According to the visa requirements, travellers from the UK and Ireland do not need a visa to travel to Turkey since 2020. Apart from these countries, this also applies to nationalities from most EU countries and a few other European countries.

Apart from the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, the visa requirement was abolished for travelelrs with the nationality of, for example, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldavia, North-Macedonia, Ukraine, Servia, or Georgia. Travellers with a passport from one of the over 50 other exempted countries also do not need a visa for a short stay in Turkey. Are you, however, of a nationality that still requires a visa? Then this requirement can often be met by applying for a Turkey visa online.

Please Note: Do you want to stay in Turkey for less than 90 days on a holiday or business trip? If you are a national of the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, or any other country in the European Union, as of 2020, you no longer need a visa for these purposes.

Travellers from certain countries are still required to apply for a visa for Turkey. Depending on their nationality, the e-visa is appropriate for either one or multiple trips to Turkey, for tourism or business purposes.

Digital visa

From 2014 until 2020, Irish and British travellers needed the Turkey visa and could often apply for it online. While previously they had to apply for a physical visa upon arrival in Turkey, this changed in 2014 to an online application procedure. In 2020, however, the visa requirement for these tourists and business travellers was eliminated altogether.

Travellers who do not need the visa, cannot apply for it. Keep in mind that this only applies to the visa for (short) tourist or business trips. Moreover, when travelling without a visa, there are still conditions in place, for example, regarding the validity of the travel document. Travellers from one of the countries that are not part of the Turkish visa exemption program, can apply for their visa on this website, under certain conditions.

Who needs a visa?

Anyone who does not have the Turkish nationality, falls under the visa requirement, except those who are exempt. For travellers from around 30 European and 50 other countries, this visa exemption rule only applies to a tourist or business trip. Other nationalities do require a visa if they want to travel to Turkey for holidays, business, or family visits. Additionally, a special visa is required for thos who are not a Turkish national and travel for study, work, emigration, or other reasons. Briefly put, there are two categories: the e-visa which can be applied for online, and the regular, paper version which cannot be applied for online.

Visa requirement for the e-visa

For those who can, the easiest way to get a visa for Turkey is by applying for an online e-visa Turkey. Applying can be done easily through this website by filling in the application form and making the required payment. The e-visa will be sent to you by e-mail. Learn more on how long it is valid for, the requirements for the Turkey visa, or when the visa can expire.

It is not possible for all travellers to apply for an e-visa Turkey. This can only be done if:

• The trip has a business or tourist purpose.
• The traveller is staying in Turkey for less than 90 days.
• The traveller does not wish to work in Turkey. Read more about working in Turkey with a visa.
• The traveller does not wish to study in Turkey.
• The traveller does not wish to live in Turkey.

Visa requirement for the standard visa

If due to any of the above-mentioned reasons it is not possible to apply for the e-visa, it might be possible to file for a physical Turkey visa. This cannot be done online, but has to happen at the Turkish embassy or consulate. Granting of the application for this variant can take several days to weeks; much longer than the electronic version, which can be applied for online through this website. The traveller is also expected to report to the embassy to have the document physically applied to their passport.

Applying for the paper visa for Turkey is thus only recommended if the e-visa requirements cannot be met. For example, when the traveller wants to enter into employment with a Turkish employer, or wants to live or study in Turkey. Or, if the traveller cannot in any way apply for the necessary visa online.

Very important

Turkey maintains a very strict visa policy. Travellers who do not have Turkish citizenship, a valid visa, or visa exemption based on their nationality will be denied entry to Turkey. Make sure to follow all the visa rules for each trip you make to Turkey, regardless of whether you can apply for the visa online, or whether you actually need a visa or not.