Facilitating Access of Turkic-Origin Foreign Nationals to Job Opportunities in Türkiye
With the implementation of a new Presidential directive as of October 10, 2025, Türkiye has made the employment process for foreign nationals of Turkic origin in public and private institutions more transparent and accessible, thereby expanding their access to a wider range of job opportunities. This measure is part of Ankara’s policy to strengthen ties with Turkic-origin communities worldwide and to broaden cultural and economic cooperation among Turkic states.
The law concerning the employment of foreign nationals of Turkic origin was first adopted in 1981, granting individuals who could prove their Turkish ancestry with valid documents the right to engage in professional and artistic activities in Türkiye. The scope of this law includes citizens of member states of the Organization of Turkic States, as well as Turkic-origin populations residing in the Balkans and other countries who can provide valid documentation to verify their ancestry.
According to the new directive, the process of determining Turkic origin has become shorter and more transparent, with the Presidency of Türkiye serving as the final authority in confirming this identity. Applicants can obtain work permits in various institutions simply by presenting identity documents and the required supporting evidence.
Dr. Binyamin Esen, Professor of International Relations at Istanbul Topkapi University, stated: “Under the recent changes, foreign nationals of Turkic origin must demonstrate that they are ethnically and culturally distinct from the majority population of their country of citizenship and must submit the necessary documents in Türkiye to prove their Turkic origin.”
According to him, the determination of eligible individuals for employment as Turkic-origin nationals will be made by Presidential decision, while the Ministry of Interior will be responsible for issuing residence permits. In addition, for certain specialized professions, the submission of professional qualification certificates from official Turkish authorities will be mandatory.
These reforms come at a time when Türkiye has been striving in recent years to strengthen its ties with Turkic-origin communities beyond its borders. Experts believe that with the implementation of this directive, the legal path to employment for Turkic-origin nationals will become more transparent and their job opportunities in Türkiye will expand.
New Directive on the “Free Employment of Foreign Nationals of Turkic Origin”
The law facilitating the employment of foreign nationals of Turkic origin in Türkiye’s public and private institutions was published in the Official Gazette on October 10, 2025, with the signature of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Türkiye.
This directive was enacted within the framework of Article 8 of Law No. 2527, enabling foreign nationals of Turkic origin to work freely in various public and private sector professions.
A section of the implementing regulation states: Based on Law No. 2527 dated September 25, 1981, and in accordance with this regulation, the President of Türkiye shall be the final authority in recognizing and designating communities or groups as “Turkic origin.”
