The program offers three-year work permit and various incentives
Turkey introduced a new visa scheme designed to ease the process of obtaining work permits for foreign professionals and entrepreneurs with specialized skills, aiming to draw in high-value tech startups.
Being launched last week, The Türkiye TechVisa Program, developed by the Industry and Technology Ministry alongside the Labor and Social Security Ministry, offers three-year work permits to entrepreneurs and expert employees in high-value sectors who establish companies in
In development for two years, the program provides significant incentives, such as corporate tax exemptions for companies based in tech parks or incubators and income tax waivers for employees. In addition, it seeks to simplify bureaucratic procedures, making Türkiye’s entrepreneurial environment more attractive for early-stage and scale up companies. (I have a story here about Turkish AI ecosystem)
Supporting entrepreneurship and innovation
The goal is to make Türkiye a place where professionals and entrepreneurs can “feel at home and make long-term plans,” said Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır at the program’s launch event at Istanbul Airport.
The program will also provide six months of legal, financial, and technical consulting for entrepreneurs setting up companies in Türkiye. The government aims to help foreign entrepreneurs navigate Türkiye’s public incentive programs and quickly integrate into the country’s expanding tech ecosystem, according to Kacır.
Reducing bureaucratic hurdles
Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan, also speaking at the event, highlighted the program’s streamlined work permit procedures, which are tailored to meet the demands of the fast-paced sector by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
While the program is designed to attract international talent, Işıkhan stressed that it also prioritizes and safeguards Türkiye’s domestic workforce. He explained that work permits for foreign workers will complement local labor, especially in cases where there is a shortage of skilled workers.
Opening photo: Türkiye TechVisa, launch event (Photo: AA)
