Turkuaz Kartis a special status that enables highly qualified foreign workforce, investors, scientists, researchers, and internationally accomplished individuals to work and reside in Turkey. The Turquoise Card is not initially granted directly on a definitive and permanent basis. The first three years of the card are applied as a transition period; upon the successful completion of this period and the submission of an application within the prescribed time, the transition period record may be removed, and the card may become permanent.

The Turquoise Card is not a standard type of work permit. It is not sufficient for the applicant merely to wish to work in Turkey. Education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, investment or export capacity, employment generation, international success, and the contribution that can be made to Turkey's interests are evaluated collectively.

A foreigner holding a Turquoise Card benefits from the rights provided by a permanent work permit. A dependant's card linked to the Turquoise Card holder may be issued to the foreigner's spouse and dependent children. However, this document granted to dependants does not confer an automatic right to work, but rather a right of residence tied to the validity of the Turquoise Card.

What is the Turquoise Card?

The Turquoise Card is a special document that grants the foreigner the right to work and reside indefinitely in Turkey, and grants certain dependants the right of residence. The system is regulated by the International Labour Law No. 6735 and the Turquoise Card Regulation.

The purpose of the Turquoise Card is to attract qualified foreigners to the country who can bring economic, scientific, technological, cultural, artistic, or sporting value to Turkey. Therefore, the evaluation is more selective compared to standard work permit applications and has a structure that focuses more on the applicant's personal qualifications.

To compare the scope of other permit types in Turkey, work permit for foreigners, short-term work permit and permanent work permit you may also review our guides regarding.

Who is Eligible for a Turquoise Card?

The Turquoise Card is not a general residence or work permit open to every foreigner. It is required to fall into one of the qualified foreigner groups determined by the legislation and for the application to be deemed appropriate within the scope of international labor policy.

Highly qualified workforce

Foreigners considered highly qualified in terms of their educational level, professional knowledge, expertise, salary, professional experience, and potential contribution to science or technology may be evaluated for the Turquoise Card.

It cannot be said that a university diploma or a long employment period is sufficient on its own. The nature of the applicant's expertise, their national or international achievements, the sector in which they will operate, and their contribution to Türkiye are examined together.

Highly qualified investors

Investors who are deemed highly qualified in terms of investment or export level, the employment they will generate, the continuity of the investment, and their contribution to scientific or technological development may apply for the Turquoise Card.

The establishment of a company or the foreigner becoming a company partner does not grant the right to a Turquoise Card on its own. Elements such as the capital structure, the reality of the investment, the scope of activity, export capacity, and employment impact must be documented. Work permits through company partnership and the Turquoise Card are distinct legal pathways.

Establishing a company in Türkiye or becoming a partner in a company does not automatically grant a foreigner the right to a Turquoise Card. For the capital, partnership, and employment conditions applicable to foreign company partners, work permit through company establishment you may review our guide.

Scientists and researchers

Scientists and researchers who contribute to scientific and technological development or conduct research deemed strategic for Türkiye's interests in the fields of science, industry, and technology may be evaluated within the scope of the Turquoise Card.

In addition to academic titles, published works, citations, patents, research projects, cooperation with international institutions, and the value the work may create for Türkiye are also important.

Artists and athletes

Foreigners who are successful at the international level in terms of their cultural, artistic, or sporting activities may also obtain a Turquoise Card. Rather than routine activities at the national level, international achievements, awards, rankings, recognition, and professional impact are evaluated.

Individuals contributing to the promotion of Türkiye

A Turquoise Card may also be granted to foreigners who contribute to the international recognition and promotion of Türkiye or Turkish culture, or who engage in international activities regarding matters concerning Türkiye's national interests.

Candidate group	Key evaluation criteria
Highly qualified workforce	Education, professional experience, expertise, remuneration, and contribution to science and technology
High-qualified investor	Investment, export, employment, capital, and technological contribution
Scientist or researcher	Scientific studies, projects, patents, academic impact, and strategic importance
Artist or athlete	International success, awards, rankings, and recognition
Individual contributing to the promotion of Turkey	International activities, cultural promotion, and contribution to national interests

Who is Not Eligible for a Turquoise Card?

Turkuaz Kart shall not be granted to foreigners under temporary protection. Therefore, a foreigner under temporary protection in Turkey cannot obtain a Turkuaz Kart solely by asserting professional or economic qualifications.

