Turkish residence blue card

Advantages of the Turkish Blue Card; Beyond Simple Residency

Blue Card holders in Turkey are, in a sense, considered **"invisible citizens."** They have almost all the rights of citizenship but are not counted as citizens in national population statistics.

Permanent Residency and Visa-Free Travel

Unlike foreign nationals who require a visa to enter Turkey and a **"Residence Permit"** (İkamet İzni) to stay, Blue Card holders are exempt from any visa or residence permit. Their residency status is **permanent and lifelong**. They can live outside Turkey for years and return whenever they want without their residency rights being revoked. This is in direct contrast to ordinary residence permits, which are cancelled if the individual is outside Turkey for a specified period.

Working in Turkey Without the Need for Çalişma İzni (Work Permit)

One of the biggest advantages of the Blue Card is the elimination of the need for a **"Work Permit"** (Çalışma İzni).

• Private Sector: A Blue Card holder can be employed in any private company, just like a Turkish citizen. The employer does not need to pay the exorbitant work permit fees or comply with the ratio of "5 Turkish employees per 1 foreigner." This feature significantly increases the attractiveness of hiring Blue Card holders for Turkish employers.

• Professions Forbidden to Foreigners: According to Law No. 2527, some professions such as medicine, law, dentistry, pharmacy, and marine engineering are reserved for Turkish citizens. However, Blue Card holders are **exempt** from this prohibition and can work in these professions (subject to the equivalence of educational credentials and membership in the relevant professional bodies).

Buying Property in Turkey with Citizenship Rules

In the field of property purchase and sale, Blue Card holders are **not** categorized as "foreigners" and are not subject to the strict limitations of the Land Registry and Cadastre Law for aliens.

• Exemption from the Principle of Reciprocity: They do not need to prove that their home country sells land to Turks.

• Exemption from Area Restriction: Foreigners are limited to purchasing 30 hectares of land and cannot buy more than 10% of the area of a district. Blue Card holders are **exempt** from these restrictions and can purchase agricultural or residential lands without a size limit.

• Security Zones: Purchasing property in areas near military bases is prohibited for foreigners or requires lengthy authorization. Blue Card holders are usually **exempt** from this lengthy security process or go through a much faster process.

Full Access to Banking Services and Mortgages

Blue Card holders have the right to open bank accounts, receive checkbooks, and obtain bank loans (including mortgages). Banks are obliged to accept the Blue Card ID (which usually starts with the number 9 but has a different structure from the ID of ordinary foreigners). However, in practice, some unaware bank branches may request additional documents due to unfamiliarity with the KPS (Identity Sharing System).

Limitations of the Mavi Kart; What is Forbidden?

Despite the breadth of rights, the Blue Card is not equivalent to a Turkish passport. There are four main areas designated as sovereign "red lines" from which Blue Card holders are excluded. These restrictions are justified based on the principle of political and security loyalty.

5.1 Right to Vote and Political Activity

Blue Card holders **do not have the right to vote or be elected**. They cannot vote in parliamentary, presidential, or municipal council elections, and they cannot run for any of these offices. Furthermore, formal membership in political parties may face restrictions. This limitation is logical, as they are legally citizens of another country, and their political loyalty belongs to that country.

Exemption from Military Service

This restriction is, in fact, considered a privilege. Male Blue Card holders have **no obligation** to perform military service in Turkey. Since they are citizens of another country and may have served there (or been exempted), Turkey has exempted them from this duty. This is very appealing to many young people who do not wish to undergo compulsory service or pay its fee (Bedelli).

Prohibition of Formal Employment in Government (Memuriyet)

The law explicitly states that Blue Card holders cannot be employed in the **"core and permanent cadres"** of the government that require the exercise of sovereign power.

• What professions are forbidden? Police, military, judiciary, diplomacy, head of government departments, and security posts.

• Important Exception (Contracted Staff): They can work in government institutions as **"Contracted Personnel"** (Sözleşmeli Personel). For example, a Blue Card holder doctor or university professor can work in a state hospital or state university, but their employment status will be different from a permanent employee (Memur), and they will not benefit from the retirement benefits of the State Pension Fund (Emekli Sandığı); instead, they will be subject to Labor Law and Social Security Insurance (SSK).

Absence of Car Customs Right (Permi)

Turkish citizens returning home after years of residence abroad have the right to import their vehicles and household goods without paying customs duties under certain conditions. Blue Card holders are **deprived** of this special right (known as Permi). If they wish to import a vehicle, they must be treated like a tourist or foreigner and be subject to temporary import rules (Mavi Plaka) or pay full customs duties.

Application Procedures and Required Documents for the Blue Card (2025 Update)

Obtaining the Blue Card is a relatively agile process that does not involve complex bureaucracy, provided that the documents are prepared correctly.

Where to Apply?

