Penalties for Employing Foreigners Without a Permit in Türkiye (2026): What Employers Face
2026 amounts from the ÇSGB administrative fines list, SGK sanctions and deportation risk. The legal alternative: permitted workers via e-İzin.
Who Gets Fined?
The ÇSGB administrative fines list defines four acts under the International Labour Force Law No. 6735; the three parties fined:
Employer
An employer who employs a foreigner without a work permit is fined per foreigner (ÇSGB administrative fines list).
Foreigner Working as an Employee
A foreigner working for an employer without a permit is fined separately; deportation proceedings may follow under Migration Management legislation.
Foreigner Working Independently
A higher fine is set for a foreigner working on their own account without a permit.
2026 Administrative Fines
| Act (Law No. 6735) | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Employer employing a foreigner without a work permit (per foreigner) | 102,503 ₺ |
| Foreigner working as an employee without a permit | 40,977 ₺ |
| Foreigner working independently without a permit | 82,010 ₺ |
| Failure to meet the notification obligation in time | 6,805 ₺ |
On repeat, administrative fines are applied at double the amount (ÇSGB). Amounts are updated annually by the revaluation rate.
SGK Sanctions
The employer must register a permitted foreign worker with SGK from day one. Uninsured employment is sanctioned under SGK legislation separately from the ÇSGB fine. Check current amounts with SGK.
sgk.gov.trAn Expired Permit Is Also Unpermitted Employment
Work permits are time-limited: the first permit up to 1 year, renewals 2 and 3 years. A worker without a valid permit falls under "foreigner working without a work permit" on the ÇSGB list. The renewal must be filed on e-İzin at least 2 months before expiry.
Renewal rules (Work Permit Guide) →e-İzinThe Only Way to Remove the Risk: Permitted Workers
The conditions for permitted employment are defined and met by the employer:
- 5 Turkish employees per foreign worker at the same workplace (5:1 rule)
- 500,000 ₺ paid-in capital or 8,000,000 ₺ net sales or USD 150,000 exports
- Skilled trades: 2× the gross minimum wage (2026: 66,060 ₺)
- 2026 fee 12,574.90 ₺ + card fee 964 ₺
- End to end 13-21 weeks (3-5 months); the employer files on e-İzin
Cost Comparison
Total cost — including legal risk.
| Factor | IMP (Registered) | Unregistered Worker |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Employer Cost (Skilled) | ≥ 66,060 ₺ gross + ≈ 22.5% SGK employer share* | ≈ USD 500-800 (informal market, total cost to employer) |
| Work Permit | Yes | No |
| SGK | Yes (employer registers) | No |
| Skill Verification | IMP Certified | Unverified |
| Administrative Fine Risk | None | 2026: 102,503 ₺ / worker |
| Language | A1 Turkish Training | Limited |
| Reliability | Contracted | Flight Risk |
* Skilled trades require a permit wage of 2× the gross minimum wage (2026: 66,060 ₺). Fine amount from the ÇSGB administrative fines list.
Registered from Day One: What IMP Does
- Trade-tested, certified candidates (welders, electricians, formworkers, ironworkers)
- A complete candidate file for your e-İzin application: passport, medical report, certificates, translations
- Islamabad/Karachi consulate process and deployment coordination
- Free A1 Turkish and workplace-safety training
- Post-deployment welfare follow-up — contracted teams with low flight risk
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Not Take the Unregistered Risk
If you meet the criteria, let us discuss candidates within 24 hours.
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