The application runs entirely electronically. Under Article 28 of the Press Card Regulation, a press card application is made by completing the press card declaration on the Directorate of Communications website in electronic form.
Two Documents That Must Be Uploaded
| Document | Note |
|---|---|
| Passport photograph | — |
| A document evidencing at least six months of professional work | The article expressly says "at least six months" |
Approval of the Declaration
The second paragraph sets the approval procedure: the printout of the declaration completed electronically is approved by the owners of the media organisation or by persons authorised in the trade registry.
There is an exception: for media organisations that have obtained a password for the system to be created by the Directorate and that meet the specified conditions, application declarations are approved electronically. A wet-signed printout is therefore not needed for organisations holding a password.
Contract Details Go into the Declaration
The fourth paragraph provides that the information in the applicant's contract drawn up in compliance with Law No. 5953 is written into the relevant part of the application declaration. The Directorate may request the contract physically if it considers it necessary.
So the contract is not attached at the outset but can be called for at any time. A contract that does not comply with Law 5953 will defeat the application when it is requested. How the contract is formed is covered in the written contract article.
Applicants Resident Abroad
The fifth paragraph creates a separate route. Turkish press members resident abroad apply by sending to the Directorate their application documents together with a letter from the embassy or consulate general in their country of residence confirming their position.
Processing Runs Through the Regional Directorate
Under the third paragraph, the processing of applications made electronically is carried out electronically by the relevant regional directorate.
What Happens Next?
Article 29 governs the initial review. The Directorate may request information and documents about the applicant from:
- Press and broadcasting professional bodies
- Governorates
- The Directorate General of Judicial Records and Statistics
- Tax offices
- The Social Security Institution
- The Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs
- The Press Advertising Agency
- Any other institution considered necessary
The files of those found to meet the conditions are referred to the Commission (Art. 29/3).
Bottom Line
The application is made by completing the press card declaration electronically on the Directorate of Communications website, uploading a passport photograph and a document evidencing at least six months of professional work. The declaration is approved by the organisation's owner or an authorised person — electronically where the organisation holds a password. Files that meet the conditions are referred to the Commission.