Both cards are for foreign media members; what separates them is the area of duty.
Definitions
| Card | To whom it is issued | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed-term press card | Foreign media members whose area of duty covers Turkey | Art. 11 |
| Temporary press card | Foreign media members whose area of duty does not cover Turkey but who come to Turkey for news purposes for a limited period | Art. 12 |
Common Conditions
For both cards the conditions in Art. 9/1 are required:
- Documenting that they have been assigned by a media outlet
- Holding a work permit under International Labour Force Law No. 6735
- Presenting a letter of introduction obtained from the representation in Turkey of the country where the organisation's head office is located
Both articles additionally require the applicant to be a foreign media member.
The Distinguishing Condition
| Card | Additional condition |
|---|---|
| Fixed-term (Art. 11/2-c) | Documenting that their area of duty covers Turkey |
| Temporary (Art. 12/2-c) | Documenting that their area of duty does not cover Turkey but that they have come to Turkey for news purposes for a limited period |
The Difference in Application Documents
Art. 40 provides two different document sets:
| Document | Permanent duty (fixed-term card) | Temporary duty (temporary card) |
|---|---|---|
| Document showing the assignment and the service-fee relationship | Yes | - |
| Press member visa or work visa | Yes | - |
| Letter of introduction | Yes | Yes |
| Photocopy of the passport | Yes | Yes |
| Passport photograph | Yes | Yes |
| Period of duty and fields and subjects of work in Turkey | - | Yes |
A Special Rule on Work Permits
So coming on a temporary assignment does not remove the work permit obligation; it only changes the assessment procedure.
Period of Validity
Art. 39 sets a common rule for both groups: provided they meet the conditions in Art. 9, foreign media members operating in Turkey on a resident basis representing foreign media organisations, or coming to Turkey temporarily, may be issued a press card valid until the end of the year of issue, not exceeding the period of duty.
Closed to Both Groups
- Permanent press card - Art. 14/3: cannot be issued to foreign media members.
- Press traffic card - Art. 44/3: not issued to foreign media members.
- Post-linked press card - Art. 10/2-b: Turkish citizenship is required.
- Free press card - Art. 13: for Turkish citizen media members.
A Third Route for Foreigners Working in Turkey
Art. 39/1-b lists a further group: foreign media members working at nationally distributed periodicals in Turkey and at radio and television organisations broadcasting nationally and internationally. They too may be issued a card provided they meet the conditions in Art. 9.
Summary
- A fixed-term card goes to foreign media members whose area of duty covers Turkey.
- A temporary card goes to those whose area of duty does not cover Turkey but who come for news purposes for a limited period.
- The common conditions are the same; the difference is in documenting the area of duty and in the document set.
- Both are valid until the end of the year of issue, not exceeding the period of duty.