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Karahantepe is located 60 km east of Şanlıurfa. With a history of 12,000 years, Şanlıurfa, believed by some to be the ancient city of Ur Kaśdim (Ur of the Chaldeans), proudly exhibits the legacy of…

Troya RuinsThe oldest settlements in Truva, which has a complex and rich archaeological structure, with 10 different city layers belonging to different periods, dating back to 3,000 BCE.  This…

Arslantepe Mound, which was included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 2021, is six kilometres away from Malatya city centre. Excavations have been carried out since 1932, Arslantepe was…

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The Turkish  Ministry of Culture and Tourism   maintains tourism information offices in all major cities, towns and resorts in Turkey, at major airports  and  seaports , and also in numerous cities in other countries.

In the USA, the offices are:

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825 3rd Avenue New York, New York 10022 [email protected] Tel: 1-877-367-8875 (877 FOR TURKEY); 212-687-2194, 212-687-2195

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5055 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 850 Los Angeles, CA 90036 Tel: 323-937-8066

Provincial and municipal governments  may also have tourism offices. Some private  non-profit groups  (such as chambers of commerce and cultural organizations) also have information offices.

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‘Is it sensible, safe or even good taste to visit Turkey now?’ A local guide offers advice

A tour leader finds that, beyond the areas devastated by the earthquake, the country is open for business and keen that visitors keep coming

T he desperate plight of those hit by the recent earthquakes in south-east Turkey and northern Syria, where the death toll now stands close to 50,000, moved many in Britain to donate towards the rescue effort.

Though such displays of foreign sympathy and generosity have been widely welcomed in Turkey, there is concern that the quakes may cause tourists to reconsider their Turkish holiday plans this year. In my own case the earthquakes occurred in the week that I was to lead a winter tour of Istanbul and Cappadocia. Prior to the disaster, we had arranged for two of our guests to continue on a private tour that would have taken them right through the area destroyed by the earthquake.

As a travel writer who has been leading small-group cultural tours to Turkey for a decade, I am practised at pondering the wisdom of visiting in times of Turkish trouble, regrettably frequent in this otherwise exceptional country, be it on account of Islamic or separatist terrorism, security clampdowns, civil unrest, attempted coups or refugee crises. But this was my first experience of how we should respond to a natural disaster. The question was whether it was sensible, safe or even in good taste to push on with our visit at a time of overwhelming national tragedy.

I was quick to commiserate with my contacts in Turkey, many of whom had lost friends and colleagues, and were clearly in shock. Guide, archaeologist and lecturer Yunus Ozdemir, who runs our tours, revealed that he had lost five students who had been training as tourist guides in Adiyaman, one of the worst-hit cities. Even so, he and others were clear that there was no raised danger to our guests from earthquake activity in either Istanbul or the volcanic hinterland region of Cappadocia; nor did they think our partners and suppliers there – hoteliers, drivers, guides and others – would thank us for cancelling out of respect. In the event, all 11 of our guests decided after some consultation to go ahead.

Even at a time like this, our Turkish hosts proved typically hospitable – as obliging, attentive and keen as ever to serve us. That may be because Turkey’s current turmoil is also economic, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ’s unorthodox fiscal policies widely blamed for a rapidly devaluing lira and soaring prices, not least for food and other staples. And with Brits alone making 3.8 million visits to the country in 2022, many Turks are highly dependent on tourism for their livelihoods. Ersin, one of the reception staff at Istanbul’s Régie Ottoman hotel, was not only grateful that our group had come but admitted that he and his colleagues were worried at the prospect of mass cancellations in the months ahead.

For some years we have run tours to Turkey, not only in the warmer months but in the winter when the queues, considerable for much of the year, are blissfully absent at major sites like Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace and Cappadocia’s Open Air Museum. Another draw is that the winter weather, though obviously unpredictable, can be lovely for exploring. As it happened, we enjoyed a succession of bright and dry days, in contrast with the vicious cold which had gripped the country, to fatal effect, at the time of the worst quakes.

