Türkiye has launched a new visa program aimed at attracting foreign entrepreneurs and professionals with specialized expertise to establish high-value tech startups in the country. The TechVisa program, developed by the Industry and Technology Ministry in cooperation with the Labor and Social Security Ministry, offers three-year work permits to entrepreneurs and expert employees involved in high-value sectors who establish companies in Türkiye. The program provides significant incentives, including exemptions from corporate tax for companies established in tech parks or incubators and income tax waivers for employees.
It also aims to streamline bureaucratic procedures to make Türkiye’s entrepreneurial ecosystem more appealing for early-stage and scaling companies. Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır emphasized that the program is designed to enable professionals and entrepreneurs “to feel at home and make long-term plans in Türkiye.” He described it as a comprehensive initiative designed to build a strong future for tech professionals and innovative entrepreneurs in Türkiye. Kacır stressed that the world is undergoing rapid transformation, and technological advancements have placed entrepreneurship at the heart of the new global order.
He explained that high-value, innovative tech startups are leading the way in generating economic and societal value through their potential for rapid growth and global market expansion. The program will also offer six months of legal, financial, and technical consultancy to entrepreneurs establishing companies in Türkiye.
Türkiye’s TechVisa initiative
The government aims to help foreign entrepreneurs navigate Türkiye’s public incentive programs and expedite their integration into the country’s growing tech ecosystem. Kacır expressed confidence that as the ecosystem grows, more success stories will emerge from the country, leading to faster connections between startups, investors, and top talent. He emphasized that the Türkiye TechVisa Program marks a significant step in Türkiye’s ambition to become a global technology center.
Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan highlighted the program’s accelerated work permit procedures. The permits are designed to meet the needs of the fast-moving sector by shortening bureaucratic processes. Işıkhan emphasized the program’s role in attracting highly skilled foreign professionals and tech-driven entrepreneurs while prioritizing and protecting Türkiye’s domestic workforce.
He stated, “We are issuing work permits for foreign workers while maintaining a strong focus on protecting local labor. In cases where local labor supply is insufficient, we will benefit from the complementary effect of international expertise.”
