Visa for Turkey: All the Deets for an Easy Entry to the Republic of Türkiye 2024

Visa for Turkey options

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.

The four main types of visas are as follows:

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%.

All three times I have renewed, 4 if you include the original application, the list has been different. They are always refining the process.

That being said, I recommend jumping into an expat in Turkey 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, 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), 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.

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 candidates must diligently follow.

If you want to obtain work permit, applications must be submitted through the E-Permit System.

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

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

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.

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.

Visa Fees

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

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

E-Visa: On Turkey’s e-visa portal as of December 2023 the fee was $50 plus a small processing fee I am sure.

iVisa: A full-service provider with a 99% success rate with a fee of $127. This is a helpful service if you want someone to take care of all the details for you.

You may be asking, why would I pay so much 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 another country.

OnArrival: In some other countries, can apply for a visa upon arrival and the fee is typically a bit more than an e-visa though the fee isn’t posted anywhere.

For instance, in 2014 the e-visa fee was $20 and on arrival was $30.

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.

Visa for Turkey FAQs