As of 2008, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas and the Philippine embassy in Ankara said that there were about 5,500 Filipinos living in Turkey. Most of those people are maids and “overseas workers” who work in the homes of diplomats and wealthy Turkish families. Also, 10% of the Filipinos in Turkey, or about 500 people, are skilled workers and professionals who work as engineers, architects, doctors, teachers, and other jobs. Most Filipinos live in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, and other cities close by.
If you’re thinking of moving to Turkey and want to get a job, the first thing you’ll probably want to do is look for work. And if you already live in Turkey and are looking for a better job than the one that you have, again you’ll need to start searching for jobs.
So, you’re living or planning to move to Turkey, and have no idea how to find a job? You’ve come to the right place! Here is everything you need to know about searching, applying, and processing for jobs in Turkey.
Table of Contents
Requirements
To collect the documents needed for your application, please click this link Requirements to know more.
Qualifications
An aspirant OFW must be at least 20 years old and a high school graduate. He/she must also be physically and mentally fit to work.
Important Steps
Here is a detailed guide for Filipinos looking for work in Turkey.
I. Job Search
Searching for jobs in Turkey online can be done through different websites. Some of these websites include:
Careerjet
Careerjet is one of the most popular job sites in Turkey. It’s a great tool to use if you’re looking for a job in this country. Here’s how it works:
1. Click the link above to redirect you to the site. Make sure to translate the site into English. Click the one in the red circle to translate.
2. Enter the type of job you are applying for and the country you wish to work in. In this, I typed in ‘IT’ and ‘Türkiye’. Then, click ‘Search’.
3. Job offers will appear. Recent job posts will be seen at the top of the search results.
Monster
https://www.monster.com/geo/siteselection
Monster.com is a great resource to search for jobs in Turkey. They have a wide range of jobs available, from entry-level positions to executive roles.
Monster has also partnered with several companies that are based in Turkey. This means that Monster will often display job openings from these companies at the top of their search results page.
To start finding jobs with Monster, you may follow the steps below.
1. Click the link above to bring you to the site.
2. On the ‘Search for Jobs’, type the job you are looking for and in the ‘Location’, enter ‘Turkey’. Hit ‘Search’.
3. Job offers for working in sales will appear.
DMW Website
https://www.dmw.gov.ph/approved-job-orders
DMW website has been a go-to for many Filipinos when searching for jobs abroad. The website is supported by the government and is updated frequently to ensure the job offers’ legitimacy.
To start searching for jobs in Turkey, please read the steps below carefully.
1. Click the link above.
2. In the search bar, enter ‘Turkey’.
3. The list of job offers in Turkey will be shown.
Note: When searching for jobs online, make sure you sign up/create an account first. Upload your resume also if requested by the site for higher chances of being hired. Apply and apply until you get a job offer. Once you secure a job offer, please check this out à 11 steps to be an OFW to know the basic processes you will undergo before going to your host country.
II. Getting a Work Visa
To move to and work in Türkiye, every foreign worker needs both a work visa and a permit.
In Turkey, you’ll need a work visa, and your employer will need to apply for a work permit for each employee when they apply for a visa. A worker needs to apply for a work visa at the Turkish consulate or embassy in his or her home country. At the same time, the employer will ask the Turkish Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Services for a work permit.
The requirements for getting a work visa depend on which visa a person needs based on why they want to come to Türkiye. Some possibilities are:
- Someone who works or has a special reason to work
- Assigned teacher or professor
- Sportsperson
- Artist
- Free zone worker
- Journalist
- Montage and fixer
Once you know what kind of visa you need, you can apply online by answering a few questions about who you are and why you want to go to that country. You will be given a date for an interview. At the interview, you will need to bring the following documents:
Requirements:
- Passport
- Completed visa application form
- Letter from the agency/employer
Procedure:
- Most people will apply for a visa in the country where they live, but some may have to go to an application center run by a third party.
- Submit the requirements mentioned above to your employer.
- Your employer should send other documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS) within ten working days of your application.
- The Ministry of Labor and Social Security decides whether or not a work permit application is approved. There is no difference between a work permit and a residence permit. So, if the Ministry agrees to give a foreigner a work permit, the foreigner has to pay an Entry Visa Fee, a Work Permit Certificate Fee, and an Exit Visa Fee.
III. Preparation for Going to Turkey
As an ex-pat who is new to Turkey, there’s no need for you to memorize all the laws. There might be things that are acceptable in your homeland but not in Turkey. When interacting with locals, make sure that you know the acceptable actions, so you won’t look disrespectful.
You don’t have to know all the rules and laws in Turkey to act properly. Again, knowing the most important ones will help you stably live in the country. To behave properly in Turkey, you need to know what to do and what not to do. Here are the things you should and shouldn’t do. So, here’s what you should and shouldn’t do in Turkey.
Do’s
You will see the locals do these things every day, and as an ex-pat, it’s fine if you do the same things to fit in. Here are the things you should do:
- When you go to a mosque, take your shoes off before you enter. This is what the locals do since most of them are Muslims. This is a way to show respect for their place of worship as well.
- Follow the country’s dress code. Not just when you go to a mosque should you wear decent clothes. Even though there isn’t a strict dress code in Turkey, you should wear what the locals do: decent clothes when you go to mosques and casual clothes when you go outside to eat or shop.
- Be polite when you’re outside. In Turkish culture, good manners are very important. You will notice this the next time you eat in a restaurant, bar, or café.
