Do you need a visa for Turkey? All business or tourist travellers going to Turkey that do not hold the nationality of one of the visa-exempt countries need to apply for the mandatory Turkey visa. Since 2014, this requirement can 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. Therefore, as of 2020, the information on this website about the Turkey visa has not been updated.
To travel to Turkey you need a visa
Digital visa
Many travellers to Turkey are not aware of the specifics of the Turkey visa. Until 2014, tourists and business travellers didn’t need to worry about this. Upon arrival in Turkey, travellers would quickly understand that they needed to wait in line at the designated desk. Here, they could apply and pay for a visa, which was provided in paper right away. Because this system led to extremely long queues, the Turkish government decided to digitise the process, allowing for applications to be done online.
Due to the breakout success of the online application system, the Turkish government decided that all tourists and business travellers are now required to submit an online visa application. Simply put: the Turkey visa requirement has not changed, but it is now important that travellers submit their applications online at a timely date.
Do I need a visa for Turkey?
Anyone who does not hold a Turkish passport and wants to travel to Turkey needs to submit a visa application. Unless you possess a valid passport issued by one of the visa-exempt countries, you will need to apply for a visa. This includes people who want to travel to Turkey for holidays, business, study, work, family visits, emigration, or other reasons. British citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) can travel with their passport. However, this does not mean that everyone has to apply for the same type of Turkey visa. Briefly put, there are two categories: the e-visa which can be applied for online, and the regular version which cannot be applied for online.
Visa requirement for the e-visa
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 this variant 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.
Very important
Turkey maintains a very strict visa policy. Travellers that are required to hold a valid Turkey visa but don’t possess one will be denied entry to Turkey. Make sure to follow all the visa rules for each trip you make to Turkey.
e-Visa.ie is a commercial and professional visa agency, and supports travellers in obtaining, among others, the Turkey visa. e-Visa.ie acts as an intermediary and is in no way part of any government. You can also apply for a visa directly with the immigration service (36,05 USD per visa, via www.evisa.gov.tr). However, not with our level of support. If you submit your application via e-Visa.ie, our support centre is available to you 24/7. We also check your application before submitting it to the immigration authorities on your behalf. If we suspect any errors or omissions while doing so, we will personally contact you to ensure that your application can still be processed quickly and correctly. To use our services, you pay us 36,05 USD in consular fees, which we pay to the immigration service on your behalf, as well as € 16,21 in service fees as compensation for our services, including VAT. Our services have saved many travellers from major problems during their trip. Should an application be rejected despite our support and verification, we will refund the full purchase price (unless an application for a previous Turkey visa was rejected for the same traveller). Read more about our services here.