Turquoise Card: Application with Cultural, Artistic and Sporting Achievements

According to the legislation, foreigners who are internationally successful in cultural, artistic or sporting activities may apply for a Turquoise Card. The evaluation is based on criteria such as level of success, international recognition and sustainable impact.

Who is Covered?

• People who have produced nationally/internationally recognized works and received awards in the field of culture and arts.
• Athletes: Those who have a degree/award in national/international individual or team competitions and have national athlete status.
• Owners of activities that contribute to the recognition/promotion of Turkey and create sustainable impact.

For the relevant general framework, see Turquoise Card Conditions and Criteria.

Basic Criteria for Application (Summary)

• Achievement at international level: Registered awards, official degrees, prestigious organizations/honor rolls.
• Continuity and impact: Duration, sustainability and reach of activities.
• Documentability: Official result lists, institutional letters, certificates, work records.

For the scoring logic of the assessment, see Turquoise Card Scoring System.

Required Documents

For Art/Culture Applications

• Works and award/exhibition/festival participation-award certificates
• Official letters of institutions/curators/festival organizations
• Work registrations, copyright/registry or related registration documents (if available)
• Press/publication clippings, catalogs and programs (official)

For Athlete Applications

• National athlete status or club license documents
• National/international degree/award certificates, federation approved results
• Club/federation assignment or reference letters

For common documents and a basic list, see List of Required Documents for Turquoise Card.

Strengthen the Application with a Certificate of Conformity

The legislation stipulates that the qualifications of the applicant can be confirmed by the relevant public institutions with a certificate of eligibility. In the case of culture, arts and sports files, this document increases the weight of the application.

Detail: What is Turquoise Card Eligibility Certificate?

Step by Step Process

1. Pre-assessment: The international level and continuity of achievements are analyzed.
2. Document set: Award/degree letters, official results, artwork records are compiled.
3. Electronic application: Documents are uploaded to the Ministry’s system; for those abroad, transmission through the Turkish foreign representative office is possible.
4. Evaluation: If necessary, the opinion of the relevant institution is taken; if there is a deficiency, a completion period is given.
5. Approval and transition period: The card is issued with a transitional period for the first 3 years.

All steps Turquoise Card Application Process Step by Step

Transition period Turquoise Card Transition Period and Monitoring Report

Considerations in the Evaluation

• Officiality: Proof of awards and rankings with federation/institution approved documents.
• International reputation: The level of the organization and the institution.
• Continuity: Continuity and impact beyond a singular achievement.
• Turkey connection: Activities that contribute to promotion/reputation.

SSS

Would a local award be enough?

The emphasis in the application is on the international level; local awards may be included as supporting evidence.

Club achievement or individual honors?

Both can be valid; federation/club statutes and official result documents are important.

Is press coverage alone enough?

No. Press reports are supportive; official results/award letters must be attached.

Present Your Application with Strong Evidence

Culture, arts and sports files increase the chances of positive evaluation when they are strengthened with official results, awards and institutional letters. You can get professional support from MFY Legal | Law Office’s expert lawyers for the correct structuring of the documents and process follow-up.

Strengthen your application with experts