In 2022, businesses registered in the KOSGEB system must apply to KOSGEB in order to receive qualified personnel support. KOSGEB qualified personnel support is provided to eligible businesses in three-month periods for up to two years. Personnel who meet KOSGEB’s qualified employee criteria can be employed under this support.
This support increases the employment of university-educated qualified staff and helps businesses cover salary payments more easily while focusing on development. Employees hired under the qualified personnel support must receive salaries that meet KOSGEB’s minimum thresholds. Part of their salary is covered by KOSGEB, while the remainder is paid by the employer.
What Are the Objectives of KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
The primary goal of providing salary support is to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises. Qualified personnel support is intended to enable the hiring of people with adequate technical knowledge.
The main aims of the qualified personnel support are as follows:
- Direct entrepreneurs and workers into sectors that match their skills.
- Contribute to the national economy.
- End unregistered employment and reduce unemployment.
- Encourage broader entrepreneurial activity.
- Help small and medium-sized businesses improve and grow by enabling them to hire qualified staff.
- Support the creation of new business areas and the employment of qualified personnel in those fields through KOSGEB salary support.
Who Can Benefit from KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
Applications for KOSGEB salary support can be submitted by businesses registered with KOSGEB. This support is offered to small and medium-sized enterprises whose current SME declaration has been approved by KOSGEB.
Employers can request salary support for qualified personnel, which both raises the quality of the workforce and reduces the budget required for payroll. The portion of salaries covered by the support allows businesses to reinvest in development activities during the payment period.
What Are the Application Requirements for KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
The conditions for KOSGEB salary support are listed below:
- It is available for recruitment of Turkish citizens categorized as qualified personnel.
- The employee must not have been employed by the business during the 12 months prior to the application date.
- Applications can be made after hiring personnel who graduated from higher education institutions recognized by YÖK. The applicant’s eligibility is assessed based on the education level at the time of application; later changes in education status are not considered.
- Graduates of vocational schools, two-year associate programs, four-year bachelor’s programs, and postgraduate programs are eligible for qualified personnel support.
- Part-time or temporary employees are not eligible for the support; it is for full-time employees only.
- Businesses must employ at least five insured employees to be eligible to apply.
- Once the qualified personnel support application is submitted, the named qualified employee must be employed within 45 days. If the employee’s insurance entry is not made within this period, the application is automatically rejected.
- Salaries of employees hired under the qualified personnel support must be paid consistently and on time to the designated bank account.
Who Is Not Eligible for KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
The following individuals are not eligible for KOSGEB salary support:
- Relatives close to the business owner—such as parents, siblings, spouse, or children—cannot be counted as qualified personnel.
- Individuals under 18 years of age are not eligible.
- Retirees hired cannot be claimed under the qualified personnel support.
- Foreign nationals are not eligible even if they meet other conditions.
- No application can be made for personnel who were employed in the business before being registered with SGK.
- If a background check reveals disqualifying conditions, or if the individual is found to be mentally unfit, they cannot benefit from the support.
- If an applicant has a prior criminal record involving imprisonment or crimes such as forgery, fraudulent bankruptcy, embezzlement, fraud, or other similar offenses, they are ineligible for employment under the qualified personnel support.
Important Points About the KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Application
Key considerations for KOSGEB salary support are as follows:
- If a qualified employee leaves due to military service or childbirth, they can rejoin the program upon return. The support already received before leave is deducted from the total eligible support, and payments continue from the remaining amount. A new employment entry is required when they return.
- An employee registered at another company cannot receive caregiving allowance through the qualified personnel support.
- Applications for close relatives or business partners are not permitted.
- If an employee hired under the support resigns or is dismissed, the business must notify KOSGEB through the SME information system. Reporting contract termination is the employer’s responsibility.
- KOSGEB disburses qualified personnel payments in three-month intervals. If an employee leaves before the end of a three-month period, the employer can request the remaining support payment in advance from KOSGEB.
- The first month’s support payment is calculated from the date the employee’s insurance is registered.
- Qualified personnel working at different branches of the same company are eligible.
- If a qualified employee is on leave for work injury, childbirth, or illness, support payments continue after the leave period ends. During the leave, the employee receives temporary incapacity benefits paid by SGK.
