How to Renew a Passport: Appointment and Required Documents

The answer to the question of how to renew a passport is short: you get an appointment and bring your T.C. ID card or temporary ID document along with 1 biometric photo taken within the last six months to the population directorate (nüfus müdürlüğü). There is no extension for passports; a new passport is issued with every application. Below you will find the documents, exceptions and the step-by-step process.

In brief

• There is no extension for passports; a new passport is issued with every application.
• For the maroon (ordinary) passport, an ID card or temporary ID document and a biometric photo taken within the last six months are required.
• The remaining validity period of a valid maroon passport is transferred to the new one.
• If identity information such as name or surname changes, the passport must be renewed.
• Whether a visa in the old passport can be used with the new passport varies by country; confirm before travelling.

The core of the rule: renewal means a new passport

Renewing a passport in Türkiye does not mean extending the old one. Passports are not extended. A new passport is issued with every application. In other words, what we call "renewal" is, in practice, a new passport application.

The process consists of three stages:

• First you get an appointment.
• On the appointment date and time, you go to the population directorate and submit your application.
• Your application is processed and your new passport is issued.

This article mainly covers the most commonly applied-for ordinary (maroon) passport. Special (green) and service (grey) stamped passports have a different application location; we address this separately in the next section.

If you are travelling abroad, check your passport well before your travel date. The passport validity requirement of the destination country varies from country to country. You can find this requirement on the country-by-country visa information page. Leaving the passport to the last week also brings the risk of not finding a suitable appointment. So first check the status of your passport, then move on to your flight and hotel plans.

Where to apply for which passport?

The application location depends on the passport type. Choosing the correct directorate when getting an appointment is the first step.

Ordinary (maroon) passport

Applications for the maroon passport are made to provincial and district population directorates. This is the route that applies to most travellers. It is enough to get an appointment at the district population directorate nearest to you.

Special (green) and service (grey) passport

Applications for special and service stamped passports are made domestically to provincial population and citizenship directorates. Do not look for an appointment at a district directorate for these types; choose the provincial directorate instead.

Where can you get an appointment?

You can get an appointment through the following channels:

• randevu.nvi.gov.tr
• e-Devlet
• NVİ Mobil app
• Nüfusmatik
• Alo 199 call centre

For a phone appointment, call 199. Whichever channel you choose, note the day, time and directorate of your appointment. Make sure the directorate where you got the appointment is suitable for your passport type; the wrong directorate means wasted time.

Documents required for the application

The document list for an ordinary passport application is short, but it must be complete.

• T.C. ID card or temporary ID document
• 1 biometric photo, taken within the last six months

It is important that the photo is biometric. Do not bring an old photo or an ID photo that does not meet biometric standards. Because of the six-month requirement, do not try to reuse a photo taken a long time ago.

For children and minors

If the legal representative is not present at the application centre, a consent letter (muvafakatname) is required for restricted persons or minors. If the parent or legal representative can attend the appointment, this document is not needed. If they cannot attend, prepare the consent letter in advance.

For details on the passport fee and booklet fee, confirm the current amount through the channel where you got your appointment or with the population directorate. We do not give figures in this article because amounts may change. Also check that your ID document is intact and legible before applying.

Remaining validity, identity changes, and visas

Some details of the renewal rules directly affect your plans.

The remaining validity period is not lost

If you renew your ordinary passport while it is still valid, the remaining validity period is transferred to the new ordinary passport. This means you do not lose time by renewing before your passport expires. Still, remember that a new passport is issued with every application; the old passport is not extended, a new one is prepared.

If identity information changes

If your identity information changes after you receive your passport, the passport must be renewed. For example, if your name or surname has changed, do not plan to travel with the old passport. A mismatch in information can cause problems at the airport and during visa applications.

If you have a valid visa

If you have a valid visa in your old passport, how it can be used with the new passport varies by country. Some countries may require an additional procedure, others may not. There is no general rule on this; confirm the requirement of your destination country on the visa page or with the relevant consulate before travelling. Ask the same question before getting a new passport, so that you can make an informed decision about when and how to keep the old passport.

