Increase in Paid Military Service Cost in Turkey; New Rate for the Second Half of 2026

Following the announcement of the inflation rates for the first six months of 2026 by the Turkish Statistical Institute, extensive changes have been made to government payments and employee salaries. One of the most significant changes is the increase in the cost of paid military service (Bedelli Askerlik), which is directly linked to the salary coefficient of civil servants. Based on new calculations, individuals planning to utilize this right in the second half of 2026 must pay an amount significantly higher than in previous periods [1].

Details of the New Rate and Inflation Calculations According to data published on July 3, 2026, the June inflation rate caused the civil servant salary coefficient to increase by 13.52%. This increase automatically affected the cost of paid military service, raising the amount from 416,361 Lira to 472,653 Lira and 34 Kurus [2]. This new rate will be valid for all applications registered from July 1 to December 31, 2026. Economic experts believe this increase reflects the continuous inflationary pressures on the Turkish economy in recent years [3].

Ministry of National Defense Announcement and Legal Deadlines The Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MSB) had previously warned applicants that to benefit from the old rates, they had to finalize their applications and payments by the end of business hours on June 30, 2026. After this date, all banking systems and the e-Devlet portal were suspended to update the amounts [4]. It is expected that in the coming days, the final circular on "Financial and Social Rights" will be published by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, allowing the Ministry of Defense to officially begin accepting new applications at the 472,000 Lira rate [1].

Impact on Evasion Fines and Foreign Currency Payments The increase in the salary coefficient has not only affected the principal amount of the service purchase. According to published reports, the daily fine for individuals who have evaded military service (Bakaya) has also increased, reaching 5,541 Lira [4]. Additionally, the cost of service purchase for Turkish citizens living abroad who pay in foreign currency is estimated at approximately 8,822 Euros, based on the Lira-Euro exchange rate [3]. Applicants should note that payments must only be made through state banks such as Ziraat Bank and VakıfBank to complete the registration process.

A Look at the Upward Trend in Recent Years A comparison of the new rate with previous years shows an acceleration in military costs for eligible individuals. While at the beginning of 2024 this amount was around 182,000 Lira, it has now approached the half-million Lira mark in mid-2026. This upward trend has led many eligible young men in Turkey to settle their accounts before the announcement of new rates in the January and July periods to avoid the next inflationary wave [2].