Turkish passport (Turkish: Türk pasaportu) are issued in accordance with the Passport Act from 15 July 1950 to Turkish citizens to travel abroad. Citizens of the de facto state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are also eligible to apply for a Turkish passport. Passports issued since 1 June 2010 are biometric and valid for up to 10 years. The Turkish passport is the 46th most powerful passport in the world according to the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 116 countries.
Types
Ordinary passport (Turkish: Umuma mahsus pasaport), also referred to as the Maroon Passport (Turkish: Bordo pasaport). It is issued to Turkish citizens who don't qualify for any of the following passport types.
Special passport (Turkish: Hususi pasaport), also referred to as the Green Passport (Turkish: Yeşil pasaport), allows the bearer to travel visa-free to the European countries (except the UK and Ireland), some 67 countries, including but not limited to Ivory Coast, China, the Philippines and others.[5] As opposed to the regular passport, it is exempt from the passport fee and is only subject to the booklet fee (₺790).[4] It is issued to;[6]
Academics and lawyers with at least 15 years of experience
The spouse of special passport holders
Unwed and unemployed children of special passport holders who live with their parents until they turn 25.
Service passport (Turkish: Hizmet pasaportu), also referred to as the Grey Passport (Turkish: Gri pasaport). It is issued to;[6]
People who do not qualify for the Special or diplomatic passports, however, are assigned to travel abroad for official and/or government related purposes.
Unwed and unemployed children of the service passport holders who live with parents, until they turn 25.
Diplomatic passport (Turkish: Diplomatik pasaport), also referred to as the Black Passport (Turkish: Siyah pasaport). Diplomatic passports are issued to diplomats, cabinet ministers and other government officials on positions of utmost importance to national security and government function. See below for a complete list of individuals eligible for a diplomatic passport:
Eligible individuals
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.
Visa requirements for Turkish ordinary passport holders
As of 2024, Turkish citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 118 countries and territories, ranking the Turkish passport 52nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[7]
Turkey is the only EU candidate country whose citizens are still required visas for their travels to the European Union member countries. Turkish passport along with Russian passport are the highest ranking passports whose holders are still required visas for their travels to the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Visa requirements for Turkish special, diplomatic and service passport holders
Apart from ordinary passports, the other 3 passport types offered are special, service and diplomatic passport types. All special passport holders can travel to all Schengen area countries without a visa. Special passports are also offered to different professional groups that meet certain conditions, especially public employees.
International travel using Turkish identity card
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:
Turkish biometric passport, compatible with the new ICAO standards, have been available since 1 June 2010.[8] Application appointments for the new passports can be reserved online through the government's website, applications must be lodged in person.[9]
Multiple passports
People with valid reasons may be allowed to hold more than one passport. This usually applies to people who travel frequently for business and may need a passport to travel while the other person is waiting for a visa to another country. Some Muslim-majority countries, such as Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen, do not issue visas to visitors who have an Israeli stamp or visa in their passport. In this case, the person can apply for a second passport to avoid travel problems.[10]