Not that the earthquake was ignored. It remained headline news all through our stay. On street corners digital displays detailed phone lines for donating in a range of currencies. Flight announcements were prefaced by expressions of national condolence and wishes for the country’s speedy recovery. In passenger lounges, the State Airport Authority displayed photographs of staff members lost to the quake. In Cappadocia, sufficiently near the epicentre (close to Gaziantep) that the quakes were strongly felt, hotels and restaurants had been quick to host and feed those made homeless by the quakes.

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“Naturally there were questions about enjoying a holiday in a country suffering so much,” said guest Dawn Reid, from Bath. “But what we experienced was an exceptional welcome and hospitality everywhere we went.”

For Gabrielle and Mike Abbott of Chichester, who were to have extended their stay travelling in the area fated to be hit by the earthquake, we set about creating an alternative itinerary. “We were shocked by news of the earthquake,” said Gabrielle, “Not least because our guided tour was to have passed through Antakya, Gaziantep and Urfa. As it was, our hosts rerouted us to take in Konya and Antalya, along with lots of fabulous ancient sites and hikes along the Mediterranean coast. Although we are saddened by the terrible events in the south-east, we have been made very welcome and have been having a wonderful holiday here.

Our tour showcased much that is exceptional about Turkey: the astonishing wealth of cultural sites, the fabulous food and the charming people. One afternoon we hiked along Cappadocia’s snow-covered Rose Valley, home to some of the region’s most arrestingly beautiful geological formations. We stopped at the foot of one of Cappadocia’s many rock-carved churches where Emin single-handedly runs a little cave cafe. He brought us freshly squeezed pomegranate juice and made a point of thanking us for coming.

“You are always welcome,” he said. “And especially in the winter when the work is thin.” The message was clear: beyond the areas devastated by the earthquake, Turkey remains firmly open for business.

Jeremy Seal is the author of A Fez of the Heart and other travel books on Turkey

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Türkiye Develops a National Sustainable Tourism Program with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

Türkiye develops a national sustainable tourism program with the global sustainable tourism council (gstc)..

Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) has signed a collaboration agreement with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The signing of the agreement marks an exemplary step toward sustainability as Türkiye (Turkey) becomes the first government in the world to develop a mandatory national program with the GSTC. Thanks to the new program, the Turkish tourism industry will accelerate its global sustainability practices.

The Turkish tourism industry will be restructured with the 3-year agreement signed with the GSTC, which manages the global standards in sustainable tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria . In the first stage of the agreement, which Türkiye signed as a government with the utmost gravity towards sustainability, the national program criteria will be determined and inspection firms will receive training. The first stage of the program will become operational in 2023. The second stage will be carried out gradually in 2025. The program is planned to be concluded by 2030, when all international standards will be met.

Bringing Türkiye to the forefront in sustainable tourism, the agreement will also help achieve the goals of The Paris Agreement, signed by Türkiye at the end of last year. As of 2022, Türkiye launched a transformation towards sustainability in the tourism industry and the collaboration with GSTC will highlight the country as a strong competitor in the international arena, while helping Türkiye catch up with international tourism trends.

Türkiye has taken an extensive series of measures with regards to transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, and congress facilities as well as the well-being and health conditions of passengers/guests and employees with the Safe Tourism Certification Program, which was implemented in 2020 and the first of its kind in the world. Nearly 12,000 facilities have been granted the Safe Tourism Certification so far. Within the scope of the program, the tourism industry, especially the accommodation facilities, will be subjected to both safe and sustainable standards. As of April 2022, accommodation facilities will gradually start to implement sustainable practices.

Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) stated that TGA is very aware of the need for a transformation towards sustainability within the tourism sector as Türkiye is steeped in nature and traditional heritage, and the protection of our environment is of utmost importance. “Thanks to our work with GSTC, our visitors will have the chance to enjoy a responsible holiday in Türkiye, and our industry and partners will have the necessary tools to achieve responsible tourism.”

