Can International Students Work in Turkey? Part-Time Work Rules for Afghan Students

Yes, international students can work in Türkiye, but only with a work permit, and bachelor's students only after their first year. That is the short answer that Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection gives in Article 41, and it is the rule every Afghan student should plan around. Below we explain what the law and the 2022 implementing regulation actually say, how the permit is obtained, what counts as an internship, and why a student job should never be part of your budget for the visa.

What the law says

Article 41 of Law 6458 states that associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral students enrolled in formal (face-to-face) education in Türkiye may work provided they obtain a work permit. For associate and bachelor's students, the right to work begins after the first year.

The detail sits in the Implementing Regulation of the International Labour Force Law, published in the Official Gazette on 2 February 2022. Its Article 43 says:

• Foreign students enrolled in formal programmes may work if they obtain a work permit.
• Associate and bachelor's students may apply for a work permit after completing the first year of their studies, and may then work part-time under the Turkish Labour Law (Law 4857).
• These restrictions do not apply to graduate students (master's and PhD).
• A work permit given to a student does not end the student residence permit or the rights it gives.
• Applications made within one year of graduation are assessed under procedures set by the Directorate-General of International Labour Force, taking into account factors such as the field of study.

Two more provisions matter in practice. Under Article 15, a work permit application made from inside Türkiye requires a residence permit valid for at least six months. Under Article 56, a student's work permit is cancelled if the student residence permit is cancelled, for example because you stopped attending or your registration lapsed.

How many hours can a student work?

This is the most common question, and the honest answer is: the law no longer gives a fixed number. Until 2016, Law 6458 said that undergraduate students could not work more than 24 hours a week. That phrase was replaced by Law 6735 in 2016 with "regulated by the relevant laws", and the 2022 regulation now says simply that associate and bachelor's students work part-time under the Labour Law. Many websites still repeat the 24-hour figure.

What this means for you:

• Expect a part-time contract, not full-time work, during an undergraduate degree.
• The sectors, jobs and conditions in which part-time permits are issued are set by the Ministry, and the hours are written into your employment contract.
• Graduate students are not bound by the part-time rule, but they still need a permit.

Do not take a specific weekly number from a blog or a social media post as fact. Ask the employer who is applying for your permit what the Ministry's system allows for your job.

Who applies, and how

You do not apply for a work permit yourself. In Türkiye, work permits are employer-led:

1. You find an employer willing to hire a foreign student part-time and to go through the permit process.
2. The employer submits the application in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security's online system, uploads the required documents, including your passport, student certificate and residence permit, and approves the application. Only then is it considered filed.
3. The Ministry evaluates the application. If it is approved, the employer pays the permit fee and the permit is issued for a fixed period, tied to that employer.
4. If you change jobs, a new application is needed.

Because the process takes effort on the employer's side, students who find work most easily are those with good Turkish or English, a useful skill (software, design, languages, tutoring) and a flexible timetable. Many Afghan students find their first opportunities on campus, in university offices or research projects, or through their department.

Internships: when you do not need a permit

The regulation lists several work permit exemptions that apply to students:

• A compulsory internship required by your degree programme is exempt from the work permit for the duration of the internship.
• Internships under exchange programmes approved by YÖK between a Turkish and a foreign university are exempt for up to four months.
• Certain recent-graduate and youth exchange internships are exempt for up to twelve months, with the Directorate-General's approval.

An exemption is not automatic silence; it is still registered through the Ministry's exemption system, and applications from inside Türkiye must be made within 30 days of entry for some categories. Your university's career or international office handles this routinely, so ask them before you start.

Working after graduation

Many Afghan students hope to stay and work in Türkiye after their degree. The regulation recognises graduates of Turkish universities as a group: applications made within one year of graduation are assessed under special procedures that consider the field of study and national labour policy. In practice this means a Turkish degree can make a work permit application more favourable, not that a permit is guaranteed. You will still need an employer and an approved application, and your student residence permit ends when your student status ends, so plan the transition early. See our student residence permit guide for how the permit is tied to your enrolment.

Why a student job should not be in your visa budget

When you apply for a Turkish student visa, the mission asks for proof that you can pay your tuition and living costs. It expects that money to come from savings, family support or a scholarship. Three reasons never to rely on work:

1. You cannot work in your first undergraduate year, which is also the most expensive year, with deposits, registration and settling-in costs.
2. Part-time student wages are modest and jobs are not guaranteed, especially before your Turkish improves.
3. Working without a permit is illegal. It exposes you and the employer to fines and can lead to the cancellation of your residence permit, which would end your studies.

Build your budget as if you will not work at all. Treat any job you later find as a bonus that reduces the money your family sends, not as the plan. Our tuition and costs page explains what to include.

A realistic timeline for an Afghan bachelor's student

Common mistakes to avoid

• Working informally in a café, shop or warehouse "just for cash". This is the mistake that ends studies.
• Letting the residence permit expire while a permit application is pending; the application needs a permit valid for at least six months.
• Assuming the 24-hour rule and signing a contract that does not match what the permit allows.
• Missing the internship exemption and either skipping a valuable internship or doing it unregistered.
• Telling the visa officer you will fund your studies by working. It signals that your finances are insufficient.

How we help

We make sure your financial plan for the visa stands on its own, explain the first-year rule honestly before you commit to a programme, and point you to universities whose international offices actively support internships and student employment. If you are weighing a master's in Türkiye partly because of the work rules, we will show you how the rules differ from undergraduate study. Start with our Turkish student visa page or contact us.