09.05.2026 10:31
According to the bill submitted to the Parliament, the right to green passports has been brought to the agenda for teachers working in private schools as well as public school teachers. The bill was referred to the Commission.
It has been proposed that teachers working in private schools should also be granted the specially stamped passport, known publicly as the "green passport," which allows travel to many countries without a visa.
With the bill submitted to the Parliament, it is envisaged to issue green passports to teachers who have served for at least 10 years in private educational institutions, except for "persons with a final conviction for crimes against state security, constitutional order and the functioning of this order, and terrorist offenses."
"THEY DO THE SAME JOB"
The justification for the bill highlights the following:
"Education services are among the fundamental public services guaranteed by the Constitution. Teachers involved in the execution of this service, whether employed in the public or private sector, implement the same curriculum, bear the same pedagogical responsibilities, and raise the same generations.
In the current practice, only teachers with public servant status are granted the specially stamped passport; teachers working in private educational institutions cannot benefit from this right. Yet, private school teachers also work under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education and carry out educational activities that constitute a public service.
This situation creates inequality in terms of personal rights among teachers doing the same job and undermines workplace peace. Additionally, it is important for private school teachers to benefit from this right in terms of improving education quality, supporting teachers' professional development, and encouraging international mobility.
"IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY"
With the bill, while providing specially stamped passports to teachers who have completed a certain period of service in private educational institutions, it is regulated that persons with final convictions for certain crimes cannot benefit from this right, taking into account the nature of public service and state security. Thus, it is aimed to make a balanced regulation between the principle of equality and public security."
The bill, submitted to the Parliament by İYİ Party Edirne Deputy Mehmet Akalın, was referred to the Commission.
WHO CAN GET A GREEN PASSPORT?
- Civil servants and public officials
Civil servants and similar public officials working in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree positions in public institutions.
Those who retire while working in these degrees also retain their rights.
- Members of Parliament and government
Former members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (deputies).
Former ministers.
Metropolitan, provincial, or district mayors during their tenure.
Former mayors who retired with a degree position.
Athletes with state athlete status (under certain conditions).
- Employees of certain public banks and institutions
Employees of institutions that had the right to green passports before privatization (e.g., Türk Telekom, Ziraat Bankası, Halk Bankası, etc.), under certain conditions.
- Exporting businesspeople and company officials
Company owners/partners/employees who achieve a certain export volume are granted the right to green passports by law.
Lawyers registered with the bar for at least 15 years.