Regarding the right to employment, the law draws a distinction between the different categories of international protection beneficiaries. Refugees and subsidiary protection holders have access to employment or self-employment after being granted status, on the basis of their International Protection Holder Identity Document without satisfying additional requirements.[1]
These categories of beneficiaries also have preferential treatment with regard to the applicability of labour market tests. Any sectoral or geographical restriction on access to employment cannot be imposed on refugees or beneficiaries of subsidiary protection who have resided in Türkiye for 3 years, are married to a Turkish citizen, or have a Turkish child.[2]
Conversely, conditional refugees are subject to the same rules as applicants for international protection. They are required to apply for a work permit, or for a work permit exemption in the sectors of agriculture and livestock works, after 6 months of being granted protection.[3] Therefore, they may also be subject to sectoral or geographical limitations on access to the labour market (see Reception Conditions: Access to the Labour Market).
In practice, it seems that only a few conditional refugees are able to access work permits.[4] Data on the matter has not been made public in 2024. According to stakeholders, a limited number of individuals who obtain work permits are allowed to change their province of residence if their job requires relocation. In practice, most of these individuals move to Istanbul under this procedure. However, after residing in Istanbul for several years with a work permit, if they leave their job, they are required to return to their previous province of residence. This creates significant challenges for relocating again after years of living elsewhere. This policy is tied to the province of residence policies, which are designed to keep individuals in smaller cities rather than allowing them to concentrate in major urban centres. (For similar practices See: Travelling outside the province of residence and sanctions)
In 2024, amid a growing number of rejection decisions, stakeholders observed that many work permit holders were at risk of losing their permits due to the rejection of their international protection applications, which impacts their overall legal status.
[1] Article 89(4)(b) LFIP; Article 4 Regulation on Work Permit for Applicants for and Beneficiaries of International Protection.
[2] Article 18 Regulation on Work Permit for Applicants for and Beneficiaries of International Protection.
[3] Article 89(4)(a) LFIP; Articles 6 and 9 Regulation on Work Permit for Applicants for and Beneficiaries of International Protection.
[4] Refugees International, I am only looking for my rights: Legal employment still inaccessible for refugees in Türkiye, December 2017, available here, 5.