How to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO?

Do you want to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO? Then this is your ultimate guide on the process and requirements. The Visa Library team will bring you everything to land as a CEO in Turkey.

Table of Contents

What are the required items to become a CEO in Turkey?

Not every CEO can move to Turkey. You need to have some required items to become eligible. This section introduces you to these items and tells how you can achieve them. There might be one or more items depending on your nationality and conditions, but the general requirements are as follows;

A profound CV/resume as a CEO.

You need a strong CV/resume to move to Turkey as a CEO. the first step you have to pass is to get a job offer from a Turkish company. What is the first thing the employers see? It’s your resume. When you apply for a job position and send your CV/resume, employers look at it. If it’s not strong or convincing them, they just reject your application.

So your resume must be outstanding and lead to an interview. The company holds a few stages of interviews with the HR team or members of the board to decide whether you can handle this management position or not.

If everything goes right and you get the job offer, you can continue the rest of the process.

Work experience as a CEO.

One of the items you need in your resume is to have related work experience as a CEO to move to Turkey. When employers or the evaluation team of the company looks at your resume, they assess the work experience and consider a few items. It must be eye-catching and related to the field so you can get the job offer.

Having work experience is essential to handle the management position. This is the skill you must have learned and honed through dealing with people and managing the company.

Also, you need work experience to convince immigration officials of your background. They evaluate your resume and background too. So they must be ensured that you are a genuine CEO who wants to work in Turkey and manage the company. Moreover, they need to know your skills and abilities are rare, so the Turkish company needs you.

An education degree.

This item might not be a definite requirement, but often you need an education degree. It’s a positive feature of your resume and could convince employers better that you are able to handle the position.

Also, a related educational degree could provide better evidence to the authorities that you are a qualified CEO who can handle the job in Turkey.

A job offer from a Turkish company.

The essential requirement to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO is to have a job offer from a Turkish company. This is the first step you have to pass or the first wall to climb.

It’s a must to get a job offer from a Turkish company, and there is no way to skip this part. This is because you need the Turkish government’s approval to work as a foreign person in the country. The employer must apply for approval. If you, as the foreign CEO or apply for a work visa without the employer applying to the related authorities, your application will be rejected. You will learn about the process of applying for a work permit and work visa in the below section.

There are various ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO. You will learn about them in the following section. You can use one or all of them to find a job. The job market might be tough, but you have to do your best to find the job. You must do your best to get the job offer or persuade a Turkish employer to hire you.

Get the Turkish GOVT approval and get a work permit.

If you, as a foreign person, want to work in Turkey, the government must agree and approve it. Only the nationals of Cyprus can work in Turkey without getting permission. But the nationals of other countries need permission which gets called a work permit.

First, you have to find an employer willing to hire you, then he/she applies to the immigration officials, and you, as the CEO, apply for a work visa. A work permit is a permission to work in a foreign country, but a work visa is a permission to enter the country.

Being able to get a work visa and gather the documents.

There is a list of documents you have to submit to get a work visa and work permit. You must be able to gather this list of documents and submit them to Turkish officials.

There are two lists of documents you have to gather; a work permit and a work visa. You send the work permit supporting documents to the employer so he/she can apply for a work permit, and you submit the work visa supporting documents to the Turkish embassy/consulate in your home country.

You can find a sample list of the documents you have to gather in the below section. But you might have to submit further documents. It depends on your nationality, case, and the Turkish officials’ decision.

Note; the above list of requirements to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO is a general list. There might be other items, and it’s up to your case and nationality. There are other small documents or conditions as well that you will learn through the process. So you’d better read the application process once or twice to get a clear understanding of the things you have to do and the documents you have to gather.

What is the process you have to follow to become a CEO in Turkey?

This is the way you have to follow to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO. You might have to pass one or two other stages by your nationality, but the general procedure is like this.

Determine if you meet the eligibility principles or not.

Look before you leap. Before beginning the process, determine if you are eligible or not. You’d better read the above section and know what the requirements are to immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO. You should find out whether you can fulfill them or not and, if not, what you can do to get the eligibility principles.

For instance, it might take you some time to get a job offer. It could take you some time to persuade the employer to hire you or pass the interview stages.

All in all, you’d better get to know the roadmap and know what you have to do in the process.

Look for a job offer as a CEO.

Now that you know you can fulfill the requirements, you have to find a job offer with a Turkish employer or company. This is the first step you have to pass. As explained in the above section, the first wall you have to pass is to get a job offer, as you need the Turkish government’s approval to work as a foreign person. Only the employer can ask for the permissions, and you, as the CEO or the person filling the position, can not apply for it.

