Turkish Visa Guidelines: How to Apply in 2025

As you plan your travels to Turkey in 2025, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest Turkish visa conditions and requirements.

This article breaks down the key guidelines you need to know, providing clarity on application procedures, necessary documents, and the expected processing times, making your Turkish visa process straightforward and stress-free.

Table of contents

• General Turkish visa types
• Countries eligible to enter Turkey visa-free
• Turkey e-visa: eligibility and requirements
• Turkish visa application process (online and at the consulate)
• Documents required for Turkish tourist visa application
• Turkish visa photo requirements
• Get your Turkish visa photo online!
• Turkish Visa Photo App
• Turkish visa fees
• Turkish visa processing time

General Turkish visa types

Turkey provides various visa categories tailored to different needs:

Short-term Visas (Category C)

These are usually for stays up to 90 days within six months.

• Tourist visa: Designed for visitors coming to Turkey for sightseeing or leisure. It can be obtained electronically for certain nationalities or at the border.
• Business visa: This is for those attending work-related meetings or events; the length of stay is indicated on the visa.
• Family Visit visa: Issued to those visiting family or friends in Turkey, and requires an invitation from a Turkish host.
• Cultural and Sports Activity visa: For participation in cultural occasions or sporting events, needing a formal invitation from a recognized Turkish organization.
• Short-term Education visa: Aimed at students attending brief courses or training, necessitating an invitation from the educational provider.

Long-term Visas (Category D)

These apply to stays exceeding 90 days.

• Student visa: Required for international students enrolled at Turkish educational institutions, who must present an acceptance letter.
• Work visa: For foreigners who plan to work in Turkey. The employer must apply on behalf of the employee, and the Ministry of Labour must approve it.

Other Visa types

• Transit visa: For individuals traversing through Turkey to another destination. No visa is needed if staying within the airport's transit area.
• Official/Diplomatic visa: Provided to government officials and diplomats on official business.
• Medical visa: Issued for those seeking medical care in Turkey.
• Family Reunion visa: For family members of Turkish citizens or residents joining their loved ones in Turkey.
• Turkish visa upon arrival: Available to citizens of certain countries. Eligible travelers will be able to obtain their visa upon arrival at designated points of entry in Turkey, such as airports.

Countries eligible to enter Turkey visa-free

As of 2025, individuals from 88 countries can visit Turkey without a visa for short-term trips, usually for leisure or business. Below are the countries that benefit from visa-free travel to Turkey:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Argentina
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Georgia
• Germany
• Greece
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• North Macedonia
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Russia
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Venezuela
• Kosovo

Turkey e-visa: eligibility and requirements

The Turkish e-visa multiple entry is solely for tourism and business purposes; it doesn't allow work or study in Turkey. To find out if you qualify, visit the official Turkish e-Visa portal, go to “Main Page > Apply”, and choose the country or region of your passport. When arriving in Turkey, travelers should show both their passport and a printed copy of their e-Visa.

The Turkish tourist visa length (whether e-Visa or sticker visa) is generally 180 days. You must enter Turkey during this time frame, but your actual stay should adhere to the specified duration of either 30 or 90 days, depending on the visa type.

Turkish visa application process (online and at the consulate)

You can apply for a Turkish visa online via the e-Visa system or in person at a Turkish consulate. Here's how each method works:

Online application (e-Visa):

1. Visit the official Turkish e-Visa website.
2. Complete the form: Choose your nationality and travel document type, then fill in your personal details, including travel dates.
3. Use a credit or debit card to pay the visa fee, which varies by nationality and processing speed.
4. You will receive an email after submission. The e-Visa is typically processed in a few hours, but the timing can vary.
5. Once approved, download and print your e-Visa to show on arrival.

In-person application at the Consulate:

1. Before visiting a consulate, complete the online Pre-Application System for a Turkish Sticker Visa. This step is necessary for all visa types.
2. Go to the nearest Turkish consulate or embassy with your completed application and necessary documents, as outlined in the article.
3. Submit your application in person and pay the application fee.
4. After processing, return to the consulate to pick up your passport with the visa.

Wondering how to track your Turkish visa application? — Here is how to check Turkey's e-visa status:

1. Visit the official Turkish e-Visa website and select “Ongoing Application” under the “Application” tab.
2. Enter your reference number, passport number, and email address for your application.
3. Complete any required security verification to confirm your identity.
4. After entering the details, your visa application status will appear on the screen.

Documents required for Turkish tourist visa application

Here's a list of the documents you'll need when applying for a Turkish tourist visa:

• A passport valid for at least six months after your planned departure from Turkey.
• A filled-out visa application form, which can be completed online.
• Recent passport-sized photos.
• Proof of where you’ll be staying, such as hotel reservations.
• A travel itinerary that includes your flight details and accommodation plans (round-trip tickets are typically needed).
• Financial evidence like bank statements from the past three months or payslips to prove you can afford your stay in Turkey.
• A cover letter explaining the reason for your visit might be necessary, especially if you're applying through a consulate.
• Additional documents might be needed for children traveling with you, such as birth certificates and consent letters from any non-traveling parent.
• Every applicant must also have a travel insurance for Turkish visa, which is valid for the entire stay in Turkey.

Turkish visa photo requirements

To avoid any issues with your application, make sure your photo meets these Turkish visa photo dimensions and rules:

• Turkey visa photo size in inches must be 2 × 2.4, which corresponds to 50×60 mm.
• The background has to be plain white, with no shadows or other objects visible.
• Your face should cover 70% of the photo.
• The photo must reflect your natural skin tone.
• Eyes should be open and looking directly at the camera.
• Keep a neutral facial expression.
• Both your face and ears must be visible; tuck long hair behind your ears.
• Headgear is not permitted except for religious head coverings, which must not obscure the face or cast shadows.
• Ensure the photo is high quality with no blurring or pixelation.

Here is an example:

Get your Turkish visa photo online!

Need a quick and easy way to get a Turkish visa photo without leaving home? Meeting all the requirements can be challenging, but Visafoto.com makes it easy and fast.

Simply take a photo of yourself in good lighting, upload it to Visafoto.com, and the service will handle the rest. It will change the background, adjust the resolution, correct the colors, and size it correctly. If the photo doesn’t meet your expectations, we'll replace it for free. Plus, if your photo gets rejected, you’ll get a full refund.

You'll receive a digital image for online submissions and a print-ready version.

Turkish Visa Photo App

Another fantastic tool for creating a perfect visa photo is the 7ID App by Visafoto.com. This handy app allows you to capture and edit ID, passport, and visa photos directly from your smartphone, and it's available for both iPhone and Android users.

Using the 7ID app is easy: just upload your photo, choose the document type and country, and the app will automatically adjust your picture to meet official specifications. This includes ensuring the correct size, format, background color, and accurate face and eye placement.

You'll get a digital version along with a print template that fits common paper sizes like 4×6, A4, A5, or B5. If you need assistance, our technical support team is available 24/7.

Turkish visa fees

The Turkish e-Visa cost varies based on your nationality, ranging from USD 15 to USD 60. To find out the exact Turkish visa online fees applicable to you, visit the official Turkish e-Visa website, click “Apply” on the homepage, and select the country of your travel document.

Turkish visa processing time

Turkish e-visa processing time is generally quick, taking anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Turkish sticker visa processing time usually takes about 15 days to process for tourist visas and around 25 days for student and work visas.