The Turquoise Card is a special employment and residence status designed for highly qualified foreign professionals, investors, scientists, researchers, artists and other individuals whose work may contribute to Türkiye’s economy, technology, culture or international recognition. As part of the wider framework of labor law in Turkey, the Turquoise Card provides qualifying foreign nationals with rights associated with an indefinite work permit while allowing their spouse and dependent children to obtain a document that serves as a residence permit.
The Turquoise Card should not be confused with an ordinary work permit, residence permit or Turkish citizenship. It is a selective legal status granted following an individual assessment by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
Applicants must demonstrate that their qualifications, professional achievements, investments or activities satisfy the applicable legal and administrative criteria. A university degree or senior job title alone does not automatically establish eligibility.
This guide explains who may apply for a Turquoise Card in Turkey, the rights it provides, the three-year transition period and the main stages of the application process.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Turquoise Card procedures and administrative requirements may change. Each application should be evaluated according to the applicant’s qualifications and current official practice.
What Is the Turquoise Card in Turkey?
The Turquoise Card, officially known in Turkish as the Turkuaz Kart, is regulated under Türkiye’s international labour legislation.
It is intended to attract individuals who may make a significant contribution to the country through their education, professional experience, investment, scientific work, technological expertise, cultural achievements or international activities.
A Turquoise Card holder benefits from the rights associated with an indefinite work permit. Unlike a standard employer-specific work permit, the status is designed for individuals whose qualifications or contributions are considered particularly valuable under Türkiye’s international labour policy.
The legal assessment may take into account matters such as:
- Educational background
- Professional knowledge and experience
- Salary and occupational qualifications
- Contribution to science and technology
- Investment or export capacity
- Potential contribution to employment
- National or international professional achievements
- Contribution to Türkiye’s economy
- Contribution to Turkish culture or international recognition
- Recommendations and priorities arising from international labour policy
The Ministry examines the applicant’s overall profile. Meeting one general characteristic does not guarantee that a Turquoise Card will be granted.
Who Can Apply for a Turquoise Card?
Turquoise Card eligibility is not limited to a single profession or investment type. The programme covers several categories of highly qualified foreign nationals.
1. Highly Qualified Foreign Professionals
A foreign national may be considered a highly qualified professional based on factors including:
- Level of education
- Professional experience
- Occupational expertise
- Salary level
- Seniority within a specialised field
- Contribution to science and technology
- Qualifications that are difficult to obtain or replace
- Potential contribution to Türkiye’s labour market
Potential applicants may include senior executives, engineers, technology professionals, medical or scientific specialists and individuals with recognised expertise in strategically important industries.
However, professional experience must be supported by reliable documentation. A job title or curriculum vitae alone may not be sufficient.
2. Highly Qualified Foreign Investors
Foreign investors may potentially qualify where the proposed or existing investment makes a significant contribution to Türkiye.
The assessment may consider:
- The size and nature of the investment
- Capital committed to the business
- Export performance
- Employment created or expected to be created
- Contribution to regional development
- Technological or industrial value
- Financial capacity
- Sustainability of the investment
- The applicant’s ownership or management role
The Turquoise Card is not granted automatically to every foreign company shareholder or business owner. An ordinary foreign investment or company incorporation may require a different work permit structure.
The nature, size and expected economic impact of the investment must be assessed before choosing the Turquoise Card route.
3. Scientists and Researchers
Scientists and researchers whose work contributes to scientific or technological development may be eligible.
Relevant evidence may include:
- Academic qualifications
- Academic title and institutional position
- Published scientific research
- Citations and international recognition
- Patents, inventions or registered intellectual property
- Participation in strategic research projects
- Work with recognised universities or research institutions
- Contributions to fields considered important for Türkiye
The assessment focuses not only on formal education but also on the quality, significance and potential impact of the applicant’s work.
4. Internationally Successful Artists, Athletes and Cultural Figures
Foreign nationals with recognised international achievements in cultural, artistic or sporting activities may also be considered.
Relevant evidence may include:
- National or international awards
- Recognised performances or exhibitions
- Professional rankings
- International competitions
- Publications or media coverage
- Membership in recognised professional organisations
- Contracts with established institutions
- Documented contribution to the relevant field
Success should be verifiable through objective and reliable records.
5. Individuals Contributing to Türkiye’s International Recognition
Foreign nationals whose activities contribute to the international recognition of Türkiye or Turkish culture may potentially qualify.
This category may include individuals carrying out internationally recognised work concerning:
- Turkish culture
- Tourism
- Academic cooperation
- International relations
- Cultural promotion
- Economic cooperation
- Strategic communication
- Activities connected with Türkiye’s national interests
The applicant must demonstrate a concrete and documented connection between their activities and the contribution claimed.
