Turkish Worker Visa

As part of the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) with Turkey (known as the Ankara Agreement), Turkish citizens are able to extend their stay in the UK if they are already legally working there.

A Turkish citizen who is employed legally in the UK may:

• Apply for additional consent to stay after they have been legally working for one year, in order to continue working for the same employer;
• Change employers whilst remaining in the same job role after they have been legally working in the UK for three years; and
• Work for any employer in any role after they have been legally working in the UK for four years.

Who can be considered

Typical applicants are those admitted for a purpose other than employment but with permission to work, and will build up rights under article 6(1) as a result of any employment they undertake. The following people are considered to be workers;

• students working up to 10 hours a week in term time
• trainees
• apprentices
• part-time workers
• au pairs
• those engaged in employment schemes

Family members

Family members of applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are genuine family members to be given consent to join, or remain with, the applicant. Family members are classed as spouses, civil partners, unmarried and same-sex partners, and children.

Turkish worker visa entitlements