How to Get a Turquoise Card? Application Guide in Turkey

How to Get a Turquoise Card in Turkey?

The Turquoise Card is a special application area for qualified foreigners who want to work in Turkey and maintain long-term status. The right of foreigners to work in Turkey is evaluated within the permit system administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. A work permit is an official document that grants foreigners the right to work and reside in Turkey. According to Law No. 6735 on International Labour, work permits or work permit exemptions granted under Article 27 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection serve as residence permits. However, exceptions exist for international protection applicants, conditional refugees, and foreigners under temporary protection.

The Turquoise Card differs from standard fixed-term work permits by emphasizing broader evaluation criteria such as the foreigner's qualifications, contribution to Turkey, professional experience, or investment/economic impact. Therefore, the application should be supported with documents demonstrating the person's position and contribution in Turkey.

Important: For current procedures and document evaluation in Turquoise Card and work permit applications, announcements from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security should be taken as basis.

Who is eligible for the Turquoise Card?

The Turquoise Card typically applies to highly qualified workers, investors, individuals with scientific or technological contributions, foreigners with outstanding professional experience, and persons whose activities in Turkey have economic or employment significance. Similar evaluation areas exist in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security's independent work permit system: the foreigner's education level, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, and the impact of their activities or investments in Turkey on the country's economy and employment are considered.

This framework explains why Turquoise Card applications are not limited to just identity and passport information. The strength of the application lies in information that reveals how the foreigner will be evaluated in terms of Turkey. Elements such as academic background, area of expertise, professional position, investment or activity plans should be central to the application.

Is in-country application possible?

For foreigners in Turkey, the basic distinction in work permit applications is between domestic and overseas applications. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security's explanation, a foreigner with a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration in Turkey can apply for a work permit from within the country. This rule is important in determining the application route for persons who already have legal residence status in Turkey.

For foreigners without valid residence permits in Turkey or those abroad, the process generally begins through Turkish Republic diplomatic missions. The general route for work permit applications is for the foreigner to apply for a work permit and visa at the relevant Turkish Republic diplomatic mission. In Turquoise Card applications, whether the person is in Turkey or abroad is one of the first questions affecting how the application will be structured.

What documents are required for the application?

In the work permit evaluation process, documents are submitted online through the electronic system. Documents announced by the Ministry for work permit applications include employment contracts signed by the employer and foreigner, passport copies, and in certain cases, copies of diplomas or temporary graduation certificates. Diplomas may be mandatory for foreigners working in professional services and in professions deemed necessary by the Ministry.

There is a technical limitation regarding passports: Work permits are issued not to exceed sixty days before the passport expiration date. Work permit applications made with passports or passport-equivalent documents valid for less than sixty days as of the application date will not be processed. Therefore, passport validity is directly important for permit evaluation during application preparation.

The document structure in Turquoise Card applications may vary according to the qualifications under which the applicant is evaluated. While an investor and an academic expert may have the same basic identity documents, the supporting file content will differ. The aim is to present in a clear and documentable manner why the applicant should be evaluated under a special status in Turkey.

How does the application process proceed?

The first stage in a Turquoise Card application is determining the person's current status and application route. While the possibility of domestic application is evaluated for a foreigner in Turkey with a valid residence permit, the diplomatic mission channel comes into play for persons abroad. Then, the qualification basis for the application is clarified: employment relationship, investment, professional expertise, scientific contribution, or a similar evaluation axis.

After preparing the file, the application must be submitted to the relevant institution through the electronic system. Since required documents in the work permit system are sent online, it is important that documents are readable, consistent, and compatible with application declarations. For example, if there are differences between the name spelling in the passport and information in diplomas or contracts, this situation may create a need for additional explanation.

During the evaluation stage, the institution examines the information and documents submitted by the applicant within the framework of relevant legislation. Due to the nature of the Turquoise Card, it has a more special evaluation area than a standard fixed-term work permit. Therefore, the file must support the qualifications claimed by the applicant with concrete documents.

Differences between Turquoise Card and other work permits

Work permits in Turkey come in different types. Fixed-term dependent work permits are issued for working at a specific workplace or workplaces in the same sector, in a specific job and dependent on an employer; they can be granted for up to one year in the initial application. In this permit type, the employment relationship is linked to a specific employer.

Indefinite work permits are issued in the name of the foreigner without being dependent on an employer and give the foreigner the right to work and reside indefinitely in Turkey. Foreigners with long-term residence permits in Turkey or legal work permits for at least eight years can apply for indefinite work permits. Independent work permits also grant the right to work in one's own name and account without being dependent on an employer.

The Turquoise Card is considered a more selective and qualification-focused status within this framework. Therefore, when preparing for application, the question 'what qualifications of the applicant will be documented?' is as determining as 'which form will be filled out?' When the logic of the file is not properly established, even strong professional background or investment plans may not become sufficiently visible in the application.

What should be considered before applying?

For a foreigner considering a Turquoise Card application, the first checkpoint is their current legal status in Turkey. Whether they have a valid residence permit affects whether the application can be made from within the country. The second issue is passport validity, as passport duration in work permit applications can directly affect the period for which the permit can be issued. The third issue is qualification documents supporting the application.

When preparing the application file, it is not enough for documents to merely exist; what claim they support should also be clear. Educational documents can show professional expertise, employment contracts can show work relationships, and activity or investment documents can demonstrate economic contribution to Turkey. The logic of the Turquoise Card requires building a comprehensive file that explains the qualifications under which the applicant will be evaluated in Turkey beyond an ordinary employment relationship.

For persons wanting to obtain a Turquoise Card in Turkey, the most accurate starting point is examining current residence status, application location, passport validity, and the qualifications on which the application will be based together. When these four topics are clarified, the route the application will take and which documents will be prominent in the file can be determined more soundly. If real estate acquisition is also on the agenda within long-term Turkey plans, title deed transfer in Turkey, and if children's education is a consideration in terms of family arrangements, school enrollment in Turkey for foreigners topics should be evaluated separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Turquoise Card the same as a work permit?

The Turquoise Card should be considered as a special application area concerning work and residence status in Turkey. Unlike standard fixed-term work permits, it is evaluated under broader criteria such as the foreigner's qualifications, contribution to Turkey, professional experience, or investment impact.

Can a foreigner in Turkey apply for a Turquoise Card from within the country?

If a foreigner in Turkey has a valid residence permit of at least 6 months duration, the work permit application can be made as a domestic application. For foreigners without valid residence permits or those abroad, the process generally begins through diplomatic missions.

Why is passport validity important in Turquoise Card applications?

Work permits are issued not to exceed sixty days before the passport expiration date. Work permit applications made with passports or passport-equivalent documents valid for less than sixty days as of the application date will not be processed.

What is the strong point of a Turquoise Card application file?

The strong point of the application lies in information that reveals the qualifications under which the foreigner will be evaluated in terms of Turkey. Elements such as academic background, area of expertise, professional position, investment or activity plans can be central to the application.