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Turquoise Card — highly qualified talent, investor or contributor

TurkeyTalent and merit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which exceptional-talent, academic, scientific, artistic, technological, cultural or other profiles does the pathway target?

The Turquoise Card targets five profiles: a highly qualified labour force in terms of education level, wage, professional knowledge and experience and contribution to science and technology; a person considered a highly qualified investor in terms of level of investment or export, size of employment provided and contribution to scientific and technological development; a scientist or researcher contributing to scientific and technological development or working in fields considered strategic for the country; a person successful at international level in cultural, artistic or sporting activities; and a person who contributes to the international recognition or promotion of Türkiye or Turkish culture and is active internationally on matters related to Türkiye's national interests.

See recorded sources

What achievements, recognition, awards, publications, reputation or other evidence establishes the required level?

The level is assessed on education level, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, and the impact of the applicant's activities or investments in Türkiye on the country's economy and employment, together with the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No points table, salary figure, publication count or award list is published on the captured pages.
  • https://www.csgb.gov.tr/uigm/en/turkuaz-kart/
    In line with international labour force policy; Turquoise (Turkuaz) Card is given to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate in accordance with their education level, professional experience, contribution to science and technology, the impact of their activities or investments in Türkiye on the country's economy and employment, and the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board and the procedures and principles determined by the Ministry.

Is an employer, nominator, recognised body, peer group or government endorsement required?

The card can be issued to foreigners whose applications are deemed appropriate in line with international labour force policy, with the recommendations of the International Labour Force Policy Advisory Board and the Ministry's procedures and principles taken into account. During the transition period the Ministry may request information and documents from the employer or the foreigner about the activities carried out. The official source does not state whether an employer, nominator or recognised body must support the application.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The pages do not state whether an employer, nominator or recognised body must support or submit the application.

Can the holder change employer, work independently, establish a business or conduct other professional activity? What is the family position?

The Turquoise Card holder benefits from the rights of the indefinite work permit; a permanent work permit is issued without an end date and without being bound to a specific employer. Holders can travel between provinces within the validity period without a travel permit. The spouse and dependent children are given a document proving they are relatives of the holder, which serves as a residence permit. Foreigners under temporary protection are not granted a Turquoise Card.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The pages do not state whether the holder may work self-employed or establish a business.
  • That the indefinite work permit named on the Turquoise Card page is the permanent work permit is read from the parallel wording of the Ministry pages, not stated in one sentence.

What duration, renewal and accelerated or normal longer-term residence pathway is officially stated?

The Turquoise Card is granted with a provisional first three years as a transition period. Unless the card is cancelled during that period under Article 15 of the Regulation on Turquoise Card, the transition period is treated as completed and removed on the foreigner's application, and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued. That application must be made within one hundred and eighty days before the end of the transition period and in any case not after it ends; after that the application to remove the transition period registration is rejected and the card becomes invalid.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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