Tourist guide index
Today, I will give to place to three different questions. The first question is from Sylvia. She asks;
“Dear Sadettin, your always excellent information about Turkish administrative rules prompts me to ask information for a friend of mine: he applied for a job as a tourist guide, but was told that this type of job was on an "index list" - a list which probably details which are the jobs /employments not open to foreigners. Does such a list really exist? If yes- which are the jobs where foreigners cannot obtain a work permit for? Thank you for your time. Sylvia.”
Dear Sylvia, any foreigner can work in Turkey provided that gets a work permit. However, there are additional requirements for tourist guides. The one of them, they must be a Turkish citizen. Accordingly, your non-Turkish citizen friend can not work in Turkey as a tourist guide.
Driver’s license in Turkey
The second question is from James. He asks about car insurance.
“Dear Mr. Sadettin,
I am writing to you because I am having a problem with my car insurance company and my Turkish friend said you might be able to help me.
Here is my situation. I am an English teacher at private school. I have been in Turkey for one year and four months. Currently I am residing on a six month tourist visa while I wait for my work visa to be approved. Two weeks ago while my car was parked a teenager backed into the back of my car with his car. Because I have kasko insurance I went to the VW dealership on the Istanbul yolu. They informed me that because I have been in Turkey for over a year my driver’s license is no longer valid. As a result my car insurance company does not have to uphold their end of the bargain and allow me to have my car fixed at the VW service or give me a replacement car while my car gets fixed.
My first question for you is: are you familiar with the law that states after one year my foreign driver license is no longer valid? If so, do you know how I can get a copy of that law so I can see what it actually says (preferably in English if possible)?
My second question: If my driver’s license is indeed invalid do you agree, that as a result, my car insurance company is not responsible to fulfill the contract they have made with me? They had a copy of my foreign driver license and they never informed me of such a law before my driver license became invalid. If you can be of any help in answering my questions I would greatly appreciate it. James.”
Dear James, foreign tourists can drive the car in Turkey with a valid license. However, the foreigners except tourists have to apply to their consulates and obtain the ‘license translation’. After that, they can drive the car in Turkey. This provision is based on ‘Karayolları Trafik Yönetmeliği’.
Secondly, your car insurance company responsibilities are based on the insurance policy. I can not any comment about it, because I did not see this document. 4 Dec. 2010
For your questions: [email protected]
www.sadettinorhan.net
“Dear Sadettin, your always excellent information about Turkish administrative rules prompts me to ask information for a friend of mine: he applied for a job as a tourist guide, but was told that this type of job was on an "index list" - a list which probably details which are the jobs /employments not open to foreigners. Does such a list really exist? If yes- which are the jobs where foreigners cannot obtain a work permit for? Thank you for your time. Sylvia.”
Dear Sylvia, any foreigner can work in Turkey provided that gets a work permit. However, there are additional requirements for tourist guides. The one of them, they must be a Turkish citizen. Accordingly, your non-Turkish citizen friend can not work in Turkey as a tourist guide.
Driver’s license in Turkey
The second question is from James. He asks about car insurance.
“Dear Mr. Sadettin,
I am writing to you because I am having a problem with my car insurance company and my Turkish friend said you might be able to help me.
Here is my situation. I am an English teacher at private school. I have been in Turkey for one year and four months. Currently I am residing on a six month tourist visa while I wait for my work visa to be approved. Two weeks ago while my car was parked a teenager backed into the back of my car with his car. Because I have kasko insurance I went to the VW dealership on the Istanbul yolu. They informed me that because I have been in Turkey for over a year my driver’s license is no longer valid. As a result my car insurance company does not have to uphold their end of the bargain and allow me to have my car fixed at the VW service or give me a replacement car while my car gets fixed.
My first question for you is: are you familiar with the law that states after one year my foreign driver license is no longer valid? If so, do you know how I can get a copy of that law so I can see what it actually says (preferably in English if possible)?
My second question: If my driver’s license is indeed invalid do you agree, that as a result, my car insurance company is not responsible to fulfill the contract they have made with me? They had a copy of my foreign driver license and they never informed me of such a law before my driver license became invalid. If you can be of any help in answering my questions I would greatly appreciate it. James.”
Dear James, foreign tourists can drive the car in Turkey with a valid license. However, the foreigners except tourists have to apply to their consulates and obtain the ‘license translation’. After that, they can drive the car in Turkey. This provision is based on ‘Karayolları Trafik Yönetmeliği’.
Secondly, your car insurance company responsibilities are based on the insurance policy. I can not any comment about it, because I did not see this document. 4 Dec. 2010
For your questions: [email protected]
www.sadettinorhan.net
