Turkish citizenship and work permits
Turkish men born overseas can learn about the requirements for completing their military service from the Turkish embassy in their country.
I receive many questions about work permits, Turkish citizenship and military services. Elizabeth and Ali also ask about these topics.
Elizabeth asks,
“Dear Sadettin Orhan,
I am writing to you to ask about working as a doctor in Turkey. I am currently an EU citizen and a UK medical graduate. I have worked for two years with the NHS.
If Turkish citizenship is obtained through marriage to a Turkish national, what are the next steps involved in being allowed to work in Turkey as a doctor?
I am seeking information on job availability and specialty training. Do you have a contact that I could write to, who could answer these questions? Or if you can answer them yourself, that would be excellent! Hope to hear from you soon. Many thanks, Elizabeth.”
Dear Elizabeth, according to Law Number 1219, non-Turkish citizens cannot work as a doctor in Turkey. However, if you obtain Turkish citizenship by marriage, you can work in Turkey as a doctor. After Turkish citizenship, you have to apply to Ministry of Health with your diploma. You can work in any hospital with a ministry permit.
The second question is from Ali and he asks,
“Hi Dear Orhan;
I was born in Australia and was registered as a Turkish citizen as well. I have lived in Australia all my life and am now considering a sea change and moving to Turkey to live and work. I understand that I need to do military service and I am happy to do 15 months, however, I cannot find any information on the Internet about the requirements and the process I need to take to enlist.
I stumbled across your column and thought you may be able to point me in the right direction. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind Regards, Ali.”
Dear Ali, military service in Turkey is compulsory for all male citizens between 20-41 years of age (with some exceptions such as handicapped or mentally ill and sick people). The duration of basic military service varies: 15 months for privates (elementary or high school graduates), 12 months for reserve officers (university graduates), and six months for short-term privates (those who have earned a university degree but have not been enlisted as reserve officers).
For Turkish citizens who have lived or worked abroad for at least three years, basic military training of three weeks is offered instead of the full-term military service if they pay a certain fee in foreign currency – roughly 5,100 Euros. Also in times when the General Staff assesses that the military reserve exceeds the required amount, paid military service of one month’s basic training can be conducted for local citizens.
You can apply to the Turkish Embassy to Australia for these military service applications. The embassy staff will help you with the process.
Hurriyet Daily News/24.12.2010
I receive many questions about work permits, Turkish citizenship and military services. Elizabeth and Ali also ask about these topics.
Elizabeth asks,
“Dear Sadettin Orhan,
I am writing to you to ask about working as a doctor in Turkey. I am currently an EU citizen and a UK medical graduate. I have worked for two years with the NHS.
If Turkish citizenship is obtained through marriage to a Turkish national, what are the next steps involved in being allowed to work in Turkey as a doctor?
I am seeking information on job availability and specialty training. Do you have a contact that I could write to, who could answer these questions? Or if you can answer them yourself, that would be excellent! Hope to hear from you soon. Many thanks, Elizabeth.”
Dear Elizabeth, according to Law Number 1219, non-Turkish citizens cannot work as a doctor in Turkey. However, if you obtain Turkish citizenship by marriage, you can work in Turkey as a doctor. After Turkish citizenship, you have to apply to Ministry of Health with your diploma. You can work in any hospital with a ministry permit.
The second question is from Ali and he asks,
“Hi Dear Orhan;
I was born in Australia and was registered as a Turkish citizen as well. I have lived in Australia all my life and am now considering a sea change and moving to Turkey to live and work. I understand that I need to do military service and I am happy to do 15 months, however, I cannot find any information on the Internet about the requirements and the process I need to take to enlist.
I stumbled across your column and thought you may be able to point me in the right direction. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind Regards, Ali.”
Dear Ali, military service in Turkey is compulsory for all male citizens between 20-41 years of age (with some exceptions such as handicapped or mentally ill and sick people). The duration of basic military service varies: 15 months for privates (elementary or high school graduates), 12 months for reserve officers (university graduates), and six months for short-term privates (those who have earned a university degree but have not been enlisted as reserve officers).
For Turkish citizens who have lived or worked abroad for at least three years, basic military training of three weeks is offered instead of the full-term military service if they pay a certain fee in foreign currency – roughly 5,100 Euros. Also in times when the General Staff assesses that the military reserve exceeds the required amount, paid military service of one month’s basic training can be conducted for local citizens.
You can apply to the Turkish Embassy to Australia for these military service applications. The embassy staff will help you with the process.
Hurriyet Daily News/24.12.2010
