Police spouse transfer requests cover the rules and procedures that apply to officers after marriage. Because these transfers are explicitly linked to the marriage contract, a legally recognized marriage is required. The “Polis Eş Durumu Tayin Yönetmeliği” (Police Spouse Transfer Regulation) lays out the details and varies based on each spouse’s status.
Under the regulation, there are two main options when both spouses are police officers and wish to serve in the same area after marriage.
A police spouse transfer may proceed in the following ways:
- One spouse may be given the chance to be transferred to the location where their partner is stationed. This transfer right is generally granted only once.
- If the spouse is unwilling to serve in the area where the police partner is stationed, a one-time lottery (draw) can be used to assign a joint duty station. Both police spouses will then be assigned together to the selected location.
What Is the Police Spouse Transfer Regulation?
The content of the police spouse transfer regulation, prepared under the relevant laws, may be updated to reflect changing needs and conditions. The regulation defines how and when transfer requests based on a spouse’s status are handled.
According to the regulation, police assignment periods are normally held twice a year. Except for some exceptions, spouse transfers may also be carried out outside the regular assignment periods.
The general framework for transfers under the regulation is as follows:
- From the time an officer becomes eligible for their first posting, they have the right to request a spouse transfer.
- Standard assignment periods are generally twice a year, typically occurring in May and June.
- There are also exceptional assignment periods for special circumstances, commonly held in February and September.
- Officers can request spouse transfers during both standard and exceptional assignment periods.
What Documents Are Required for a Police Spouse Transfer?
To request a spouse transfer, officers must submit a formal application and provide various documents. The responsible institution requests these records from both the applying officer and their spouse to verify professional status and eligibility.
Applicants must provide the requested documents in full so their transfer request can be processed without delay.
Commonly required documents include:
- Official duty location document issued by the employer for each spouse,
- If applicable, proof from any professional association each spouse belongs to,
- Documents from the relevant tax office for each spouse,
- Proof of service time showing that the required service period has been met (for police, service time is determined according to Article 4 of Law No. 5510 on Social Insurances and General Health Insurance; it is recommended to include a detailed service record).
How Long Does a Police Spouse Transfer Take?
Processing times in public institutions can vary due to fluctuating workloads. When assignment requests are high, the ministry typically completes transfer results in about two months.
In periods with fewer requests, the process can conclude in as little as one month. In rare cases, depending on workload and immediate approvals, a transfer may occur soon after the petition is received.
Based on past practices, timing generally falls into these categories:
- Standard assignments: Usually about two months. Standard assignment periods may take longer because they typically attract more applicants, increasing processing workload.
- Exceptional (justified) assignments: Usually about one month. These are resolved faster because fewer officers typically apply, except in exceptional circumstances.
How Does a Police Spouse Transfer Work if the Spouse Works in the Private Sector?
Different sectors have distinct rules for spouse transfers. Spouses working in the private sector are generally covered under 4A or 4B service records, while police officers fall under 4C service records.
Because transfer rules are primarily designed for civil servants, spouses employed in the private sector usually do not qualify for spouse transfer rights. The main exception is when an officer is in their initial assignment; they may request a transfer to be with their spouse using a special justification.
Some non-police professions are considered for coordination between institutions when they create a legitimate basis for transfer:
- Mayor,
- Municipal staff,
- Member of Parliament,
- Village headman (muhtar),
- University staff.
When assessing these professions, the higher-ranking spouse’s position is prioritized. In other words, the spouse with the higher-status role generally remains in place, and the other spouse may be reassigned to join them. Certain positions described as fixed or anchored (such as some university or municipal roles) are also taken into account; police spouses are often transferred to join partners who hold such fixed positions.
Employees in university or municipal positions are typically considered fixed-staff, and police spouses are usually transferred to be with their partner in those posts.
How Should a Police Spouse Transfer Petition Be Written?
When preparing a petition to public institutions, it is important to use clear and formal language. Clearly stated requests are processed more quickly and help speed up the procedure.
A properly addressed petition with an original (wet) signature and a specific, concise request tends to stand out and may be prioritized by the receiving office.
