TurkeyResidence permit (qualified specialist)

Turquoise Card in Turkey

The Turkuaz Kart is a status for foreign nationals whom Turkey considers valuable for its economy, its science and its image in the world: highly qualified specialists, investors, researchers and figures in culture. The decision is taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security through the Directorate General of International Labour Force. The card combines residence and work in a single document and grants rights comparable to an open-ended work permit. Immediate family members receive a separate document.

Visa term

The exact term and renewal are not disclosed (a transition period is provided for)

Threshold

No exact amount for the Turkuaz Kart is stated in open sources

Processing time

The processing time is not disclosed in the sources

Work

By its nature it is linked to the right to work; the exact regime is not confirmed

Source: csgb.gov.tr — Turkuaz Kart, Directorate General of International Labour Force

Who is granted the Turquoise Card

The Turkuaz Kart covers five different applicant profiles under a single status. By their value to the country they can be grouped into two blocks.

Qualifications, science and culture

Higher education and professional experience in an occupation that is in demand
Academics and researchers with a contribution to science and technology
Figures in culture and sport with international recognition

Investment and contribution to the economy

Investors whose investment and effect on the Turkish economy are recognised as significant
Employers creating jobs for Turkish citizens
People whose activity strengthens Turkey's international reputation

When this programme will not suit you

I am an ordinary employed specialist with one employer and a standard salary

A standard fixed-term work permit (süreli çalışma izni) — it is issued for a specific employment contract and renewed together with the contract

I have had lawful residence and work in Turkey for many years, but no status as a valued specialist

An open-ended work permit (süresiz çalışma izni) — granted on length of residence, without selection by the ministry

I have been granted temporary protection in Turkey (geçici koruma)

A work permit for persons under temporary protection — the Turkuaz Kart is expressly closed to this category

I want Turkish citizenship through a clear investment amount rather than through selection by the ministry

Turkish citizenship through investment in property or business — with fixed criteria rather than a decision of the Advisory Board

Who it suits

Documents

Documents on qualifications / investments (the full list is not confirmed)

How the process runs

The application is filed either from inside Turkey or through a Turkish consulate abroad; the decision is taken by the ministry, not by an automatic points filter.

1
Filing the application
A foreign national holding a residence permit valid for six months or more files the application from inside Turkey through the electronic system e-Devlet/e-İzin — they already have a Turkish foreigner number beginning with 99. If there is no lawful residence permit yet, the application is filed through the Turkish embassy or consulate in the country where the foreign national is lawfully present or of which they are a national; after filing, a 16-digit reference number is assigned.
2
Assessment by the Directorate General of International Labour Force
The Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security, through the Directorate General of International Labour Force, assesses the applicant's education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the volume of investment and its effect on the economy and employment — taking into account the recommendation of the Advisory Board on International Labour Policy.
3
Issue of the Turkuaz Kart for the transition period
If the decision is positive, the applicant is issued the Turkuaz Kart for a three-year transition period (geçiş süresi). During this time the ministry may request information from the holder about their professional or investment activity in Turkey.

Who you can bring with you

The Turkuaz Kart extends to the holder's immediate family members — they receive a separate document rather than a new visa from scratch.

Spouse

Receives the Turkuaz Kart Yakını Belgesi — the certificate (card) for a close relative of a Turkuaz Kart holder, which replaces a residence permit and is valid for as long as the holder's own card.

Dependent minor children

They receive the same close-relative document as the spouse, instead of a separate residence permit, for the period of validity of the holder's card.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

No minimum number of days is stated

The Turkuaz Kart is first issued for a three-year transition period (geçiş süresi). Throughout this time the ministry may request information from the holder about their activity in Turkey. 180 days before the end of the three-year period the holder applies for the open-ended Turkuaz Kart (süresiz Turkuaz Kart). If the application is made after the three years have expired, the card loses its validity and the status has to be obtained again from the beginning.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Turquoise Card	Short-term residence permit	Humanitarian residence permit
Visa term	The exact term and renewal are not disclosed (a transition period is provided for)	Usually 1 year (property), six months / 1 year (tenancy), up to 2 years; renewable while the ground remains	A maximum of 1 year at a time, renewed annually
Grounds	High qualifications	Tourism / property	Exceptional circumstances
Work	By its nature it is linked to the right to work; the exact regime is not confirmed	A short-term residence permit is not a work permit	Does not give an automatic right to work
Residence	No minimum number of days is stated	No specific minimum number of days is stated	There are no strict requirements on days of presence

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The route to permanent residence is not disclosed

Route to citizenship

The route to citizenship is not disclosed

Frequently asked questions about Turquoise Card

Who can obtain a Turkuaz Kart?

Five categories: highly qualified specialists with relevant education and experience, investors, researchers and academics, figures in culture and sport with international recognition, and people whose activity strengthens Turkey's international reputation. The decision is taken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security taking into account the recommendation of the Advisory Board on International Labour Policy — there is no formal pass mark in open sources.

What happens to the card after three years?

The first three years are a transition period. 180 days before it ends, the holder applies for the open-ended Turkuaz Kart. If the application is not filed before the three years expire, the card is cancelled and the status has to be obtained again from the beginning.

What rights does the Turkuaz Kart give?

The same as those of a holder of an open-ended work permit (süresiz çalışma izni): to work as an employee or on their own account, to move freely around Turkey without a separate permit for travel between provinces, and social rights that broadly put the holder on a par with Turkish citizens — except the right to vote, to stand for election and to hold public office.

Can a Turkuaz Kart holder obtain Turkish citizenship?

Yes. Turkuaz Kart holders are expressly included in the list of persons who may apply for Turkish citizenship by way of exception under article 12 of law no. 5901 — together with their foreign spouse and minor children. The condition is that there is no threat to national security or public order.

Is the Turkuaz Kart granted to people under temporary protection in Turkey?

No. Foreign nationals who have been granted temporary protection (geçici koruma) are expressly excluded from the Turkuaz Kart.

Where is the Turkuaz Kart application filed?

A foreign national with a residence permit of six months or more files the application from inside Turkey through the electronic e-Devlet system — they already have a Turkish foreigner number beginning with 99. If there is no lawful stay in Turkey yet, the application is filed through the Turkish embassy or consulate in the country where the foreign national is lawfully present or of which they are a national.

On what grounds can the Turkuaz Kart be cancelled?

The official booklet of the Ministry of Labour lists the grounds for cancellation: the holder did not enter Turkey within six months of the date the card was issued, or was absent from the country continuously for more than two years without good reason; did not renew their passport; worked in breach of the law or informally; did not work continuously for at least one year; filed an application with false or misleading information; failed to provide the documents requested by the ministry on time or, according to monitoring, ceased to meet the requirements for a card holder; or the Ministry of the Interior reported that the holder is banned from entry, will be refused a visa or will be subject to a deportation decision under law no. 6458. A cancelled card ceases to be valid immediately.

Other ways to move to Turkey

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Turkey.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.