What is a Green Passport?

The special passport, referred to as the green passport due to its green color, is a type of passport granted for a period of 5 years to individuals who work or have worked for the state under specific conditions.

Generally granted to civil servants, the green passport is also given to exporters who meet various criteria. At this point, individuals eligible for a special passport can be listed as follows: 👇

• Active or retired public officials holding first, second, and third-degree positions

• Former members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) and former ministers

• State athletes

• Individuals working in institutions that were subsequently privatized, such as Türk Telekom and T.C. Ziraat Bankası (under certain conditions)

• Former mayors who retired with a first-degree status

• Metropolitan, provincial, and district mayors during their terms of office

• Exporters complying with the law

• Spouses and children under the age of 25 of individuals entitled to receive a green passport

Special passport holders can enter many countries around the world visa-free. Although visa-free entry rights are limited to a certain number of days, green passport holders can simply buy a flight ticket and travel to the countries they wish. ✈️

Reasons for Granting Green Passports to Exporters

Turkey provides various conveniences to exporters in order to sustainably advance its export performance, increase its share in world merchandise trade, and make the Turkish economy one of the best economies in the world.

The Ministry of Trade aims to consolidate current market positions by removing obstacles for exporters. It also provides various opportunities for entrepreneurs wishing to enter new markets.

The green passport opportunity for exporters paves the way for exporting companies, allowing them to be active and visible worldwide. In this way, exporters can handle all their operations much more easily. 👈

Requirements for Green Passport Application

In order to benefit from the green passport right, exporters must first be members of the Service Exporters' Association. For service exporters, applications begin after the Corporate Income Tax Return of the previous year is filed.

To obtain the green passport right, exporters must reach specific export limits within the last 3 calendar years. Furthermore, these export limits also determine how many green passports can be held. You can review the table below for a better understanding. 👇

Officials of companies that meet the conditions in the table above can obtain special passports. In addition, the owners, partners (regardless of whether they are natural or legal persons) or employees of the exporting firm can also benefit from the green passport right. However, the spouse or children of an exporter who benefits from the green passport right cannot benefit from this right. ⛔

Which Service Sectors Can Apply?

The service sectors specified in the circular explaining how the decision to grant green passports to exporters will be implemented are as follows: ⬇️⏬

• Logistics Services and Freight Transportation

• Public Relations Services and Market Research

• Accommodation and Gastronomy Services

• Travel Agency and Tour Operator Services

• Advisory Services and Technical Consultancy

• Banking and Financial Services

• Advertising and Fair Organizations

• Health Services

• Information Technologies and Software Services

• Insurance and Related Services

• Educational Services

• Telecommunication Services

• Ground Handling and Airport Management

• Architectural and Engineering Services

• Publishing and Media Services

• Tourist Guiding and Travel Services

• Maintenance and Repair Services

• Operational Rental and Leasing

• Retail Trade Services

• International Contracting

• Computer Services and Information Technologies

• Audiovisual Production Services

• Seaport Management and Passenger Transportation

• Other Scientific and Technical Services

What are the Required Documents for Application?

• Application Letter

• Signature Circular (Original or notarized copy)

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certification Report

• Invoice Table (Should be prepared based on the Central Bank Indicator Exchange Rates)

• Financial Information Form

• Corporate Income Tax Return for the last three calendar years

• CPA Certificate of Activity

• CPA Certification Agreement

These documents first submitted to the Service Exporters' Association are reviewed by the Ministry of Trade, Directorate General of International Trade in Services. After the positive evaluation of the first application stage, the Service Exporters' Association requests the stage-two documents.

Sector-Specific Exceptions

While calculating the service export amount, exceptions are provided for various sectors. The sector-specific exceptions for exporters within the scope of green passports are as follows: ⬇

• Freight Transportation and Logistics Services Sector: In transportation operations between Turkey and foreign countries, it does not matter whether the invoice is issued under the name of a domestic or foreign customer. Since the transport operation is conducted abroad, it is considered a service export.

