Turkish Passport Types and Benefits

The Turkish government offers several types of passports to Turkish citizens and foreigners who have obtained citizenship. Each type is designated for a specific group and has distinct features. What are the types of Turkish passports? What documents are required to obtain one? And what are the procedures to get it? Follow this article to answer these questions.

Types of Turkish Passports

Red Turkish Passport (General Passport)

The red passport is the passport that every Turkish citizen or someone who has obtained Turkish citizenship can get, provided their application is approved by the Ministry of Interior.

Features of the Red Passport

• Allows its holder to enter more than 68 countries without a visa.
• Provides protection by the Turkish state while the holder is abroad.

Green Turkish Passport (Special Passport)

Green passports are issued to certain groups of civil servants, Turkish lawyers, and foreign investors who own export companies, subject to strict legal requirements. This opportunity is not granted to all registered export companies in Turkey. Partners, managers, or any chosen employee from Turkish export companies can obtain the green passport, provided the export companies have an average annual export exceeding $500,000 over three calendar years before the year of application. This means companies must have total exports of at least $1.5 million over the past three years.

Features of the Green Passport

• Allows entry to more than 160 countries without a visa. The holder can also get an instant visa upon arrival in many countries and can obtain an e-visa for many destinations.
• Receives official sponsorship from Turkish authorities, ensuring safety and providing additional travel and stay facilities abroad.
• Easier handling of routine procedures, whether obtaining a visa or any other legal process in the country.

Grey Turkish Passport (Official Passport)

Grey passports are generally issued to individuals who do not have a green or black passport and need to travel abroad to represent the Turkish state, such as municipal employees, journalists, embassy staff, and representatives of international organizations. Since the passport is personal, the spouses and children under 18 of grey passport holders can also benefit. Turkish national athletes can also obtain the grey passport. It is important to note that this passport is only used for the assigned mission and cannot be used for tourism or private business purposes. It expires as soon as the assigned mission ends.

Features of the Grey Passport

• Legal residency in the country where the employee is sent.
• Benefit from some privileges that facilitate the employee’s mission.
• Exemption from taxes and fees related to the passport, with only the booklet fee being paid.
• Entry to many countries without a visa.

Black Turkish Passport (Diplomatic Passport)

The black passport is the most powerful type of Turkish passport, issued to government officials and diplomats such as the President, ambassadors, members of parliament, and ministers. This passport remains valid until their retirement.

Features of the Black Passport

• Free movement between countries without inspection or stopping.
• Facilitates all travel and passage procedures as quickly as possible.

Required Documents for Obtaining the Turkish Passport

• Turkish personal ID or temporary identity document.
• Two personal photos.
• Being 18 years old or having parental consent for those under 18 or individuals with special needs.
• Student certificate for students.
• Fee payment receipt obtained from the Turkish Post (PTT).
• Proof of residence document to establish the residence address.
• Filling out the Turkish passport application form.
• For passport renewal, the expired passport must be submitted.

Strength of the Turkish Passport

The Turkish passport ranks 36th according to the Passport Yandex classification, allowing its holder to enter 68 countries without a visa and 51 countries upon arrival, making it one of the strongest passports in the world.

Steps to Apply for a Turkish Passport

• Book an appointment on the Turkish Civil Registry (Nüfus) website.
• Pay the passport issuance fees at one of the Turkish Post (PTT) centers and ensure to obtain the payment receipt.
• Go to the Civil Registry with the required documents mentioned above.
• Fill out the application form with the necessary information.
• After that, you can receive the passport by having it sent to the address registered with the Civil Registry within a maximum period of 30 days.

Ways to Obtain the Turkish Passport

• Buying property in Turkey worth $400,000 or more.
• Investing in the country with an estimated amount of half a million US dollars or purchasing bonds of the same value.
• Depositing $500,000 in an official Turkish bank without spending it for three consecutive years.
• Proving Turkish ancestry with Turkish documents and records.
• Marrying a Turkish citizen for three years.
• Creating job opportunities for 50 Turkish citizens under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

In conclusion, we hope our article on the types of Turkish passports, their benefits, and the required documents to obtain them has provided useful information and answered your questions about how to get a Turkish passport and the benefits of having one.