“TGA has impressed us very much with their plans for a highly comprehensive approach to moving Türkiye’s tourism sector to more sustainable forms. As such, we’re delighted to support their systematic approach with our standards and programs,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.

About the GSTC

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but it accredits those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership , including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

Information for media and the press: https://www.gstcouncil.org/about/for-the-press/

About Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA)

Founded on July 15, 2019, Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) is dedicated to delivering Türkiye as a brand and a popular destination in both domestic and international tourism markets; discover, develop and promote tangible and intangible natural, cultural, biological and manmade heritage assets; boost the tourism capacity of Türkiye, increase the rate of tourism investments in the national economy and raise the quality of service with short, medium and long term communication and marketing activities.

In line with tourism strategies and policies set by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Agency will carry out all promotion, marketing and communication activities to serve Türkiye’s tourism goals, promote and market current tourism opportunities across the globe as well as discover, improve and establish potential areas of tourism. Operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Agency is subject to private law provisions. The Agency is made up of the Board of Directors, Executive Board, and Advisory Board, with the Board of Directors serving as the decision-making body. The Board of Directors comprises of 15 members chaired by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye.

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A mesmerizing mix of the exotic and the familiar, Turkey is much more than its clichéd image of a “bridge between East and West”. Invaded and settled from every direction since the start of recorded history, it combines influences from the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Central Asia. Mosques coexist with churches, Roman theatres and temples crumble near ancient Hittite cities, and dervish ceremonies and gypsy festivals are as much a part of the social landscape as classical music concerts or football matches.

Where to go in Turkey

Who are the turks, tailor-made travel itineraries for turkey, created by local experts.

4 days  / from 1050 USD

Sensational landscapes of Cappadocia

3 different modes of transportation to explore Cappadocia - by hot air balloon, on the back of a camel as well as on an ATV quad. Why choose if you can have it all? Four days filled with fun and adventure in the volcanic valleys around Cappadocia make an unforgettable trip.

5 days  / from 1100 USD

City & culture - Istanbul and Cappadocia

Explore two absolute highlights in Turkey - Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire with its many landmarks. After a few days in the city, fly to Cappadocia and explore the surreal surroundings, either on day tours or from above in a hot air balloon.

9 days  / from 2500 USD

Magical Turkey

Visit Gobekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut in Southeastern Anatolia before proceeding to Cappadocia with its volcanic scenery. After a few days in the valleys, continue to Pamukkale and the ancient city of Ephesus. Your tour starts and ends in Istanbul.

The friendliness of the Turkish people makes visiting a pleasure; indeed you risk causing offence by declining invitations, and find yourself making friends through the simplest of transactions. At the big resorts and tourist spots, of course, this can merely be an excuse to sell you something, but elsewhere, despite a history in which outsiders have so often brought trouble, the warmth and generosity are genuine.

Politically, modern Turkey was a grand experiment, largely the creation of one man – Kemal Atatürk. With superhuman energy, he salvaged the Turkish state from the wreckage of the Ottoman Empire and defined it as a modern, secular nation. Following 2011’s record-breaking third successive election victory by the AKP (Justice and Development Party), largely supported by conservative Muslims, some secular Turks fear an Iranian-style Islamic theocracy. This seems most unlikely, however, in a country that has been a multi-party democracy for over sixty years, and successfully blended secularism, parliamentary democracy and global capitalism with Islam.

Despite official efforts to enforce a uniform Turkish identity, the population is remarkably heterogeneous. When the Ottoman Empire imploded, refugees streamed into Anatolia, including Muslim Slavs, Greeks, Albanians, Crimean Tatars, Daghestanlis, Abkhazians and Circassians. There they joined an already mixed population that included a very sizeable minority of Kurds. Thanks to recent arrivals from former Soviet or Eastern Bloc territories, that diversity endures. Another surprise may be Turkey’s sheer youthfulness: more than half the population is under thirty, with legions of young people working in coastal resorts, and shoals of schoolkids surging through the city streets.

