Tourist Visa In Turkey: A Simple Guide

Imagine wandering through the bustling bazaars of Istanbul, floating in the hot air balloons over Cappadocia, or soaking up the sun on the Aegean coast. All you need is the tourist visa. Need assistance in getting it? Don’t Worry! We’ve got you covered!

Your gateway to these unforgettable experiences starts with obtaining a tourist visa for Turkey. This guide is your compass to navigating the visa process, ensuring your journey to this crossroads of culture and history is as smooth as Turkish coffee.

Let’s dive in!

What Is A Turkish Tourist Visa?

A Turkish Tourist Visa is an authorization to enter Turkey and stay here for a specific amount of time for purposes related to tourism such as sightseeing, vacations, visiting friends or family members, etc.

A Turkey Tourist visa can be obtained in two forms, according to your nationality:

E-visa for tourism purposes.
Turkish Sticker Visa for tourists.

Note that if you are eligible for the first, which is easier and cheaper, you do not need to apply for the second.

Do You Need A Turkey Tourist Visa?

Turkish is quite welcoming when it comes to tourists. In recent years, the country has been trying to increase the number of visitors, which stagnated after a failed coup and several terrorist attacks.

As a result, nationals of many countries can travel visa-free to Turkey, and many others can apply for an e-visa, which is quick and easy to get.

On the other hand, Russian passport holders can enter Turkey visa-free and stay here for up to 90 days within half a year without exceeding a maximum of 60 days per visit.

Nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Brunei, Costa Rica, Latvia, Macao, Mongolia, Thailand, and Turkmenistan can stay in Turkey for up to 30 days per visit and 90 days per six months.

What Are Turkey Tourist Visa Purposes Of Entry?

When applying for a Turkey Tourist Visa, you should pay attention to the purpose of your trip to Turkey, as there is a list of only a few purposes eligible for application.

Find the acceptable purposes for applying for a Turkey Tourist visa listed below:

Touristic Visit: Suppose you plan to travel to Turkey for sightseeing, vacation, and other similar purposes.
Business Meeting/Commerce: Suppose you want to attend a business meeting or other unpaid commerce-related activity in Turkey.
Conference/Seminar/Meeting: When planning to participate in a conference, seminar, meeting, or other similar activity in Turkey.
Festival / Fair / Exhibition: If you want to participate in a fair, festival, exhibition, etc., in Turkey.
Sportive Activity: Suppose you want to travel to Turkey to attend a sporting activity, either as a sportsperson or a fan.
Cultural/Artistic Activity: If you plan to become part of a cultural or artistic activity.
Official Visit: When traveling to Turkey as a part of an official delegation representing your country’s government or other public institutions.
Visit The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: If you plan to travel to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for any of the above reasons.

How Do You Apply For A Turkish Tourist Visa?

To apply for a Turkey Sticker visa for tourism, you will need to complete several steps, as given below.

Make sure you follow the guidelines and meet the specified requirements in the given order:

Check when to apply.
Find out where to apply.
Complete the online Turkish tourist visa application form.
Compile the required documents.
Attend the interview.

When To Apply?

It is essential to apply on time for your Tourist Visa for Turkey.

It’s too early, and your application will not be accepted. It’s too late, and you may lose your trip to Turkey due to delayed processing. Therefore, make sure you apply on time.

The earliest you can lodge your application is 60 days before the date of your trip. On the other hand, the latest you can apply is one month before this date.

Where To Apply?

Depending on how the Turkish authorities in your country of residence have regulated visa submission, you will need to submit your application for a tourist visa at one of the following:

The Turkish embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
A third-party visa-processing center to which Turkey has outsourced visa submission in your country.

Complete The Online Form For A Turkey Tourist Visa

The first concrete step towards completing your application file for a Turkish tourist visa is filling out the online visa application form on the website of the pre-application system.

The form contains a few questions, such as your name and surname, date and place of birth, and the reason for application.

The system will come up with the visa type you need to apply for and a list of the primary documents you must submit for your visa application.

Upon completing the form, you will also receive a date for your visa interview.

What Are The Required Documents You Need To Apply For A Turkey Tourist Visa?

An essential part of the Turkish tourist visa application process is collecting the required documents. These documents prove that you meet the criteria to enter and stay in Turkey for the desired period.

