KÜHEYLAN HUKUK
Legal basis: Press Law No. 5187, Supplementary Articles 1-8; Press Card Regulation dated 10.04.2023. Prepared using legislation in force in 2026 and official sources dated November 2026.
The press card is an official identification document issued by the Directorate of Communications, and has received a legal basis from 2022 with Law No. 7418. The card is of five types: duty-bound, duration, temporary, free and continuous. The applicant must have completed the age of eighteen, have graduated from high school at least, have not been convicted of crimes enumerated in the Law and work under a written contract in accordance with Law No. 5953. Internet news site employees can also receive cards; the quota is determined by the number of insured journalists on the site. Failure to issue or cancel the card is an administrative procedure and may be subject to an abort case in the administrative court.
What Does a Press Card Do?
Appendix 1 of the Press Law. The article defines the press card as an official identification document. The card serves as a practical function in terms of proof of journalistic identity during professional activity, access to press conferences and official events of public institutions. Beyond that, there is also an important social security consequence: 40 of Law No. 5510. Under the Press Law, journalists who actually work as press card holders shall be given a 90-day increase in actual service time for each year. This increase directly affects the retirement age and the number of premium days.
A press card is not a prerequisite for journalism. A person without a card can also make news, taking advantage of the guarantees of press freedom. However, the status and social security advantage provided by the card makes the card economically valuable to professionals.
Who Can Apply and What Conditions Are Wanted?
Appendix 2. In accordance with the article, the card may be issued to Turkish citizen employees of media organizations operating in Turkey, to periodical broadcasters or corporate person representatives, to the board of directors of radio and television stations, to foreign media members, to Turkish journalists working abroad, to information officers of public institutions, and to union, association and foundation managers in the field of media.
Appendix 3. According to the article, the applicant must have completed eighteen years of age, at least a high school or equivalent school graduate, limited or not banned from public services. Not to be convicted of crimes such as blackmail, fraud, forgery, bribery, terrorist offences that are counted individually in the Law for five years or more for a purposeful crime, 53 of the Turkish Penal Code. It is sought even if the deadlines in its article have passed. For working journalists, it is also essential that a written contract has been made in accordance with the Law No. 5953, no more than one month of recess should be taken if they leave work and no commercial activity other than media activity.
What are the Types of Press Cards?
Appendix 1. The item predicts five types of cards. The duty-bound press card is issued to Turkish citizen journalists and information officers working in a media organization. The periodical and temporary press card is intended for foreign media members. A free press card is issued to Turkish citizens who do not work temporarily or are freelance journalists abroad. A permanent press card may be issued to members of the media with at least eighteen years of professional service and information officers who have carried a press card for at least eighteen years.
Regulation 13. According to the article, a free press card must be applied for within one month after leaving the media establishment where it is worked for at least one year. The validity period of the card is set gradually based on the time the applicant previously carried a press card.
Regulation 18. According to the article, the website which may be given a press card to its employees must have provided annotation under the Press Law, be specific to the purpose of sharing news, be open to uninterrupted access, publish original and current daily content, and should not consist of the exact quote from other publications. Regulation 27. The article links the quota to the number of insured journalists on the site: under Law No. 5953, four employees are issued a card with the concession holder on the site with four insured employees and nine employees with five to nine employees; quota limitation is not applied on sites with ten or more employees.
The Press Card Commission also takes into account the unique visitors and page views of the site in applications of internet news site employees (Regulation m.35). Therefore, it is useful to document traffic data with a reliable measurement tool prior to the application.
In what circumstances is the Press Card cancelled?
Appendix 6. Article 38 of the Regulation. The clause regulates two separate cancellation routes. The first is that it is understood that the cardholder or the organization to which he/she is affiliated does not hold legal qualifications or lose them later; in this case, cancellation is done by the Head of Communications. The use of the card to someone else is also a reason for cancellation. Second, the press is in violation of moral principles; in this case, the Commission may issue a notice or annulment based on the nature of the breach and no new card shall be issued before one year after the return of the card if cancelled.
The second ground raises a current legal issue. Supplementary Article 6 refers to the principles of press ethics determined under Article 49 of Law No. 195. Following the Constitutional Court's partial annulment in case E.2023/168, decision K.2025/132, Article 49 was rewritten by Law No. 7587 with effect from 1.7.2026. The new text contains no express reference to press ethics. This raises questions about the sufficiency of the legal basis for revocation decisions founded on those principles.
Legal basis Press Law, Supplementary Articles 1-8; Press Card Regulation (Official Gazette 10.04.2023)
Event Summary Form: Fictional example: The card of an economic reporter carrying a press card for twelve years has been revoked by the Commission decision on grounds of violation of press morals due to a news release. In the decision, it is not shown in concrete terms which basis is violated by what statement. Process: The reporter filed a lawsuit within sixty days of the notice of the abort order, requesting that annulment and execution be stopped in the administrative court. Unreasonableness of decision in petition, violation of the principle of moderation and 49. After the rewriting of the article, the uncertainty of the legal basis was suggested; the source documents of the news were presented as evidence. Conclusion: In administrative proceedings, justification is a prerequisite for judicial auditing. The legality of the annulment decision, which does not include concrete breach detection and does not explain why a lighter measure such as a warning is insufficient, can be seriously questioned. The loss in actual service time hike can be asserted as a power damage to compensate for the request to cease execution.
Can a freelance journalist get a press card?
There is no separate type of card for the journalist who works at home without being affiliated with any organization. The free press card is issued to Turkish citizens who work in a media organization for at least one year and do not work temporarily, as well as freelance journalism abroad.
Will an ongoing criminal case prevent a card application?
The law seeks the condition of "not wearing a warrant". An unconfirmed trial alone is not an obstacle; however, the effect of decisions such as the release of the judgment should be evaluated according to the concrete file.
What about the card of the journalist who quit?
The task-bound card is based on the foundation bond. A hiatus of more than a month, except for force majeure reasons, results in the loss of conditions; therefore, it must be notified to the President within the period of the job change.
What can be done against the Commission's decision to refuse?
Ret decisions must be justified (Regulation m.35). In accordance with the Administrative Judiciary Procedure Law against the decision, an abort case may be filed in the administrative court.
Does the wear share start from the date the card was received?
The actual service period increase is applied to the periods that are actually worked as a press card holder. Periods in which the card is not available do not enter into this account.
Application without a written employment contract in accordance with Law No. 5953. • Failure to transfer employment change or departure to the President during notification period. • The number of insured employees of the Internet news site is not planned according to quota thresholds. • Abduction of a sixty-day trial period against an annulment decision. • The motion to cease execution in the case petition, and compensation for the lack of force damage.
A press card is a right that affects the pension account beyond documenting the identity of the journalist. Reading the application requirements, quota rules and reasons for cancellation along with recent changes in legislation is a way to prevent loss of rights. Küheylan Law Office provides legal support in the preparation of press card applications, administrative judicial processes against rejection and cancellation decisions, and compliance work by media outlets.
Important Legal Notice: The legal statements contained in this guide are prepared by the Küheylan Law Office for general informational purposes and do not qualify as legal counsel. The unique circumstances of each application may change the outcome. Legal support from a lawyer is recommended before application and litigation processes. © 2026 Küheylan Law Office. All Rights Reserved.
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