A huge part of Turkey’s appeal lies in its archeological sites, a legacy of the bewildering succession of states – Hittite, Urartian, Phrygian, Greek, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Armeno-Georgian – that held sway here before the twelfth century. From grand Classical cities to hilltop fortresses and remote churches, some still produce exciting new finds today. In addition, Turkey holds a vast number of graceful Islamic monuments, as well as intriguing city bazaars, still hanging on amid the chain stores and shopping malls. Sadly, ugly modern architecture spoils most coastal resorts, where it’s often hard to find a beach that matches the tourist-board hype. Inland Turkey, with its Asiatic expanses of mountain, steppe, lake, and even cloud-forest, may leave a more vivid memory, especially when accented by some crumbling kervansaray , mosque or castle.

Western Turkey is the most economically developed, and most visited, part of the country. It would take weeks even to scratch the surface of the old imperial capital, İstanbul, straddling the straits linking the Black and Marmara seas, and still Turkey’s cultural and commercial hub. Flanking it on opposite sides of the Sea of Marmara, the two prior seats of the Ottoman Empire, Bursa and Edirne, abound in monumental attractions and regal atmosphere. Beyond the Dardanelles and its World War I battlefields lie Turkey’s two Aegean islands, Gökçeada and Bozcaada, popular for their excellent beaches, lingering Greek-ethnic identity and (except in midsummer) tranquillity.

Further south, the olive-swathed landscapes around Bergama and Ayvalık epitomize the Classical character of the North Aegean. Ancient Sardis, and the old Ottoman princely training-ground of Manisa, also make a fine pair, although İzmir serves merely as a functional introduction to the central and southern Aegean. Celebrated Ephesus tends to overshadow the equally deserving ancient Ionian sites of Priene and Didyma, or the intriguing ruins of Aphrodisias and Labranda – and don’t overlook evocative hill towns like Şirince or Birgi. Also inland are tranquil, islet-dotted Bafa Gölü, the architectural showcase town of Muğla, and the compelling geological oddity of Pamukkale, where travertine formations abut Roman Hierapolis. While the coast itself is heavily developed, its star resorts – Datça is the quietest, Bodrum the most characterful – make comfortable bases.

Beyond the huge natural harbour at Marmaris, the Aegean gradually becomes the Mediterranean. Coastal cruises make popular pastimes in brazen Marmaris or more manageable Fethiye, the principal town of the Turquoise Coast, while fine beaches stretch at Dalyan and Patara, near eerie ancient Lycian tombs. Further east, Kaş and Kalkan are busy resorts, good for resting up between explorations of the mountainous hinterland. Beyond relatively untouched Çıralı beach, at ancient Olympos, fast-growing Antalya sprawls at the start of the Mediterranean Coast proper.

This is graced by extensive sands and archeological sites – most notably Termessos, Perge, Side and Aspendos – though its western parts get swamped in season. Beyond castle-topped Alanya, however, tourist numbers diminish; points of interest between Silifke and Adana include Roman Uzuncaburç and the romantic offshore fortress at Kızkalesi. Further east, Arab-influenced Antakya is the heart of the Hatay, culturally part of Syria.

Inland in South Central Anatolia, the rock-hewn churches, subterranean cities and tuff-pinnacle landscapes of Cappadocia await you. The dry, salubrious climate, excellent wine, artistic and architectural treasures, plus horseriding or hot-air ballooning could occupy you for ten days, including a stop in Kayseri on the way north. You might also pause at the historic lakefront towns of Eğirdir or Beyşehir, or in Konya, renowned for its Selçuk architecture and associations with the Mevlevi dervishes.

