Turkey Entry Requirements: All the documentation you need

Turkey is one of the most gorgeous countries in the world, and when you’ve got a stunning view and a beautiful culture like that, you simply can’t miss it. There are thousands of reasons that make Turkey a great place to travel. The people, the weather, the charm, and the breathtaking landscapes are just some of the things that will make you fall in love with the country during your Turkey travel. 

Like any other country, there are some travel requirements to Turkey that you must follow to enter the country. These include important documents, necessary procedures and even health SOPs. Don’t worry, we know it can be worrisome to figure everything out on your own, so here’s a detailed overview of the Turkey entry requirements.

Turkey entry requirements

Passport

Passports are required for most international tourists as part of the travel requirements to Turkey. Tourists are required to carry a passport which is valid for at least another six months after the date of entering the country.

Some countries and nationalities are exempted from carrying a passport and can carry their national identity cards instead. These include: Germany, France, Belgium, Georgia, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Greece, Ukraine, Portugal, Malta, Lichtenstein, and Northern Cyprus.

Visa

For the most part, all nationalities must have a visa to fulfill the Turkey travel requirements. If you are travelling for tourism or business purposes you can obtain the visa online. This procedure saves queuing and long waiting hours, as well as any additional paperwork that may be required and not available when applying in person. 

Furthermore, applying for a visa for Turkey online is much quicker and easier. All you have to do is fill in an online form with your correct details. Once your application has been accepted, the agents will approve your visa within approximately 48 hours and send it to your email. The visa will be valid for 180 days from the issuing date and will allow you to stay in the country for a maximum of 90 days, with the possibility of multiple entries.

All Turkish e-visas are strictly limited to tourism and business visits. That means that you can only travel with e-visas to Turkey for holidays, to visit family, establish business connections, attend seminars, etc.  Under no circumstances, you can go to look for employment or work.

Certain nationalities are exempted from Turkish visas or have special conditions. So, do you need a visa for Turkey? Check your eligibility according to your nationality.

• Exempted Stay: 90 Days. Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South America, and neighboring nations to Turkey near the Atlantic Ocean are exempt from a visa and may stay up to 90 days.
• Exempted Stay: 60 Days. Russian citizens can stay in Turkey upto 60 days without a visa.
• Exempted Stay: 30 Days. Central America, Southeast nations and Turkmenistan don’t need a visa for a trip of 30 days.
• Multiple Entry e-Visa: 60 Days. Australia, South Africa, UAE, and Saudi Arabia are allowed a multiple entry e-visa for 60 days.
• Single Entry eVisa: 30 Days. China and Mexico are only allowed a single entry e-visa for 30 days.
• Conditional Visas. Conditional visas are for the majority of North Africa, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India.

You may be wondering: can I extend my tourist visa in Turkey? Maybe. Read our article to find out how it works and the requirements you have to meet.

Travel Insurance

It’s always best to get travel insurance, even if you know where you’re going is safe and even if it's not one of the mandatory Turkey entry requirements.

Is Turkey safe? Yes, but you can never predict incidents, and it’s best to be prepared. Travel insurance protects you from petty crimes, minor offenses, lost luggage or documents and more. You can even get a policy that covers medical evacuation if you have any issues in a remote place. 

Vaccines

When Covid-19 hit, most countries introduced vaccines, Turkey being one of them. While there are currently no obligations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the Covid-19, Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Anthrax, Typhoid and Polio vaccines to travel to turkey. 

Currency

The Turkey currency is the Lira (TRY). In Turkey, 1 Lira = 100 kuruş (kurush). Turkey has bills of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. The coins are  of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 liras.

The exchange rate will depend on when you go, as it does fluctuate; currently 1TRY is equivalent to 0.059 USD and 0.048 Pound sterling.

The best place to exchange currency in Turkey is at the exchange bureau; try to avoid local markets and hotels. Also try to avoid crippled notes, even if you’re handed them, since they won’t be accepted just anywhere.