Which Turkish Professions Demand Special Green Passports?
Those wishing to travel abroad continue to grapple with the visa hassle. As the rejection rates for Schengen visas increase, many professions are taking various steps to overcome the visa obstacle. Different professional groups have submitted legislative proposals to the Parliament in order to obtain the right to a green passport, aiming to overcome job losses and academic barriers.
The number of professional groups requesting a green passport has risen to six.
In the first seven months of the year, representatives of professional groups who missed global tenders, couldn't attend international seminars, and waited for days at border gates are demanding the right to travel without a visa. Every day, a new profession is added to the list of those who have submitted a proposal to the Parliament, requesting green passports for visa-free travel.
Here are the professional groups requesting green passports:
Teachers working in private educational institutions knocked on the Parliament's door in 2026. The proposed law indicated that teachers were hindered by visa restrictions when participating in international education programs, seminars, and projects.
In February 2026, a joint regulation was requested under a single umbrella for dentists, veterinarians, and architects. It is desired that these three professional groups, who are registered with their professional chambers and have completed 15 years of seniority in their profession, gain the right to travel without a visa in order to follow scientific, academic, and technical developments in the world on the spot.
In the first quarter of 2026, a concrete step was taken for engineers working under the Union of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB). A proposed law was prepared and submitted to the commission with the requirement of 15 years of professional experience, aiming to prevent engineers, especially those working on international projects, from missing global tenders and job opportunities due to prolonged visa processes.
The proposal from the logistics sector was one of the most notable moves of 2026. To prevent international truck drivers from wasting time waiting for visas at border gates and these delays from hitting exports, a law proposal was submitted to the Parliament's commission to grant green passports to drivers who have completed 10 years in their profession.
Why isn't a green passport issued for every profession?
Despite the mounting demands in parliamentary committees, the government side is extremely cautious about further relaxing the limits on green passports. According to a report by Gülsüm Alpkıray from Sözcü, authorities fear that an uncontrolled increase in the number of people with green passports could lead to European countries either imposing visa requirements on this type of passport or completely suspending the existing visa exemption.
Due to this risk, the process of turning proposals in the parliamentary committee into law is moving at a rather slow pace.
Which professions are eligible for a green passport?
The main groups eligible for obtaining a green passport are as follows:
Public Officials: State civil servants and public officials who work under the law number 657 and have a rank of 1, 2, or 3, as well as those who have retired from these ranks.
Mayors: Mayors of provinces, districts, and first-tier municipalities.
Exporters: Officials and owners of companies that have maintained a certain average export over the last three calendar years.
Spouses and Children: The right to a green passport is granted to the spouse of the eligible person, as well as to their unmarried, non-working children who are under the age of 25.
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