Moving Back from Germany: A Job Guide for Türkiye

Finding work after moving back from Germany to Türkiye is easier than many people expect, because German is a sought-after skill in several sectors. Whether you are planning the move or have just arrived, the questions are usually the same: which documents should I bring, do I need a work permit, what happens to my German insurance periods, is my diploma recognised and where can my German get me a job?

This guide answers those questions in order. On official matters we give the general framework with its sources; since rules can change, always confirm your own case with the relevant authority. The last part covers a starting point where you can use your German from day one: working as a German-speaking customer advisor in a call center.

What should you prepare before leaving Germany?

The most important task before you leave is to collect, while still in Germany, the documents you will need for work and official procedures. You can request them remotely after arriving in Türkiye, but it takes longer and often means extra correspondence.

The table below sums up the documents most often needed, where to get them and what they are for. Remember to get an apostille for diplomas and school certificates; Türkiye and Germany are both parties to the Hague Convention that established the apostille.

Keep digital copies of your documents

Keeping scanned copies of all documents in a cloud folder saves time in job applications and official procedures. Many applications in Türkiye run through e-Devlet, the government portal, so getting your e-Devlet password before or right after the move also speeds things up. Noting document names in both Turkish and German avoids confusion in correspondence.

Plan a budget and a city for the first months

The first months after returning are a buffer for job hunting and settling in. Deciding early which city you will live in also focuses your search: looking at openings city by city and working out your commute makes decisions easier. Budgeting rent, transport and daily costs for a few months reduces the pressure to take the first job in a hurry.

Do you need a work permit to work in Türkiye?

Turkish citizens do not need a work permit to work in Türkiye, and Blue Card (Mavi Kart) holders can generally work without one as well. People who hold only German citizenship, with neither Turkish citizenship nor a Blue Card, are treated as foreigners and need a work permit. Which group you belong to shapes the whole process.

Turkish and dual citizens

If you are a Turkish citizen, or both Turkish and German, you can work in Türkiye without any permit. When you start a job, your employer registers you with SGK, the Social Security Institution, and your insurance begins. If you have never worked in Türkiye before, your Turkish insurance record starts with your first job.

Blue Card (Mavi Kart) holders

The Blue Card (Mavi Kart) is an ID document for people who were Turkish citizens by birth and gave up Turkish citizenship with permission, and for some of their relatives; many people who took German citizenship fall into this group. Under Article 28 of the Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901, their right to work is preserved, and according to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security they do not need a work permit.

This right has limits: Blue Card holders cannot hold permanent civil-service posts, but they can work in the public sector as workers or temporary or contract staff. Working in the private sector needs no extra permit; on request, the Ministry issues a fee-free document stating that you may work in Türkiye.

German citizens only

If you have neither Turkish citizenship nor a Blue Card, you need a work permit as a foreigner. Applications go to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and are usually handled together with the employer. If you were a Turkish citizen by birth but never applied for a Blue Card, checking whether you qualify for one can change the whole process.

What happens to your German insurance periods?

The pension contributions you paid in Germany are not lost when you move back; the social security agreement between Türkiye and Germany protects them. In addition, if you meet the conditions, you can buy back periods spent abroad as a Turkish citizen and add them to your Turkish insurance record. The two routes are different, and which suits you depends on your personal situation.

The Türkiye–Germany social security agreement

According to Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the agreement lets German and Turkish insurance periods be counted together when pension conditions are checked. Paying contributions in Türkiye does not reduce your German pension, but it is your responsibility to report Turkish contributions to the German pension insurer. If you also worked in a third country, you are advised to consult your insurer before moving back.

Buying back periods abroad (yurt dışı borçlanma)

Law No. 3201 lets Turkish citizens buy back, in Türkiye, insured working periods spent abroad after the age of 18, together with certain periods of unemployment and homemaking in between. You must have been a Turkish citizen during those periods and on the date of application; dual citizens can use this right. The application uses the insurance record (Versicherungsverlauf) from the German pension insurer.

Because the amount, the payment method and the current conditions can change over time, it is wise to get information from SGK or a social security expert before deciding. For a general overview of your rights once you start working in Türkiye, see our article on employee rights.

How do you get your diploma and vocational certificate recognised?

For a German diploma to count officially in Türkiye, you need to apply for recognition: secondary-school certificates go to the Ministry of National Education (MEB), university degrees to the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). Many private-sector jobs do not require recognition, but public jobs, regulated professions and further study do.

School certificates (MEB)

Recognition of the Abitur or other secondary-school certificates is handled by MEB, separately from YÖK. Applications require the apostilled original and a sworn translation. Check MEB’s recognition page or your provincial education directorate for the current document list and application route.

University degrees (YÖK)

University degrees are recognised through YÖK’s e-Denklik system: you pre-apply via e-Devlet or the YÖK website, then submit your documents to its Recognition and Equivalence department, and you can track the process on e-Devlet. After review, the decision can be recognition, rejection or referral to the Level and Competence Determination System (SYBS).

Ausbildung and vocational certificates

Germany’s dual vocational training (Ausbildung) has no one-to-one equivalent in Türkiye, so the recognition route for vocational certificates depends on the profession. If you plan to work in a regulated profession, ask the relevant authority about the conditions. In the private sector, your Ausbildung certificate and employment reference are usually strong enough evidence of your experience.

Why is German an advantage when job hunting in Türkiye?

In Türkiye, German is a direct job skill at companies that work with German-speaking markets, and it stands out because few people speak it at native level. Someone who grew up or lived long in Germany also knows German work culture, correspondence habits and daily life, which builds trust with customers.

The table below sums up sectors where German is often used and what to watch out for in each. When reading job ads, look beyond the job title at the working conditions and the office location too.

How can returnees take their first step in a call center?

For returnees, working as a German-speaking customer advisor in a call center is a starting point where you use your German from day one and no previous experience is required. You can start working with your language skills without waiting for a long recognition or certification process. In the first months after the move, a regular income and a fixed routine also make settling in easier.

The role and conditions at Vetraco

Vetraco was founded in 2009 in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and today builds German-speaking teams in its offices in Türkiye. The role is called German-Speaking Customer Advisor; it is full-time and office-based, and projects are built on outbound calling. Native-level or advanced German is required; call center experience is not, and training is provided when you start.

Working hours are fixed and weekends are off; there is no home office option. Pay, bonus structure and career steps are explained in the application conversation. If you are unsure about your German, our article on what level of German you need for a call center covers it in detail.

Application steps

At Vetraco, the process starts with the application form; the team calls you, a conversation in German follows and, if it is a good fit, you receive an offer. To prepare, the sample questions and answers in our article on German call center interview questions will help.

Find the office in your city

Because the role is office-based, the first step is to find the office closest to where you will live. Vetraco has offices in Istanbul (Pendik, Kurtköy), Ankara, İzmir, Kocaeli (İzmit), Sakarya, Yalova, Aydın, Kuşadası, Denizli, Samsun and Tekirdağ (Çorlu); addresses and the current list are on our locations page.

Check openings and apply

You can see current openings on the job openings page. You can apply while still in Germany; mentioning your return date in the conversation makes it easier to plan a start date. If you are ready, submit your application; the team will call you, and your next step could start at Vetraco.

• Our locations
• Employee rights
• What level of German do you need for a call center?
• Job openings