A police spouse transfer petition should include the following:
- Active service period of the applying police officer,
- Clear statement of the marriage date,
- Wet (handwritten) signature,
- Identification details (especially national ID number),
- A clear and specific transfer request,
- The institution where the police spouse works,
- The province and duty area of the police spouse’s institution,
- The police officer’s rank and title.
How Are Transfers Handled When the Spouse Is a Nurse?
If a police officer’s spouse is a nurse employed in the state healthcare system, the officer gains the right to request a transfer under inter-institutional coordination rules. The petition and documentation requirements are the same as for other spouse transfers.
A key condition is that the nurse must be employed at a public hospital. If the spouse works in the private sector, they are not considered a public official and therefore do not create grounds for an inter-institutional coordination transfer.
What About Transfers When the Spouse Is a Teacher?
Teachers who work within the civil service framework can benefit from inter-institutional coordination. If a teacher spouse is in a suitable position, a police officer can request a transfer to join them.
As with nurses, the teacher must be employed within public institutions. Teachers working in the private sector do not generally create a basis for a police spouse transfer.
How Does a Police Spouse Transfer Work When the Spouse Is an Academic?
Academics, who are generally part of public institutions and often considered fixed-staff, can also form the basis for a spouse transfer. Because academic posts are typically non-transferable (fixed), the police spouse files the transfer request. If approved, the police officer may be assigned to the location where the academic spouse works.
How Are Transfers Handled When the Spouse Is a Contract Teacher?
Contract teachers (those employed under the Ministry of National Education) enjoy many rights similar to permanent civil servants and may be eligible for transfers under certain conditions. For contract teachers, a one-year minimum service requirement usually applies before a police spouse transfer can be requested.
After both spouses complete one year of service, the police officer may request a transfer to join a contract teacher spouse. Contract teachers serving in eastern or other designated regions are considered contract employees for the purposes of such assignments. However, hourly-paid or temporary teachers generally do not create grounds for spouse transfer requests.
How Does a Police Transfer Work When the Spouse Is Military?
Transfers requested because a spouse is in the military are among the fastest to be resolved. In many cases, these requests are processed quickly and approved, with assignments often finalized soon after the petition is accepted. Recent regulations published in the official gazette extended spouse transfer rights to specialist gendarmes and non-commissioned officers in certain cases.
In general, military spouse-based transfers tend to be expedited, provided the receiving unit has the appropriate staffing. For other security service personnel, the availability of a compatible position is a key factor.
What Are the Conditions for Requesting a Police Transfer?
To prevent misuse and to ensure orderly assignments, the relevant authorities set specific conditions for transfer requests. During eligible transfer periods, officers may request reassignment to other provinces if they meet the requirements.
The main conditions under the relevant law include:
- Divorce, like marriage, can be a basis for a justified (mazeret) transfer. Officers seeking a divorce-based transfer must submit a divorce decree along with their transfer petition.
- Under justified transfers, an officer may request a posting to the city where their spouse or child resides, provided the officer meets the legal criteria.
- An officer cannot request a transfer to the province where they are registered in the civil registry; such requests are generally denied. One exception concerns female officers: before marriage, a female officer may request assignment to the province where she is registered.
- An officer who has been transferred to a province cannot request another transfer to the same province until five years of service have passed since that assignment. Otherwise, the petition will not be accepted. When five years have elapsed, the relevant institution may request opinions from governorates or directorates to confirm that there is no obstacle to the officer’s return.
- Transfer requests are processed only if a vacant position exists in the requested region.
How Are Female Police Transfers Handled?
There are certain distinctions and exceptions for female officers regarding transfers, though they retain the same spouse transfer rights as male officers under many conditions. Female officers are treated under specific provisions to account for family and registry-related situations.
Female officers who wish to request assignment to the province where they are registered are considered an exception under the law. Generally, assignments are governed by the General Directorate of Security’s Appointment and Relocation Regulation.
A newly graduated officer must first serve in their initial posting area (first region) and complete the required service period before submitting a transfer request.
When a female officer seeks a transfer, she should be aware of two main requirements similar to those that apply to male officers:
- During assignment periods, officers must select seven regions as choices,
- Every officer must choose one duty station from each of the seven regions.