Turkey Visa Application and Requirements

How To Obtain Visa From Turkey

Turkey is the essential source of all the traditions and cultures, not in vain, receives about 40 million international tourists a year. Although Istanbul is the most visited city in all of Turkey, it is not its only charm, and there is much more to see. Turkey has the peculiarity of having territory in Asia (most of it) and Europe. It is the most European country in Asia and the most Asian country in Europe because turkey is situated on the two main continents. This peculiarity makes Turkey a mixture of fascinating cultures. Turkey is the latest mixture of ancient empires and home to sultans.

Is a visa required to travel to Turkey

● It depends. It will depend on several factors.

● The reason we’re traveling

● As long as we’re going to be in the country

● The nationality of our passport.

Since March 2020, Turkey has been exempt from visas to various nationalities (including Spanish) for a maximum stay of 90 days, and always for tourist reasons. Check here the exempt races.

Types of visas

To travel to Turkey for tourism, you must apply for an e-visa, an online visa.

Several countries are exempt from applying, and their citizens are allowed to travel only with their passports.  

If by nationality we are exempt from a visa, we must ensure that our passport must be valid for six months from our entry to the country and that it has at least one free page to seal it. If our nationality is not visa-free, we must apply for a visa, and we can choose from 2 options:

Multiple Input

It authorizes us to enter and leave the country as many times as we need.

We can stay in the country for a maximum of 30 to 90 days per stay (the difference of days we can stay in the country, the mark the nationality of our passport) and is valid from its approval of 180 days.

Single entry Visa Document

It allows us to spend 30 days of maximum stay in the country. Like the multi-ticket visa, it is valid for 180 days from its approval.

If our trip to Turkey is for any reason other than tourism only, we must apply for a specific visa. All nationalities are obliged to apply for a legal and authorized visa. It must always be done in person by going to the consulate or embassy closest to our place of residence.

In Spain’s case, we can go to the Turkish Embassy in Madrid or the Consulate General of Turkey in Barcelona. In both delegations, we will be able to apply for different permits and visas.

Work Visa

To apply for a visa that allows us to work in a Turkish country. We must have an employment contract and a letter from the employer in Turkey, which you must send a series of documents that will be requested. We must process in person from the embassy and have fluid contact with our contractor to expedite the procedure. We will work and live in the country, so we must also apply for a residence permit.

Visa or Residence Permit

The residence permit is necessary if we will spend a stay longer than 90 days in the country. To request it, we must prove why we will spend an extended stay, or we will reside permanently in the country.

The residence permit can be applied once we are inside the country (provided we have approved our work visa, studies, etc.).

We have a margin of 30 days to process it. At our entrance, we must register with the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Directorate General of Migration of the Interior’s Authorization.

Study or Research Visa

To apply for a visa to study or research in a Turkish country, we must present our study enrollment or research contract. The relevant university or school must provide us with all documentation requested by the embassy.

As with the work visa, we must also apply for a residence permit if we exceed 90 days in the country.

Erasmus students are also required to apply. Residing in Turkey without the corresponding permission is illegal and results in expulsion and fines from the country, and we may even be denied subsequent entries.

These visas and permits could also be processed from the Turkish country. We could enter the country with a tourist visa, and before the document expires to process from there our corresponding residence and additional permit, although it is not advisable. If our procedure is delayed, we will have to leave the country without the licenses. It is advisable to travel with all the documentation in order.

Turkish Visa

How you apply for a visa to Turkey will depend on the type of visa required.

If the visa is tourist or business (without remuneration in the country), your procedure will be online. Fill the simple form with your data and those of your passport, make payment online, and wait for its resolution that in 24/48 hours you will have in your email.

If the reason for the trip will need a stay longer than 90 days (for work, studies, etc.), you should contact the nearest embassy, which will inform you of the necessary documentation for your specific case.

Who needs a visa for Turkey

For stays longer than 90 days, nationals need a visa to be in Turkey. Spanish citizens and most European citizens do not need to apply for a visa.

Turkish Visa Requirements

The requirements for the visa application are given below.

Tourism E-Visa

● Passport with six months of expiration from the date of entry to the country and with at least one free page

● (Additional document, depending on nationality: Visa or residence permit of Schengen countries, USA, United Kingdom or Ireland)

Work Visa 

● Passport with six months of expiration from the date of entry to the country and with at least one free page

● Recent photo

● Letter invitation from the Turkish company

● Employment contract signed by both parties

Study Visa

● Passport six months of expiration from the date of entry to the country and with at least one free page

● Recent photo

● Letter of acceptance by turkey’s university (or faculty center)

● Certificate of the grant of the scholarship (if any) by the university of your country

● Erasmus Agreement.

● Project letter and invitation from the research team (in any case by investigation)

Residence Permit

● Have approved a long-term visa that is justified by documentation.

To make a stopover, 

you do not need to apply for a visa.