Record demand for green passports: Surpassed the number of burgundy passports!
Due to the increasing difficulty of obtaining a Schengen visa, Turkish citizens have turned to the green passport, which provides visa-free travel opportunities. In 2023 and 2024, demand for green passports reached record levels, surpassing the production of burgundy passports. In 2023, 1 million 816 thousand 700 green passports were printed, and in 2024, 1 million 407 thousand 200 were printed. Thus, the number of green passport holders reached 6 million 929 thousand 100.
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With the increasing difficulty of obtaining a Schengen visa, Turkish citizens have turned to the green passport for travel abroad. The number of green passports produced, which was only 200 thousand in 2010, broke a record in 2023, reaching 1 million 816 thousand 700. Demand remained high in 2024, with another 1 million 407 thousand 200 new green passports printed. Thus, the total number of green passport holders rose to 6 million 929 thousand 100.
NUMBER OF GREEN PASSPORTS EXCEEDED BURGUNDY PASSPORTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
According to data from the General Directorate of Mint and Stamp Printing, demand for green passports in Turkey is increasing rapidly. While the total number of passports in the country reached 38 million 319 thousand 256, a remarkable development occurred in December 2023. For the first time, green passport production surpassed burgundy passport production. Of the 399 thousand 840 passports printed in December, 200 thousand were green and 199 thousand 840 were burgundy.
WILL THE SCOPE OF THE GREEN PASSPORT BE EXPANDED?
Following the increasing demand, pharmacists, journalists, exporters, and private school teachers are also requesting to be included in the scope of the green passport. However, officials are planning to make new regulations only for teachers and exporters in order to maintain the prestige of the passport.
This significant increase in the number of green passports shows that Turkish citizens are looking for alternative ways to facilitate travel abroad.