The Turquoise card in Turkey is similar to the green card in the United States of America in terms of the advantages it offers to foreigners. In March 2017, the Turkish government began implementing the decision to award the Turquoise Card to investors, scientists, researchers, foreign students, athletes and artists. The Turquoise card gives its holders many advantages, including:

• Stay in Turkey for three years, after which it becomes a permanent residence.
• Its holders, in particular investors, are granted the rights of Turkish citizens.
• To obtain Turkish nationality after a period of granting the card, after fulfilling the conditions stipulated by the Law on obtaining citizenship.
• The families of the cardholders of the Turquoise card are granted the right to reside in Turkey.

The Turquoise Card is based on the point system for obtaining it. The applicants for the Turquoise card need to accumulate enough points within a specific evaluation system and each according to its competence.

How to Evaluate the Turquoise Card and Calculate Points

foreign students

International students can apply for the Turquoise card. Students from colleges and universities with a partial work permit (30 hours per week) after the first two years of their studies, and postgraduate students who have a full work permit (work during study) by the Ministry of Labor And the Turkish Social Security.

The assessment system for international students is based on:

• education level.

1. Level of experience (high level qualifications and skills).
2. Contribute to the development of science and technology in the interest of the country to reach the global levels in science and technology.
3. The level of the applicant's educational institution.
4. Seniority Foundation.
5. Salary Statement.

Scientists and researchers

1. Academic position.
2. Innovation activities.
3. Number of participations in local and international institutions in science and technology.
4. Number of entries in local and international registered trademarks or patents.

Investors

1. The number of Turkish employees in their companies.
2. The nature of the investment activity.
3. The level of export activity (value of exports or sales during the year).
4. Number of movable or immovable property owned in Turkey.
5. Documents proving their rights and intellectual and industrial qualifications, that is to say, the investor has a high level of employment and industrial and technological development to serve the economic development in Turkey.

Athletes

1. The number of local and international achievements of the club to which the applicant belongs, if he is a sports member with foreign sports representation.
2. Number of local and international awards.
3. Number of entries in local and international sports activities.

Artists

1. The number of participations in conferences and festivals that promote Turkish culture.
2. Number of technical work and activities at the local and international levels.
3. Number of local and international cultural activities.
4. Contribute to the international evaluation of Turkey's level by contributing to activities that contribute to Turkey's high international visibility.

Documents required to evaluate the application for the card

1. Passport with translated image of the Turkish language and certified by notary.
2. Certificate certified by the relevant public institution to prove the applicant's eligibility.
3. Personal Photos.
4. University diplomas and internationally acclaimed with photographs translated into Turkish and certified by notary.
5. Contract of employment between the foreign employee and the institution.

The documents required for the evaluation, each according to its competence, which we mentioned in how to evaluate the card Turquoise and the calculation of points.