Are you wondering how to look for a job position as a CEO? There is various easy do, and you can find some of them in the below section.

It’s up to you to use one or all of the mentioned ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO. You might already know other ways, and it’s fine to sue them. But, it has to lead to a job offer, and the employer is persuaded that he/she needs you for this position.

Sign an employment contract with the Turkish company.

After you find a job with a Turkish employer, the two sides have to sign an employment contract. It’s part of the supporting documents, and the officials need it.

The contract must cover every aspect of the employment and explain every detail. You should read every line and know the obligations and terms. Also, the two sides have to agree on the salary or income.

These are some of the items that must be included in the employment contract;

The date it will begin and end.
Location of the job.
Bonuses
Job title
Duties
Salary or hourly rate
investment/retirement plans
Health benefits
Skill requirements
Team & department assignment
Job description
Raises, bonuses, incentive opportunities
Company stock options
Role requirements
Etc.

The above list is just a sample of the items that you need to include in the contract. There might be other sections as well.

If you do not have time or do not know anything about signing a contract with a foreign employer, you can get help from a lawyer.

Tips for signing an employment contract.

This list of tips will help you to sign a better employment contract with a Turkish employer;

Get help from a lawyer or attorney.
Know the terms and regulations.
Read every line twice and ensure you understand it.
Determine the exact salary.
Learn about the working rules in the country you move to.
Try to learn about loopholes.
It must be on the company’s letterhead.
Read the last version.

The employer applies for a work permit from Turkish officials.

After you sign the employment contract with the employer, he/she applies for a work permit. The employer has to apply to the Turkish Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services, MLSS. Also, he/she must submit some documents to the MLSS. The employer has to submit some supporting documents to the MLSS as well;

Work Permit Application Letter.
Foreign Personnel Application Form.
The Trade Registry Gazette of Turkey.
A balance sheet and profit/loss statement for the most recent year.
Notarized power of attorney.

Employment contract.
Etc.

You, as the CEO, also have to send the employer some documents so the employer can submit a full list of documents;

CV/resume
Clean record certificate.
Educational documents.
Proof of work experience
Valid passport.
Other passports you have had.
Clean record certificate.
Etc

The above slit is not complete, and the Turkish officials could ask for further documents. Prepare yourself to gather every piece of document to send. A complete list of documents can shorten the processing time. The employer will provide you with the full list of supporting documents you have to gather and submit.

Gathering the work visa supporting documents.

When the employer applies for a work permit to the MLSS, you have to gather the work visa supporting documents to submit them to the Turkish embassy in your home country. If your original documents are not in English or Turkish, you have to have them translated into one of these languages by a verified translation office.

Some of the documents would be better not to be old, like the clean record certificate, but some can be a few months old, like the birth certificate translation. You can gather them a bit early to save time. This is a list of the documents you have to gather;

Completed Turkey Visa Application Form.

You can get it from the Turkish embassy in your home country.

Photos.

You need two identical photos of yourself.

Photos should be biometric and not older than six months ago at the time of application.

Passport.

It should be valid for six months after you land in Turkey.

Job Offer or work contract.

Your document must contain information about your job position, remuneration, and contract validity period.

It must explain every detail about your employment.

Clean record certificate.

A certificate that shows you were not part of any criminal activity or legal issues in recent years.

You must get it from the police or judiciary officials in your home country.

Whether the document needs verification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice is a decision of the Turkish embassy in your home country.

Diploma or Graduation Certificate.

A verified translator must translate your BA or MA certificate.

Whether you need the verification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the translation is with the embassy.

Medical Insurance.

You need insurance for the whole duration of your stay in Turkey.

You can buy one from your home country, or your employer can arrange it for you, so you can submit the receipt.

Evidence of accommodation in Turkey.

You may present proof of a real estate property in Turkey or a rent agreement.

There are websites where you can rent a place in Turkey with them.

Proof of having enough funds.

You must submit a bank statement that proves you have enough money to cover your expenses for the first months of your stay in Turkey.

Applying for a work visa to the Turkish embassy/consulate.

After you are done collecting the documents or in the process of doing them, you should schedule a meeting with the Turkish embassy/consulate in your home country responsible for visa processing. When you complete the online application form (the link is provided in the above section), you have to determine a place to submit your application. This is the center you should book a meeting with them. Finalize the meeting with them and wait for the date to come.

You have to visit the embassy on the booked date ad ring all the documents. Before your meeting, try to find out some items with the embassy;

Entering the building rules.
Work visa processing fee.
The way you have to pay the fees.
Whether a copy of your documents is needed.
If the embassy needs extra pieces of documents.

You can visit the embassy’s website or email them to know about the above items.