Who Cannot Receive a Turquoise Card?
Foreign nationals under temporary protection are excluded from the Turquoise Card system under the current legal framework.
Other applicants may also be found ineligible if:
- Their qualifications do not satisfy the applicable criteria
- The submitted evidence is insufficient
- Their proposed activity is not considered to make the required contribution
- The application contains inaccurate or misleading information
- There are national security or public order concerns
- The proposed work concerns a profession legally reserved for Turkish citizens
- The applicant does not satisfy other requirements under Turkish law
Eligibility should be examined before a detailed application file is prepared.
What Rights Does the Turquoise Card Provide?
A Turquoise Card holder benefits from the rights associated with an indefinite work permit, subject to restrictions imposed by Turkish law.
These rights may include:
- The right to work in Türkiye
- The ability to work independently or under an employer, subject to applicable professional rules
- Residence rights connected with the Turquoise Card
- Access to social security rights in accordance with applicable legislation
- Long-term professional continuity without repeated short-term permit renewals
- The ability to enter and leave Türkiye, subject to passport and immigration requirements
- A residence-related status for eligible family members
The Turquoise Card does not remove restrictions applicable to professions reserved for Turkish citizens. Separate professional recognition, licensing, equivalency or institutional approval may still be required for regulated professions.
The card also does not grant political rights or other rights legally reserved exclusively for Turkish citizens.
The Three-Year Transition Period
The Turquoise Card is initially issued subject to a three-year transition period.
During this period, the Ministry may monitor whether the foreign national continues to carry out the activities and fulfil the commitments forming the basis of the application. The Ministry may request information and documents from the applicant or employer concerning the applicant’s work, investment, research or professional activities.
The transition period is therefore not merely a waiting period. Applicants should maintain evidence showing that their professional or investment activities continue as declared.
Documents that may become relevant during monitoring include:
- Employment records
- Social security records
- Tax and company records
- Investment documentation
- Export and employment figures
- Scientific publications
- Research reports
- Project records
- Evidence of cultural or sporting activities
- Updated professional information
If the Turquoise Card is not cancelled during the transition period, the holder may apply for removal of the transition-period notation.
This application may be made within the final 180 days before the three-year period expires and must be completed before the transition period ends. An application submitted after the period has expired may be rejected, and the Turquoise Card may become invalid.
The expiry date should therefore be monitored carefully.
What Happens After the Transition Period?
The Turquoise Card does not automatically become indefinite merely because three years have passed.
The holder must apply within the required period for the transition-period notation to be removed. The competent authority evaluates whether the holder has maintained the qualifications and activities supporting the original application.
If the application is accepted, the transition notation is removed and the Turquoise Card continues without a fixed term.
If the holder does not apply in time or if the conditions are no longer satisfied, the status may be lost.
Can the Applicant’s Family Benefit from the Turquoise Card?
The spouse and dependent children of a Turquoise Card holder may receive a document showing that they are relatives of the card holder. This document serves as a residence permit under the applicable rules.
This family document should not automatically be interpreted as a work permit for the spouse or children. A family member wishing to work in Türkiye may need an independent work permit or another legally recognised authorisation.
The eligibility of a child may depend on factors including:
- Age
- Dependency
- Family relationship
- Custody arrangements
- Marital status
- Educational circumstances
- Applicable immigration rules
Family documents issued abroad may need to be apostilled or legalised, translated into Turkish and notarised.
How to Apply for a Turquoise Card in Turkey
The appropriate application route depends on whether the applicant is legally present in Türkiye or applying from abroad.
Applications are processed through the system administered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Where an application begins abroad, procedures involving the relevant Turkish diplomatic or consular mission may also be required.
The general process may involve the following stages.
Step 1: Preliminary Eligibility Assessment
The applicant’s professional, scientific, investment or cultural profile should first be examined to determine the most appropriate eligibility category.
This assessment should consider:
- The applicant’s qualifications
- The strength of the available evidence
- The nature of the planned activity in Türkiye
- The expected economic, technological or cultural contribution
- The applicant’s immigration history
- Any criminal, security or public-order issues
- Whether another work permit route would be more appropriate
A Turquoise Card application should not be selected solely because it appears more advantageous than an ordinary work permit.
Step 2: Selection of the Appropriate Application Category
The application should clearly identify whether the foreign national relies primarily on their status as:
- A highly qualified professional
- A qualified investor
- A scientist or researcher
- An internationally successful artist or athlete
- A person contributing to Türkiye’s international recognition
An applicant may have characteristics belonging to more than one category. Nevertheless, the application file should present a coherent and verifiable principal basis.
