Turkish passport (Turkish: Türk pasaportu) are issued in accordance with the Passport Act from 15 July 1950[5] to Turkish citizens to travel abroad. Citizens of the de facto state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are also eligible to apply for a Turkish passport.
| |
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Type | Passport |
Issued by | Ministry of the Interior |
First issued | 1 June 2010 (1st generation biometric passport) 1 April 2018[1] (2nd generation biometric passport) 25 August 2022[2] (3rd generation biometric passport) |
Purpose | Identification, international travel |
Valid in | All countries |
Eligibility | Turkish citizenship or Northern Cyprus citizenship[3] |
Expiration | 10 years (5 years if under 18 years of age or if is a Turkish Cypriot)[3] |
Cost | ₺8623[4] |
Passports issued since 1 June 2010 are biometric and valid for up to 10 years.
Ranking the Turkish passport 53th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[6]
Title | The nature of importance |
---|---|
The President of Turkey | Executive |
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey | Legislative |
Cabinet Ministers | Executive |
Constitutional Court members | Judicial |
Supreme Court of Appeals members | Judicial |
Council of State members | Judicial |
Court of Jurisdictional Disputes members | Judicial |
Court of Accounts members | Judicial |
First Chairperson of the General Staff | Judicial |
Second Chairperson of the General Staff | Judicial |
Chief Public Prosecutor | Judicial |
Full Generals | Military |
Admirals | Military |
Former Presidents | Executive |
Former Speakers of Legislative Assemblies | Legislative |
Former Prime Ministers | Executive |
Former Foreign Ministers | Diplomatic |
Secretary-General of the Presidency | Executive |
Undersecretaries of the Prime Ministry and Ministries | Executive |
Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs | Religious |
Individuals with the title of Ambassador | Diplomatic |
Professional members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Diplomatic |
Senior officials of the Presidency General Secretariat sent on official missions | Diplomatic |
Advisers appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Attachés appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Assistants appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to conduct international official negotiations on behalf of the Government | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to contract treaties | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to attend international meetings, congresses, and conferences | Diplomatic |
Political couriers | Diplomatic |
Diplomatic passports can also be issued to the spouses, minor children, or children who are adults but living with them, unmarried, unemployed, and continuing their education until the age of 25, as well as adult children living with them, unmarried, unemployed, and in need of constant care due to at least one of physical, mental, or emotional disabilities as documented by an official health institution report, for as long as the eligibility of the person holding the diplomatic passport continues.
Diplomatic passports are not subject to any stamp duty or tax.
Turkish biometric passports (Turkish: Biyometrik pasaport), compatible with the new ICAO standards, have been available since 1 June 2010.[9] Application appointments for the new passports can be reserved online through the government's website, applications must be lodged in person.[4][10] Passports are then sent via mail.
The biometric passports have different coloured covers; regular passports in maroon and diplomatic passports in black, in compliance with ICAO standards.
New biometric passports, compatible with possible future EU visa waiver access, started to be printed in 2018 made out of a polycarbonate material.[11]
A Turkish passport has been one of the most expensive passports in the world for many years. As a result of increasing public demands, the cost of ordinary passports was almost halved in June 2010.[12] Despite the massive reduction, the Turkish passport remains one of the most expensive passports in the world (along with Liechtenstein (€252)[13] and Australian (€214)[14] passports for 10 years). The passport law was then amended to increase the maximum validity of a passport from 5 to 10 years. It currently costs ₺8623 (€265) for a 10-year passport, including the compulsory booklet fee.[15] In addition to the expensive passport prices, the Turkish state charges (₺225)[16] from Turkish passport holders (excluding ship and aircraft crew, those who live abroad and those with dual citizenship) every single time they leave Turkey.
People who have valid reasons may be allowed to hold more than one passport booklet. This applies usually to people who travel frequently on business, and may need to have a passport booklet to travel on while the other is awaiting a visa for another country. Some Muslim-majority countries including Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Yemen do not issue visas to visitors if their passports bear a stamp or visa issued by Israel, as a result of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. In that case, a person can apply for a second passport to avoid travel issues. Reasons and supporting documentation (such as a letter from an employer) must be provided. One passport will have to be saved in a NVİ (provincial headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior, Civil Registration and Citizenship) or at embassy/consulate unless it awaits a visa for another country.[17][18]
To be suitable for Turkish citizenship by investment program, the foreigner must open a bank account, deposit $500,000 or equivalent foreign currency or Turkish lira and do not withdraw this amount for three years.[19] After $400,000 or more is invested in Turkish properties, all necessary transactions such as title deed purchase and cash proceeds are carried out.
According to the law, the property transfer is concluded after the official signed bills and registrations.
Secondly, foreigners must apply for a residence permit. Although the applicants don’t have to be residing in the Republic of Turkey to get a Turkish passport, they are required to demand a residence permit, of which the results are given on the same day of application.
After receiving the residence permit, an applicant can apply for citizenship. It does not require an interview or to be physically present in Turkey. They can allow someone else or a company for their application management by giving power of attorney. The documents required during the application through the procuration process are the original title or an official copy of the title deed with a notary confirmation.[20]
Visa requirements for Turkish citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Turkey. As of 2024, holders of an ordinary Turkish passport may travel without a visa, or with a visa received upon arrival, to 116 countries according to the Henley Passport Index.[21][22]
Turkey is the only EU candidate country whose citizens are still required visas for their travels to the European Union member countries. However the European Union is planning to introduce visa free travel for Turkish citizens[23] as well as the United States lists Turkey as an aspiring country for inclusion to the Visa Waiver Program.[24]
Turkish citizens can also use their identity cards in lieu of a Turkish passport to travel to the following countries under bilateral agreements that have been concluded between the Turkish Government and governments of the respective countries:
Countries | Stay |
---|---|
Azerbaijan[a] | 90 days |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 90 days |
Georgia | 90 days |
Moldova | 90 days |
Northern Cyprus | 90 days |
Serbia | 90 days |
Ukraine[a] | 90 days |
Listed chronologically: