Minimum Salary Level Increased

The situation

Effective January 1, 2018, the minimum monthly salary for foreign workers in Turkey has increased by 14 percent from last year. The minimum salary varies per industry. Below are some examples of the new amounts: 

• High-level managers, engineers, pilots and architects: TRY 13,191.75 gross per month
• Mid-level branch or department managers, mid-level software engineers: TRY 8,118 gross per month
• Specialists, technicians, information technology consultants, financial analysts and teachers: TRY 6,088.50 gross per month
• General staff, e.g. sales officers and low-level marketing officers: TRY 3,044.25 gross per month

A closer look

• Initial and renewal applications. Employers of foreign nationals seeking to obtain or renew a work permit on or after January 1, 2018 must increase the foreign national’s minimum salary to comply with the new rule.
• Pending applications. Employers of foreign nationals with pending work permit applications as of January 1, 2018 must increase the foreign national’s minimum salary to comply with the new rule. 
• Immigration applications that do not meet the minimum salary will be rejected.

Reminders on other requirements

• Benefits and allowances. As before, no benefits and allowances of any kind may be included as part of the minimum salary calculation.  
• Validity. As before, employers are required to guarantee the salary throughout the validity of the work permit.

Background

The occupation specific thresholds are calculated based on the minimum wage of TRY 2,029.50 gross per month (TRY 1,603.12 net per month).

Fragomen worked closely with the Bener Law Office in Istanbul to prepare this alert. It is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to emea@fragomen.com.