Step 3: Preparation of Supporting Documents
Documents should be selected according to the applicant’s category and individual circumstances.
The application should explain not only what the applicant has achieved but also why those qualifications or activities are relevant to Türkiye’s international labour policy.
Foreign documents may require:
- Apostille certification
- Consular legalisation
- Sworn Turkish translation
- Notarisation
- Recognition or equivalency procedures
- Verification by the issuing institution
Incorrectly legalised or translated documents may delay the evaluation.
Step 4: Electronic Application
The required information and supporting documents are submitted through the applicable electronic system.
Applicants should ensure that:
- Passport information is accurate
- Names are written consistently
- Dates correspond across all documents
- Qualifications are properly documented
- Employment or investment information is current
- Contact information is correct
- Translations correspond with the original documents
Differences between the passport, diplomas, corporate documents and application forms should be addressed before submission.
Step 5: Administrative Evaluation
The Ministry assesses the application according to the applicable international labour policy and evaluation criteria.
The assessment may examine the applicant’s:
- Education
- Experience
- Professional qualifications
- Salary
- Investment
- Exports
- Employment contribution
- Scientific work
- Technology contribution
- Academic recognition
- International achievements
- Proposed activities in Türkiye
The authorities may request additional information or documents. An incomplete response may adversely affect the application.
Step 6: Decision and Issuance of the Card
If the application is approved and the required administrative procedures are completed, the Turquoise Card is issued subject to the initial three-year transition period.
The holder must continue to comply with Turkish immigration, employment, tax, social security and professional regulations.
Documents Commonly Required
The exact documents depend on the applicant’s category. A typical application file may include:
- Valid passport
- Passport translation where required
- Biometric photograph
- Diploma and academic records
- Professional certificates
- Curriculum vitae
- Employment contract or appointment document
- Documents showing salary and professional position
- Reference letters
- Evidence of professional experience
- Scientific publications and citation records
- Patent or intellectual property documentation
- Research-project records
- Investment and company documents
- Trade registry records
- Financial statements
- Export documentation
- Employment records
- Evidence of international awards or achievements
- Documents relating to artistic, cultural or sporting activities
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificates for children
- Documents establishing dependency
- Criminal record or other background documentation where requested
Submitting a large number of documents does not necessarily make an application stronger. The documents should be relevant, reliable and organised around the legal basis of the application.
How Is a Turquoise Card Application Evaluated?
Turquoise Card applications are subject to an individual assessment. There is no general rule under which every foreign national with a university degree, senior position or investment automatically qualifies.
The authorities may consider:
- Whether the applicant’s qualifications are exceptional or strategically important
- Whether the claimed achievements can be independently verified
- Whether the proposed work benefits Türkiye’s economy or labour market
- Whether the investment is genuine and sustainable
- Whether the investment is likely to create employment
- Whether scientific or technological work has measurable value
- Whether cultural, artistic or sporting achievements are recognised internationally
- Whether the applicant’s profile is consistent with national labour policy
- Whether the applicant presents a security or public-order concern
The evaluation may involve a scoring or assessment system, together with administrative discretion under the applicable legislation.
Turquoise Card vs Regular Work Permit
The Turquoise Card and an ordinary work permit serve different purposes.
| Turquoise Card | Regular work permit |
|---|---|
| Intended for highly qualified or strategically valuable applicants | Used for the general employment of foreign nationals |
| Subject to an individual qualification and contribution assessment | Generally connected with a particular employer, workplace or position |
| Initially includes a three-year transition period | Usually issued for a defined period |
| Provides rights associated with an indefinite work permit | Must generally be extended according to the applicable permit period |
| Family members may receive a residence-equivalent document | Family members require their own immigration status |
| Not suitable for every foreign employee | More commonly used for ordinary employment relationships |
Foreign nationals who do not satisfy the Turquoise Card criteria may still qualify for a standard work permit in Turkey.
Choosing the correct permit route at the beginning may prevent unnecessary delays and expenses.
Turquoise Card vs Turkish Citizenship
A Turquoise Card is not a Turkish passport and does not automatically make its holder a Turkish citizen.
The card primarily concerns the foreign national’s right to work and reside in Türkiye. Turkish citizenship is a separate legal status governed by nationality legislation.
Turquoise Card holders may fall within the group of persons who can be considered for exceptional Turkish citizenship under the applicable legislation. However, this does not create an automatic right to citizenship.