Ankara, Turkey’s capital, is a planned city whose contrived Western feel indicates the priorities of the Turkish Republic; it also features the outstanding Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Highlights of surrounding North Central Anatolia include the bizarre temple of Aezani, near Kütahya; the Ottoman museum-town of Safranbolu; exquisitely decorated early Turkish monuments in Divriği; and remarkable Hittite sites at Hattuşaş and Alacahöyük. As you travel north, pause in the Yeşilırmak valley towns of Sivas, Tokat and Amasya. The lush shoreline of the Black Sea beyond holds little more than a chain of Byzantine-Genoese castles; the oldest, most interesting towns are Sinop, Anatolia’s northernmost point, and Amasra. Fabled Trabzon, east of Sinop and once the seat of a Byzantine sub-empire, is now convenient for Aya Sofya and Sumela monasteries.

The Ankara–Sivas route positions you to head along the Euphrates River into the “back half” of Turkey. First stop in Northeastern Anatolia is likely to be Erzurum, Turkey’s highest and bleakest major city, a base for visits to the temperate, church-studded valleys of southern medieval Georgia, or treks in the Kaçkar mountains. Kars is mainly visited for the sake of nearby Ani, the ruined medieval Armenian capital.

The Euphrates and Tigris basin have a real Middle Eastern flavour. Booming Gaziantep, offers world-class Roman mosaics, an atmospheric old quarter and Turkey’s spiciest cuisine. Further east, biblical Urfa is distinguished by its colourful bazaar and sacred pool, while cosmopolitan Mardin overlooks the vast Mesopotamian Plain.

The major attraction, however, is a dawn or sunset trip to Nemrut Dağı’s colossal ancient statues. Between Mardin and Nemrut Dağı, teeming, ethnically Kurdish Diyarbakır nestles inside medieval basalt walls. The terrain becomes increasingly mountainous towards the Iranian frontier, an area dominated by the unearthly blue, alkaline expanse of Lake Van. Urartian, Selçuk and Armenian monuments abound within sight of the water, in particular the exquisite, restored Armenian church on Akdamar islet.

The east-shore city of Van is notable for its massive camel-shaped rock punctured with ancient tombs. Beyond Van looms the fairy-tale Kurdish castle of Hoşap, while just outside Doğubeyazit, another isolated folly, the İshak Paşa Sarayı, stands in the shadow of Mount Ararat at the very end of Turkey.

Top image: Aerial view of Bodrum on Turkish Riviera © monticello/Shutterstock

Discover more places in Turkey

• The North Aegean Travel Guide
• North Central Anatolia Travel Guide
• Northeastern Anatolia Travel Guide
• The Turquoise Coast Travel Guide
• Around the Sea of Marmara Travel Guide
• The Black Sea coast Travel Guide
• The Mediterranean coast and the Hatay Travel Guide
• South Central Anatolia Travel Guide
• İzmir Travel Guide
• Pamukkale Travel Guide
• The Turkish Aegean islands Travel Guide
• Ankara Travel Guide

Most camels in Turkey are simply tourist attractions, used for pleasure rides or as photo props in places like Pamukkale and Side. It wasn’t always so, however. Camel caravans once crisscrossed Anatolia, transporting gemstones, spices and woven finery. Before the Balkan Wars of 1912–13, they extended northwest as far as Bosnia, beyond which the beasts fell ill due to the damp central European climate.

In Muslim folklore the perceived haughty demeanour of the animals is attributed to their knowledge of the hundredth, mystical epithet of Allah – humans only know the conventional ninety-nine.

The sport of camel wrestling is a quintessentially Turkish spectacle. The bizarre sight of male camels in rut, butting and leaning on each other (their mouths are bound to prevent biting) draws vast crowds across the western Aegean region; there’s even a camel wrestling league.

