The Turkish press card is not a single document. Additional Article 1 of Press Law No. 5187 and Article 6 of the Press Card Regulation recognise five separate types; which one you receive depends on who you work for, your citizenship and your professional seniority.
The Five Types
| Type | Issued to | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Duty-based | Turkish citizen media members employed at a media organisation, and public information officers | Art. 10 |
| Fixed-term | Foreign media members whose field of duty covers Turkey | Art. 11 |
| Temporary | Foreign media members whose field of duty does not cover Turkey and who come temporarily for news purposes | Art. 12 |
| Free | Turkish citizen media members temporarily not working, or freelancing abroad | Art. 13 |
| Permanent | Those with at least 18 years of professional service — for life | Art. 14 |
The Card Is an Official Identity Document
Article 5 of the Regulation defines its nature: the press card is an official identity document issued by the Directorate of Communications and accepted by all public and private institutions.
The card's form, security features and the information it carries are determined and announced by the Directorate (Art. 6/2).
Durations Differ by Type
| Type | Validity |
|---|---|
| Duty-based | General rule: 10 years (Art. 47) |
| Free | 12, 18 or 24 months according to how long the previous card was held (Art. 13/3) |
| Temporary | At most 3 months, taking the assignment into account; extendable once (Art. 40/2) |
| Fixed-term | To the end of the year of issue, not exceeding the assignment (Art. 39) |
| Permanent | For life (Art. 14) |
Which Type Should You Apply For?
- Employed at a media organisation → duty-based
- Left a job and applying within one month → free
- Completed 18 years in the profession → permanent
- A foreign national whose field of duty covers Turkey → fixed-term
- A foreign national here temporarily → temporary
Bottom Line
There are five types: duty-based, fixed-term, temporary, free and permanent. The duty-based card goes to employees, the free card bridges a gap, and the permanent card is issued for life to those with 18 years in the profession. Fixed-term and temporary cards are specific to foreign media members.
The permanent card is covered in the permanent card article and the free card in the free card article.