New Visa Regulations for Turkey

A visitor's visa valid for 90 days is issued to British Citizens at the port of entry on payment of £10.

We recently received reports that Turkish immigration procedures for British visitors (and the nationals of 62 other countries) had changed from 14 July 2010.

Following a meeting in July between the Turkish Minister of the Interior and the British Ambassador, the Ministry announced that there would be no change to the previous long established operation of visa regulations for entry into Turkey . Visitors to Turkey would continue to be able to visit for 90 days, and to leave and then re-enter Turkey after being issued with a further 90 day visa. They would not be limited to 90 days in 180.

At a meeting between the Ambassador, and the Foreign Ministry, in early August the Foreign Ministry confirmed that any change to the previous system had been postponed.

Some visitors have been anxious that on arrival in Turkey they have been issued with entry visas stating that they could only stay for 90 days in 180. The Foreign Ministry said that this was due to a lack of 90 day visas. The Foreign Ministry assured the Ambassador that in practice the entry system would operate as in the past until further notice.

The Foreign Ministry and UK officials will hold talks in the autumn on the question of visas and residence permits. The Ministry confirmed that any future change in procedures will be announced in good time before implementation to allow people to make their decisions and arrangements.

Staying in Turkey beyond the date of your visa is taken seriously by the Turkish Authorities. If you overstay you will be fined upon departure. Fines vary according to the length of time you overstay. If you overstay and are fined, you must apply for your next visa at a Turkish Embassy or Consulate overseas before you travel. You may also be banned from re-entering Turkey for a period of time as follows:-

Overstay 1-15 days - no ban.
Overstay from 16-90 days - banned for up to 3 months
Overstay for more than 90 days - banned for up to six
months.

Disclaimer: Please note that this information was provided by the Ministry of the Interior and the Turkish Security Police Directorate (Foreigners Department). Although we do our best to ensure that the content is correct, we cannot take responsibility for Turkey's immigration policy or the application of it. If you have further queries, please contact the relevant Turkish Foreigners Police Department in the area where you reside.

Longer Stays In Turkey

If you are staying in Turkey for longer than 90 days, or if you plan to work or study in Turkey , you will need a visa. This article provides an overview of the different Turkish visas and their requirements.

In the broadest sense, Turkish visas are either single-entry (tek giris) or multiple-entry (muteaddit giris). Tourist visas and border visas (the visas many nationalities can obtain at their points of entry) are typically valid for a single entry. Work and student visas, however, may cover multiple entries.
Within these two broad categories, however, visas are issued to cover specific activities. To apply for a visa, you will need to submit the appropriate application to a Turkish embassy or consulate in your home country. Common application materials are listed below:

• Passport (valid for 90 days longer than the requested visa)
• Application form (available through the Foreign Ministry)
• Two passport-size photos
• Letter of invitation or employment
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of a return ticket or the financial means to purchase a return ticket
• Proof you have financial means to support yourself during your stay
• Visa processing fee (varies depending on visa type and your nationality)

Residence Permit Fees are calculated on the following basis

2010 Residency permit fees for British Nationals

1 year GBP 370
2 years GBP 730
3 years GBP 1090
4 years GBP 1450
5 years GBP 1810

Residency permit book is TL 138

British citizens will be charged £40 for the first month + £30/month for consecutive months.

The fees will be converted to TL at the day of payment using official exchange rate.

You should prepare all of these items regardless of what visa you need, in addition to any special requirements listed for that particular visa.

Tourist visas

These visas are issued to travellers who are not eligible for visas at points of entry (those visas are also considered tourist visas). Tourist visas are issued for up to 90 days, and are valid for a single entry. If you purchase a visa at the border, you will not be allowed to leave and re-enter Turkey without purchasing a new visa. Tourists eligible to purchase visas at the Turkish border may also apply for their visas at a Turkish consulate or embassy in their home country.

Business visas

Business visas are similar to tourist visas, but are issued to travellers visiting Turkey on temporary business (meetings, conferences, lectures). Like tourist visas, business visas are generally issued for up to 90 days, and are valid for a single entry. If you need a business visa, you will need proof of your business in Turkey . Your employer should be able to provide you with an appropriate letter or document.

