Türkiye 5-to-1 Foreign Worker Rule, Explained

Published 2026-09-20 · Islamabad · Crown Enterprises Overseas Employment · OEP 2868/RWP

The rule, in a sentence

For every foreign worker you sponsor, MoLSS normally expects around five Turkish citizens on the same workplace payroll. Textile and manufacturing plants hit this limit first. Certain roles and zones are exempt, so we check the latest circular before confirming that a headcount is possible.

Why Pakistani applications still succeed

The ratio is a planning constraint, not a ban. Plants that already employ a Turkish majority can add Pakistani operators, welders and helpers in batches that fit the remaining quota. That is why Crown asks for an SGK picture before promising a number.

How we build the demand

Use job titles MoLSS recognises rather than a vague "worker".
If the ratio cannot be met in one go, bring in 50–150 people in phases.
Identify roles that often fall outside the strictest reading of the rule.

If your plant is below the ratio, do not start consular reference. Fix the file first. A rejected MoLSS decision burns weeks.

Continue: full work-permit sequence · Kayseri desk.

Send a Türkiye demand Türkçe koridor 5-minute brief

How a Türkiye hire runs with us.

You send the demand. Roles, headcount, salary, contract length and start date. Crown replies in writing by the next working day.

We source and trade-test. Candidates are tested in person in Pakistan; a tested shortlist reaches you within 5 to 10 working days.

You interview and approve. Only the candidates you approve go forward.

Permits and clearances. You file the work permit through e-Devlet (Ministry of Labour and Social Security). Each candidate is filed against a 16-digit government reference code with a fixed 30-day employer registration deadline, and the 5-to-1 rule on Turkish to foreign staff applies.

Orientation and travel. Pre-departure orientation on duties, host-country culture and labour rights, then travel and arrival support.

Your costs and your paperwork.

You pay Crown no sourcing, screening or trade-testing fee. Statutory items on your side, such as work-permit fee (harç), and the contract package stay with you; flight tickets are agreed case by case. Workers are charged only the placement fee permitted by BEOE regulation.

To start, the employer typically provides four things: the demand letter, a power of attorney in Crown’s favour, the job contract, and whatever permit documents the destination country requires. See the full document list.

Questions from employers in Türkiye.

How long does hiring for Türkiye take?

You get a written feasibility answer in one business day and a tested shortlist in 5 to 10 working days. After approval, allow time for the e-Devlet permit and the employer's 30-day registration deadline on each candidate's 16-digit reference code.

Do Turkish employers pay a fee?

Crown does not invoice employers for selection, screening or skills tests. The work-permit fee (harç) and the contract package stay with the employer; flights are agreed case by case.

Which trades are Turkish employers asking for now?

Production operators, dyehouse and finishing staff for textiles, welders, CNC operators, bodywork, paint and PDR technicians, farm crews, warehouse workers and cleaners.

The Turkish 5-to-1 rule — what it means when you hire from Pakistan