Turkiye visas

Türkiye offers a diverse visa landscape, with many nationalities enjoying visa-free entry or access to a convenient e-Visa system. The country is notable for its recent efforts to streamline entry for tourists, while simultaneously implementing stricter regulations for long-term stays and residence permits.

Visa Overview

Türkiye's visa policy is designed to facilitate tourism and trade, offering visa-free entry for citizens of approximately 80 countries, including the US, Canada, and most EU nations, for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. An efficient e-Visa system is available for numerous other nationalities, primarily for tourism and commercial purposes, with applications processed quickly online. For longer stays, work, or study, traditional sticker visas and residence permits are required. Recent changes in 2024-2026 include new visa exemptions for several countries and significantly stricter rules for obtaining short-term residence permits, making it harder to extend tourist stays beyond the initial 90-day period. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond their intended duration of stay.

Key Highlights

Visa-free entry for approximately 80 countries, including the US, Canada, and most EU citizens, for up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism or business.

Official e-Visa system available for many nationalities, allowing online application for touristic and trade purposes, often processed within minutes.

Passport validity requirement: travel documents must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the 'duration of stay' of the visa or visa exemption.

Recent policy changes include visa exemption for citizens of the US, Canada, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as of January 1, 2024. Citizens of the People's Republic of China also gained visa exemption for up to 90 days within 180 days as of January 2, 2026.

Stricter short-term residence permit (ikamet) rules took effect in 2026, making it significantly harder for non-Turkish nationals to extend stays beyond the 90-day visa-free limit for tourism purposes.

Sticker visa fees for US citizens in 2026 include $64 for single-entry, $129 for double-entry, and $212 for multiple-entry, though e-Visa fees vary by nationality.

Official Resources

Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Türkiye e-Visa Services

Travel Tips

Always ensure your passport is valid for at least 60 days beyond your intended stay in Türkiye to avoid entry issues.
Apply for your e-Visa exclusively through the official government portal (www.evisa.gov.tr) to prevent scams and ensure authenticity.
Be mindful of the '90 days within 180 days' rule for visa-free and e-Visa stays; overstaying can lead to fines, deportation, and future entry bans.
For stays exceeding 90 days, or for purposes other than tourism or trade (e.g., work, study), you must apply for a traditional visa and a residence permit before or after arrival, depending on the visa type. Note that extending tourist stays via residence permits has become significantly more difficult as of 2026.
Carry proof of sufficient funds and confirmed accommodation, as immigration officials may request these documents upon entry.