Step-by-step passport renewal

Follow the process in order:

1. Check your passport. Look at the expiry date, whether your identity information is up to date, and the passport type.
2. Get an appointment. You can get one through randevu.nvi.gov.tr, e-Devlet, NVİ Mobil, Nüfusmatik or Alo 199.
3. Have a biometric photo taken. The photo must have been taken within the last six months.
4. Prepare the documents. Gather your T.C. ID card or temporary ID document and the photo in a folder. Add the consent letter if needed for a child.
5. Go to the directorate on the appointment day and time. The procedure may vary by directorate; for example, the Konya NVİ page states that you go to the district population directorate and take a queue number from the queue machine to apply.
6. Submit your application. Your application is processed.
7. Collect your new passport. Base the delivery method and location on the information given during the application; when you receive the passport, check your name, surname, date of birth and photo.

Be at the directorate a few minutes before your appointment. Where there is a queue machine system, do not wait without taking a queue number. If you notice an error upon delivery, report it to the population directorate without delay. If your trip abroad is coming up soon, clarify the date you will receive your passport before buying a ticket.

Common mistakes and a pre-departure checklist

Most problems at the appointment or at the border arise from small oversights.

Common mistakes

• Assuming the passport "can be extended" and delaying the application.
• Bringing an old or non-biometric photo.
• Looking for an appointment at a district directorate for a green or grey passport.
• Forgetting the consent letter when the legal representative cannot attend a child's application.
• Not renewing the passport after a name or surname change.
• Assuming a valid visa can be used with the new passport without checking the destination country's rule.

Checklist

• I chose the directorate suitable for my passport type.
• I got my appointment and noted the day and time.
• I have my T.C. ID card or temporary ID document with me.
• I have a biometric photo taken within the last six months.
• The consent letter is ready if needed for a child.
• I confirmed the current fee amount from an up-to-date source.
• If I have a valid visa, I checked the requirement for using it with the new passport.
• I will check the information when I receive my new passport.

If you are planning a trip abroad, think about other documents early as well; the international driving permit application is a separate process. If you experience a visa refusal, see the steps for appeal and reapplication.

Frequently asked questions

How do you renew a passport?

First you get an appointment; appointments can be obtained through randevu.nvi.gov.tr, e-Devlet, NVİ Mobil, Nüfusmatik or Alo 199. On the appointment day, you go to the population directorate with your T.C. ID card or temporary ID document and a biometric photo taken within the last six months. Your application is processed and a new passport is issued.

Can a passport's validity be extended?

No. Passports are not extended. A new passport is issued with every application.

If I renew before my passport expires, is the remaining validity period lost?

No. If an ordinary passport that is still valid is renewed, the remaining validity period is transferred to the new ordinary passport. So you do not need to leave it to the last day.

What documents are required for a passport application?

For an ordinary passport, a T.C. ID card or temporary ID document and 1 biometric photo taken within the last six months are required. If the legal representative is not present at the application, a consent letter is also required for restricted persons or minors.

Where is a passport application made?

Applications for an ordinary (maroon) passport are made to provincial and district population directorates. Applications for special (green) and service (grey) stamped passports are made domestically to provincial population and citizenship directorates.

If my name or surname has changed, do I need to renew my passport?

Yes. If identity information changes after the passport is issued, the passport must be renewed. Do not travel with a passport whose information does not match.

How do you get a passport appointment by phone?

For a phone appointment, call 199. You can also get an appointment through randevu.nvi.gov.tr or the NVİ Mobil app if you prefer.

Will the visa in my old passport be valid in the new passport?

This varies by country; there is no general rule. Confirm the requirement of your destination country on the relevant visa page or with the consulate before travelling.

Sources

• Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs - Passport Services — nvi.gov.tr
• Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs - Passport Services Frequently Asked Questions — nvi.gov.tr
• Directorate General of Population and Citizenship Affairs - PASSPORT APPLICATION (APPLICATION, REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND APPOINTMENT) — nvi.gov.tr