No. Art. 44/3 prohibits this expressly.
The Article in Full
Art. 44 of the Press Card Regulation has three paragraphs:
- (1) A press traffic card may be issued to press card holders on request.
- (2) The procedures and principles for issuing and using the press traffic card, the facilities it will provide and, where necessary, its withdrawal, are determined jointly by the Directorate and the Ministry of Interior.
- (3) Press traffic cards are not issued to foreign media members.
What the Second Paragraph Means
The Card Is Tied to the Press Card
The press traffic card is not an independent document; it is issued to press card holders. That link also shows in the cancellation regime.
Art. 38/1-c: where it is established that the press card, or a card issued in connection with it, has been let out for use by someone else, the press card is cancelled by the Directorate.
The Other Document Closed to Foreigners
The traffic card is not the only document closed to foreigners. Art. 14/3: a permanent press card cannot be issued to foreign media members.
| Document | To a foreigner | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-term press card | Issued | Art. 11 |
| Temporary press card | Issued | Art. 12 |
| Permanent press card | Cannot be issued | Art. 14/3 |
| Press traffic card | Not issued | Art. 44/3 |
| Post-linked press card | Turkish citizenship required | Art. 10/2-b |
| Free press card | For Turkish citizen media members | Art. 13 |
A Facility Open to Foreigners: Customs
There is, by contrast, a facility specific to foreign press members: Council of Ministers Decision No. 87/12201 (Official Gazette 4/11/1987-19624) exempts foreign press and broadcasting organisations and their foreign national members from all customs duties, fees and charges on their professional tools and equipment and on vehicles such as cars, minibuses and caravans.
The Card's General Function
The press card itself performs the same function for foreigners. Art. 5: press cards are official identity documents issued by the Directorate and to be accepted by all public and private institutions.
We cover what the card provides in what a press card entitles you to.
Summary
- Press traffic cards are not issued to foreign media members (Art. 44/3).
- The traffic card may be issued only to press card holders and only on request.
- Its facilities are set jointly by the Directorate and the Ministry of Interior.
- The facility open to foreigners is the customs exemption under Decision No. 87/12201.