Yes - but this is not a right the card confers by itself; it is an application process tied to a separate directive and to an assignment.
The Basis
The matter is governed by the Directorate of Communications' Directive on the Procedures and Principles to Be Followed in Service-Stamped Passport Applications by Press Members Holding a Press Card. Under Art. 3 of the Directive its bases are:
- Paragraphs (B) and (C) of Art. 14 of Passport Law No. 5682
- Art. 3/1-h of Presidential Decree No. 14 on the Organisation of the Directorate of Communications
- The Press Card Regulation
Art. 1 states the purpose: to regulate the procedures and principles on enabling press members working in local, regional and national media to benefit from the service-stamped passport scheme.
Who Is Covered?
Art. 2 confines the scope to two groups:
| Group | Condition |
|---|---|
| 1. Assigned press members | Press card holders working for press and broadcasting organisations operating under Laws No. 5187 and No. 6112 and assigned temporarily abroad by those organisations |
| 2. Permanent card holders | Holders of permanent press cards resident in Turkey |
What Is a Service-Stamped Passport?
Art. 4 defines it: the passport issued, under Passport Law No. 5682, to persons who cannot be issued a diplomatic or special-stamped passport, when they are sent abroad on official duty by the Government, special administrations or municipalities, or are taken into duty abroad.
Where the Application Is Made
Art. 5/1: service-stamped passport applications are made through the Press Cards Integrated Information System. Press members transmit their documents to the Directorate through that system.
Documents Required
The same paragraph lists the items:
- (a) A petition stating that the press member wishes to travel abroad
- (b) A document showing that they remain in post
- (c) 2 biometric passport photographs taken within the last 6 months
- (ç) A photocopy of the identity card carrying the Turkish ID number
- (d) The assignment letter
- (e) An undertaking to surrender the passport
- (f) All information and documents relating to the nature of the foreign assignment
What the Assignment Letter Must Contain
Art. 4 defines this document and fixes its content: the assignment letter is a letter addressed to the Directorate stating the country the press member will travel to, the departure and return dates, and the purpose of travel.
| Who | Who issues the letter |
|---|---|
| A press member in active journalism | The press or broadcasting organisation they work for |
| A permanent card holder who has left active journalism | The professional press organisation making the assignment |
| A person assigned by a public institution | The public institution or organisation making the assignment |
Two Critical Deadlines
| Period | Subject | Article |
|---|---|---|
| At least two weeks before | Documents reaching the Directorate before the date of departure abroad | Art. 5/2 |
| Within one week at the latest | Surrender of the passport to the Directorate from the date the foreign assignment ends | Art. 8/1 |
A Fresh Application for Every Assignment
Art. 9: the passport request is renewed for every foreign assignment of the press member. The passport is therefore not a document obtained once and held permanently.
The Approval Process
- Art. 6 - For press members travelling abroad on duty whose applications are found appropriate, the assignments become final when approved by the President of the Directorate.
- Art. 7 - The passport request form is approved by the President; provisions on delegation of authority are reserved. The form's shape and content are determined by the Ministry of Interior (Art. 4/f).
Assessment Criteria
Art. 10 governs how applications are assessed:
- (1) The nature of the foreign assignment must fall within journalistic activity and be directly related to the applicant's area of duty.
- (2) Where approval is requested in the assignment letter for more than one foreign duty, the one with the nearest date is taken into account.
- (3) Having applied to the Directorate under this Directive does not require a foreign duty approval to be issued; whether approval is given is at the Directorate's discretion.
Annulled by the Council of State: Giving Reasons
Art. 10/4 of the Directive read: "The Directorate is not obliged to give reasons for applications assessed negatively."
Spouses and Children Are Outside the Scope
Art. 11 is clear: no foreign duty approval is issued for the spouse and children of the press member.
Matters Not Covered by the Directive
Art. 12: on matters for which this Directive contains no provision, the provisions of the Ministry of Interior's passport legislation apply.
A Note: The Underlying Regulation Has Changed
Why the Card Type Matters
The scope article lists holders of permanent press cards as a separate group. Under Art. 14 of the Press Card Regulation the permanent card is issued for life to those with at least eighteen years of professional service. We cover this in the guide for retired journalists.
Summary
- Press card holders may apply for a service-stamped passport under a separate Directive.
- The scope is limited to card holders assigned abroad temporarily by their outlets and to permanent card holders resident in Turkey.
- The application is made at least two weeks before departure and the passport is returned within one week of the end of the assignment; the request is renewed for every assignment.
- Approval is at the Directorate's discretion; the paragraph removing the obligation to give reasons was annulled by the Council of State.