In addition, for foreigners who are not permitted to enter Türkiye, who have grounds for deportation against them, or who are considered a threat to public order, public security, or public health, the rejection of the application or the cancellation of the issued card may come into question.

Applications may also result unfavorably for individuals who do not fall into one of the qualified foreigner groups enumerated in the legislation, who cannot document the qualifications they assert, or who submit fraudulent or misleading documents.

How to Apply for a Turquoise Card?

The application method varies depending on whether the foreigner is in Türkiye or abroad. A foreigner who is legally residing in Türkiye and holds a foreign national identity number can make their application through the Ministry's system. Applications from abroad are carried out through the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they legally reside.

The application may also be made through an intermediary institution authorized by the Ministry on behalf of the foreigner. Since the application infrastructure and electronic screens may change over time, prior to the transaction on the Turquoise Card page of the Directorate General of International Labor current announcements must be checked.

Application from within Turkey

A foreigner legally residing in Türkiye may apply directly via the electronic system using their foreign national identity number. However, the person's presence in Türkiye does not mean that the application will necessarily be accepted or that their current right of stay will be automatically extended until the application is concluded.

Application from abroad

Applications from abroad are made through the Embassy or Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in the country of which the foreigner is a citizen or where they legally reside. The information and documents received by the diplomatic mission are transmitted to the Ministry electronically.

Regarding the general differences between work permit applications made from within and outside of Türkiye, documents required for foreign work permit you may also benefit from our article.

What Documents Are Required for a Turquoise Card?

In every application, an application petition and a copy of the foreigner's passport or substitute document must be submitted. However, what is decisive in Turquoise Card applications are the documents proving which qualified candidate group the foreigner belongs to.

The application petition,
Copy of the passport or a document substituting for the passport,
Certificate of conformity obtained from the relevant public institution, if applicable,
Diplomas, professional qualification and expertise certificates,
Employment or service contract and remuneration details,
Work certificates proving professional experience,
Documents regarding scientific publications, citations, patents, and research projects,
Documents demonstrating the scale of the investment, capital, exports, and employment,
National or international award and achievement certificates,
Documents demonstrating artistic or sporting activities and recognition,
Works demonstrating contribution to Turkey's promotion or national interests,
Documents demonstrating marriage, birth, custody, and dependency status for spouses and children.

An apostille, consular legalization, and sworn translation may be required for documents obtained from foreign countries. Merely uploading the documents to the system is not sufficient; each document must clearly demonstrate which evaluation criterion of the applicant it fulfills.

What is a Certificate of Conformity?

The Certificate of Suitability is a document issued by the relevant public institution or organization certifying that the foreigner possesses one of the qualifications required for the issuance of a Turquoise Card. The evaluation of the relevant public authority is particularly significant with regard to investors, scientists, researchers, athletes, and artists.

However, the certificate of suitability is not the Turquoise Card itself and does not grant the applicant a definitive vested right. Despite the presence of a certificate of suitability, the Ministry may review the application in its entirety with respect to international labor policy, security assessments, and other criteria.

How is a Turquoise Card Application Evaluated?

Applications are evaluated within the scope of the evaluation criteria and scoring system established by the General Directorate. However, it is not accurate to mention a fixed score applicable to everyone that ensures the definitive acceptance of the application. The evaluation is conducted based on the candidate group to which the foreigner belongs and the nature of the contribution they provide.

For highly qualified labor, education, experience, expertise, and salary; for investors, investment, export, and employment; for scientists, academic impact and technological contribution; and for artists and athletes, international success are prioritized.

During the review process, the Ministry may request opinions from relevant public institutions and organizations. Pursuant to the Regulation, the relevant authorities are generally expected to submit their opinions within fifteen days. This period does not mean that the entire Turquoise Card application will be finalized within fifteen days.

To learn about the employment, financial sufficiency, and wage criteria applied in standard work permits work permit evaluation criteria with wage criteria for foreign employees you may review our articles.

What is the Three-Year Transition Period for the Turquoise Card?

The Turquoise Card is issued with a transition period covering the first three years. This period is an evaluation term that ensures the monitoring of whether the activities, commitments, and qualifications declared by the foreigner in the application continue to be maintained.

