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![]() The front cover of a current Turkish biometric passport ![]() | |
Type | Passport |
Issued by | ![]() |
First issued | 1 June 2010 (1st generation biometric passport) 1 April 2018[1] (2nd generation biometric passport) 25 August 2022[2] (3rd generation biometric passport) |
Purpose | Identification, international travel |
Valid in | All countries |
Eligibility | Turkish citizenship or Northern Cyprus citizenship[3] |
Expiration | 10 years (5 years if under 18 years of age or if is a Turkish Cypriot)[3] |
Cost | ₺8623[4] |
Turkish passport (Turkish: Türk pasaportu) are issued in accordance with the Passport Act from 15 July 1950 to Turkish citizens to travel abroad. Citizens of the de facto state of the Northern Cyprus are also eligible to apply for a Turkish passport.
Passports issued since 1 June 2010 are biometric and valid for up to 10 years.
Title | The nature of importance |
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The President of Turkey | Executive |
Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey | Legislative |
Cabinet Ministers | Executive |
Constitutional Court members | Judicial |
Supreme Court of Appeals members | Judicial |
Council of State members | Judicial |
Court of Jurisdictional Disputes members | Judicial |
Court of Accounts members | Judicial |
First Chairperson of the General Staff | Judicial |
Second Chairperson of the General Staff | Judicial |
Chief Public Prosecutor | Judicial |
Full Generals | Military |
Admirals | Military |
Former Presidents | Executive |
Former Speakers of Legislative Assemblies | Legislative |
Former Prime Ministers | Executive |
Former Foreign Ministers | Diplomatic |
Secretary-General of the Presidency | Executive |
Undersecretaries of the Prime Ministry and Ministries | Executive |
Head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs | Religious |
Individuals with the title of Ambassador | Diplomatic |
Professional members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Diplomatic |
Senior officials of the Presidency General Secretariat sent on official missions | Diplomatic |
Advisers appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Attachés appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Assistants appointed at the representations of the Republic of Turkey abroad | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to conduct international official negotiations on behalf of the Government | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to contract treaties | Diplomatic |
Individuals sent to attend international meetings, congresses, and conferences | Diplomatic |
Political couriers | Diplomatic |
Diplomatic passports can also be issued to the spouses, minor children, or children who are adults but living with them, unmarried, unemployed, and continuing their education until the age of 25, as well as adult children living with them, unmarried, unemployed, and in need of constant care due to at least one of physical, mental, or emotional disabilities as documented by an official health institution report, for as long as the eligibility of the person holding the diplomatic passport continues.
Diplomatic passports are not subject to any stamp duty or tax.
Main article: Visa requirements for Turkish citizens |
As of 2024, Turkish citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 118 countries and territories, ranking the Turkish passport 52nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[7]
Turkey is the only EU candidate country whose citizens are still required visas for their travels to the European Union member countries. However the European Union is planning to introduce visa free travel for Turkish citizens[8] as well as the United States lists Turkey as an aspiring country for inclusion to the Visa Waiver Program.[9]
Turkish citizens can also use their identity cards in lieu of a Turkish passport to travel to the following countries under bilateral agreements that have been concluded between the Turkish Government and governments of the respective countries:
Countries | Stay |
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90 days |
![]() |
90 days |
![]() |
90 days |
![]() |
90 days |
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90 days |
![]() |
90 days |
![]() |
90 days |
Main article: Biometric passport |
Turkish biometric passport (Turkish: Biyometrik pasaport), compatible with the new ICAO standards, have been available since 1 June 2010.[10] Application appointments for the new passports can be reserved online through the government's website, applications must be lodged in person.[4][11] Passports are then sent via mail.[citation needed]
The biometric passports have different coloured covers; regular passports in maroon and diplomatic passports in black, in compliance with ICAO standards.[citation needed]
New biometric passports, compatible with possible future EU visa waiver access, started to be printed in 2018 made out of a polycarbonate material.[12]
A Turkish passport has been one of the most expensive passports in the world for many years. As a result of increasing public demands, the cost of ordinary passports was almost halved in June 2010.[13] Despite the massive reduction, the Turkish passport remains one of the most expensive passports in the world (along with Liechtenstein (€252)[14] and Australian (€214)[15] passports for 10 years). The passport law was then amended to increase the maximum validity of a passport from 5 to 10 years. It currently costs ₺8623 (€265) for a 10-year passport, including the compulsory booklet fee.[16] In addition to the expensive passport prices, the Turkish state charges (₺225)[17] from Turkish passport holders (excluding ship and aircraft crew, those who live abroad and those with dual citizenship) every single time they leave Turkey.
Listed chronologically: