Visa for Turkey Made Easy: The Ultimate Guide on Ways to Get a Visa

If you’re looking to learn about obtaining a visa for Turkey, you’re in the right place!

When I first arrived in 2018, I came on a “90 days within 6 months” visa. Then, in 2019, I moved here on the same visa and applied for a short-term residence permit.

Since then, I’ve had to renew my visa four times, and each experience has been unique—just like the experiences of my friends.

Navigating the visa process can be confusing and, to be honest, quite overwhelming. But don’t worry! I’ll share some tips to help simplify the process.

Stick with me as I guide you through the different types of visas and best practices for the application process. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped to make informed decisions and travel confidently.

Things have changed recently and now America along with some other countries, no longer need a visa to enter. Since other countries still do, I am leaving this information here. Check this list to see if you need a visa.

Visa options in Turkey

When planning a trip to Turkey, the first item you’ll likely need to check off your list is obtaining a visa or residence permit.

Since there are a few different visa types and different requirements for each country, it is important to make sure you look up the proper info for your country.

I will be sharing general requirements and will link to where you can find the proper info for your country.

1. Sticker or electronic visa: The most important thing that you need to find out is whether your country is allowed to apply for an e-visa or if you are required to get a sticker visa.
   • Thankfully, the Turkish authorities have taken steps to streamline this process with the introduction of the e-visa system. Accessible around the clock, the e-Visa system lets you apply and receive your visa online, at any time, and from anywhere with an internet connection.
   • If you need to use the system for Turkish sticker visas you can apply HERE.
2. Duration of Stay: From there you will need to figure out how long you plan on staying.
   If you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for one of the following within the first 90 days after your date of entry.

There is also a list of people who wish to visit Türkiye and are exempt from visa requirements.

Pro tip: Before filing your application, ensure that you have all necessary documents at your disposal for submission.

There are several visas that you can consider applying for:

Tourism / Business Visa

The main purpose is transit, touristic visit, business meeting/commerce, conference/seminar/meeting, festival/fair/exhibition, sportive activity, cultural-artistic activity, official visit, or visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Requirement of Necessary Documents

I would provide a list but the chances of the list changing by the time you actually apply are like 98%.

Every time I have renewed the list of required documents has been different. They are always refining the process and changing things.

That being said, I recommend joining a Turkey-specific expat Facebook group and asking around for people’s experiences of what was required most recently when it is time.

Sometimes they require travel documents, bank statements, background checks, or other such documents, and other times they don’t.

Education Visa

The main purpose is for doing an internship, attending a course, or other educational purposes (attending university or a Turkish language course) in the Republic of Türkiye or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

This type of visa must be applied for before you come to Turkey, however. So if you want to use this route, make sure to apply with the consulate in your country.

Requirement of Necessary Documents

The consulate’s office will help you with all the necessary documents for your application process.

Work Visa

The main purpose of your trip to Turkey is employment, or you are an assigned academic, sportsperson, artist, free zone worker, journalist to Turkey, or locally employed as an English teacher or other position.

The process for obtaining a work visa includes an application to the nearest Turkish mission and requires documents such as a letter from the employer.

Be sure to prepare all necessary documents ahead of time to avoid delays in your application process. Securing a work visa for Turkey requires a specific procedure that you must follow closely.

If you want to obtain a work permit, applications must be submitted through the E-Permit System which is done by your employer.

Requirement of Necessary Documents

As with any official visa procedure, you must provide a collection of documents.

The exact nature of these documents may vary depending on your particular circumstances and employment details.

However, it generally includes items such as your passport and a color copy of your passport, a completed visa application form, passport-sized photos, and supporting documentation relating to your job placement, such as contracts and letters from the employer.

The Importance of the Employer’s Letter

One of the key documents that need to be submitted along with your work visa application is a letter from your employer. This employment letter should clearly detail your role, the nature of your work, and its duration.

It provides confirmation of your employment status and is highly important in the visa-acquiring process.

By adhering strictly to these steps, you can ensure a smooth visa application process and ultimately enhance your chances of securing a Turkish work visa.

Official trip

The main purpose of your trip to Turkey is as a courier or on assignment for duty purposes.

Requirement of Necessary Documents

The consulate’s office will help you with all the necessary documents for your application process as they could be different based on the assignment.

Digital Nomad

This is a new visa that was released in 2024. The full article about it is here but in short, it is a great option if you are traveling the world and working remotely.

Requirement of Necessary Documents

See the article for the full list but it includes things like a contract with the company you’re working for, proof of $3,000 a month or $36,000 for the year, passport photos, diploma, and more.

You also have to meet certain age and nationality requirements to apply. While it may not be a good fit for some, it is an excellent option for digital nomads.

Other

Your main purpose falls into one of the other special cases like an archaeological excavation, exploration purpose, documentary purpose, tour operator representative, medical treatment purpose, accompaniment purpose, family unification purpose, freight visa, or seafarer visa.

Again, each situation will require different requirements so see the consulate to make sure you have everything you need.

Visa Fees

When it comes to visa fees, it is worth noting that the fees for an e-visa obtained through the official website are typically lower than visas obtained upon arrival at Turkish airports.

This cost difference will also vary depending on your country of origin and the type of visa you are applying for.

E-visa

The official websites provide the most accurate and updated information about visa requirements, fees, and processing times.

One notable advantage of applying for an e-visa is its 24/7 availability and the convenience of applying from anywhere in the world.

Moreover, the e-visa system is continuously being enhanced to include more languages and payment options, which further increases its accessibility.

The e-Visa system is continually refined and expanded to accommodate more languages and provide a wider variety of payment options.

This is in line with Turkey’s commitment to make traveling to their beautiful country as straightforward as possible.

Consider the cost advantage of applying for an e-visa: payments for e-visas obtained through the official website are significantly lower than the fees for visas obtained upon arrival at Turkish airports or using another service.

iVisa

This is a full-service company to help with visas. While Turkey’s application system for e-visas is quite easy, that is not always the case for countries that can’t use e-visas.

With iVisa, they handle all the details for you and make sure everything is done correctly for smooth sailing. They also have a 99% success rate.

You may be asking, why would I pay more? Let me give you a few reasons:

1. You can save time as application time is significantly shorter.
2. Unlike most government sites, travelers can pay with several payment methods.
3. Their platform reviews documents and scans to ensure that they won’t be rejected. They have a 99% success rate.
4. They have a multilingual website and 24/7 customer support which is especially helpful if you’re coming from a non-European/American country.

On Arrival

You can also do an on-arrival visa application, though, in my opinion, it is better to have it done and ready to go before you get there.

If not, you could be turned away and have to reboard a plane back without ever entering. Because of this, many airlines are requiring a visa before boarding.

If you decide to go this route, however, follow the signs in the airport for applying. Typically this is done at the customs desk but ask an employee upon arrival to make sure it is still handled this way.

For instance, in 2014 the e-visa fee was $20 and on arrival was $30. They will be even more so different in 2025.

The one thing about the on-arrival visa is that it adds time to the customs process and if it isn’t approved for whatever reason, you have to hop back on a plane.

Plus with the current tensions regarding visas, they are more often than not requiring a visa before you get on the plane.

Sticker Visa

You can apply HERE for that. Again, the fee varies by country and type.

This process is a bit more labor-intensive and will require a visit to the consulate’s office to get everything going.

Tips and Important Info About Applying for a Visa

Generally Speaking

Applying for a Turkish visa can be a confusing process even if you understand the requirements and follow the correct procedures.

To make it less stressful make sure you have your list of what is required and have everything with you, even if it might not be on your list to avoid having to come back a second time.

If you want to do a short-term tourist visa, you enter Turkey on the “90 days within 180 days” visa and then apply for a longer short-term resident permit once you’re here.

Depending on the type of visa, however, the requirements change regularly. For instance, if you want to come in on a work or education visa, you have to apply from your home country.

If, however, you are already on a resident visa, then you must have 6 months left and can apply for a work visa in the country.

You have to choose which one is best for you and your situation.

To obtain the most up-to-date general information, I recommend you check with the Republic of Türkiye’s visa page.

Passport validity

Your passport should have a validity of 60 days past the date you’re expected to depart from Turkey though there are a handful of exceptions for this.

If you end up needing to renew your passport while in Turkey, it is good to know that you will get a passport with extra pages. #bonus

Official Options only

Be wary of potential scams. There are numerous fraudulent websites and agencies that claim to provide Turkish visas.

It is important to only use official channels for obtaining your visa. This means sticking to the e-visa website, iVisa, or applying at the consulate.

FAQs for getting a visa in Turkey

Final Thoughts on Turkish Visas

While Americans as well as some other countries no longer need to apply for a visa to enter Turkey, many countries still need to do so.

If you are an American or European looking to stay a bit longer than the 90 days, then there are other options that we covered including educational, work, and digital nomad visa being the most popular.

If you’re from a non-European/American country you can get your visa through e-visa or iVisa though some countries are required to get a sticker visa through their consulate or embassy offices.

Just make sure you don’t get scammed by using unofficial websites or companies.

Leave yourself plenty of time left on your passport (at least 6 months more than you hope to stay) and bring all important documents with you (diplomas, birth certificates, etc) if you plan to move here.

If you do these things and research what is needed for your specific country and visa type, you will have a much easier transition.