• Passenger Transportation and Freight Transportation Sector: Operations carried out other than through resident travel agencies are considered service exports.

• Airport and Seaport Management / Ground Handling Sector: Transportation operations (including transit) between Turkey and foreign countries are service exports.

• Gastronomy and Accommodation Services Sector: Invoice amounts billed to persons or organizations residing abroad and foreign individual tourists are accepted as service exports.

• Travel Agency and Tour Operator Services Sector: The service export amount is determined by deducting the amount of services provided in Turkey from the invoice of services provided abroad by the agency.

How to Apply for a Green Passport?

Applications for a green passport for exporters are made using the request form determined by the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Economy. After the applicant fills in and signs the request form completely, the representatives of the firm sign it as well. The applicant then submits the request form to the exporters' association to which the firm belongs.

In addition to the request form, documents required to verify the authority of the individuals authorized to represent and bind the company must be attached to the form. Afterwards, the exporters' association reviews the submitted documents.

Once the information is verified as complete and accurate, the request form is signed by the board chairman of the respective association or the authorized vice chairman.

Following its signature, the request form is submitted to the relevant regional directorate for approval. Once the number of individuals eligible to receive a passport in the firm is also determined, the document is approved by the regional director or the authorized assistant regional director. Following this, the passport application is submitted to the relevant Provincial Civil Registration Directorate.

When applying for a green passport for exporters, the person wishing to obtain the passport must apply in person. Furthermore, the Special Stamped Passport Form approved by the directorate is only handed over to the person concerned. At this point, it is not possible for someone else to obtain the form via a power of attorney or authorization. 📑

Usage and Validity Period of Green Passports

Exporters are granted a green passport for historical terms of 4 years. In this scope, individuals wishing to obtain a green passport must not have committed specific crimes, even if the periods specified in Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 dated 26/9/2004 have elapsed. These crimes range from fraudulent bankruptcy to crimes against the constitutional order and its functioning.

Crimes such as bid rigging, receiving a prison sentence of one year or more for an intentionally committed crime (even if pardoned), and rigging the execution of an obligation are also evaluated in this scope.

Additionally, the green passport rights of individuals are revoked in crimes committed against the security of the state. Crimes such as breach of trust, embezzlement, and theft also prevent the granting of green passports to exporters.

Company officials who have obtained a passport within the scope of the green passport right for exporters must immediately return their passport if they lose any of the qualifying conditions that allowed them to receive the passport within its validity period.

The lost condition(s) are reported to the relevant regional directorate, and by the regional directorate to the Provincial Civil Registration and Citizenship Directorate that issued the passport. The passport is canceled by the issuing directorate.

Furthermore, if it is determined that company officials fail to fulfill their obligations to return the passport, they will not be granted a special stamped passport for four years. ⛔

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Countries Can Be Visited Visa-Free with a Green Passport?

With a green passport, you can travel visa-free to many countries in the world, such as Germany, Poland, and Austria, representing a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You can find detailed information on countries and their visa requirements through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. 👈

How to Renew and Extend the Validity of a Green Passport?

When green passports held by exporters need to be renewed due to reasons such as theft, loss, or running out of blank pages, an application is submitted to the Provincial Civil Registration Directorate that issued the passport.

Following the application, a new passport is issued keeping the current validity period of the passport. To extend the validity of the green passport granted to exporters or to renew it entirely, the requirements of the initial application stage must be met again. ✅

Conclusion

With the green passport scheme for exporters, passport holders do not waste time with visa procedures. This means they can quickly make country visits. In this way, exporting firms can place their business relationships on a firmer footing and focus on growth.

Therefore, it can be said that the greatest advantage of green passports for exporters is that they provide freedom of movement. Since more countries can be visited with this freedom of movement, an increase in export volumes is also expected.

To benefit from the advantages of green passports for exporters, care must be taken to submit accurate and complete documents during the application stage.

Additionally, it should not be forgotten that the application must be made in person. You have the chance to strengthen your business relationships by taking advantage of the green passport program for exporters. Thus, you can easily continue your growth journey. 😍