Information for Foreigners Visiting Istanbul Airport
Enjoy the Beauty of Istanbul While Travelling This Incredible City With a Turkish Visa in Your Pocket
The Main Requirements for Obtaining Visa in Turkey
Turkey is a wonderful country worth visiting with no doubt. Moreover, as Istanbul provides the busiest transportation hub in the region, millions of people fly daily to IGA, and lots of them want to visit Turkey. This article is devoted to the most critical factor for a successful visit to Turkey. That is, we are going to talk about visa requirements provided by the Turkish government for foreigners arriving in Turkey for various goals from tourism to internship or working permit.
The first thing to consider is that Turkey provides multiple types of permits for foreigners including the following:
- Tourist visa
- Single/double transit visa
- Business/commerce visa
- Conference/meeting/fair/exhibition visa
- Sportive/cultural activity visa
- Official visit
- Internship visas of various types
- Working visas
- Family unification visa
- Medical treatment visa
- Special visas for archeologists, tour operators, seafarers, etc.
The most popular are tourist and business visas. Due to the demand for them, the Turkish Government allows them to apply for special e-visa if a person wants to visit Turkey for tourist or business purposes.
Take note: all other types of visas require your direct application in Turkish Representation abroad.
What Is E-Visa Service and How to Apply for It
On 17 April 2013, the E-Visa service was launched in Turkey to help foreigners obtain visas with ease. Due to the electronic form, this service provides a streamlined process of application and it takes on average around 3 minutes to apply for a Turkish visa.
Where can I apply for e-visa?
You can obtain your e-visa everywhere and at any time. All you need is just a stable Internet connection to enter the service and fill in the application form. Please, enter the official website and follow its guidelines to apply for an e-visa.
Can I get a Turkish visa at the airport upon my arrival?
Yes, this option is also available for tourists and business visitors. You can apply for a Turkish visa at the moment of your arrival at the airport. Just take note that visa fees at the airport are higher than when you apply for an e-visa.
Which countries are exempted from mandatory visa application?
Turkey provides a flexible policy for entrance permits. Thus, multiple countries’ citizens do not need to get Turkish visas if they come with tourist or business goals. These rules, particularly, work for countries that are member states of the Council of Europe, Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, and 50+ other countries. You can check the visa requirements for your country at this website. Moreover, multiple countries concluded agreements with Turkey to allow their citizens to travel to Turkey with only their national IDs instead of international passports.
The Main Terms and Conditions to Apply for a Visa Before Visiting Turkey
There are no special conditions for a visa in Turkey if it is a tourist or business visa. You simply get access to the country for 90 days with a 180-day gap after finishing this term.
Yet, there are some peculiarities to consider:
- If you travel to Turkey and you intend to reside there even under your tourist visa, please, do not forget to register in the closest to your residence police station.
- Do not forget about passport validity. When applying for a visa, your passport should be valid for no less than 6 months. Exceptions are citizens of Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Portugal and Bulgaria whose expired passports remain valid in Turkey for 5 years.
- If you have 2 passports, you are not permitted to stay in Turkey for 90 days for each passport’s visa. You can use only one of them.
- Do not forget about medical insurance as it is a must for all visitors to Turkey.
Which Documents to Prepare to Apply for a Visa to Turkey
All you need to obtain the visa is your valid passport or ID. Besides, if you apply for an e-visa, your credit card may be required to pay the fee. You get your visa confirmed via email in case you apply for an e-visa or you get a visa stamp/sticker at the airport or from Turkish Representatives abroad.
FAQs
The last thing to clarify in our guide to Turkish visa obtaining is answering some FAQs.
Can I enter Turkey with my national ID if I’m a citizen of France?
Yes, under the terms of the “European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe,” French visitors can enter Turkey with their national IDs.
If I have a long downtime in Istanbul Airport, can I enter the city without a visa?
Yes, you can spend your free time before your connecting flight to Istanbul if you are exempt from visa requirements or if you have a valid Turkish visa.
How early should I apply for a Turkish visa?
It is better to apply for it at least 1 month before your travel. This may help avoid inconveniences and document processing delays.