Turkey Work Permit Photo: Exact Requirements for Çalışma İzni Approval

A correctly prepared photo is one of the most commonly overlooked reasons a Turkish work permit application gets delayed. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı, ÇSGB) mandates biometric photos in the Turkish 50×60 mm format — distinct from the standard passport size used in most countries — with a plain white background. Meeting this standard precisely means your application moves forward without unnecessary back-and-forth.

One detail that catches many applicants off guard: the Turkish work permit process has historically required applicants to supply up to six identical biometric photos with a single application. All copies must be from the same recent session, taken within the past six months. Submitting photos that do not match each other — or that were taken before this window — is a straightforward path to rejection. The 50×60 mm size (591×709 px at the standard print resolution) is a Turkish-specific measurement you will not find pre-set in most photo booths abroad, which makes it especially important to prepare the image to specification before printing.

• Size: 50×60 mm (591×709 px)
• Background: Pure white (#FFFFFF) — no off-white, cream, or grey
• Face coverage: Face must fill 60–80% of the total frame height
• Expression: Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open and looking directly at the camera
• Glasses: Not permitted — remove all eyewear before taking the photo
• Headwear: Not permitted, except for documented religious reasons
• Recency: Photo must have been taken within the last 6 months

Common reasons work permit photos are rejected in Turkey:

• Wrong dimensions: Submitting a standard 35×45 mm passport photo instead of the required 50×60 mm Turkish format — the ÇSGB specification is non-negotiable
• Non-white background: Off-white or slightly grey backgrounds that appear acceptable to the eye are flagged by biometric processing systems
• Glasses worn in the photo: Even thin frames or clear lenses are not accepted — this is an absolute rule under the biometric standard
• Photos older than six months: Even a high-quality photo taken seven months ago will be refused; the six-month rule is strictly enforced, particularly when multiple copies are compared

To get your photo ready, upload a clear, well-lit portrait — the image is automatically cropped and sized to the exact 50×60 mm ÇSGB standard, with the white background verified. Before you pay anything, you receive a free watermarked preview so you can confirm the result looks right. If the photo is ever rejected by the authorities, it is redone at no charge or refunded in full — you only pay for a file you are confident in. Print the required number of copies (typically up to six) and attach them to your application.