Türkiye has unveiled a new Tech Visa program to attract global entrepreneurs and high-skilled professionals. The initiative, developed by the Industry and Technology Ministry in collaboration with the Labor and Social Security Ministry, aims to grant accelerated work permits of up to three years to foreign nationals establishing start-ups in Türkiye. Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced the program during a launch event at Istanbul Airport on September 16.
He emphasized that the Tech Visa marks a significant milestone in Türkiye’s ambition to become a global technology hub. Under the program, entrepreneurs accepted into the scheme will receive six months of consultancy services across legal, financial, and technical dimensions for their enterprises established in Türkiye. Turkish authorities will also guide foreign entrepreneurs to fully capitalize on the country’s comprehensive public incentives and support programs.
Kacır stated, “By offering participants a special three-year work permit, we expedite their process of living and working in Türkiye, enabling them to envision long-term prospects and to embed themselves in the local fabric, making them feel truly at home.”
The minister noted that by 2030, Türkiye aspires to nurture 100,000 tech-driven start-ups, with at least a hundred of them worth more than $1 billion. He added that the country is in the process of establishing the world’s largest technopark at Istanbul Airport, further solidifying Türkiye’s status as a global nexus for tech entrepreneurship.
Türkiye’s tech visa initiative explained
Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan highlighted the dual objectives of the Tech Visa program, stating, “While we attract new ventures and talent to our country, we simultaneously leverage their knowledge and experience to enhance the capacity of our local workforce and add value to our innovation ecosystem.”
The program offers 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. Kacır emphasized that the world is undergoing rapid transformation, with technological advancements placing entrepreneurship at the heart of the new global order.
He 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. In addition to the Tech Visa program, Kacır announced that several hyper-scale investments will be unveiled by the end of this year, highlighting Türkiye’s growing role as a center for research, development, and innovation on a global scale. The minister confirmed ongoing negotiations with potential investors but stated that no agreements had been finalized.
Türkiye aims to position itself as more than just a market or manufacturing hub, with the goal of becoming a leading global center for research and development. Kacır extended an invitation to global investors, stating, “By 2030, we plan to mobilize $30 billion in high-value investments. Türkiye will continue to position itself as the center for R&D and innovation with these investments.”
- HurriyetDailyNews.”Türkiye unveils Tech Visa to attract global entrepreneurs”.
- DailySabah.”Türkiye launches TechVisa program to attract foreign entrepreneurs | Daily Sabah”.
- TurkiyeToday.”Türkiye will announce several hyper-scale investments by year-end”.