Foreign-born population – 2024 | 3.4% of the population | Main countries of birth: |
2.9 million, 54% women | Evolution since 2014: +101% | Bulgaria (11%), Germany (11%), Syria (10%) |
International Migration Outlook 2025
Russia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2023. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Turkmenistan registered the strongest increase (6 700) and Russia the largest decrease (‑71 000) in flows to Türkiye compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the number of first asylum applicants decreased by ‑53%, to reach around 9 000. The majority of applicants came from Afghanistan (5 600), Iraq (1 900) and Iran (800). The largest increase since 2023 concerned nationals of Ukraine (‑600) and the largest decrease nationals of Afghanistan (‑7 500).
Emigration of Turkish citizens to OECD countries increased by 37% in 2023, to 158 000. Approximately 57% of this group migrated to Germany, 7% to the Netherlands and 5% to the United Kingdom.
In October 2024, Türkiye introduced legal changes to facilitate the attraction of skilled labour and encourage formal employment. The changes include the introduction of work permit exemptions for foreigners under temporary protection and humanitarian residence. Permit holders in Türkiye who are notified by the Ministry of Interior and conditions where exemptions of longer duration (up to three years) can be granted as well as journalists with permanent press cards will also benefit from work permit exemption. Foreigners who meet the criteria can now apply for an exemption at any time during their legal stay in Türkiye and they can apply from abroad as well, while previously, they had to submit their application within 30 days of their entry in Türkiye. As a rule, work permit exemptions cannot be extended, nor can a foreigner apply for an exemption in the same scope unless certain time requirements are met.
Employment criteria for companies looking to hire foreign nationals have been modified. More exceptions to the quota of Turkish workers were decided. For large companies – annual sales over TRY 50 000 000 – the quota does not apply for the first five foreign employees, and for firms in certain sectors.
In order to ensure that only financially stable companies are allowed to hire foreign workers, stricter financial criteria have been effective as of January 2025. In particular, the minimum capital requirement to hire foreign workers has been increased from TRY 100 000 to TRY 500 000. The annual increase of the minimum wage in Türkiye (+30%) was partly counterbalanced by adjusted relative salary requirements for some occupations. The minimum salary to be paid to the foreign senior executives and pilots was lowered from 6.5 times to five times the minimum wage. For foreign engineers and architects, it was lowered from five to four times, and from three to two times for foreign workers in roles requiring specialised skills or craftsmanship.
In September 2024, the Digital Nomad visa entered into force and is available for citizens of Canada, the United States and 34 European countries; and a new start-up programme entitled Türkiye Tech Visa was launched. This programme targets skilled workers and entrepreneurs in the technology sector. Work permit exemption will be available for the selected entrepreneurs to set up their company in Türkiye. After that, work permits issued will be valid for up to three years and will include several benefits, such as fiscal advantages, financial assistance, health insurance, and facilitated family reunification.
In June 2025, the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security announced that work permit applications for shepherds/herd managers who are to be employed in livestock enterprises possessing either cattle or ovine livestock, have begun to be accepted within the framework of the determined evaluation criteria for work permit applications with the co‑operation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
For further information: www.csgb.gov.tr/uigm/en/ | www.turkiyetechvisa.gov.tr/, | www.goc.gov.tr.
