What an American Citizen Should Know About Turkey Visa

As an American, visiting Turkey requires knowing what type of visa is available for you to apply for and whether you need a visa at all to enter this transcontinental rich country of history and culture. Whether you’re there to pay a visit to the ancient ruins in Ephesus, wander around the famous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, or chill on the beaches of the Turquoise Coast, USA passport holders must adhere to Turkey’s visa regulations. Here’s a full guide on the most frequently asked questions about Turkish visas for Americans.

Let’s start with the bad news, US citizens do need a visa to visit Turkey, but the process is pretty simple. Unlike some nations into which Americans can enter without a visa, Turkey does require a visa — either an e-Visa or a sticker visa, depending on the purpose and length of the visit. Yet another option, the simplest and most common for tourists, is the Turkey e-Visa, a type of visa that is entirely obtainable online. The e-Visa is applicable for tourism, business or transit travel for a maximum stay of 90 days in the country and with multiple entry options within 180 day period. Applicants simply complete a brief form, pay the fee (between $50 to $60, depending on processing speed) and in most instances receives the visa by email minutes later.

One common question is whether Americans can get a visa on arrival. That is available for some nationalities, not citizens of United States as you cannot get Turkish visa on arrival, so you need to apply your e-Visa prior to traveling. Attempting to get on a plane without one will get you turned away. The e-Visa needs to be printed or saved in electronic format as it may be requested by immigration officers on arrival 

It’s also one of the most common questions about passports: Does my passport have to be valid for six months? Make sure your passport has at least six months remaining at time of entry. Although border agents might let you in if your passport is going to expire soon that can be a risky gamble to take because airlines might be more strict about the requirement. You should also have at least one blank page in your passport for entry stamps.

For those intending to stay for over 90 days, work or study or participate in journalism, a different type of visa is required. The e-Visa does not serve these purposes, however, and anyone wishing to work, study, or live in Turkey needs to take their application to a Turkish consulate or embassy in the US, in order to apply for a residence permit, work visa, or student visa. Cos they have different processing time and you will be required provide some documentations (eg. employment contracts or admitting to universities).

Readers frequently ask about multiple submissions. The regular e-Visa is multiple-entry, which means a visitor can leave Turkey and return within the 90 days without having to reapply. You don’t want fines, deportation or to be blocked from returning, so you will want to know how long you can stay.

Parents frequently inquire whether children require a different visa. All US citizens, including children, need their own separate e-Visa to enter Turkey. Children are not exempt (although the process is the same as that of adults).

Finally, travelers often mix up Turkey’s visa regulations with its COVID-19 entry requirements. Turkey has reopened and not implemented any covid19 related restrictions until 2024, so there is no need of any vaccine certificates or testing done. But visa rules don’t change for now — and that means US citizens would still need to apply for an e-Visa before taking a trip.

Simply put, anyone traveling to Turkey as an American person, always an e-Visa, still make sure your passport’s not expired, 90 days for tourism or business. For longer stays or certain visa types, you need to go through consular processing.