The free press card is designed for two situations: journalists temporarily not working, and Turkish citizen media members freelancing abroad. The basis is Article 13 of the Press Card Regulation.
Two Conditions
| Condition | Content |
|---|---|
| General conditions | Those in the first paragraph of Article 8 — except sub-paragraph (f) |
| Application window | Applying within one month of leaving a media organisation where the applicant worked for at least one year |
Not requiring sub-paragraph (f) makes sense: that sub-paragraph is the requirement of a Law 5953 contract and of working without a break — and the free card is designed precisely for a period of not working.
How Long Is the Card Issued For?
The third paragraph ties the duration to how long the person previously held a press card:
| Time previously holding a press card | Free card duration |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 years | 12 months |
| Between 5 and 10 years | 18 months |
| More than 10 years | 24 months |
The free card is therefore not open-ended; it provides a bridge of one to two years depending on professional history.
Freelancing Abroad
The fourth paragraph covers the second situation: Turkish citizen journalists freelancing abroad without being attached to any media organisation may be issued a free press card where their position is confirmed by the embassy or consulate in the country concerned.
The Card Is Returned If You Start Work
The second paragraph of Article 37 imposes the return obligation: a free press card issued on leaving a job is returned to the Directorate within one month of the date of starting work, and in any event of the expiry of the periods in Article 13.
Effect on the Permanent Card Calculation
Under Article 14/4, added in 2024, at most 24 months of time spent on a free card counts towards the eighteen years required for a permanent card. This is covered in the permanent card article.
Bottom Line
The free press card is issued to Turkish citizen media members who are temporarily not working or who freelance abroad. The application must be made within one month of leaving a job held for at least a year. The duration is 12, 18 or 24 months depending on how long a card was previously held, and the card must be returned within one month of starting work again.