• Turkey covers a vast 814,578 sq km (97 percent in Asia, 3 percent in Europe). Four seas lap its 8333-km coastline : the Mediterranean, the Aegean, the Marmara and the Black Sea. Numerous peaks exceed 3000m, the highest being Ararat (Ağrı Dağı; 5165m). Turkey’s three longest rivers – the Kızılırmak, Yeşilırmak and Sakarya – flow into the Black Sea, while its largest lakes is Lake Van (3713 sq km).

• The population of over 70 million is 98 percent Muslim (Sunni or Alevi), with dwindling minorities of the Armenian Apostolic or Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Syrian Orthodox and Jewish faiths. Besides standard Turkish, two dialects of Kurdish are widely spoken; other languages include Arabic, Laz, Circassian, Albanian, Macedonian, Bulgarian, Romany and Greek. Well over half the inhabitants live in cities; the four largest are İstanbul, Ankara (the capital), İzmir and Adana.

• Turkey’s economy , rated sixteenth in the world in 2011, has undergone sustained growth in recent years. Inflation has fallen to single digits, inward investment rocketed, major infrastructure projects have been realised at an astonishing rate, and the Turkish lira has more than held its own with the major currencies.

• Since 1922 Turkey has been a republic . The single-chamber Grand National Assembly (Büyük Meclis) in Ankara has 550 seats, and elects the president.

Find out more facts about Turkey.

Between April and September, storks are a common sight across Turkey, which forms a stopover between the birds’ winter quarters in Africa and their summer habitat in the Balkans and central Europe. The clattering of their beaks is an equally common sound. Storks mate for life, and around thirty thousand breeding pairs are believed to visit Turkey, often returning to the same nest year after year to raise new chicks.

Considered lucky in both Christian and Islamic belief, and dubbed “pilgrim birds” in Turkish, they are rarely harmed. Some municipalities even build special platforms to augment the storks’ favourite nesting perches, which range from chimneys and minarets to utility poles.

Today’s Turks are descended from nomadic pastoralist Turkic tribal groups that originated in Siberia, China and Central Asia, went on to conquer the Anatolian landmass, and have subsequently intermarried on a large scale with the region’s already extremely heterogeneous population. Although historical records can trace them as a readily identifiable people as far back as the sixth century BC, only during the sixth century AD were they first recorded (by the Chinese) as “Tu-keh” or, to the west, Turks .

From around 1000 AD onwards, the Turks gradually migrated southwards and westwards. By the time they reached Anatolia, which would eventually become the heartland of the mighty Ottoman Turkish empire, most had converted to Islam . Turks still maintain ethnic, linguistic and cultural links with Turkic peoples in Central Asia, the Caucasus, northwest Iran, northern Iraq, southern Russia, and Xinjiang in western China.

Turkish , the official language of the modern Republic of Turkey, is neither Indo-European nor Semitic in origin, but Altaic , a language group that includes Japanese, Korean and Mongolian as well as the Turkic languages. Turkish Turks can still communicate with their ethnic and linguistic cousins in places like Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, even if centuries of isolation from them, and the language reforms instituted by Atatürk in the early years of the Turkish Republic, make the task difficult. Nonetheless, Turks today still feel an affinity with their Turkic kin, and the Turkish government is the first to kick up a fuss at, for example, Chinese mistreatment of its Uigur Turkish minority.

Travel advice for Turkey

From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Turkey

• Culture and Etiquette in Turkey
• Eating and drinking in Turkey
• Getting around Turkey: Transportation Tips
• Shopping tips for Turkey
• Sports and Outdoor activities in Turkey
• Travel Tips Turkey for planning and on the go
• How to get to Turkey
• Travel Health Turkey
• Travelling with children in Turkey
• Best time to visit Turkey

The Rough Guides to Turkey and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 26.04.2021

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Turkey’s Entry Regulations and Visas (For Tourists) – 2024  

This is our complete guide to Turkey's entry regulations. 

Here you will find everything about the necessary documents, visa requirements, and frequently asked questions. 

