RECOVERY OF COSTS RELATED TO FOREIGNERS WORKING WITHOUT A PERMIT

The Regulation on the Recovery of Certain Expenses from Employers in Relation to Foreign Nationals Deported for Working Without a Permit (in Turkish, “İzinsiz Çalıştığı İçin Haklarında Sınır Dışı Etme Kararı Alınan Yabancıların Çeşitli Masraflarının İşverenlerinden Tahsili Hakkında Yönetmelik, the “Regulation”) was published in the Official Gazette on 23 July 2025 numbered 32964. The Regulation brings additional sanctions for employers employing foreign nationals without a valid work permit or exemption until their deportation in Türkiye. The Regulation is foreseen to take effect on 23 January 2026.

The Regulation provides that while the Directorate General of Migration Management (in Turkish, “Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı”, the “Directorate”) will initially cover deportation related costs, these expenses will later be fully reclaimed from the employer, if they cannot be collected from foreign nationals. Recoverable costs include accommodation, return travel, and medical expenses, where applicable.

According to the procedure foreseen in the Regulation, the Directorate will issue a formal payment notice to the relevant employer, who will have one month to fulfill the payment obligation. Amounts not paid within the stipulated time will be collected in accordance with Law numbered 6183 on the Procedure for the Collection of Public Receivables.

It is highly recommended that employers who recruit foreign nationals should check and review the immigration status of such employees and ensure that valid work permit or applicable exemptions are obtained or renewed in order to avoid legal and pecuniary liabilities.

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