The employees from foreign origin who want to come to Northern Cyprus(TRNC) to work have to apply for work permit from the Labour and Social Security Ministry by their employers and get a pre-permission.If you have entered or exited the island without the knowledge of the Ministry or before or after the arranged date for you,the permission that have been recieved by your employer on behalf of your name will be invalid.In case a situation like this is detected,the work permit will not be put into work and will be denied.Due to the law about the Work Permission for Foreigners,the person who is coming to work have to enter North Cyprus with their valid passports and have their visas stamped.The employees who are coming to work with a pre-arranged work permit will be given permission to enter the island with the stated purpose of work(e.g waitress) and not any other unknown job.
CAN I WORK IN TRNC WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION?
Foreign nationals entering the country without prior permission given by TRNC Ministry of Labor and Social Security cannot be employed in any workplace.Work Permit cannot be applied for the people in this situation.If a worker with a preliminary permit does not start work at the workplace where the preliminary permit is given after the entry to the TRNC,the preliminary permit is cancelled and the right to apply for a work permit is dropped.
I HAVE ENTERED WITH PRE PERMISSION,WHAT SHOULD
I DO TO GET A WORK PERMIT?
If a foreign employee wishes to come to the TRNC for work purposes, the employer must obtain a prior authorization from the Ministry on his behalf. The employer, who has received preliminary permission on behalf of the employee, must apply to the relevant department of the Ministry (Regional Office of the Labor Office) to complete the work permit procedures of the employee within 15 days from the date of the employee’s entry to the candidate and must complete these procedures within 30 days at the latest. If the application for work permit evaluated by the Ministry is found to be appropriate, the work permit is given to foreign nationals. The work permit issued by the Ministry is entered into the employee’s passport. This process, called the stamping process, is carried out in the Work Permit Center.
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA OF THE MINISTRY FOR WORK
PERMIT?
Employers who want to employ foreign nationals with work permit in the workplace must apply with the approval of the Ministry and apply within the periods stipulated in the Work Permits and Regulations of Foreigners in order to obtain the necessary work permit for the workers they bring from abroad. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security gives the work permit to the foreign nationals in the workplace or in the workplace of the employer taking into consideration the field of activity of the workplace, the required work and occupation branches and the need of personnel and the work permit granted is specific to that workplace.
CAN I WORK WITH MULTIPLE WORKS AT THE SAME
TIME WITH MY WORK PERMIT?
If you are working in a workplace with a work permit, you cannot work with another employer.
WHAT IS A WORK PERMIT CANCELLATION?
Even if you have a work permit, if you should not start work on the date you are granted , or If you do not continue after the start of work , or if the employment contract is terminated by the employer or you, the Work Permit will be invalid and will be canceled by the Ministry.
HOW LONG IS THE PERMISSION OF THE WORK PERMIT?
Work Permit is issued for a minimum period of 6 months and a maximum of 1 year. If you continue to work with the same employer in the same workplace, business and occupation after the expiry of a 6-month or 1-year work permit, the Work Permit must be renewed.
WHO PAYS THE WORK PERMIT FEE ?
All expenses and fees payable for obtaining work permit shall be covered by the Employer. For the expenses and employer payments made for this purpose, deduction can be made by the employers from the wage of the worker and payment request can be asked from the worker.
WORK PERMIT IS EXPIRED, WHAT SHOULD I DO TO EXTEND (RENEW)?
The process of renewing and extending the work permit is called “Work Permit Extension”. In order to apply for an extension, it is essential that the work permit holder has not spent more than 135 days abroad for the period of one year leave, which has expired. In order to extend the expired work permit, an extension application must be made within 3 months (90 days) at the latest from the date of expiry. An application for extension can be made before the expiration of the end period, provided that it is within a maximum period of 2 months backwards from the expiry date of the work permit.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT FOREIGN EMPLOYEES SHOULD KNOW
! Keep track of whether your employer has applied for the required period of time to obtain a Work Permit and whether it has completed the work permit process.
! Do not continue to work if your employer does not completes your Work Permit Procedures at the end of the periods specified in the law, please complain to our Ministry.
! Make sure you have a valid entry visa or work permit seal during your stay in the TRNC.
! It is required by law for foreign nationals to obtain work permits to work in the work or workplace specified in the work permit, with the employer and in the specified profession.
! Your expired work permit must be renewed within three months if you continue to work at the same workplace or work.
! In any case, if your employment relationship terminates with the employer, you will be penalized if you don’t apply to the Ministry and cancel your work permit.
! You may be fined and / or become illegal a worker in the presence of one of the above. The employer is liable for any financial damages incurred by the foreign nationals due to the failure of the employers to fulfill their obligations other than their own defects.
! Foreign nationals are employed in the TRNC according to existing labor laws.
! Employees who become illegal in the TRNC are required to pay a daily minimum wage (TL 84.65) from the date they are punished by law, and the penalty for employing illegal workers in the TRNC is 5 minimum wages.
DOCUMENTS AND FORMS REQUIRED FOR WORK PERMITS OF FOREIGNERS
· 1 Set of Preliminary Permission Form
· Documents showing that the workplace does not owe debt to the Social Security, Reserve Fund and Tax Office
· Letter of Bank Guarantee if the third country is a citizen
· Passport Photocopies
· Power of Attorney if executed by power of attorney
· Approval from the Labor Office for Employment Eligibility al f
