Turkey is one of the countries preferred by many foreigners for internships with its universities at the top of the world rankings, industry branches that are leading in different sectors, and the quality living standards it offers to students.
Two different regulations are in effect for students who want to receive education;
Foreign students studying within the borders of Turkey can perform their internships without any additional procedures within the scope of practical training in enterprises, if it is compulsory according to the status of the school where they are doing their internship.
Foreign students who want to do an internship in a workplace in Turkey but have completed their education abroad are asked for a work permit with this condition.
What Should Foreigners Studying in Turkey Do?
Foreign students who have completed their education and are required by their schools have the same status as Turkish students and there is no discrimination among students. The work of foreign students doing internships is not included in the scope of "paid employment". The main point to be noted here is that foreign students fill in their internship files and all necessary documents for the internship and participate in the practical training during the internship.
What are the requirements for foreign nationals who have completed their education abroad and want to do an internship in Turkey?
Foreign students who have completed their university education outside of Turkey and wish to study in Turkey are subject to the regulation of the law on work permits of foreign nationals.
All foreign students who document their status, provided that they are limited to the education period and not exceeding two years,
Foreign students who want to increase their knowledge and experience and engage in cultural activities through universities and public institutions and organizations,
Foreign students who will come to Turkey within the scope of international internship programs can do internships in institutions and organizations that they will determine, provided that the Ministry of Interior and Foreign Affairs and the Council of Higher Education mutually allow it.
All internship programs that foreign nationals will apply for gaining work or professional experience are subject to work permit in accordance with Turkish laws, unless there is a "mandatory practical internship" program at the universities where foreign students study. Foreign students in this situation will be included in the scope of "insured worker" regardless of their employment status in a workplace. Due to this situation, foreign students who do not have a work permit are included in the scope of illegal workers, and in case of detection of this situation, penal action is taken against both the person and the enterprise according to Turkish laws.
Which Conditions are Required for Obtaining Internship Permit for Foreign Students?
Associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctorate students who study in Turkey and do not have a compulsory internship program in their schools must obtain a work permit in order to complete their internship.
Internship permits for foreign students studying in associate and undergraduate degrees start after the first year and their working time is limited to 24 hours a week.
The procedures and principles regarding the studies of students in undergraduate and associate degree departments are determined by the Turkish Migration Policy Board. In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security is the competent authority in this regard.