A bill was submitted to the Turkish Grand National Assembly to expand the scope of green passports.

A bill has been submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) to expand the scope of the specially stamped passport, publicly known as the "green passport".

If the proposal becomes law, headmen, financial advisors, pharmacists, doctors, engineers and architects who meet certain conditions will also be able to benefit from the right to a green passport.

THE PROPOSAL IS IN THE ASSEMBLY

In the bill submitted to the Presidency of the Turkish Grand National Assembly by Yeni Party Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, it was requested that the right to a specially stamped passport be expanded to include some professional groups.

The proposal, which was submitted to the Presidency of the Parliament on September 16, was referred to the Internal Affairs Commission on October 1.

If the proposal is accepted, it will pave the way for professionals who meet the specified criteria to travel without obtaining a visa.

WHO CAN GET A GREEN PASSPORT?

The proposal envisages expanding the green passport right to the following groups:

Village and neighborhood headmen,

Sworn financial advisors registered with TÜRMOB and affiliated chambers,

Independent accountant and financial advisors with at least 15 years of experience,

Community pharmacists who are members of the Turkish Pharmacists Association (TEB) and have completed at least 15 years in the profession,

Self-employed doctors who are members of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) and have completed at least 15 years in the profession,

Engineers and architects who are members of the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and have completed at least 15 years in the profession.

The proposal envisages granting specially stamped passports to these people if they meet other specified criteria.

“VISA BARRIER RESTRICTS PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES”

In the justification of the proposal, it was argued that doctors, pharmacists, engineers, architects and financial advisors, especially those working in the private sector, had problems in their visa applications to attend vocational training, seminars and meetings.

It was claimed that the rejection of visa applications prevented these professional groups from participating in international knowledge and experience sharing, and that this also limited participation in international studies in fields such as medicine, construction, pharmacology and finance.

It was stated that headmen also face visa obstacles when they want to improve their knowledge and experience by following the activities and projects carried out abroad.

WHO IS GREEN PASSPORT GIVEN TO?

In current practice, specially stamped passports can be issued to certain public officials and civil servants, as well as to groups such as employees of some public institutions, members of parliament, mayors, exporters who meet certain conditions, lawyers and some athletes.

The new proposal aims to expand this scope in terms of professional groups.

In order for the proposal to become law, it must first complete the discussions in the Turkish Grand National Assembly commissions, then be accepted in the General Assembly and come into force. Therefore, the proposal does not yet provide the right to a green passport at this stage.