Istanbul Practical information

Visas

At the time of research, nationals of the following countries (among others) could enter Turkey for up to three months with only a valid passport (no visa is required) : Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Nationals of the following countries (among others) could enter for up to three months upon purchase of a visa sticker at their point of arrival (ie not at an embassy in advance) : Australia, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK and USA.

Nationals of Norway, Hungary and many Eastern European and Central Asian countries could enter for up to one month upon purchase of a visa sticker at their point of arrival.

Your passport must have at least three months’ validity remaining, or you may not be admitted into Turkey. If you arrive at Atatürk International Airport, get your visa from the booth to the left of the ‘Other Nationalities’ counter in the customs hall before you go through immigration. You can pay in Turkish lira, euros or US dollars; customs officials sometimes insist on correct change. An ATM machine dispensing Turkish liras is next to the counter, but it’s not always working. The fees change, but at the time of research Australians, Americans and Britons paid €15 and Canadians paid €45.

Visa extensions

There are single- and multiple-entry visas. Single-entry visas are valid for three months from the day of entry; multiple-entry visas are valid for three-month blocks during a one-year period. Depending on your nationality, you may be able to extend your visa. Most visitors wanting to extend their stay for a few months avoid bureaucratic tedium by taking a quick overnight trip to Greece (Thessaloniki or Rhodes), returning to Turkey the next day with a new three-month stamp in their passports. See the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (www.mfa.gov.tr) for the latest information.