Visa Requirements for Turkey

Summary: A guide to tourism, residence and work visas and permits for those hoping to visit, live or work in Turkey

There are different visa requirements in Turkey depending on the nationality of the applicant, the proposed duration of their stay and whether they are planning on working or establishing a business in Turkey or not, and at first glance the application process and bureaucratic hurdles involved seem insurmountable.

The good news is that with a little prior warning and advice the application process for a tourist, residence or work visa isn’t that difficult and this article details the basic visa requirements for Turkey as well as how to go about obtaining the relevant permissions to live and work in Turkey.

Tourism Visa

Most foreigners require a visa to holiday in Turkey; a Briton or resident of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland or the USA can apply for a tourist visa at the port or airport upon arrival in Turkey and this visa costs anywhere from GBP 10 for three months.  Fees are subject to change and vary depending on the individual’s nationality.  Anyone from a nation other than the ones listed should apply to their nearest Turkish embassy or consulate office to determine whether or not they need to apply for a tourism visa before setting off on holiday in Turkey.

A three month tourism visa is generally sufficient for most people – even those with property in Turkey who are visiting it or holidaying in it or those who are in the market for a house in Turkey who wish to view properties on an inspection trip…however, for those planning on moving to live in Turkey permanently or who would like to look for work or study in Turkey for example, a residence permit needs to be applied for.  A way around this utilized by many expats living in the Southern Turkish resorts or living and working in Istanbul for example is to leave the country for 24 hours by traveling to the Greek Islands or flying back to Europe for the weekend before arriving back in Turkey and getting another three month visa.  This is a loophole – it is not a solid solution.

Tourist Residence Visa and Full Residence Visa

Anyone who overstays their three month visa without having applied for a resident’s permit face steep fines that are calculated on a daily basis for the number of days someone has outstayed their visa – and these fines are always imposed!

To get a residence visa if you don’t own a property in Turkey nor have a job in Turkey you can get what’s called a Tourist Residence Permit which is valid for between 6 and 12 months and which currently costs about GBP 150.  Those with a home in Turkey, who wish to import personal effects, furniture etc., or who wish to move to live in Turkey full time will have to get a full residence visa.  At the moment it is not worth applying for one prior to moving to Turkey as this actually doubles the expense and the workload.  So, move to Turkey on a 3 month tourism visa and immediately get the ball rolling for the residence visa by attending the foreign nationals section of the local police headquarters. 

If you don’t speak Turkish take a friend who does or secure the services of a facilitator who will help you through the entire application process.  You will need to prove that you have sufficient funds on deposit to support yourself and any accompanying family members (as a minimum it is best to show deposits of around GBP 1,000), you’ll need to complete an application form in triplicate, submit a letter of application, give around 6 passport photos per person, supply a copy of your passport, property deeds or contract of sale and purchase and you will need to get this notarized as well.  Please note, take the originals with you and hand over the copies to the authorities.

The length of time it takes to get residence permission varies from region to region but those certain they will be remaining in Turkey longer than their three month visa are best advised to start the application process immediately upon arrival.  Those who buy property in Turkey and who wish to move to live in their home and import their personal effects and household goods will need to have a residence permit to do so otherwise they will have to pay all sorts of taxes and could struggle to get an import license for their furniture so the sooner you apply the better!

Work Permits

To work in Turkey an individual has to have an official job offer from an employer.  Only when they are in receipt of an offer can they apply for a work permit – they generally apply to the Turkish consulate in the nation they herald from at the same time as the employer applies for permission to employ them from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security Department for Work Permits for Foreigners in Turkey.  Those who have an offer of a job before they move to Turkey will find it fairly straightforward to apply for permission but please note certain professions are not allowed to employ foreigners and before you head off to find a job make sure you will be granted permission to work.  If you are already in Turkey and receive a job offer you may have to leave the country and make your application for a work visa before returning - this is sometimes the case.  Other than these points it’s worth mentioning that it can take time to get the visas through and many workers begin their jobs before they have their permissions in place.

To find out more about your personal visa obligations and options contact your local consulate or embassy and Britons can also visit http://www.turkishconsulate.org.uk/

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