What Is the Turkuaz Kart, Who Can Get One and What Does It Change?

Published: 26 October 2026 · Reading time about 9 minutes

The Turkuaz Kart is a document granted to qualified foreign nationals, allowing them to benefit from the rights provided by an indefinite work permit. Its name is often heard but its content is mostly misunderstood; the document it is most often confused with is the Mavi Kart, and the two are granted to people in exactly opposite positions.

This article explains who can apply, why the first three years count as a transition period, the deadline that must not be missed for the card to become indefinite, and the link with citizenship.

Who can apply

The Law lists five groups. Acceptance of an application depends on an assessment that goes beyond falling within one of these groups.

• Foreign nationals counted as qualified labour
• Qualified or high-volume investors
• Scientists and researchers
• Those whose sporting, artistic or cultural activity has been successful at international level
• Those who contribute to the international recognition of Türkiye or of Turkish culture

A Turkuaz Kart is not issued to foreign nationals under temporary protection; this is a limit expressly written in the Law.

How the assessment is made

Applications are assessed through a points system. The criteria looked at include the level of education, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, and the effect of the activity or the investment on the national economy and on employment. An application that obtains sufficient points is concluded favourably.

The criteria are not fixed

It is reported that the assessment criteria are updated periodically. A profile that was sufficient a year ago may therefore not be sufficient today; the current criteria need to be looked at before the application.

The first three years: the transition period

A Turkuaz Kart is not granted as indefinite from the outset. It is issued on condition that the first three years are a transition period, and the status is monitored throughout that time.

How the monitoring works

An expert appointed by the Ministry prepares a monitoring report in twelve-month periods. The foreign national or the employer is obliged to submit the information and documents requested within fifteen days. A period of three months is allowed for any shortcoming identified.

The 180-day rule for becoming indefinite

The removal of the transition period condition does not happen of its own accord; it has to be requested. The request is made from the point at which one hundred and eighty days remain before the transition period ends and, in every case, before that period ends. On the request, the final report is prepared within thirty days; if it is favourable the card becomes indefinite, and if it is unfavourable the transition period may be extended or the card may be cancelled.

If the deadline is missed

There is a consequence here that cannot be put right: a request made after the deadline has passed is refused and the Turkuaz Kart becomes invalid. This consequence follows even where the obligations have been fulfilled in full throughout the three years.

The one date to put in the calendar

Marking the day one hundred and eighty days before the end date of the card's transition period and making the request within that window is the single most important precaution to take in this status.

What rights the card gives

The holder of the card benefits from the rights provided by an indefinite work permit; and since the holder of an indefinite work permit in turn benefits from the rights provided by a long-term residence permit, the rights are established through this indirect chain.

• The right to work is not tied to a time limit
• It does not give rise to an obligation to perform military service
• It does not give the right to vote, to stand for election or to enter public office
• Acquired rights in social security are reserved
• No separate travel permit is needed when changing province

Spouse and children

A Turkuaz Kart Holder's Relative Card is issued to the spouse and to the children the holder is responsible for maintaining. This card takes the place of a residence permit for as long as the main card is valid. The critical point is this: the relative's card does not give the right to work; a separate work permit is needed in order to work. If the main card is cancelled, the relative's card falls away with it.

Its link with citizenship

A Turkuaz Kart does not grant citizenship of its own accord. Once the transition period condition has been removed and provided there is no impediment in terms of national security and public order, the card holder, their foreign spouse and their children who are not of full age or who are dependent may apply for citizenship by the exceptional route. The five-year residence condition is not required on that route.

Whether the period carried by the card counts towards the five-year residence calculation on the general route is not answered directly by the sources. The only link that can be confirmed is the exceptional route; it is therefore safer to build the planning on that route.

The cases in which it is cancelled

• Not coming to Türkiye within six months from the date of validity
• Staying abroad continuously for more than two years without force majeure
• The passport period not being extended
• Working unlawfully or off the books
• Not working at all for at least one year continuously
• The submission of false or misleading documents
• A document requested during the transition period not being submitted, or the qualification being lost
• The existence of an entry ban or a deportation decision

The Turkuaz Kart and the Mavi Kart are not the same thing

The two documents are granted to people in exactly opposite positions, and confusing them causes a serious loss of time.

• The Mavi Kart is granted to those who were Turkish citizens by birth and left that citizenship with a permission to renounce, and to their descendants of a certain degree; it is indefinite and requires no work permit
• The Turkuaz Kart is a work permit document granted to qualified foreign nationals who have never been Turkish citizens
• The issuing authorities are different too: the Mavi Kart is issued by the civil registry directorates and the diplomatic missions, and the Turkuaz Kart by the ministry responsible for labour

Objection to a refusal or cancellation decision

An objection may be lodged with the Ministry against the Ministry's decisions within thirty days from the date of notification. Where the objection is refused, the administrative court route is open.

Where we help

We assess which category the profile falls within, set up the application file, prepare the documents requested during the transition period in good time, and keep track of the date for the request to make the card indefinite. The initial consultation is free of charge; at the end of the meeting we give you the fee and the timescale in writing.