Getting a visa for Turkey can be both complicated and simple – it primarily depends on the traveller himself! There isn’t an approach of one size fits all, with the accessibility of visas, the type of visas, the length and type of visas all depend on your nationality. Here we extensively explain how to get your turkey visa.
1. Buy a sticker visa
Buy a sticker visa that will be valid for about 90 days. This will allow you to get to the process of applying your Turkish visa. You will be allowed to pay in cash for the Turkish visa. Make sure you have some documents showing your origin country.
2. Identify the different types of visas
You need to identify the type of visa you are applying for example, student, tourist, business etc. Each visa has its own set of requirements. Once you have enough money and you have the valid visa you are not supposed to queue for the border control. Just go straight and you will be assisted.
3. Have your Turkish visa after inspection
We have separate section in most airports for the inspection of your passport, there you meet some of the policemen who will inspect for the following: passport or identity card number, birth year date of entry and nationality into his computer. After they have checked everything you will be allowed to have Turkish visa.
4. Get assistance from Foreign Affairs Ministry
All Turkish visas must be approved by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Turkish. This also includes those in search of visas on their arrival, which can be well approved either with a long wait on arrival or in advance. If you are approved, MFA sends an authorization number to your airport or consulate, which will ask for your passport photos, fees, and application forms and give you the visa. Their fees will vary depending on your country of origin.
5. Get your visa from Turkish embassy/consulate
Once you receive the authorization number, the agency forwards the same to the Turkish embassy/consulate. If you’re organizing a journey through a Turkey-based travel agent, you will discover that the agency will organize your authorization number since this is a part of their service. In actual fact, any Turkish individual can easily do this.
6. A friend can sponsor you
You may pre-arrange a private guide or you can get a friend who belongs to Turkey as your sponsor in the country.
7. Check status of tourist visa
Tourist visa is given for up to a month and is extendable. It has to be acquired before coming to Turkey and should be valid for at least 90 days from the date of issue. This is actually the best option provided your country of origin allows you entry for 90 days. You can check the availability of Turkish visa from your country of residence here.
8. Tourist visa at airport
A tourist visa once you get in the country is given for 15 days once you arrive at any airport. It is very convenient but rather risky since you may be denied entry. The VFS website is a good place to start planning your visas for Turkey if you are an Indian citizen.
9. Transit visa
A Transit visa is issued for approximately 5-7 days. You have to enter the country and exit through a different country, and have a ticket or a visa to an onward country. This can be acquired in a single day or two and no authorization number is required.
10. Extend your visa
Extending your visa to Turkey visas is not hard if your papers are in order and you can explain your requirements to the concerned authorities.
(Disclaimer: This is a guest post for Constant Traveller written by Turkish eVisas. Constant Traveller maintains full editorial integrity in all its posts, including this one.)
