Türkiye tourist and visitor visa from a Turkish mission

Visa rules depend on nationality and passport type and can change on the basis of reciprocity. If your passport is not visa-exempt and the e-Visa is not offered, or you are travelling for a purpose the e-Visa does not cover, you apply at a Turkish mission in your country of nationality or legal residence.

The Ministry groups visit visas under the tourist and businessperson heading: touristic visit, single or double transit, business meetings and commerce, conferences and seminars, festivals, fairs and exhibitions, sports and cultural or artistic activities, official visits and visits to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Every applicant needs medical insurance valid for the whole stay and proof of sufficient or regular income. If a person in Türkiye invites you, the invitation letter must show the inviter's Turkish identity number, clear identity details, the names of the invitees, a permanent address and phone number, the length and purpose of the stay and the relationship to the applicant, and must state that the inviter will cover food and accommodation. Companies add their tax registration certificate.

Since 5 January 2016 all Turkish visa applications go through the Pre-Application System. You or a visa application centre upload the data and documents; if you turn out to be eligible for an e-Visa, the system sends you to evisa.gov.tr. Otherwise you go to the mission with the signed application form, your passport and the originals of the uploaded documents. Where internet access is poor, missions also accept direct applications.

The Ministry recommends applying at least one month before the trip. Consulates issue visas with a maximum stay of 90 days, and the 90-in-180 rule applies to all foreigners. Visitors arriving visa-free by sea can be given a 72-hour permit limited to the port area, which is not a visa.

A visa does not guarantee entry, and visa fees are not refunded when an application is refused. Data submitted in the application may be stored and accessed by the relevant Turkish authorities. The fee amount depends on nationality and is published by each mission.