The existence of a transition period does not mean that the foreigner has no rights for three years. The foreigner benefits from the work and residence rights provided by the Turquoise Card; however, the successful completion of the monitoring period is required for the card to become indefinite.

How is the inspection conducted during the transition period?

The General Directorate appoints an expert to monitor the activities and commitments of the Turquoise Card holder. A monitoring report may be prepared by the appointed expert at twelve-month intervals.

The Ministry may request information and documents regarding the ongoing activities from the foreigner or, when necessary, from the employer. The applicant's activities in the fields of investment, scientific research, employment, export, art, or sports must comply with the content declared in the application.

What should be taken into consideration during the transition period?

The information and documents requested by the Ministry must be submitted in a timely manner.
The professional, scientific, or economic activities declared in the application must be maintained.
The qualifications of the foreigner that entitled them to the Turquoise Card must be preserved.
Unregistered employment or employment exceeding the scope of the permit must be avoided.
The validity of passports and other official documents must be monitored.
Periods of uninterrupted stay abroad must be taken into account regarding grounds for cancellation.
Social security obligations must be fulfilled in a timely manner.

How Does the Turquoise Card Become Indefinite?

The expiration of the three-year transition period of the Turquoise Card does not automatically render the card indefinite. The cardholder must also submit an application to have the transition period record removed.

The application may be submitted starting from 180 days prior to the expiration of the transition period, and in any case, must be completed before the transition period expires. Applications made after the expiration of the period shall be rejected, and the Turquoise Card shall become invalid.

The final report is prepared by the expert assigned upon request. If the final report is positive, the transition period record is removed, and the Turquoise Card becomes indefinite. In the event of a negative report, the extension of the transition period or the cancellation of the card may be brought into question.

Stage	Legal consequence
First three years	Transition and monitoring period is applied.
Last 180-day period	An application may be filed to remove the transition period record.
Positive final report	The transition record is removed and the card becomes indefinite.
Negative final report	Extension of the term or cancellation of the card may be evaluated.
Failure to apply within the statutory period	The Turkuaz Kart becomes invalid.

What Are the Rights of a Turquoise Card Holder?

The foreigner holding a Turkuaz Kart shall benefit from the rights conferred by the indefinite work permit. However, the Turkuaz Kart does not grant Turkish citizenship to the foreigner and does not confer political or public rights exclusively granted to citizens.

It grants the right to work and reside in Turkey.
As a rule, it establishes a broader status than a time-bound work permit tied to a specific employer.
It ensures the enjoyment of rights granted by relevant legislation in residency, travel, employment, investment, and commercial activities.
Transactions may be carried out regarding inheritance and the acquisition of movable and immovable property, without prejudice to relevant special regulations.
Acquired rights concerning social security are protected.
The foreigner is exempt from compulsory military service.

Nevertheless, the Turkuaz Kart holder does not have the right to vote, to be elected, or to enter public service. If special laws stipulate that a certain profession or activity may be performed exclusively by Turkish citizens, the Turkuaz Kart does not remove this restriction.

For the scope and limitations of the indefinite work permit conditions for indefinite work permit you may review our article.

Status of the Turquoise Card Holder's Spouse and Children

A dependent Turquoise Card can be issued to the foreign spouse of the Turquoise Card holder, as well as to their own or their spouse's minor or dependent foreign children. This card serves as a residence permit as long as the primary Turquoise Card remains valid.

It should not be assumed that the dependent card replaces a work permit. If the spouse or children of working age wish to work in Türkiye, they must obtain a work permit or work permit exemption appropriate to their legal status.

If the Turquoise Card becomes invalid or is revoked, the dependent card issued based on it is likewise revoked. Therefore, the residence status of family members is not independent of the primary cardholder's status.

Does the Turquoise Card Grant Automatic Citizenship?

No. The Turquoise Card does not automatically grant Turkish citizenship. Provided that the three-year transition period requirement for the Turquoise Card holder has been lifted and there are no impediments in terms of national security or public order, an evaluation may be made within the scope of exceptional citizenship.

This evaluation does not constitute a vested right or a guarantee of outcome. Even if the conditions set forth in the legislation are met, the acquisition of Turkish citizenship through exceptional pathways is subject to the discretion of the administration and the decision of the competent authority.

Citizenship by investment and the Turquoise Card are also not the same procedure. While the Turquoise Card is a work and residence status based on qualified labor and contribution, citizenship by investment is a distinct process carried out through investment types and amounts specified in the legislation.

