The FCO has advised that Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, and Ankara, its capital, are mostly safe. However, it warns that as in other major cities, precautions should be taken to avoid the chances of being caught up in civil unrest or a terrorist attack.
The Turkey visa on arrival is available to citizens of certain countries only. Travelers must stand in line and pay the visa fee in cash once they arrive at the port of entry. All foreigners who can get a visa on arrival are also eligible for the online Turkish visa.
The processing of your visa application by the Turkish Government takes up to 12 hours. If you order before 11:00 PM you will receive the visa the same day. We advise you to apply for you E-visa in time. We can submit your application up to 90 days before your arrival in Turkey.
Nationals of many European
countries can already
enter Turkey without a
visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
Traveling to Turkey for Other Nationalities
- Croatia.
- Cyprus.
- Ireland.
- Malta.
- Norway.
- Portugal.
Turkey - Level 4: Do Not Travel. Do not travel to Turkey due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk.
Ordinary passport holders can obtain three month-multiple entry e-Visas via the website They can also get their visas from Turkish diplomatic representations abroad or they can obtain their three month-multiple entry visas upon their arrival to Turkey at the ports of entry.
Step 2: Prepare Your Application Package
- Complete your Form DS-11 Application for U.S. Passport on the State Department website.
- Print your completed application. DO NOT SIGN YOUR APPLICATION.
- Have a passport photo taken.
- Photocopy your proof of identity and U.S. Citizenship documents.
- Calculate your fees.
Anyone who does not hold a Turkish passport and wants to travel to Turkey needs to submit a visa application. Unless you possess a valid passport issued by one of the visa-exempt countries, you will need to apply for a visa.
Istanbul is mostly safe when it comes to crime and its biggest risks stem from the political situation in Turkey as well as terrorist threats. However, that isn't to say that violent, as well as petty crimes, don't exist in Istanbul: snatching, pickpocketing, and mugging are the most common kinds of petty crime.
Special Note: US citizens who are travelling to Greece or transiting through Greece on a red official or black diplomatic passport Must get a Schengen visa in their passport prior to departure. US citizens traveling on blue tourist passports do not need visas for stays of up to 90 days.
If you are a tourist and want to stay longer in TurkeyThe six month residence permit plus the 90-day initial entry permit will allow U.S. citizens to stay legally in Turkey for up to a total of 9 months.
The cost for American citizens as of February 1st, 2020 to get a Turkish e-Visa is $50 plus a $1.50 credit card processing fee.
The new rules are set to kick off from March 2020, and will mean that Brits will no longer have to pay a fee of approximately £27 each for the e-Visa. The visas are required for both adults and children - so once the charges are scrapped, it could save a family of four over £100 on a holiday to Turkey.
Tourist Application Requirements for a Turkey Visa
- Hold a passport valid at least six months on entry with one blank visa page.
- Hold proof of sufficient funds.
- Hold proof of onward/return flights.
- Hold proof of hotel reservation.
- Hold all documents required for the next destination.
Living in Turkey is not expensive for foreigners from the EU and the US. Except for certain locations, housing and the cost of living is cheaper compared to that in their home countries. Also the housing costs, options ranging from villas to apartment flats, are more reasonable in Turkey.
Foreign visitors who wish to obtain a Tourist Visa for Turkey can now easily complete an online application form in just a few minutes. Applicants are required to fill in the form with some personal details, passport data, and travel information, and to answer a few security-related questions.
A visa will only allow you to stay in Turkey for up to 90 days. In order to extend your stay beyond this period, you should apply for a long-term permit within 30 days after your date of arrival.
In order to travel to Turkey you need a valid passport, which also has to meet the Turkey visa requirements. Travellers from certain countries can also travel to Turkey with their identity card (ID card). Check the validity of your passport before applying for the Turkey visa.
