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Visa-exempt tourism, commerce or transit stay

TurkeyShort stays and visits

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Turkey Read the five questions ↓

For the relevant traveller scope, is a visa, electronic authorisation, visa on arrival or no advance visa normally required?

For exempt nationalities no advance visa is required. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that some applicants are exempt from a visa for their touristic or business visit to Türkiye, others can obtain an e-Visa, and all other applicants need a visa through Turkish representations abroad. The exemption is published per country and per passport type: for example, ordinary and official passport holders of Andorra are exempt from a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Türkiye's visa regime may change according to the reciprocity principle.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Which nationalities are exempt, and on which passport types, is published country by country on the same Ministry page; this answer does not reproduce that matrix and no universal claim should be made.

What short-visit purposes does this route cover?

Visa exemptions are set country by country and some name their purpose: Albanian official and ordinary passport holders are exempt for travels with touristic purposes and transit up to 90 days within six months, and Australian ordinary passport holders are exempt for touristic visits and transit travel for 90 days within any 180-day period. Travel for purposes other than tourism or trade, such as work or study, requires a visa obtained through Turkish representations abroad. Foreigners who will shoot a documentary film, conduct research or an archaeological excavation must obtain special permission from the Turkish authorities in advance.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The covered purposes differ between country entries; the full matrix is not reproduced here.

What maximum stay, rolling-period rule, validity and entry rules apply?

The length of stay provided by a visa exemption cannot exceed 90 days within each 180 days, and that rule binds all foreigners travelling to Türkiye. Holding two passports does not allow 90 days on each within the last 180 days. Anyone wishing to stay longer than 90 days must apply for a short-term residence permit at the Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration. Visa-free entry permits issued by local governorates for tourists arriving via naval ports have a maximum duration of stay of 72 hours and are valid only for sightseeing in the vicinity of the port of entry.

See recorded sources

What important funds, accommodation, invitation, insurance, onward-travel or passport evidence may be required?

Even under a visa exemption the passport must have an expiration date at least 60 days beyond the duration of stay, and the Ministry advises a travel document valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival. Citizens of certain Council of Europe states may enter with their national ID cards under the European Agreement on Regulations governing the Movement of Persons between Member States of the Council of Europe. Holders of travel documents rather than national passports must obtain a visa from Turkish missions beforehand, regardless of the visa regime applied to that country.

See recorded sources

Where/how is permission obtained when required, and under what important circumstances can a stay be extended or changed?

Blue UN Laissez-Passer holders may benefit from a visa exemption of 90 days within the preceding 180 days during an official visit if they can certify their official assignment. To stay beyond the time allowed by a visa, visa exemption or ninety days, a foreigner must apply for a residence permit through the e-residence system. With a valid visa no residence permit is needed up to 90 days, but foreigners who will reside, work or study should register at the nearest local police department on arrival.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The pages describe no border procedure for entry under a visa exemption.
  • https://www.mfa.gov.tr/general-information-about-turkish-visas.en.mfa
    - For United Nations (UN) Travel Document (Laissez-Passer) holders who have blue UN travel documents, visa exemption with 90 days length of stay within the preceding 180 days may apply during their official visit to Türkiye if they can certify their official assignment.
  • https://en.goc.gov.tr/general-information41
    It is obligatory for foreigners who want to stay in our country for more than the allowed time of visa, visa exemption or ninety days to apply for a residence permit type that they believe they meet the requirements of through the e-residence system.
  • https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
    If you have a valid visa, you do not need a residence permit up to 90 days. On the other hand, foreigners who shall reside, work or study in Türkiye, should register themselves at the nearest local police department upon their arrival in Türkiye, regardless of the validity of their visa.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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