Applicants can proceed through two channels:

1. Outside Turkey: Through the Consulates of the Republic of Turkey (such as Cologne, Berlin, London). In this method, prior appointment booking through the system konsolosluk.gov.tr is mandatory.

2. Inside Turkey: Through the Civil Registry and Citizenship Directorates (Nüfus Müdürlüğü) at the district level. This method is usually faster, and the card is often issued on the same day or within a few days.

Complete List of Required Documents

The documents vary slightly depending on whether the applicant is a **"former citizen"** or the **"next generation"**:

• Common Documents:

  • Written application (Dilekçe form available at the Directorate).

  • Two biometric photos (5x6, white background, recent).

  • Valid passport or identity card of the foreign country (translated if necessary).

  • Old Blue or Pink Card (if replacing).

• Specific Document for Next Generations (Altsoy):

  • International Birth Certificate (Formule A): This document is vital as it shows the names of the parents and proves the blood link.

  • Parents' Marriage Registration Documents: If the parents were married abroad and did not register it in Turkey, the marriage must first be registered to legalize the child's lineage.

Blue Card Issuance Fee in 2025

According to the "Public Statement on Valuable Paper Law" for 2025, the fee for issuing the Blue Card is set at **185 Turkish Lira**. This amount is paid within Turkey. At consulates, this amount is collected in local currency (Euro or Pound) plus consular fees, which usually range between 10 and 20 Euros.

Table 2: Comparison of Mavi Kart Costs with Other Documents (2025)

Key Points After Receiving the Card: Registration of Marriage and Divorce

One of the biggest legal challenges faced by Blue Card holders is the lack of coordination of their identity information in Turkey and their country of residence. The Turkish Civil Registry System (MERNIS) does not automatically connect to the databases of Germany or France.

Requirement to Register Vital Events

The Blue Card holder is **obligated** to personally inform the Turkish authorities of any change in their civil status.

• Marriage and Divorce: If you marry or divorce in Germany, you will remain "single" or "married" in the Turkish system. This issue will be **catastrophic** during inheritance proceedings or when applying for a Blue Card for children. To register a foreign divorce, the process of **"Recognition and Enforcement"** (Tanıma ve Tenfiz) in Turkish courts is required, although new laws allow divorce to be registered directly at the consulate or civil registry office if both parties agree.

• Name Change: If you change your name or surname in a foreign country, you must correct your name in the Blue Card system as well by submitting the foreign court order and its translation, to avoid dual identity issues in banking and property matters.

• Address Change: According to the Population Law, Blue Card holders must keep their place of residence address (both in Turkey and abroad) up-to-date in the Address Registration System (Adres Kayıt Sistemi).

Comparison Table: Blue Card Versus Citizenship and Permanent Residency

To better understand the privileged position of the Blue Card, comparing it with other options is essential.

Table 3: Comparative Analysis of Rights and Obligations

Common Problems Faced by Mavi Kart Holders and Solutions

Field research and legal reports show that Blue Card holders face practical problems.

Identification Issue in Banking Systems

The identification number for Blue Card holders (Mavi Kartlı Kimlik Numarası) has changed in recent years and resembles the national identity number of citizens (11 digits), but usually starts with the number 9. Some older online systems or less experienced bank employees may identify this number as "foreigner" and request residence documents.

• Solution: Always emphasize that the inquiry must be made through the "Mavi Kartlılar" option in the KPS system, not the "Yabancılar" (Foreigners) option.

Returning to Turkish Citizenship

If a Blue Card holder decides to regain their Turkish passport (for example, if the host country's law changes and accepts dual nationality), they have a very smooth path. Article 13 of the Citizenship Law has removed the "5 years residence in Turkey" condition for these individuals. They can apply to regain their citizenship whenever they want, provided they do not have a security issue.

9.3 Insurance and Retirement Status

Social security agreements between Turkey and countries like Germany allow Blue Card holders to transfer their insurance records or retire in Turkey (by paying currency premiums). However, simultaneous use of full healthcare services in both countries may face limitations and requires obtaining specific forms (such as T/A 11 for Germany-Turkey) before travel.

Conclusion: Why is Obtaining the Turkish Blue Card Smart?

The Turkish Blue Card (Mavi Kart) is a legal masterpiece in managing diaspora relations. In 2025, this card is not only an identity document but a **"legal insurance policy"** for millions of Turkish descendants living outside the borders. With a minimal fee of 185 Lira, this card unlocks the doors to Turkey's economy, housing, and society for its holders without any barriers.

For applicants, the core message of this report is clear: **View the Blue Card not as a second-class document, but as a "full economic and civil citizenship" that only lacks the political dimension.** Maintaining and updating this card and accurately registering vital events (birth and marriage) at consulates guarantee the transfer of your legal and material legacy to future generations in the motherland.

Given the digitalization trend of Turkish government services (E-Devlet), it is expected that in the coming years, access to Blue Card services will become even simpler, and its integration with banking and administrative systems will be more complete.