Before we see the process of going to work in Turkey from Kenya, I would love us to learn about some interesting facts about Turkey that maybe we’ve not known;
Interesting Turkey facts before you go to work
* Turkey is located on two continents, straddling both Asia and Europe, with Istanbul being its largest city but Ankara its capital.
* Turkey holds a significant place in early Christian history, often referred to as the “Holy Land of Asia Minor”.
* The region, which encompasses the present-day country of Turkey, was home to several churches founded by Apostles Paul, Peter, and John.
* It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east; Iraq, Syria, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Aegean Sea, Greece, and Bulgaria to the west.
* Turkey is home to over 85 million people, most of whom are ethnic Turks. This offers the foreign workers who go there a unique opportunity to engage with a wide base of culture, deeply rooted in history and tradition, such as the early Christian influences in the region, as said.
> How to Apply for a University in USA From Kenya
About working in Turkey, its economy is the 16th largest in the world and the 7th-largest in Europe by nominal GDP. The main economic sectors are tourism, banking, construction, agriculture, manufacturing (textiles, automotive, electronics, etc.), and the service sector (finance, healthcare, etc.).
A key aspect of their populations is their emphasis on personal connections and trust within the workplace, where colleagues often become like extended family.
How to get a job in Turkey as a foreigner
Foreign professionals are in demand across various sectors in Turkey:
- Information Technology: Roles for software developers, AI specialists, and cybersecurity experts are abundant, with multinational companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Google actively hiring in Turkey.
- Engineering and Manufacturing: The automotive and manufacturing sectors seek engineers, production managers, and quality control experts. Companies such as Ford Otosan and Toyota Turkey are notable employers.
- Healthcare: Specialized doctors and healthcare professionals are needed to address shortages in the medical sector.
- Education: English teachers are in demand, particularly in private institutions and language schools.
- Tourism and Hospitality: Seasonal employment opportunities exist in resorts and hotels, including positions like waitstaff, animators, and guides.
- Farming and Agriculture: Turkey’s large agricultural sector employs seasonal and permanent workers in fruit picking, greenhouse farming, animal husbandry, and food processing. Foreign labour is especially welcomed in rural areas where local labour supply is low.
Foreigners must secure a work permit, typically applied for by the employer with help from an employment agency, after a job offer is made. Exact numbers of foreigners welcomed for jobs by Turkey are not explicitly stated in available data, but between 2023 and 2025, 239,835 out of about 500,000 work permit applications were approved, indicating a significant but selective intake.
Landing a job in Turkey as Kenyan
According to a one Ms. Nancy Rono, who is a career consultant specializing in international employment for Kenyans who want to work in Turkey, the current job openings that Kenyans can fill in that country now are mostly factory and farm jobs, and there are also many semi-manual work for drivers and people like machine operators and guards.
These jobs, she says, pay an average monthly salary of between Ksh80,000 and Ksh250,000, depending on factors such as the industry, job role, qualifications, experience, language skills, and the employer’s location and size.
Ms Rono outlines that getting a job in Turkey is easy – provided one connects with a reputable staffing firm that can actually help with application up to getting a Turkish work visa. She recommends Oval Recruitment Agency, the most well-known and trusted Turkey jobs application agent approved by the government’s National Employment Authority(NEA).
Oval Recruitment Agency’s extensive network and partnerships with Turkish multinational companies and employment firms ensure access to high-quality job opportunities, and they provide end-to-end support, including work permit assistance, which is crucial for Kenyans seeking work in the Republic of Türkiye.
As per their website, their phone number is +254720 201 616 or +254783 055 765, for all queries related to jobs in Turkey and other nations through calls, SMS and WhatsApp. Their email is [email protected], and they operate all over Kenya.
What they do, is that they will inform you of all the requirements of landing the abroad job, i.e the minimum age requirement, documents needed like ID, CV and certificates, tell you of the openings you fit, and help you with application until flight booking.
Ms Rono said it is between Ksh250,000 and Ksh350,000 for all costs, including visa and passport processes and flight ticket, to get to Turkey from Kenya and work.
Leave a comment