Ankara bumps price of short-term military service to nearly 250,000 liras

The price of short-term mandatory military service was increased to 243,000 Turkish liras ($6,880). The payment allows for young men to serve 28 days in the military instead of the usual six months.

Friday January 10 2025 01:18 am

Duvar English

Turkish Defense Ministry on Jan. 9 announced that the 2025 fee for paid military service in Turkey is set at 243,000 Turkish liras, marking an 11.54% increase.

Military service is mandatory for all male Turkish citizens over the age of 20. However, the paid military service program provides an alternative, allowing who can afford the fee to serve 28 days of mandatory military duty instead of the standard six months.

The fee is adjusted semiannually based on the civil servant salary adjustments. Applicants for paid military service are required to pay the fee within two months of their application.

In 2019, the paid military service fee was introduced at $6,000, equivalent to 31,343 liras at the exchange rate of the time.

Today, the fee has reached its highest level ever, climbing to $6,879. Over the past two years, the fee has risen 67.8% in dollar terms, including a 33.2% increase over the past year.