected to be applied more consistently and may have significant financial and administrative implications for employers, in addition to the legal consequences faced by the employees themselves.
As Vialto Partners, we provide preliminary assessments for companies operating in Türkiye and intending to employ foreign nationals in order to identify the applicable work permit or exemption requirements in advance. In this way, we support employers in managing their mobility processes in line with the relevant legislation and regulatory framework.
In addition, we pursue and monitor the application processes of relevant permits for your foreign employees and their accompanying family members, ensuring full compliance with all applicable legal obligations.
Please feel free to contact us to monitor the employment processes of the foreign nationals in order to discuss how to avoid such an investigation and how to settle this investigation in case of false allegations.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Çağatay Custan
Senior Manager
Aybüke Çatalbaş
Senior Consultant
Mesut Celik
Consultant
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