The Turkish press card is an official identity document issued by the Directorate of Communications and accepted by all public and private institutions. Its regime sits in two texts: Additional Articles 1 to 8 of Press Law No. 5187 and the Press Card Regulation. This guide answers the questions that arise under those texts, in the order they come up - from application to cancellation.
Key Numbers
| Subject | Figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Number of card types | 5 | Reg. Art. 6 |
| Professional service for a permanent card | 18 years | Art. 14 |
| Free-card ceiling in the permanent-card calculation | 24 months | Art. 14/4 |
| Free card duration | 12 / 18 / 24 months | Art. 13/3 |
| Free card application window | 1 month from leaving | Art. 13/2 |
| Professional service certificate on application | At least 6 months | Art. 28/1 |
| Card validity | 10 years | Art. 47 |
| Ordinary commission meetings | At least 3 a year | Art. 34/1 |
| Commission quorum | 13 members | Art. 34/2 |
| Agenda finalised | 5 days before the meeting | Art. 35/1 |
| Notifying a change of title or workplace | 1 month | Art. 36 |
| Returning the card | 1 month | Art. 37 |
| Waiting period after an ethics cancellation | 1 year from return | Art. 38/4 |
| Loss / wear replacement requests | At most twice a year | Art. 45/3 |
| Temporary card (foreign) | Max. 3 months, extendable once | Art. 40/2 |
1. Card Types and Who Can Get One
- What are the types of Turkish press card?
- How do you get a permanent press card?
- Who can get a free press card?
- Can a foreign journalist get a Turkish press card?
- Who cannot get a Turkish press card?
- Can internet news site staff get a press card?
- Can a retired journalist hold a press card?
- Can a freelance journalist get a press card?
- Can an association or union officer get a press card?
- Can corporate communications staff get a press card?
- Can you work as a journalist without a press card?
2. General Conditions for the Individual
Article 8 of the Regulation lists seven conditions. Sub-paragraphs (f) and (g) are not required for owners of periodicals, legal person representatives, chairmen of radio and television boards, public sector employees, and Turkish citizens working for foreign organisations (Art. 8/2).
| Sub-para. | Condition |
|---|---|
| a | Having completed 18 years of age |
| b | Being a graduate of at least a high school or equivalent |
| c | Not being under legal incapacity or barred from public service |
| ç | Not having been convicted of the catalogue offences listed in the article |
| d | Not having been convicted of terrorism offences |
| e | Not having been convicted of the offences in Art. 25/2 of Law 5187 |
| f | A contract compliant with Law 5953 + working without a break of more than one month after leaving a job |
| g | Not engaging in commercial activity outside media work |
3. The Application Process and the Commission
- How do you apply?
- Which documents are required?
- What if the application is refused?
- How long does it take?
- Can a public information officer get a card?
- What is the professional service certificate?
- Who approves the application?
- How is the commission composed?
- The commission meeting schedule
- What is the quorum?
- Can you sue over a refusal?
- Is the card free?
- Application checklist
4. Outlet Requirements and Job Titles
The card depends not only on the person but on the organisation they work for. If the outlet loses its qualifying conditions, the cards of its staff are cancelled.
- Conditions for newspapers and magazines
- Conditions for news agencies
- Conditions for radio and television
- What if the outlet loses its conditions?
- Which job titles can get a card?
- Can advertising and marketing staff get a card?
- Can an accountant get a card?
- Can a trainee journalist get a card?
- Must the responsible editor live where the paper is published?
5. Quotas
- How are quotas set?
- Daily newspapers
- Magazines
- Internet news sites
- Local radio
- Local television
- Foreign bureau staff
- Can the same person be owner and reporter?
- Newspaper surface area calculation
- Quota calculator
| Organisation | Quota | Article |
|---|---|---|
| National radio and television | No limit - domestic and foreign bureaus included | Art. 26/2-a |
| Regional television | Board chairman + 19 staff | Art. 26/2-b |
| Local television | Board chairman + 10 staff | Art. 26/2-c |
| Regional radio | Board chairman + 7 staff | Art. 26/2-ç |
| Local radio | Board chairman + 2 staff | Art. 26/2-d |
| News site - 4 insured staff | Owner/representative + 4 staff | Art. 27/2-a |
| News site - 5-9 insured staff | Owner/representative + 9 staff | Art. 27/2-b |
| News site - 10 and above | No limit | Art. 27/2-c |
6. Cancellation, Return and Notification
7. The Card Itself
Card Types at a Glance
| Type | For whom | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Duty-based | Turkish citizen media members employed at a media organisation, and public information officers | 10 years |
| Fixed-term | Foreign media members whose field of duty covers Turkey | To the end of the year of issue |
| Temporary | Foreign media members coming to Turkey temporarily for news purposes | Max. 3 months |
| Free | Turkish citizens temporarily not working, or freelancing abroad | 12 / 18 / 24 months |
| Permanent | Those with at least 18 years of professional service | For life |
Bottom Line
The Turkish press card comes in five types. Eligibility depends on seven general conditions for the individual, on the qualifying conditions of the outlet, on the job title being on the relevant list, and on staying within the quota. Cards are valid for 10 years, must be returned within one month of leaving a job, and can be cancelled where the conditions are lost.
The Other Main Guides
| Guide | Scope |
|---|---|
| Turkish Press Law No. 5187: An Article-by-Article Guide | Definitions, the imprint, the declaration, liability, the right of reply, penalties |
| The Constitutional Basis of Press Freedom in Turkey | Constitution Arts. 13, 22, 25–32, 41, 90, 133 and 148 |
| RTÜK Legislation and Law No. 6112 | The 24 broadcasting principles, commercial communication, licensing, sanctions |
| TRT Legislation and Law No. 2954 | Broadcasting principles, the right of reply, liability, the levy |
| Harmful Publications and the Protection of Children in Turkey | Law No. 1117, the Board, the stamp, sale in envelopes, reporting on children |
| Copyright, Data Protection and Access to Information in Turkish News | Quotation, attribution, reader data and access to information |
| The Turkish Media Ancillary Legislation Map | Legal deposit, printing houses, elections, service, the levy, transmission, advertising |
| The Turkish Directorate of Communications: Organisation and Powers | Presidential Decree No. 14, the service units, 19 regional directorates, CIMER |
| Working as a Foreign Journalist in Turkey | Work permits, residence, card types, the letter of introduction, customs |
| The Right to Publish Official Announcements in Turkey | The waiting period, the staff, content, sales, traffic, indicators and the quota |
| The Press Advertisement Agency and Official Announcements in Turkey | The Agency’s organisation, the definition of an official announcement, the tariff, private announcements, principle decisions |
| Professions in the Turkish Press and Media: 90 Titles | Nine title lists, the 17 news fields and the press card quotas |
| Official Announcement Questions in Turkey | The official announcement questions most often asked in practice |