Passport Colors & Meanings
Turkey issues six passport categories, each a different color so border officers can tell at a glance what kind of traveler they're dealing with.
| Color | Category | Who Gets It |
|---|---|---|
| Bordo (Ordinary) | Every ordinary citizen — over 95% of all Turkish passports. | |
| Green (Special / Hususi) | Former MPs and ministers, 1st–3rd degree state officials, and certain exporters meeting export-volume conditions. | |
| Grey (Service / Hizmet) | Civil servants traveling abroad on official state business. | |
| Black (Diplomatic) | Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to diplomats. | |
| Pink (Temporary) | Issued by embassies/consulates abroad, valid 30 days — see the loss scenarios below. |
The green (special/Hususi) passport cover.
Kaygtr, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
Bordo, grey and black swatches above are simplified illustrations for clarity, not photographs of the official design.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply
- 1
Book an appointment
Appointments can be made through any of these official channels: randevu.nvi.gov.tr , the e-Devlet portal, the NVİ Mobil app, self-service Nüfusmatik kiosks, or by calling Alo 199.
- 2
Gather your documents
- T.C. identity card (or temporary ID document)
- A biometric photo taken within the last 6 months
- For minors: parental consent if one or both parents are not present
- Student document, if applying for the under-25 fee exemption
- Your previous passport, if renewing
- Proof of fee payment (see below)
- 3
Pay the fee
Pay before or at your appointment — see the fee table and payment channels below.
- 4
Attend your appointment
For an ordinary passport, this is your provincial or district Population Directorate. Special and service passports are processed at the Provincial Directorate; abroad, applications go through the nearest embassy or consulate.
- 5
Receive your passport
Your new passport is delivered by PTT (Turkish Post) to the address you specify during the application — see processing time below.
2026 Passport Fees
The total cost has two parts: the harç (a state fee that scales with validity period) and the defter bedeli (a fixed booklet-printing fee). Figures below are the official rates published on the appointment system.
| Validity | Harç (Fee) | Defter (Booklet) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | 2.806,50 ₺ | 1.351,00 ₺ | 4.157,50 ₺ |
| 1 year | 4.103,00 ₺ | 1.351,00 ₺ | 5.454,00 ₺ |
| 2 years | 6.698,50 ₺ | 1.351,00 ₺ | 8.049,50 ₺ |
| 3 years | 9.516,00 ₺ | 1.351,00 ₺ | 10.867,00 ₺ |
| 4–10 years | 13.410,40 ₺ | 1.351,00 ₺ | 14.761,40 ₺ |
Rates change periodically — always confirm the current amount at randevu.nvi.gov.tr/pages/applicationprices before paying.
Who is exempt?
- Citizens under 25 with active, verified student status on e-Devlet pay only the booklet fee — the harç is waived.
- Special (green) and service (grey) passports are exempt from the harç entirely.
Where to Pay the Fees
Both the harç and the booklet fee can be paid through any of the following:
- Tax office (Vergi Dairesi) branches
- PTT branches
- Banks that have an agreement with the Revenue Administration
- Online, via the Revenue Administration's (GİB) website or e-Devlet
Keep the payment receipt — you'll need to show it (or its reference number) at your appointment.
How Long Does It Take?
Under normal conditions, a new passport is printed and delivered by PTT within 5 to 7 business days of your appointment. During high-demand periods — the run-up to summer holidays or religious holidays — this can stretch to 10–15 business days as population directorates handle a much higher volume of applications.
There is no separate paid "express" fee — the processing time depends on application volume, not on paying extra. If your travel date is close, apply as early as possible rather than expecting to pay for a faster lane.
Lost, Stolen, Torn or Damaged — Every Scenario
Lost or stolen inside Turkey
Apply immediately at your provincial or district Population Directorate. This flags the passport as lost in the system, which is automatically communicated to border crossing points so it can no longer be used — an important security step even if you later find it.
Lost or stolen abroad
- Go to the nearest police station and file a report (tutanak) that includes your passport's serial number. Ask for at least 2–3 officially stamped ('aslı gibidir') copies before you leave.
- Go to the nearest Turkish embassy or consulate — find it at konsolosluk.gov.tr — with the police report, 2 passport photos, and any other ID you have (driver's license, marriage certificate, etc., which speeds up identity verification).
- Fill out the lost passport declaration at the consulate. You'll typically be issued a temporary passport ("pink passport"), valid 30 days and usable for a single return trip to Turkey, or, if you need to travel sooner, an emergency travel document issued within 24 hours — also valid only for returning to Turkey, where you must then apply for a full replacement passport.
Torn, a page comes loose, or generally worn out
Renewal is mandatory — not optional. Population directorates treat any tampering, tearing, or page loss in a passport booklet as unacceptable, since border authorities need to be certain no page has been altered or removed. You'll pay the booklet fee again and go through a normal renewal application, exactly as described in the steps above.
Expired, or pages are full
Both cases require the same standard renewal process described above — book an appointment, bring your old passport, and apply as if for a new one.