Turquoise Card Fee and Card Cost

Pursuant to the Turquoise Card Regulation, work permit and residence permit fees are not collected from the Turquoise Card holder, nor is the residence permit fee collected from the Turquoise Card holder's dependent. However, the Turquoise Card and dependent card are issued as valuable papers.

Therefore, the fee exemption must not be confused with the valuable paper fee. During the payment stage, the valuable paper fee announced for the relevant year and the Ministry's current accrual information must be checked.

How Long Does It Take to Conclude a Turquoise Card Application?

It is not accurate to state that a Turquoise Card application will be finalized within a specific number of days. The scope of the file, requests for additional documents, obtaining opinions from relevant institutions, security evaluations, and the examination of the foreigner's qualifications may affect the processing time.

Although there is a fifteen-day period regarding the opinions requested from the relevant authorities, this period is not a definitive finalization period prescribed for the entire application. The status of the application, the Ministry's work permit and Turquoise Card inquiry system can be tracked via.

Why Is a Turquoise Card Application Rejected?

The applicant's failure to qualify for one of the qualified foreigner groups determined by the legislation, the inability to prove the asserted qualifications with sufficient documents, or the application not complying with international labor policy may result in rejection.

The applicant not being accepted as a highly qualified foreigner,
The inability to prove professional, scientific, sportive, or artistic achievements,
The investment or employment commitment not being found realistic or sufficient,
Application documents being incomplete,
Submission of false or misleading information and documents,
The applicant having a condition that prevents entry into or stay in Turkey,
The application being deemed objectionable in terms of public order, public security, or public health,
The application being made by a foreigner under temporary protection

To compare general grounds for rejection in work permit applications rejection of the work permit application you can benefit from our article.

What Are the Grounds for Cancellation of the Turquoise Card?

The rejection of an application and the revocation of a granted Turquoise Card are distinct legal proceedings. Rejection is the negative conclusion of an application before a card is issued. Revocation, on the other hand, is the subsequent termination of a previously issued and valid Turquoise Card.

The Turquoise Card may be revoked upon request, other than by the foreigner, for the following reasons:

Failure to arrive in Turkey within six months from the card's validity date,
Residing abroad continuously for more than two years without a force majeure event,
Failure to extend the validity period of the passport or substitute document,
Determination that the employment is illegal or unregistered,
Determination that the foreigner has not worked continuously for at least one year,
Subsequent realization that the application was made with false or misleading information and documents,
Failure to submit the requested information and documents within the due period during the transition period,
Loss of the qualification that enabled the foreigner to hold a Turquoise Card as a result of the monitoring,
Notification that the foreigner is among those who will not be permitted to enter Turkey or against whom a deportation order may be issued,
Notification that their employment in Turkey is detrimental to public order, public security, or public health.

Regarding the general consequences of the revocation of the work permit revocation of work permit You may also review our article titled .

What Actions Can Be Taken Against a Rejection or Cancellation Decision?

The rejection of a Turquoise Card application or the cancellation of an existing card constitutes an administrative act. Following the notification of the decision, the options for administrative application and annulment action must be evaluated together with the reasoning of the decision and the applicable special provisions.

An objection to the administration does not automatically suspend the statutory period for filing a lawsuit in all circumstances. In particular, the notification date of the decision, the method of service, the legal basis of the administrative application, and the competent court must be determined with care.

The grounds relied upon in a rejection or cancellation act must be concrete. Rendering a decision using only general statements without evaluating the foreigner's documents, applying an irrelevant criterion, misdetermining the material facts, or acting contrary to the principle of proportionality may be subject to judicial review.

The Difference Between the Turquoise Card, Indefinite Work Permit, and Independent Work Permit

Permit or status	Key feature	Duration	Status of family members
Turkuaz Kart	Work and residence status for highly qualified foreigners	Initial three-year transition period; followed by an indefinite period if conditions are met	Dependent card replacing residence permit for spouse and qualifying children
Indefinite Work Permit	Permit based on long-term residence or statutory employment duration	Indefinite; document renewal obligation may apply	Does not automatically grant rights to family members
Independent work permit	The foreigner working on their own behalf and account	Issued for a definite period	Does not automatically grant the right to work or reside to family members
Time-limited work permit	Permit tied to a specific employer, workplace, and duty	Maximum of one year for the initial application	Does not automatically grant rights to family members

In terms of foreigners who will work on their own behalf and account, a different type of permit known as independent work permit is not the same status as the Turquoise Card.

