Do You Need a Visa for Türkiye? Visa Requirements and Visa-Free Entry Explained
Whether you need a visa for Türkiye depends on your nationality, passport type and reason for travelling. Some visitors can enter visa-free, some qualify for an online e-Visa, and others need to apply through a Turkish embassy or consulate.
Before booking, check the rules for the passport you will actually use. Travelling with someone who qualifies for visa-free entry does not mean the same exemption applies to you.
Who can visit Türkiye without a visa?
Ordinary passport holders from South Korea, the United States and Canada can visit visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. British citizens holding ordinary passports also qualify for visa-free tourist visits within that limit.
These examples are not a complete list. Different rules can apply to diplomatic passports, other British nationality categories and other travel documents. Check your exact category rather than relying on a general statement about your country.
The 90-day allowance does not restart after every entry
Where the 90-in-180 rule applies, previous visits count towards your allowance. Leaving Türkiye briefly does not automatically give you another 90 days.
If you have visited recently, review your travel dates before planning another stay. A shorter allowance shown on your visa still applies; the general 90-day ceiling does not increase it.
Check your passport’s remaining validity
Under the general rule, your passport must remain valid for at least 60 days beyond the permitted duration of your visa, e-Visa or visa exemption.
For a 90-day allowance, this means at least 150 days of passport validity on arrival. A short holiday does not automatically reduce that requirement. Some nationalities and document types have exceptions, so check the rules that apply to you. Temporary passports and emergency travel documents may have different entry conditions.
An e-Visa is available only to eligible travellers
An e-Visa is a visa obtained online. Eligibility depends on your nationality and passport type, and some applicants must meet additional conditions.
For certain nationalities, a valid visa or residence permit from the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland or a Schengen country may be required. Holding that document alone does not necessarily satisfy every condition.
Use the official portal, evisa.gov.tr, to check your requirements. Enter details exactly as they appear on your passport and carry any supporting documents required for your application. Those documents may be checked by the airline and at immigration.
Visa validity and permitted stay are different
A visa’s validity period tells you when it can be used. The permitted duration of stay tells you how long you may remain in Türkiye.
Check both, along with whether the visa allows a single entry or multiple entries. If your itinerary includes leaving Türkiye and returning, make sure your permission covers that second entry. Fees and permitted stays vary according to the applicable visa conditions.
Work, study and longer stays need separate planning
A tourist exemption or tourism/business e-Visa does not itself authorise employment. Travellers planning to work or study should check the relevant visa and permit requirements.
If you intend to stay beyond your short-visit allowance, check whether you qualify for an appropriate residence permit. Entering as a tourist does not guarantee permission to remain longer.
Travellers who need a visa but do not qualify for an e-Visa should follow the application process specified by the relevant Turkish embassy or consulate.
Airport transit depends on whether you enter Türkiye
You generally do not need a transit visa if you remain within the airport’s international transit area while connecting to another flight.
If you leave the airport, transfer between airports or need to pass immigration to collect baggage, the entry rules for your passport apply. Confirm the baggage and transfer arrangements with your airline before departure.
Before you travel
Check your passport expiry date, previous stays and the permission required for your trip. Keep your accommodation details and return or onward itinerary accessible so you can explain your plans if asked.
A visa does not guarantee admission: entry remains subject to border checks. Recheck the requirements for your nationality, document type and travel purpose shortly before departure, as policies can change.