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REGULATION

No Passing for Tattoos Visible from the Uniform

Official titleRegulation Amending the Coast Guard Command Clothing Regulation

With the amendments made to the Coast Guard Command Clothing Regulation, clothing determination processes for personnel have been clarified, the scope of the tattoo prohibition has been expanded, and uniform annexes have been updated.

Before

The process of determining and announcing to personnel the clothing to be worn in activities by Coast Guard Command personnel was less detailed, and the tattoo prohibition was regulated differently from the scope in the current Regulation. The uniform annexes were also in entry into force in their pre-Regulation state.

After

According to the Coast Guard Command Clothing Regulation, which clothing (daily, ceremonial, invitation, law enforcement, training, civilian, sports, etc.) will be worn in performed activities shall be announced to personnel by coordinating units via orders or communication tools. Furthermore, personnel shall not be able to get tattoos on the face, head, entire neck, as well as arms (including elbows) and legs (from the knee) visible with a short-sleeved shirt or skirt. All annexes from Annex-1 to Annex-10 of the Regulation (daily, ceremonial, invitation, law enforcement, and training uniforms, as well as rank and branch insignia) have been updated.

Details of the Regulation

The Regulation published by the Ministry of Interior introduces important regulations regarding the clothing usage and personal appearance of Coast Guard Command personnel. Article 1 of the Regulation has stipulated that the clothing to be worn according to the type of activities performed (daily, ceremonial, invitation, law enforcement, training, civilian, or sports clothing) will be announced to personnel by coordinating units via orders or communication tools. This clarifies the authority and procedure in clothing selection.

REGAS Commentary

This Regulation makes the rules regarding the personal appearance of Coast Guard Command personnel during and outside duty more explicit and introduces a serious restriction, especially on tattoos. The prohibition of personnel from getting tattoos, especially in visible places, will directly affect personnel who have existing tattoos or are considering getting them in the future. The updates in the clothing annexes, on the other hand, aim to ensure unity in practice by clarifying the standards and usage instructions of uniforms. Personnel are required to comply with these new rules.

Questions You Might Have

How will the clothing selection of Coast Guard personnel be determined?
The clothing to be worn according to the type of activities (daily, ceremonial, invitation, law enforcement, training, civilian, or sports) will be announced to personnel by the coordinating units via orders or communication tools.
Which areas does the tattoo prohibition cover under the new regulation?
Personnel will not be able to get tattoos on the face, head, entire neck, arms visible with a short-sleeved shirt (including from the fingertips to the elbows), and legs visible with a skirt (from the knee).
What changes were made to the annexes of the Regulation?
All annexes from Annex-1 to Annex-10 of the Regulation have been updated. These annexes contain details regarding daily, ceremonial, invitation, law enforcement, and training uniforms, as well as rank and branch insignia.

Key Terms

Kıyafet Yönetmeliği
A legal text that regulates under which circumstances personnel will wear which type of clothing, the characteristics of the clothing, and the principles of usage.
Kolluk
A security unit or personnel tasked with ensuring public order and security, acting in accordance with the law.
Üniforma
Special clothing worn by persons belonging to a specific institution, profession, or community, reflecting institutional identity and with set standards.
İcra Edilen Faaliyetler
Official duties, operations, or events carried out by an institution or personnel.

Affected Sectors

  • Public services
  • Defence and security

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REGAS analyzed all 32 items in the Official Gazette of 20 August 2026; we published only 1 of them here.

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