Key Considerations in Turquoise Card Applications

The application should focus not merely on increasing the number of documents, but on proving qualified contribution.
The documents must clearly demonstrate which candidate group the applicant belongs to.
Investment and employment commitments must be concrete and measurable.
Apostille and translation procedures for foreign documents must be verified.
It should be noted that the certificate of conformity does not guarantee final approval.
Information and document requests during the transition period must be fulfilled in a timely manner.
The application for the removal of the transition record within the last 180-day period must not be overlooked.
It must be taken into consideration that the dependent card does not automatically grant the right to work to family members.
It should be known that the Turquoise Card does not automatically grant citizenship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Turquoise Card issued directly for an indefinite period?

No. The initial three-year period of the Turquoise Card is a transition period. Upon the successful completion of the transition period and timely application, the card may become indefinite.

Does the card automatically become indefinite upon the expiration of the three years?

No. An application must be filed within the last 180-day period and before the expiration of the term to remove the transition period record.

Is there a definite point threshold for the Turquoise Card?

Applications are reviewed within the scope of evaluation and scoring criteria. However, evaluations should not be conducted under the assumption that there is a publicly available fixed score that guarantees acceptance for every candidate group.

Can every foreigner who establishes a company obtain a Turquoise Card?

No. Establishing a company alone is not sufficient. Investment, export, employment, and economic or technological contribution must be at the level of a highly qualified investor.

Can the spouse of a Turquoise Card holder work?

The dependent card issued to the spouse of a Turquoise Card holder provides the right of residence; it does not automatically grant the right to work. In order for the spouse to work, they must have a work permit or exemption suitable for their circumstances.

Is a separate residence permit required for children?

A dependent card can be issued to minor or dependent foreign children of the Turquoise Card holder. This document serves in lieu of a residence permit as long as the primary card remains valid.

Does the Turquoise Card grant Turkish citizenship?

It does not grant it automatically. Cardholders whose transition period has been lifted and certain relatives may be evaluated within the scope of exceptional citizenship, provided that other conditions are met; the outcome depends on the administration's decision.

Can Syrians under temporary protection apply?

Turquoise Cards are not granted to foreigners provided with temporary protection. However, simply being a Syrian citizen and holding temporary protection status are not the same thing; the individual's current legal status must be examined separately.

For detailed information regarding work permits, exemptions, waiting periods, and registered province requirements for foreigners under temporary protection and international protection right to work for holders of temporary protection and international protection you may review our guide.

Is a fee required for the Turquoise Card?

No work and residence permit fee is charged from the Turquoise Card holder, and no residence permit fee is charged from their dependents. Since the cards are issued as valuable papers, the current valuable paper fee must also be checked.

What happens to the dependents' cards if the Turquoise Card is revoked?

If the primary Turquoise Card becomes invalid or is revoked, the Turquoise Card issued to the dependent based on it is also revoked.

Conclusion

The Turquoise Card is a special work and residence status aimed at highly qualified labor, investors, scientists, researchers, and individuals with international achievements. For the application to result positively, the individual must not only claim to be qualified, but also demonstrate the scientific, economic, technological, cultural, or sportive contribution they will make to Turkey with concrete documents.

The first three years of the card constitute the transition and monitoring period. During this period, it is important to sustain activities, submit requested documents in a timely manner, and maintain the qualifications that enabled the issuance of the Turquoise Card. The application for the removal of the transition record must be made within the last 180 days and before the expiration of the term.

Each Turquoise Card application must be prepared by jointly examining the foreigner's personal situation, professional background, contribution to Turkey, family members' status, and the documents that can be submitted.

Author Information

Attorney Batın YILMAZ

Istanbul Bar Association Bar Registry No: 77008

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This content is for informational purposes only. It does not aim to advertise, secure business, acquire clients, solicit, claim professional superiority, or guarantee results for any person or institution.

While preparing the content the Professional Rules of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations and the provisions regarding the prohibition of advertising for the legal profession have been observed. The information in this article does not constitute legal counsel or a definitive legal opinion with respect to any specific case.

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