- If the primary employer has multiple subcontractor SGK numbers, the primary employer must ensure SGK registrations and deregistrations are processed within the month without day losses; otherwise, support will be terminated for months with lost days.
What Documents Are Required for the KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Application?
Required documents for the KOSGEB salary support application include:
- Proof that at least five insured employees work at the workplace, such as SGK service records for those employees.
- A copy of the diploma of the employee to be hired under the KOSGEB qualified personnel support, demonstrating at least an associate degree level of education.
- Bank account details where the hired employee’s salary will be paid.
- A certificate from SGK stating that the business has no outstanding debts, to be submitted with the application.
- Payroll records for the employees to be hired should be included with the application.
- The job application for the employee to be hired from the last month must be provided.
- The qualified employees’ payment request form available on KOSGEB’s website must be filled in completely, signed, and included in the application file.
How to Apply for KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support
Steps to apply for KOSGEB salary support are outlined below:
- The business must operate in a sector supported by KOSGEB. Supported sectors can be reviewed on KOSGEB’s website.
- The business must be registered in KOSGEB’s database. Registration is completed at https://edevlet.kosgeb.gov.tr/EHizmetler/KOSGEBRegistration.
- Under the Business Registration heading, click the Apply button and register the business using the Turkish ID number and start date.
- A current SME declaration must be prepared. All required information must be provided accurately during registration and approved by KOSGEB.
- Prepare the necessary documents and submit the application at KOSGEB directorates. Alternatively, applicants may upload documents online through the KOSGEB system.
- KOSGEB officials evaluate submitted applications.
- If the application is approved, a copy is sent to the business owner’s email address.
- After approval, the qualified employee’s insurance must be started within 45 days. Support payments are made for the periods covered by KOSGEB.
What Is the Duration of KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
KOSGEB salary support is provided under the Business Development Support Program. The business owner must participate in this KOSGEB program. The program duration is two years, allowing businesses to benefit from the full amount of qualified personnel support over that period.
How Much Is KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
The total KOSGEB salary support available to a business is 50,000 TL. For employed qualified personnel, KOSGEB covers 60% of wages in three-month intervals. The purpose is salary support for qualified personnel rather than SGK premium assistance, so premium payments are not included in the support.
This total amount can be requested for as many qualified staff as the program conditions allow. Within the permitted scope, hiring qualified personnel through KOSGEB can increase the value of the business.
What Minimum Salary Must Be Paid to Personnel Under KOSGEB Support?
KOSGEB sets the minimum monthly salary required for personnel covered by the salary support. Businesses that pay less than the specified amounts cannot continue to receive the support.
The minimum amounts are calculated by KOSGEB excluding bonuses, commissions, and tax reductions such as the minimum living allowance. Required salaries vary according to the education level of the qualified personnel.
The minimum salaries determined by KOSGEB are:
- At least 2,000 TL for recent vocational school graduates.
- At least 2,500 TL for associate degree graduates.
- At least 3,500 TL for bachelor’s and postgraduate degree holders.
Which Payments Are Not Covered by KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support?
Payments excluded from the net cost covered by KOSGEB include:
- Cost-of-living allowances are not covered.
- Support payments are paid without additional payments beyond the stated support.
- Prime (social security premium) payments are not included in the salary support.
- Bonuses paid to personnel are not covered by the qualified personnel support.
How Many Employees Can Receive KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support at the Same Time?
KOSGEB salary support can be provided simultaneously for up to two employees in the same period. Over different periods, a business can receive support for up to four qualified employees. In total, a business can apply for KOSGEB qualified personnel support for up to eight employees across the program duration.
How Is KOSGEB Qualified Personnel Support Calculated?
A calculation is required for KOSGEB qualified personnel support. For example, in Istanbul, if a four-year university graduate earns 3,000 TL, and the support rate is 50%, KOSGEB would reimburse 1,500 TL.
If the same employee works in a different region where the support rate is 0%, region-based rules apply and different limits may be used. Note that the program may cap payments per employee; for instance, if the calculated reimbursement exceeds the program’s per-employee cap, only the capped amount is paid.