- Learn some polite ways to say hello to people who live there. In Turkey, “thank you” is “tesekkür ederim,” and “please” is “lütfen.”
- Watch how you move your head. In Turkey, a downward nod means “yes” and an upward nod with a tongue click means “no.”
- Remember that Turkey encourages people to not drink alcohol.
- If you want to invite someone, you should pay for the whole meal. In Turkey, it’s rude to let your guests split the bill with you.
- If someone invites you to dinner, you should do the same for them. Since the person who invited you will probably pay the bill, plan the next meal so you can return the favor.
- Know that it’s rude in Turkey to burp, blow your nose, or pick your teeth in a restaurant.
Don’ts
Now that you know what to do, let’s talk about what not to do in Turkey.
- Don’t visit a mosque on Fridays. Muslims celebrate this day. When they worship all day, you might not want to get in the way.
- When you are in a mosque, don’t talk out loud. This is rude, especially since you are in a religious building.
- Don’t walk in front of a person who is praying. If that’s the case, look for other ways to get into or out of a mosque.
- Don’t show your love in public. In Turkey, you can’t do this. If you’re with a partner, it’s best to show your love in a private place.
- Don’t wear clothes that show off your private parts.
- Turkish men who are selling things usually don’t talk to female tourists. If you are traveling with a man, most Turkish men will talk to the man instead of the woman. That’s just how people act in the country. Don’t say anything bad about the people who live there. It’s rude to say anything bad about them or their country.
- When you are in a restaurant, don’t burp, pick your teeth, or blow your nose. In Turkey, this is seen as rude.
- If you invite someone to dinner, don’t ask them to split the bill. It is also rude to do this in Turkey. When you do something nice for a Turk, they usually invite you to dinner again.
IV. Arrival in Turkey
Arriving in Turkey, the airport has rules that you must also follow. These are the following:
- Tobacco products: Only passengers who are at least 18 years old may carry the following items: 100 Cigarillo threads, no more than 3 grams per thread, 200 cigarettes with 250 grams of tobacco, and pipe tobacco weighing 250 g.
- Arms and ammunition: You may bring a certain number of firearms and rounds of ammunition into Turkey if you have a permit from the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
- Pets: Each passenger has the following papers and is limited to bringing two pets. Pets may travel with their owners in the cabin or in the passenger luggage compartment, depending on the airport.
- No restrictions on the Turkish Lira or any other foreign currency, including dollars and euros, exist for entry into Turkey.
- Antiques, flour products, tea, cocoa, coffee, and spices are among the things that cannot be exported from Turkey.
- When you arrive, you must declare the amount of foreign currency you have with you and the precise amount to be noted in your passport.
- You will need to deliver electronics like laptops and cameras separately, so keep them out of the suitcase. Your luggage should be properly sealed and locked because it could contain drugs or other illegal items.
- The ideal time to get to the airport is two hours before takeoff. You are not required to pay taxes if you are visiting Turkey on vacation and do not reside there. Keep in mind that your luggage must be labeled as airports are required to do so.
Video: WHAT JOBS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND IN TURKEY FOR FILIPINO?| ALAMIN MO BAGO PUMUNTA DITO |PINAY IN TURKEY
Inday in Turkey discusses the jobs that Filipinos are in high demand for in Turkey in this video.
They are employed by elite and diplomatic Turkish families all over the country. Before traveling to Turkey, watch and learn a few crucial things if you’re interested in working there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check the following FAQs to help you out.
1. Do I have to have “show money”?
They will check your bank balance, though. The embassy makes it clear that you need at least 50 USD per day of your planned stay, not including hotel and flight costs.
2. There was a problem with my file being uploaded. What do I need to do?
Change the size and upload it again.
3. A small stamp with the date of application was put on my passport. What’s the meaning?
It means that your visa has been turned down, which is bad news.
4. What if my visa gets denied?
You can apply again at any time. But this time, be sure to figure out all the warning signs that led to the rejection and don’t make the same mistakes again.
5. Do I have to hand in my application in person?
Yes. You have to show up in person. But if you hired a travel agency that has been approved, that agency can send the documents on your behalf.
6. Do I have to have an interview?
It is not a must. But they may ask you a few questions about your trip, your personal information, and your ability to pay.
7. Can they ask me to give them more papers?
Yes. So, if you are married, you should get your Marriage Certificate ready. If you are in school, get your papers ready.
8. Do I have to pay in US dollars?
They are very strict about this, yes. They have recently asked that ALL payments be made in USD. If you don’t show up, they’ll ask you to reschedule.
9. What should I do if there’s an error on my visa?
As soon as you notice the error, send it back to the consulate.
Summary
Keep an eye out for job opportunities that you may be interested in and apply for them all at once. Just like in real life, there is more than one way to get the job you want. Knowing where to look and how to apply is half the battle. It is also important to know what you can expect when applying for a job in Turkey. Hoping this guide will help you find your dream job!
References:
- https://www.mfa.gov.tr/general-information-about-turkish-visas.en.mfa#:~:text=Working%20Visa%3A&text=Your%20passport%2C%20visa%20application%20form,working%20days%20after%20your%20application.
- https://www.globalization-partners.com/globalpedia/turkiye-employer-of-record/work-visas/
- https://thepinoyofw.com/turkey-dos-and-donts/
- https://4kapartment.com/en/turkish-airport-rules-entry-and-exit-criteria/
- https://mrandmrshowe.com/lifestyle-blog/turkish-visa-application-filipino