Türkiye · Talent schemes
Türkiye Turquoise Card
First stay: 3 yrs
Turquoise Card (Turkuaz Kart)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Turquoise Card is a talent schemes route for Türkiye. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- First stay
- 3 yrs
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
The first three years are a transition period monitored by an assigned expert; if not cancelled, you can apply for the indefinite Turquoise Card.
Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence
After the 3-year transition period without cancellation, an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued on application.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Apply from abroad through a Turkish mission, or from inside Türkiye.
What you'll need
Who can apply5
- Highly qualified labour: assessed on education, salary, professional experience and contribution to science and technology.
- Qualified investor: assessed on investment, export and employment level.
- Scientist or researcher.
- Internationally successful in culture, arts or sport.
- Person promoting Türkiye or Turkish culture.
What you must show1
- No fixed minimum amount applies; investment or export level counts as a scoring criterion for qualified investors.
Steps4
- The points system is set by the Directorate General of International Labour Force.
- Applications reaching the required score are assessed positively.
- A conformity certificate from the relevant public body may be counted in the scoring but gives no acquired right.
- Applications can be made from abroad through a Turkish mission or from inside Türkiye.
When you become tax resident
How Türkiye decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
3 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Income tax residence is separate from immigration status.
- Foreign-source income
New-resident relief (20 years)
Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years.
- Special regime
Foreign-source income exemption · 0% tax
All tax rules for Türkiye Tax records checked
Full official text
Indefinite-track work and residence status for highly qualified workers, qualified investors, scientists and researchers, internationally successful cultural, artistic or sports figures, and people promoting Türkiye. Applications are scored under a points system set by the Directorate General of International Labour Force; applicants can apply from abroad through a Turkish mission or from inside Türkiye. 1 2
Requirements
- Highly qualified labour: assessed on education, salary, professional experience and contribution to science and technology. 1
- Qualified investor: assessed on investment, export and employment level. 1
- Scientist or researcher. 1
- Internationally successful in culture, arts or sport. 1
- Person promoting Türkiye or Turkish culture. 1
- No fixed minimum amount applies; investment or export level counts as a scoring criterion for qualified investors. 1 2
- The points system is set by the Directorate General of International Labour Force. 1 2
- Applications reaching the required score are assessed positively. 1
- A conformity certificate from the relevant public body may be counted in the scoring but gives no acquired right. 1
- Applications can be made from abroad through a Turkish mission or from inside Türkiye. 1 2
Stay
- Issued with the first three years as a transition period, monitored by an assigned expert; if not cancelled, the transition condition is lifted on application and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued.
- Initial permitted stay: 36 months.
Work
Holder has the rights of the permanent work permit under Law 6735.
Family
Spouse and dependent children receive a Turquoise Card Dependent document that replaces the residence permit while the holder's card is valid.
Official sources
- Regulation on the Turquoise Card (Turkuaz Kart Yönetmeliği) · Ministry of Family and Labour (Law 6735 implementing regulation) · checked 2026-10-11
- Work permit FAQ: temporary, independent and permanent work permits · Ministry of Labour and Social Security · checked 2026-10-11
Turquoise Card and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turquoise Card | – | 3 yr | – |
| Opportunity Card Germany | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Talent · Renowned person France | Needs income of €22k+ a year ≈ $25k | 4 yr, renewable | – |
| Global Talent United Kingdom | – | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Orientation year (zoekjaar) Netherlands | – | 1 yr | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Turquoise Card?
Issued with the first three years as a transition period, monitored by an assigned expert; if not cancelled, the transition condition is lifted on application and an indefinite Turquoise Card is issued.
Can I work on the Turquoise Card?
Holder has the rights of the permanent work permit under Law 6735.
Can I bring my family on the Turquoise Card?
Spouse and dependent children receive a Turquoise Card Dependent document that replaces the residence permit while the holder's card is valid.
Does the Turquoise Card lead to permanent residence in Türkiye?
Time on the Turquoise Card counts toward permanent residence in Türkiye, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Turquoise Card holders in Türkiye?
Foreign-source income exemption for new tax residents (Income Tax Law repeated Art. 20/D): Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Foreign-source income exemption for new tax residents (Income Tax Law repeated Art. 20/D)
0% tax
Details
- On: Foreign-source income and gains (kazanç ve iratlar) earned outside Türkiye
- Who: Natural person treated as resident in Türkiye on or after 1 January 2026
Individuals who become Turkish tax residents and had no domicile or tax liability in Türkiye in the preceding three calendar years are exempt from income tax on income and gains earned outside Türkiye for twenty years.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income and gains (kazanç ve iratlar) earned outside Türkiye.
Who it applies to
- Natural person treated as resident in Türkiye on or after 1 January 2026 (domicile in Türkiye or staying continuously more than six months in a calendar year, Art. 3-4).
- No domicile and no tax liability in Türkiye during the three calendar years before becoming resident.
- Earlier Türkiye-source rental, securities income or capital gains liability does not prevent the exemption; a salary or business taxed in Türkiye in those three years does.
- An exemption certificate must be obtained from the tax office: the application is due by the end of the calendar year in which the person becomes resident, or by the end of February of the next year for those who become resident in November or December. A late application is refused.
Exclusions
- Income earned in Türkiye is not covered.
- Costs and expenses of exempt income are not deductible; foreign taxes paid on exempt income cannot be credited against Turkish income tax.
- No annual return is filed for the exempt income; the exemption is lost with retroactive tax if the conditions were not met.
Tax residence
Applies from 1 January 2026 to persons who become resident; added by Law 7582 of 21 May 2026, published 4 June 2026. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance sets procedures.
Visas
Tax residence arises from presence or domicile, not from a particular residence permit.
Other taxes
Social security, VAT and local taxes are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Türkiye
Special talent visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Regulation on the Turquoise Card (Turkuaz Kart Yönetmeliği) · Ministry of Family and Labour (Law 6735 implementing regulation) · checked 2026-10-11
- Work permit FAQ: temporary, independent and permanent work permits · Ministry of Labour and Social Security · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.