Submit the documents to the officials when you meet them, pay the fees, and answer their questions regarding the purpose of your visit, which is working as the CEO of this company. You’d better have prepared answers, and what you say must be aligned with your documents.

After you are done with the embassy, wait for visa processing. It’s up to your case and embassy workload. If the MLSS agrees and issues the work permit, the embassy will issue the work visa as well. But if they disagree, your application will get rejected, and they will inform you. Often they send a template letter and wish you the best of luck.

If the answer is positive, they will inform you to get the visa label on your passport. When you get the stick on your passport, you can move to Turkey.

Completing the procedure after arriving in Turkey.

After you receive the visa label on your passport, you can get to Turkey. Every foreigner who arrives in Turkey needs a foreign national identification (ID) number. It usually starts with 99. You need it to register your address with the officials.

You have to apply for and receive your residence permit card to get the ID card.

Visit the Ikamet residence website to apply for your residence permit. You must give your name and surname, date of birth, parents’ names, nationality, and contact info. Then you should go to the “Central Appointment System” website and make an appointment at the nearest office of the Directorate General of Migration Management. You complete a form with your information and address in Turkey.

You’ll receive the address of the nearest DGMM office and the list of the required documents.

You’ll also get the available dates and times for the appointment and the application and card fee that you have to pay.

After getting the residence permit and ID card, you must register with the Address Registry System within one month of arriving in Turkey. You should book an online appointment. You must visit the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management to register your address if you live in Istanbul. If you live in another city or district, you must go to the District Population Directorates in your district.

Ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO.

There are various ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO. as explained several times in the above section, finding a job is a must, and this is the first step you have to pass. This is why you need the government’s permission to work as a foreigner, and the employer applies for this permission.

These are the ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO;

Online websites that advertise job positions.

The first way you can use to find a job in Turkey as a CEO is through the websites that advertise job positions in this country. This is a list of them;

TotalJobs
Learn 4 Good
kariyer.net
Turkey Talent
Just Landed
LinkedIn
Craigslist
isilanlarikariyer.com

You have to prepare a resume and apply for CEO positions. If your resume/CV is profound, the employers reach out, and the process goes on. You have to pass some interviews and sign an employment contract.

Reaching companies.

The other way you can use to find a job in Turkey is to reach companies. If you know famous companies that need a CEO, you can reach them directly. Send your resume to them or contact the boarding members. If you have a friend and he/she knows someone in the Turkish company, your friend can introduce you.

You can also reach the managers of the company through LinkedIn or social media or just visit them and propose working for them.

Employment agencies in Turkey to find a job.

The third way is to get help from employment agencies. These are the companies that find a job for you or find an employee for a company. Their job is to connect employees and employees together. They might be able to help you or have a vacancy for a CEO.

This is a list of the recruiter companies in Turkey you can get help from;

Gini Talent
EchoGlobal
CUP IT
FMC Group
OneWorld Consulting
NBS HUMAN RESOURCES
TGS Lydia
Empatik İnsan Kaynakları
Nicholson International Turkey

It’s your responsibility to determine whether these companies can help you or have a job position for you. Visit their websites and determine the rules and regulations or the process they work.

Visiting Turkey to find a job offer.

Yes, you can visit Turkey to find a job. If you are a national of the visa-waived countries, you can visit Turkey with your passport and stay for 90 days. This period lets you apply for job positions and have a face-to-face interview. You can find the list of countries that do not need a Turkey short-stay visa from this link.

What if you are not among the visa-waived countries? In this case, you can apply for a Turkey tourist visa. The application process is easy if you meet the eligibility principles. Just does not mention in your application that you want to find a job and are just visiting to meet a friend or enjoy the country.

Note; the above ways are not the ultimate ways to find a job in Turkey as a CEO. If you know or find other ways, you can try them as well.

CEO’s salaries in Turkey.

Your salary as a CEO in Turkey is up to various factors. The company you work with and how big it is one of the determining factors. So it is your experience and skills. Different sources have mentioned various figures for your salary.

According to PayScale, your salary is about TRY 153.000 per year.

According to Salary Explorer, your salary is about 18,700 TRY per month. The salary range begins from 9,160 TRY (lowest) and goes up to 29,200 TRY (highest).

This is while Salary Expert indicates that the average salary is about TRY 836.031 per year.

Let’s sum up…

The Visa Library article explained how you could immigrate and work in Turkey as a CEO. Our team brought you the list of requirements and the procedure you have to follow.

Also, you got answers to some of your questions. This is your ultimate guide to immigrating and working in Turkey as a CEO.

If you have questions about the process or requirements, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer them.