Here’s how to get a Turkish transit visa. These visas aren’t like other traditional visas. You don’t get them because you want to visit Turkey for tourism, to study, or to work in the country.
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You get it when you are passing through Turkey to another country.
What is the Turkish Transit visa all about?
A Turkish transit visa is for travellers who are passing through Turkey on their way to another country.
This visa is not for long stays – you just need it to stay shortly at the airport or sometimes go on a quick trip outside the airport if you have a longer layover.
There are two types of transit situations:
- Airside Transit: This is when you stay within the international transit area of the airport without entering Turkey.
- Landside Transit: In this situation, you leave the airport and enter Turkey temporarily before continuing your journey.
When you stay inside the airport’s transit area without entering Turkey, many nationalities do not need a transit visa.
However, if you leave the airport or if your nationality requires it, you must apply for a Turkish transit visa before going out or entering Turkey.
Do you need a Turkish visa for transit?
Whether or not you will get a Turkish transit visa depends on your country of origin, how long your layover is and whether you want to leave the airport or not.
You will get a transit visa if:
- You are from a country whose citizens need a visa before they enter Turkey.
- You have a long layover and want to leave the airport to enter Turkey, even for a few hours.
- Your connecting flight is from a different airport, and you have to travel between airports in Turkey (like from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen). You’ll need a visa to exit the airport.
- You are from a country that is not eligible for a Turkish e-Visa.
If you are from a country like the United States, Canada, most European countries, and several Asian countries, you can transit through Turkey without getting a transit visa if you don’t leave the airport transit area.
But if you are from countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, and several African nations, you must get a transit visa before passing through Turkey, even if you don’t leave the airport.
You know immigration policies change all the time; therefore, even if you think you don’t need a visa, try to contact Turkish immigration authorities.
Ask them whether you need a transit visa or not, because they can change their policies anytime.
Turkish Transit visa requirements
Here’s what you need to get a Turkish transit visa:
- Valid passport: (Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months after your travel date. In addition, it must have at least two blank pages)
- A completed Transit visa application form: (You will get this online via the Turkey e-Visa platform or the Turkish embassy website)
- Passport-sized photographs: (You need two of them, and they have to meet the biometric requirements)
- Your confirmed flight ticket: (This serves as proof of onward travel, showing Turkey is only a transit stop)
- A visa or a Residence permit for your final destination.
- Proof of accommodation: (You only need this if you are leaving the airport in Turkey)
- Travel Insurance: (It should cover your time in Turkey, no matter how short)
- Proof of financial means: (This is your proof that you can support yourself financially during the transit)
- Visa fee payment receipt.
How to get Turkish Transit visa
Usually, you will apply for a short-stay visa (like an e-Visa), which covers transit, tourism, and business, but you will select “Transit” as your purpose of visit when filling out the form.
Therefore, to get a transit visa:
Step 1: Check if you’re eligible for an e-Visa (For a short stay with Transit as the purpose of your visit)
- Go to the Turkish e-Visa portal and check if your nation is eligible for an e-Visa for transit. Some nationalities can apply for a Turkish e-Visa for transit online.
- If you are from an eligible country, fill out the eligibility form.
You can complete the application online in minutes. Submit it and wait for a decision on your application.
Step 2: Apply through the Turkish Embassy (If you are not eligible for an e-visa)
If you are not eligible for an e-visa, then you should:
- Go to the Turkish Embassy or Turkish Consulate near you.
- Before going there, book an appointment on their website. Without an appointment, they will not attend to you.
- Go with all your documents (as I listed above).
- There, submit your visa application form and other information/documents.
- Pay the visa fee and wait for a decision on your application.
- It can take between 7 – 15 working days for them to go through your application and make a decision on it.
- In busy seasons, it will take longer.
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Once approved, you will receive a sticker visa in your passport.
Tip: To avoid issues, apply for this visa at least 4 – 6 weeks before your travel date.
How much does a Turkish Transit visa cost?
The cost of a Turkish transit visa depends on your country of origin and whether you are applying for an e-visa or a sticker visa through the embassy.
For example, if you are applying for an e-Visa, it costs around USD20 to USD60, while embassy applications will cost more because of service charges.
How long is a Turkish Transit visa valid?
A Turkish transit visa allows you a single entry and a stay of up to 72 hours (3 days).
If you are staying only for a few hours during a layover, the visa will be okay for your stay.
If your layover goes on for days (for example, 1–2 days), the visa should also allow you to stay for that long.
But if you want to stay longer than the visa allows, then you must apply for a short-term tourist visa instead.
What will happen if you don’t have a Transit visa?
If you need a Turkish transit visa but don’t have one, you will not be allowed to board your flight to Turkey at your departure airport.
Plus, you will be denied entry or even deported from Turkey upon arrival.
It’s always better to secure your transit visa ahead of time if there’s any doubt.
Can you leave the airport during a layover without a visa?
Yes, you can leave the airport if you are from a country that does not require a visa to enter Turkey.
However, if you are from a country that requires a visa to enter Turkey, then you must have a valid transit (or tourist) visa to pass through immigration and leave the airport.
If your layover is longer than 6 – 8 hours and you’re eligible, you shouldn’t spend the whole time at the airport.
Take time and visit Istanbul’s iconic places, like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, or the Grand Bazaar.
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