There are different visa requirements for people of different countries. As Turkey
is still not part of the EU, entry regulations are set according to agreements between
the various countries and Turkey. There are five kinds of visa situations you
can be faced with when entering Turkey.
- Citizens of some countries including Netherlands, Malaysia, Denmark,
Chile etc can stay up to three months without a visa in Turkey
- Citizens of some countries including Romania, Macedonia, Croatia etc can
stay up to two months without a visa in Turkey.
- Citizens of Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Maldives etc can stay up to 1 month
without a visa in Turkey
- Citizens of some countries need a visa to enter Turkey but this can be
easily obtained at the airport upon arrival in Turkey. This applies for
citizens of USA, Austria, Brazil, Canada, UK etc.
- All other citizens need to apply for a visa at the Turkish embassy or
consulate nearest them.
For a complete listing of which countries are eligible for which visa situation,
please click here. http://www.enjoyturkey.com/info/usefull_info/Passport_Visa_Customs.htm
Visa Types
Below is a brief guide to the various types of visa available for Turkey.
For a more complete and comprehensive guide, please click here. http://konsolosluk.gov.tr/fr/en/anasayfa.aspx
- Sticker Visa
This visa is easily available at the airport for citizens of certain countries
including USA, Austria, UK, Brazil etc who require a visa to enter Turkey.
Depending on the country, the visa allows you to stay for between 15 days
and 3 months.
- Work Visa
As a general rule, a letter of employment from the Turkish employer is required.
This letter needs to be presented at the Turkish Consulate or Embassy in the
applicant's native country. Apply in advance as it usually takes about two
months to be processed. For more information, click here. http://konsolosluk.gov.tr/fr/en/Vize.aspx
- Study, Long-term Business, Multiple-entry visas, Visa for Lorry Drivers
For more information on these visas, please send a letter with a self addressed
and stamped envelope to the Turkish Diplomatic Mission nearest to you. Application
forms will be sent to you.
- Long term residence permit through marriage
If you are married to a Turkish national, you can obtain a long term residence
permit by applying to the local police regardless of your current visa status
- Transit Visa
- By Air: If you are a visa national, you will not need a visa as long
as you are passing through the country immediately. Please note that you
cannot leave the airport under these circumstances and you must hold a
ticket to a destination out of Turkey.
- By Sea or Land: If you intend to travel by sea or land via Turkey, you
will need a visa. The application process is the same as that of applying
for a tourist visa.
- Visas for Filming and Academic Research
For any documentation, filming, archaeological exactions etc within Turkey,
you will need to obtain prior permission from Turkish authorities.
The work permit for foreign nationals
The first step to applying for
a work permit in Turkey is to get a letter of employment from the potential
employer in Turkey.
The application should be made from the country of origin, i.e. via the
nearest Turkish Consulate or Embassy unless they are the holder of a residence
permit for Turkey which is valid for at least 6 months. Applications for
extension of a given work permit can be made in Turkey if accompanied by a
valid residence permit.
Bear in mind that the work visa procedure is double application in nature.
This means that while the employee puts a claim for work visa in his native
country, the employer makes a simultaneous application in Turkey by submitting
a file to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Department for Work
Permits for Foreigners. There should not be more than 3 working days between
the employee's and the employer's applications. When applying, make sure your
employer is aware of this as many are not familiar with these formalities. As a
result, it is wise to make your application only after ensuring that your
employers are ready as well to submit an application so that both applications
can be combined and processed.
The documents required from the employers are specified in the web page of
the Ministry of Labour and Social Security: www.yabancicalismaizni.gov.tr
. The web page is currently available only in Turkish.
It usually takes 2 months for the application to be processed. Upon the
receipt of the approval of the Ministry for a work permit application, the
applicant is immediately notified of the result and is required to come to the
Consulate again with his passport to get the work visa that is the stamping of
the work permit in his passport. Applicants who fail to ask for work visa
within maximum 3 months after notification have to renew their applications.
Issuing work visa takes maximum 3 working days and if the applicant cannot
collect it in person, he can give a postal order to the Consulate so that the
passport can be posted to him. Foreigners who enter Turkey on the basis of work
visa are expected to get a residence permit within 30 day's of their entry.
For more
information, please log onto
http://konsolosluk.gov.tr/fr/en/Vize.aspx