Any citizenship procedure remains subject to:
- A separate application or administrative process
- National security and public-order review
- Examination by the competent authorities
- Satisfaction of the applicable citizenship requirements
- A final decision by the authorised state bodies
Applicants considering long-term nationality options can review Tuva Law’s Turkish citizenship law services. The two procedures should nevertheless be planned and documented separately.
Can a Turquoise Card Application Be Rejected?
Yes. An application may be rejected where the authorities determine that the applicant does not satisfy the relevant criteria or that the documentation does not adequately support the claimed qualifications.
Potential reasons may include:
- Insufficient evidence of professional qualifications
- An investment that does not demonstrate the required contribution
- Unverified academic or professional claims
- Inconsistent documents
- Missing translations or legalisation
- Incorrect or misleading information
- A proposed activity reserved for Turkish citizens
- Immigration or work-permit violations
- Public-order or national-security concerns
- Failure to provide requested additional documents
The legal and factual grounds of a rejection should be examined before a new application or legal challenge is considered.
Can an Existing Turquoise Card Be Cancelled?
A Turquoise Card may be cancelled if the legal conditions cease to be satisfied or if the holder fails to comply with the applicable requirements.
Circumstances requiring particular attention may include:
- False or misleading information in the application
- Failure to continue the activity forming the basis of the card
- Failure to provide monitoring information
- Serious violations of employment or immigration legislation
- Invalid or fraudulent documents
- National-security or public-order concerns
- Failure to apply for removal of the transition period in time
- Other cancellation grounds established by law
A holder whose employment, investment or professional circumstances change should determine whether the change must be reported to the competent authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Turquoise Card a permanent work permit?
A Turquoise Card holder benefits from the rights associated with an indefinite work permit. However, the card is initially issued with a three-year transition period. The holder must apply in time for the transition notation to be removed.
Does the Turquoise Card automatically become indefinite after three years?
No. An application must be submitted within the final 180 days of the transition period and before that period expires. Failure to apply in time may cause the card to become invalid.
Can every university graduate apply?
A university degree may support an application but does not automatically establish eligibility. The applicant’s experience, achievements, expertise and potential contribution to Türkiye are assessed together.
Can a foreign investor apply?
A highly qualified investor may apply where the investment, exports, employment creation, technology contribution or other economic effects satisfy the applicable evaluation criteria. Forming or owning an ordinary company does not automatically result in eligibility.
Can the spouse of a Turquoise Card holder work in Türkiye?
The spouse may receive a document that serves as a residence permit. This does not necessarily provide an automatic right to work. A separate work permit may be required.
Does the Turquoise Card provide Turkish citizenship?
No. The Turquoise Card does not automatically grant citizenship. A holder may potentially be considered under exceptional citizenship provisions, but citizenship requires a separate administrative assessment and decision.
Can temporary protection beneficiaries apply?
No. Foreign nationals under temporary protection are excluded from the Turquoise Card system under the current rules.
Is the Turquoise Card linked to a single employer?
The status differs from an ordinary employer-specific work permit and provides rights associated with an indefinite work permit. However, regulated professions and other legal restrictions continue to apply.
Can an application be made from abroad?
An application may be initiated from abroad through the applicable Turkish foreign-mission and Ministry procedures. The appropriate method depends on the applicant’s location and legal status.
Is approval guaranteed if the applicant meets the general description?
No. Every application is evaluated individually. The authorities examine the applicant’s evidence, qualifications, proposed contribution and compliance with current international labour policy.
Legal Assistance with Turquoise Card Applications
A Turquoise Card application requires more than completing an electronic form. The applicant must identify the correct eligibility category, document their qualifications and present a coherent explanation of their potential contribution to Türkiye.
Tuva Law and Consultancy assists international professionals, investors, researchers and foreign nationals with:
- Preliminary eligibility assessments
- Evaluation of the appropriate work-permit route
- Preparation and review of application documents
- Apostille, legalisation and translation planning
- Corporate and investment-document review
- Applications involving family members
- Responses to requests for additional documents
- Review of rejection and cancellation decisions
- Work-permit and immigration compliance
Foreign nationals seeking assistance may contact an English-speaking lawyer in Ankara to discuss the general legal framework applicable to their professional, investment or immigration plans in Türkiye.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Turquoise Card requirements and administrative practices may change. Each application should be evaluated according to its individual circumstances and the rules applicable at the time of submission.
Legal Review
Reviewed by: Attorney Osman Selçuk Akyüz
Position: Founding Attorney, Tuva Law and Consultancy
This article was reviewed by Attorney Osman Selçuk Akyüz for its general consistency with Turkish international labour law and the current administrative framework governing Turquoise Card applications.
Last reviewed: 19 August 2026