If you have questions about Customs Regulation in Turkey , we have a guide about that, also.

Let's start with the most important questions. 

Table of Content 

Do I Need to Buy a Visa?

Step-by-Step guide to find out if you need a visa:

Depending on your your citizenship, you may or may not need to buy a visa for Turkey.

The easiest way to check is to visit the official government e-visa website.

• 1. Select the country/region of your travel document.
• 2. Select your travel document.
• 3. Enter the security verification listed below.
• 4. Click "Select & Continue".
• If you do not need a visa , the following text will appear: " You are exempt from visa" . 
• If  you do need a visa for entry, you will see how long your visa is valid and the visa fee. Press "Save & Continue" to see in the next step and  requirements have to be fulfilled . For example, in some cases you will need a return ticket.

Documents Needed to Enter Turkey

The following documents are required to enter Turkey.

• Valid travel documet (in most cases valid passport, in some cases temporary passport or ID-Card) 
• If you are traveling with a child, a valid child passport.
• Depending on your citizenship, a visa or E-visa.

C itizens from  15 countries are allowed to enter Turkey with their  national ID-Cards . A couple of these countries include Germany, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. Citizens from other countries must present their passports.

Read more: Official List of Countries that are allowed to enter Turkey with their ID-Card (without Passport).

For most countries, your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Turkey.

In addition, it should have a full blank page for the entry and exit stamp.

In some cases it is possible to enter Turkey with an expired passport . Note, however, that this is not possible at all border crossings and may cause difficulties especially at land borders.

Here is a list of countries that are allowed to enter Turkey with an expired Passport.

Entry Regulations for Children

Since June 26, 2012, children need their own valid passport to enter Turkey.

Entries on their parents' passports are not valid anymore and will not permit them to travel into Turkey.

Children of nationalities who are allowed to enter with a national ID card can also enter with their ID card.

Important: Children Need Their Own Passport to Enter Turkey!

How Long Can I Stay in Turkey with a Tourist Visa?

The length of time you can stay in Turkey depends on the citizenship on your passport. It can vary between 30 and 90 days . 

Citizens from most European countries are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period .

This means that a maximum of 180 days is possible in one year. 

Note that  visa runs are no longer possible  to renew your tourist visa. Therefore, leaving Turkey and reentering does not reset the 90 days within the 180 day limit. 

Most tourists are granted a "multiple-entry visa", which allows them to enter and leave the country as long as their visa is valid. There are also "single entry visas ", which allow only one entry to the country.

Travelers who want to stay longer than 90 days can apply for a “ Short Term Residence Permi t ” at the Local Immigration Offices (Provincial Directorate of Migration Administration).

Please note, if you stay longer than your tourist visa allows, you risk a fine and deportation .

E-Visas, Visas upon Arrival, and Visas from an Embassy

From most countries, it's possible to easily obtain an e-Visa online. The e-Visa application only takes a few minutes .

After filling out the online form and paying the visa fee, you will receive your visa within 3 days . For urgent applications, you will get an e-mail with your e-Visa in about 14 minutes. 

We recommend that you use the official Turkish government site for this purpose. Note that government sites are always recognizable by the suffix ".gov".

See if you are eligible for an E-Visa.  

Visa upon arrival:

Some citizens may obtain a  visa upon arrival at a Turkish airport .  However, tourists who need a visa are strongly advised to apply for an e-visa before their trip, as there are fewer and fewer Turkish airports with visa application centers.

In addition, the fees charged by the official e-Visa website are lower than the fees for visas obtained upon arrival at Turkish airports.

See if you can obtain a visa on arrival.

Turkish Embassy or Consulate:

You can also contact the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in your country to obtain a Turkish visa.

For this type of application, it is best to start applying at least one month before the date of travel and already have all the necessary documents prepared.

