Visa policy of Turkey
The visa policy of Turkey is the policy by which Turkish Government determines visa requirements for visitors to Turkey and those seeking to work, study or reside there.
Anyone who does not have right of abode in Turkey requires entry permission to enter Turkey. "Visa nationals" must always obtain entry clearance by obtaining a visa in advance of travelling to Turkey from Turkish diplomatic mission responsible for area of their residency, and "non-visa nationals" may travel as a visitor to Turkey for up to ninety days within any one-hundred-eighty-day period without a visa.
Document validity requirements
Turkey requires visitors from all jurisdictions holding ordinary passports to have their documents valid for at least 60 days beyond the maximum duration of stay. For example, British citizens holding ordinary passports may be granted maximum 90-day duration of stay without a visa. Thus their passports must be valid for at least 150 days when seeking entry into the country.Council of Europe treaties
Under the European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe, Turkey maintains special facilitations to citizens of some European countries.Citizens of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Northern Cyprus, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and Ukraine may use their ID cards instead of their passports to visit Turkey.
Citizens of Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland may use ‘a passport expired for less than five years’, and citizens of Germany may use ‘a passport or an ID card expired for less than one year’ when entering Turkey.
Document validity requirements do not apply to citizens of countries holding specified documents above. These requirements do not apply to citizens of Bulgaria holding ordinary passports as well; they are only required to present valid passport for duration of stay.
Even though the facilitations by Turkey mentioned above, these are not reciprocated by said European countries towards Turkish citizens, except for Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Northern Cyprus, and Ukraine, where Turkish citizens may visit with valid ID cards.
Comparison with the visa policy of the European Union
Even though being a candidate member of the EU, Turkish and EU visa policies differ towards each other and third countries. Turkey requires visas from citizens of Schengen Annex II countries and territories – Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, East Timor, Grenada, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Palau, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga, and Tuvalu. However, citizens of most of these countries may apply for electronic visas.On the other hand, Turkey grants visa-free access to citizens of Schengen Annex I countries and territories – Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bahrain, Belize, Bolivia, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uzbekistan as well as Northern Cyprus.
Turkey does not require visas from citizens of the EU and EFTA members, except for the Republic of Cyprus, whose citizens are required visas due to the Cyprus issue however, they can apply for electronic visas or may be exempted from visa requirement under certain circumstances.
On contrary to facilitations provided to the European Union and EFTA citizens, EU and EFTA members still require visas from Turkish citizens unlike the other candidate members’ citizens.
Visa exemptions
Ordinary passports
Citizens of the following countries and territories who hold ordinary passports do not require a visa to visit Turkey for the durations described below for tourism or business purposes. For visits of up to 90 days within 180 days, an identity card is accepted instead of a passport for citizens of some countries. Visitors are not permitted to work and recourse to public funds.ID1 - Citizens of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus have the right to enter, reside, study, and work indefinitely in Turkey without any immigration restrictions.
ID2 - Citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain may enter with an ID card for a stay of up to 90 days per 180-day period.
ID3 - May enter with an ID card for a stay of up to 90 days per 180-day period.
T - Visa free for tourism purposes only.
1 - For Chinese citizens with People's Republic of China passports, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports or Macao Special Administrative Region passports only.
2 - For British citizens only.
3 - Excluding journalists that are on duty.
;Conditional visa free access
T - Only for touristic visits.
1 - Provided being under the age of 15 or above the age of 65.
2 - Provided residing in North Cyprus and directly arriving from Ercan International Airport; or seaports of Famagusta, Gemikonağı, or Kyrenia.
3 - Provided being under the age of 15 or above the age of 50.
4 - Provided being under the age of 16 or above the age of 45.
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Passengers of cruise ships may be allowed to enter Turkey without a visa but with a visitor permit issued by officers of the docked port under authority of governor of respective city. Visitor permits shall be used to visit the port city only where the ship docked and the validity shall not be longer than seventy two hours.
Non-ordinary passports
Under reciprocal agreements, holders of diplomatic or service passports or laissez-passers issued by the following jurisdictions are allowed to enter and remain in Turkey for up to 90 days in any 180 days, unless otherwise noted:D - Diplomatic passports
S - Service passports
S* - For holders of service passports, 60 days within any 180-day period.
T - Only for touristic visits.
1 - Visa-exempt in general.
2 - 30 days within any 180-day period.
3 - 30 days per visit, 90 days within any 1-year period.
4 - British citizens only.
UN laissez-passer holders who have blue UN travel documents shall be exempted from entry visa requirement for their official visits to Turkey for up to 90 days in 180 days if they can certify their official assignment. Otherwise, general visa provisions shall apply.
Red UN Travel Document holders, shall be exempted from entry visa and may stay in Turkey for 90 days within the preceding 180 days regardless of their purpose of visit.
Visa types
These are correct.Visitor visas
- Touristic visit
- Business meeting/Commerce
- Conference/Seminar/Meeting
- Festival/Fair/Exhibition
- Sportive activity
- Cultural artistic activity
- Official visit
- Transit visas
- * Single transit
- * Double transit
- Visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Official visas
- Assigned for duty
- Courier
Student visas
- Internship visa
- Internship ERASMUS
- Internship AIESEC
- Turkish language course purpose
- Course purpose
- Education purpose
- Education in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Work visas
- Employment purpose/Special employment purpose
- Assigned lecturers/academics
- Assigned sportsperson
- Assigned artists
- Assigned free zone workers
- Assigned journalists
- Montage and repairman purposes
Other visas
- Archaeological excavation, exploration purpose
- Documentary purpose
- Tour operator representative
- Medical treatment purpose
- Accompaniment purpose
- Family unification purpose
- Freight visa
- Seafarer visa
- Digital nomad visa
Visa nationals
Visa nationals are citizens who need a visa to enter and transit through Turkey.All visa nationals are required a visa for landside transit; and some visa nationals are required a visa also for airside transit depending on their final destination.
Airside transit
In general, a passenger who transits through one single airport in Turkey while remaining airside in the international transit area less than one day will not require a visa. This only applies if the transfer is possible without leaving the international transit area, which depends on the connecting flight and airport layout.;Bound for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
On 15 August 2023, airport transit visa requirements were re-introduced. Citizens of the following countries and territories are required to hold a double airport transit visa when transiting through any airport in Turkey when they are bound for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Transit visas must be obtained from Turkish diplomatic mission responsible for the applicant’s area of residency:
;Bound for South America
On 15 April 2024, further airport transit visa requirements were introduced. Citizens of the following countries are required to hold an airport transit visa when transiting through any airport in Turkey when they are bound for Mexico, Panama, Colombia, or Venezuela. Airport transit visa may be applied and granted electronically.
Electronic visa (eVisa)
Holders of passports from following countries and territories are required visas to enter Turkey. However they may apply for an electronic visa for short term visits. Electronic visas may be issued with duration of stay for up to 90 days with multiple entries in any 180 days. Visitors are not permitted to work and recourse to public funds.1 - May only apply for a single entry e-Visa on which they can stay for up to 30 days per 180-day period.
2 - eVisas shall be issued free of charge.
;Conditional eVisa
Citizens of the following jurisdictions holding ordinary passports may apply electronic visa if they meet the conditions listed below. Citizens whose applications are approved shall be issued with electronic visas for single entry and for duration of stay up to 30 days. Visitors are not permitted to work and recourse to public funds.
1 - e-Visas are issued free of charge.
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All nationalities,
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