The permanent press card is the profession's longest-lasting document: once issued it is valid for life. Article 14 of the Press Card Regulation ties the requirement to a single number — at least eighteen years of professional service.
Who Can Get One?
| Who | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Media members | At least 18 years of professional service |
| Public information officers | Having held a press card for at least 18 years |
| Foreign media members | Cannot be issued (Art. 14/3) |
The difference between the first two rows matters: for media members the measure is professional service; for public information officers it is having held a press card.
The Other Conditions
The second paragraph of Article 14 provides that the general conditions in Article 8 apply except sub-paragraph (f). That sub-paragraph is the requirement of a contract compliant with Law No. 5953 and of working without a break.
So an applicant for a permanent card need not be employed at a media organisation at the time of application; but all the other conditions — age, education and criminal record — do apply. The full list is in the application checklist.
Free-Card Periods: At Most 24 Months Count
The provision was added by Presidential Decision No. 8624 of 6/6/2024. Its practical meaning: however long a career has been spent on a free card, only 24 months of it count towards the eighteen years.
| Time spent on a free card | Counted |
|---|---|
| 12 months | 12 months |
| 24 months | 24 months |
| 40 months | 24 months |
| 60 months | 24 months |
The Advantage of the Permanent Card
- Duration. A duty-based card is valid for 10 years (Art. 47); the permanent card is for life.
- No tie to a job. A duty-based card must be returned within one month on leaving or on a change of job title (Art. 37). The permanent card has no such tie.
Can It Be Cancelled?
Yes. The permanent card is also subject to the cancellation grounds in Article 38: loss of the conditions, letting someone else use the card, or breach of press ethics. This is covered in the cancellation article.
Bottom Line
The permanent press card is issued for life to media members with at least 18 years of professional service and to public information officers who have held a card for 18 years. The Law 5953 contract requirement is not applied; the other general conditions are. At most 24 months of free-card time counts towards the total, and the card cannot be issued to foreign media members.