Entering Turkey with a Car

When entering Turkey by car, in addition to the travel documents already mentioned (passport or ID card, visa if necessary), you must also present these documents at the Turkish land border:

•  International driving license
•  License documents for the vehicle
•  International Green Card and insurance to travel on Turkish roads
•  Power of attorney (if the vehicle belongs to someone else)

Car Insurance: Please note that the Green Card insurance is usually valid only up to the Bosphorus.

We therefore recommend that you check in advance whether your insurance policy is also valid for the Asian side of the country.

If you need, you can buy valid insurance at border crossings.

Entering Turkey with a Cruise Ship or Yacht

When entering Turkey by cruise ship, for example in Alanya or Antalya, you do not need to apply for a visa, if you do not stay ashore for more than 72 hours.

We recommend that you ask your tour operator about the necessary documents and current entry requirements.

Health Insurance in Turkey

It's highly recommended to get travel insurance or international health insurance  before traveling to Turkey. 

In the event you need emergency medical treatment, as a tourist, you are more likely to be admitted to a private clinic due to the higher standards.

However, healthcare insurance does not usually cover the full costs of private clinics. The difference must be paid out of your own pocket.

For this reason, it's a good idea to purchase travel insurance or international health insurance in advance. Travel insurance is available for as little as 10 euros per person.

How to Apply for an IKAMET (Long Term Visa)

If you wish to obtain a long-term visa, you must apply for an Ikamet, or “ Short Term Residence Permi t ”.

Your first residence permit can be issued for a maximum of one year on the condition that your passport does not expire earlier.

The application can be made online via the official immigration services website. You will be given an appointment at the immigration office (Directorate of Migration Management), where you will need to submit an application file.

The following documents are required:

• The residence permit application form
• Photocopy of your passport
• Notarized proof of residence (e.g. a rental agreement or a written invitation from a Turkish resident)
• 4 biometric photos 
• Valid health insurance
• Bank slip proving your ability to support yourself financially throughout your stay in Turkey 
• Application fee payment receipts 

Contacts in Turkey

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

• Website:  www.mfa.gov.tr/default.en.mfa
• Phone: +90 (312) 292 10 00
• Address: Dr. Sadık Ahmet Cad. No:8 Balgat / Ankara- Turkey 06100

Antalya Provincial Directorate of Migration Management:

• Website: antalya.goc.gov.tr/
• Phone: 0 242 237 95 50-51-52
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Address: Bayındır Mahallesi Gazi Bulvarı No:2 07030 Muratpaşa/Antalya

Alanya District Directorate of Migration Management:

• Phone:  (0242) 511 17 51
• E-mail:  [email protected]
• Address: Şekerhane Mahallesi Gücüoğlu Sokak No:18, 07400 Alanya/Antalya

Kemer  District Directorate of Migration Management :

• Phone:  (0242) 814 49 36
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Address: Merkez Mah. Yalı Cad. No: 1 İç Kapı : D-E Kemer Bel. Altı Kemer/Antalya

Manavgat  District Directorate of Migration Management :

• Phone:  (0242) 742 84 47
• E-mail:  [email protected]
• Address:  Emek Mah. 3081 sok. İlçe Emniyet Müd. Ek Hizmet Binası No: 6 Manavgat/Antalya

You might also be interested in these articles:

• E-Visa Turkey: How to Apply, Pay, and the Rules

Guide to Customs Regulations in Turkey

Also have look at the links below to plan your trip:

Related Content

June 20, 2021

E-Visa Turkey: How to Pay and Apply [Step-by-Step Guide]

April 22, 2024

July 1, 2021

What Are Safe Tourism Certified Hotels in Turkey?

August 9, 2022

The Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Rules in Turkey

Comment Below

What is the 90 day rule

Dear Angela, thank you for reaching out. Normally, you can stay 90 days within a time period of 180 days in Turkey. However, please check visa requirements with your travel agency in your home country, as rules may change. Have a niche stay in Turkey and a lot of fun in Antalya

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