Student visas

Students may only apply for their visas after they enrol in a Turkish university, school, or language class recognized by the Turkish Ministry of Education. To apply for a student visa you need a letter from your school proving your enrolment (this takes the place of the letter of invitation or employment).

Once you arrive in Turkey you are required to register with the Foreigner´s Branch of your local police department within 30 days. Once registered, you will be issued a residence permit.

The student visa and residence permit allow you an unlimited umber of exits and entries as long as they are valid (usually around a year). Make arrangements to renew your visa and permit well before they expire. Otherwise, you risk illegal residence.

Residence visa

If you want to live in Turkey for longer than your visa exemption period or tourist visa allows, you need to apply for a residence visa. Submit the required application materials to the Turkish embassy or consulate at least two months before your departure to allow plenty of time for processing. You are not allowed to work in Turkey if you hold a residence visa, so take special care to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially during your stay.

If you apply for a residence visa, work visa, or student visa, you are required to apply for a residence permit (ikamet tezkeresi) within 30 days of your arrival. If you marry or are married to a Turkish national, you are also eligible to apply for a residence permit.

Apply for your residence permit at your local police headquarters. If you are working in Turkey , consider applying at the police headquarters (emniyet) closest to your employer. This makes it easier for the authorities to communicate with your employer during the application process.
You will need several documents to apply for a Turkish residence permit:

• Valid passport
• 5 passport-size photos
• Work permit (if you are working in Turkey)
• Valid visa (this will be either a work, residence, or student visa)
• Letter of employment (if you are working)

If you are working, you should also bring proof of your tax registration. If you are not working, you should make sure to bring financial records (bank statements, pension receipts) proving that you are able to support yourself financially while living in Turkey . Students should substitute a letter from their Turkish school, university, or language program for the letter of employment

You will be required to pay a small fee before you are issued your residence permit. Turkish residence permits are usually valid for between 1 and 5 years.

Renewing your residence permit

To renew a residence permit, take your current permit to the Foreigners´ Branch of the local police headquarters. The officials there will tell you exactly what they need to see. This will vary depending on the officials themselves – some will want more documentation, others less. Make sure you have all the required documents on hand, just to be safe, and above all be patient throughout the process.

Once your renewal is approved you will have to come back and pick up your new permit in exactly one day.
Again, you will be required to pay a small fee.

Work visa

Apply for a work visa at the Turkish embassy or consulate at least 2 months prior to your departure. At the same time, your employer should send certain documents to the Turkish Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS). The Ministry provides an updated list of these documents on its website.
The submission of the required documents and forms begins the applications for your work visa and work permit simultaneously. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will process your application within 90 days.
Once your application has been approved, you will go on to pay the work permit and work visa processing fees.
As with the student visa, you must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of your arrival in Turkey . You are not allowed to begin work until you have obtained all three of the required permits.

Research visa

Researchers applying to conduct archaeological digs must submit their applications to the Turkish embassy or consulate. Research team members and leaders must submit 7 copies of their application forms and passport photos. Their applications are forwarded to Turkey for review. Once the applications are processed and approved they must then pay an application processing fee.

Researchers who are conducting academic research that does not involve any kind of archaeological dig only have to apply to the Turkish consulate or embassy with the standard application materials. In this case, a letter from a Turkish institution or museum sponsoring the research replaces the letter of employment or invitation. To obtain this letter, simply mail your project proposal to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. If your proposal is approved, you will receive the required letter in the mail.

Film visas

If you intend to film a commercial or documentary film project in Turkey , you must submit an application to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Contact the Ministry for more information. You cannot apply for a film-related visa through a consulate or embassy.
Tourists shooting personal video for non-commercial purposes do not require these visas.

Long-term residence permit for Turkey

If your spouse is a Turkish national, you are eligible to apply for a residence permit regardless of what visa you hold. When you apply at the police station, make sure you bring your marriage certificate and a marriage registration certificate with you. After completing the application forms and paying a fee you will be issued a residence permit valid between 1 and 5 years.
Note that if you apply for a residence permit through marriage to a Turkish national, the permit is invalidated if you later divorce (legally, this occurs the instant a divorce is granted). Technically, you are personally responsible for notifying the authorities that your residence permit is invalid.

However, under no circumstances should you attempt to deceive Turkish authorities to prolong the validity of your residence permit - you risk deportation to your home country or a term in Turkey´s infamous prison system!