Make sure you obtain every single one of these documents and submit them to the consular officer on the day of your interview:

The completed Turkish tourist visa application form.
Your valid passport or another travel document.
Two photographs by the Turkish visa photograph requirements.
Proof of income or savings: You should prove you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in Turkey. The possession of a minimal amount of 1,506 TRY (€50) for every day you plan to spend in Turkey must be presented. This can be done through recent bank statements, a letter of support from another person, etc.
Travel Insurance: It is compulsory to have travel medical insurance to travel to Turkey. The insurance must cover the whole territory of Turkey with minimal coverage of 903,804 TRY (€30,000).
Travel Itinerary: Present a booked flight from your home country to Turkey and back, a bus ticket, or any other proof that you intend to leave Turkey after your trip.
Proof Of Accommodation: You must present a document as proof of accommodation depending on where you will be staying while in Turkey. If you will stay at a hotel, present a hotel reservation. If you have been invited to stay with friends or relatives in Turkey, you need to present a letter of invitation from the host.
Police Clearance Certificate: This document should be obtained from the relevant authorities in your country of residence and prove that you have not been involved in any criminal activities in recent years.
Documents regarding the company organizing the travel are required from group travels.
Documents regarding your employment status.
If you are employed, you need a guarantee letter from your employer and pay slips for the last 3 months.
If you are a business owner, your company’s certificate of establishment and registration, trade license, and bank account statement show transactions for the last 3 months.
If your spouse provides you the same applicable documents as listed above, for your spouse.

Note that the Turkish authorities in charge of visa processing in your country of residence have the right to ask you to submit additional documents besides those listed above.

Turkish Tourist Visa Interview

The visa interview for a Turkish visa is crucial to the application process. The interview helps the consular officer decide whether you should be granted a visa to Turkey.

The interview is a short meeting between you and an interviewer, to whom you also need to submit the required documents you have collected.

What Is The Turkey Tourist Visa Application Processing?

This processing of your application for a Turkey Tourist Visa may take about 15 working days.

In some countries, this period may be extended; in others, you can receive an answer to your application as soon as three working days after the interview.

If you want to track your application, you can do so at the website of the pre-application system, from where you first started your application.

How To Apply For A Turkish E-visa?

If you are eligible for an e-visa, then you do not need to go through all these processes explained so far. Getting an e-visa to Turkey for tourism purposes is very easy.

You have to follow the steps below, and you will be done within minutes:

Complete the online application form on the Turkish eVisa website.
Confirm Your Application: Within minutes, you must receive an email asking you to confirm that you have started an application for an E-Visa. Click the link you have received, which will take you back to the visa application website.
Pay The Fee: You must pay the fee for an eVisa application online at the eVisa application website.
Download Your E–Visa: You will again receive an email with a button that will retake you to the same website, where you will have to download your eVisa.
Print Your E–Visa: You must present a printed version of your e-visa at the Turkish port of entry.

E-Visa Condition 1

Applicants must hold a valid visa or residence permit from one of these countries:

Schengen Area country
Ireland
United Kingdom
United States

Electronic visas and residence permits are not accepted. Citizens of Gabon or Zambia or Egyptians under 20 and over 40 years old are exempt from this requirement.

E-Visa Condition 2

Passport holders from conditional eVisa countries must travel with an airline that has signed a protocol with the Turkish foreign ministry.

Currently, the approved airlines are:

Turkish Airlines
Pegasus Airlines
Onur Air
Egypt Air

This E-Visa condition applies to all the listed countries except Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

Visa conditions for each country can vary and are subject to change.

E-Visa Condition 3

Travelers must have a reservation at a hotel in Turkey and proof of sufficient funds—at least 1,418 TRY (USD 50) per day.

What Are Turkey E-visa Types? Single And Multiple-entry Visas

There are 2 types of Turkey visas available online:

Single-Entry
Multiple-Entry.

Passport holders from selected countries receive a multiple-entry visa and can travel to Turkey more than once without reapplying.

What Can You Do With A Turkey E-visa?

The electronic visa for Turkey can be used for these activities:

Tourism

Vacation
Sporting activities
Cultural activities

Business/Commerce

Meetings
Conferences and seminars
Festivals, fairs, and exhibitions

It suits people on vacation in Turkey or taking a short business trip. For other travel purposes, foreigners need a different visa for Turkey.

Foreigners only need a transit visa for Turkey if they leave the international transit area. To exit the airport, an eVisa for transit is required.

How Long Does It Take To Get A Turkey E-visa?

It’s quick and convenient to request a Turkey visa online. Visitors need to provide just a few personal details, passport data, and travel information.

Processing is also fast. Most Turkey eVisas are processed and approved within 24 hours. There is also a priority service for guaranteed 1-hour processing.

Turkey E-visa Duration Of Stay And Validity

A Turkey eVisa is valid for 180 days. The visa holder must enter Turkey within 6 months of the arrival date indicated.

Citizens of most eligible countries can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days per 180-day period with an eVisa. The maximum stay for certain nationalities, including Mexico or Suriname, is 30 days per 180-day period.

Conclusion

As our guide comes to a close, you’re now equipped with the key to unlocking the treasures of Turkey—a tourist visa. With this visa in hand, the rich tapestry of Turkish history, cuisine, and landscapes is yours to explore.

So, pack your bags, charge your cameras, and prepare for an adventure that promises to be as vibrant and diverse as the country itself. Turkey awaits, and it’s just a visa away.

Adventure Awaits!

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