The fee for paid military service (bedelli askerlik) that applied between 1 July 2021 and 1 January 2022 was announced by the Ministry of National Defense. The fee, previously 43,151.28 TL, was revised for the upcoming period according to the collective bargaining agreement that sets the increase applied to civil servant salaries.
- Accordingly, the new amount calculated for the period between 1 January 2022 and 1 July 2022 was announced as 45,308.08 TL.
Under Article 9 of the Military Recruitment Law, which governs fees for paid military service, the amount to be paid is obtained by multiplying the statutory base figure of 240,000 by the civil servant monthly coefficient. Wage increases made for civil servants and retired civil servants are added to this coefficient to determine the final paid service fee.
What Is Paid Military Service (Bedelli Askerlik)?
Paid military service is an alternative to compulsory military service that allows eligible individuals to fulfill their obligation in a shorter period or by paying a monetary fee instead of serving the full term. It is designed to balance state and military needs with individuals’ inability to leave jobs, families, or similar constraints.
The process:
- Is planned to meet the needs of the armed forces and the state, and
- Is organized to prevent individuals from losing employment or being separated from their families unnecessarily.
The Constitutional Court has confirmed that paid military service does not violate the principle of equality. In Turkey, short-term service normally lasts six months and long-term service twelve months. When significant numbers of citizens cannot suspend their work or family life, paid military service is offered as a periodic measure.
What Are the Conditions for Paid Military Service?
Conditions for benefiting from paid military service are regulated annually by law. Citizens who meet the specified criteria may complete their service in a shorter time or even without extended barracks duty by paying the required fee.
With the 2019 legal amendment, the right to paid military service became permanent.
- This law added paid service options as part of fulfilling national service, similar in status to regular active-duty service.
Those who use paid military service;
- Pay a fee instead of performing the full period of service.
- Are treated equally with regular service under the law—there should be no difference between paid and active-duty service within the legal framework.
- Must complete the basic military training required for paid service.
The details of paid military service are defined by the Military Recruitment Regulation. Article 61 of that regulation contains provisions specific to paid military service.
Required conditions include:
- Not having started compulsory military service,
- Not being absent without leave, a deserter, or otherwise missing at the time of the roll call,
- Being willing to apply for paid service and submitting a preference by 31 December of the relevant year,
- Being medically fit for service,
- Paying the paid service fee in cash within two months from the application date,
- Selecting a preference for the basic training location,
- Being granted paid service status after classification and lottery procedures, and
- Completing one month of basic military training where applicable.
Those who do not obtain paid service rights in the lottery but are eligible for deferral may reapply before the date they would otherwise become absent without leave.
Age Limit for Paid Military Service
Before the right was made permanent, one-off legal arrangements often set age limits. Since the 2019 law, however, the age limit has been removed.
Accordingly;
- Men who have reached conscription age,
- Who have no condition preventing military service,
- Who are Turkish male citizens may benefit from paid military service regardless of age.
Even though there is no age limit, applicants must still meet all other conditions required for paid military service.
How Long Does Paid Military Service Last?
In past one-time implementations, both the fee and the service duration were set according to the needs of that period. With the permanent regulation, the duration of paid military service has been limited to 21 days for basic training.
Candidates who qualify and whose applications are approved can learn their muster dates from the Ministry of National Defense’s official channels.
What Is the 2022 Paid Military Service Fee?
For the period 1 January to 1 July 2022, the paid military service fee was set at 45,308.08 TL. Procedures and details are managed by the Ministry of National Defense. The process is divided into two main phases:
- Application and payment phase, and
- Classification, conscription, and induction phase.
Details about eligibility, application rules, muster and conscription periods, exclusion from service, refund procedures, and leave within the scope of the service may be updated, so applicants should verify current rules before acting.
Refunds may be made to applicants whose applications were initially approved but later determined to be ineligible. Examples include:
- Those later found unfit for service,
- Those who made duplicate payments,
- Individuals who were found to have benefited despite not being entitled,
- Applicants who voluntarily withdrew before their discharge date,
- People who paid without having submitted an application,
- Applicants who died before completing basic training,
- Those stripped of Turkish citizenship, and
- Individuals who become medically unfit during basic training.
Refund applications must be submitted by the applicant personally or by an authorized representative, guardian, legal heir, or other authorized persons. Eligible refunds are returned to the persons listed above.
Which Banks Offer Loans for Paid Military Service?
According to an updated list from November 2021, banks that offer loans specifically for paid military service include:
- Halkbank
- Albaraka Türk
- Akbank
- Türkiye Finans
- Vakıfbank
- Kuveyt Türk
- Ziraat Bankası
- Şekerbank
Applicants must meet each bank’s financial criteria, the most important of which are a stable monthly income and an acceptable credit score. Interest rates, limits, and repayment terms vary by bank and over time.
How to Apply for Paid Military Service
Applications for paid military service can be made via the e-Government portal (e-Devlet) or at local military recruitment offices. The steps differ slightly depending on whether the applicant is already registered in the roll call system.
Applicants who are already in the roll call system complete their application via e-Government or the recruitment office. After payment, the remaining steps include choosing a muster preference, participating in the lottery and classification, monitoring announcements, being sent to a unit, completing service, and discharge.
Applicants not yet registered first need to apply through e-Government or a recruitment office and then obtain a health examination from a family physician. After that, their procedures follow the same steps as registered applicants.
How to Check Paid Military Service Location
You can quickly check your assigned location for paid military service through the e-Government portal under the Ministry of National Defense services. There you can query the paid classification results and submit your ASAL conscription application.
How Many Days Does Paid Military Service Last?
The basic training period for paid military service is 21 days. After completing basic training and participating in the oath-taking ceremony, participants qualify for discharge. Those who join their unit late continue until the date they qualify for discharge.
2022 Paid Military Service Application Period
For those wishing to use paid military service in 2022, applications were accepted between 1 January and 31 December 2021. Lottery and classification procedures were then carried out in January of the following year.
Applicants for 2022 had to complete their applications by 31 December 2021 at 18:00. This deadline was the final opportunity to complete all required steps.
The same general procedure applies for subsequent years: those who apply and pay the fee can check their muster and conscription dates through the e-Government portal.
Muster dates for basic training in 2021 were;
- 1, 2, 3 April
- 13, 14, 15 May
- 17, 18, 19 June
- 5, 6, 7 August
- 16, 17, 18 September
- 21, 22, 23 October
- 25, 26, 27 November
The number of beneficiaries for paid military service is determined by the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff. Units and quotas are listed until 31 December. If the number of applicants exceeds the available quota, a lottery is held; if fewer applicants apply than the quota, all applicants benefit without a lottery.