Turkey Visa Types Explained That Will Gain You Entry into Turkey

Planning to visit Turkey? Whatever your purpose may be, this blog will help you understand the different types of visas that you may use to enter Turkey.

Turkey is a popular destination because of its vibrant culture, mouth-watering cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. However, apart from tourism, Turkey is also a famous destination for medical tourism and study. Therefore, Turkey offers different types of visas to individuals willing to visit the country. Mainly, Turkey offers:

• Tourist / Business Visa
• Official Visa
• Student Visa
• Work Visa
• Other Visas

Generally, people visiting Turkey are asked to obtain an eVisa to travel. However, depending on the country you are visiting from, a visa might not be necessary.

First, let’s understand why it is important to choose the right visa as per the purpose of your visit to the country.

Why Is Choosing The Right Visa Important?

Having an appropriate visa is like having a keycard. Even before you plan for your trip, choosing the correct type of visa is essential for a smoother entry to a country. Moreover, opting for a visa will also help you to evade legal issues.

Foreigners must follow the immigration laws and regulations that each country has in place. When you apply for the correct type of visa, the embassy of the country becomes aware of your intention to travel and provides rapid approval without delay.

Now, let’s understand different Turkey visa types. Here are the main categories of visas provided by the country:

Tourist/Businessperson Visa: Who Can Apply And What Does It Cover?

Turkey doesn't offer a separate business visa. A comprehensive tourist visa can be used for business as well as tourism.

Who Can Apply For A Tourist/Businessperson Visa?

People who have the sole purpose of tourism can apply for this visa. Moreover, this Turkey visa type also acts as a legal travel document for people who are single or double transit in Turkey.

A tourist visa for Turkey also allows entry for businesspersons to visit the country. Whether they are visiting Turkey for a business meeting, conference or trade fair, or exhibition, this one visa covers all these visa requirements for Turkey. Moreover, businesspeople coming to Turkey on a shorter commercial trip may also use this type of visa.

Activities Restricted

This type of Turkish visa holder cannot engage in any kind of paid employment or journalism. Moreover, three must not enter Turkey as a cabin crew of a ship or aircraft.

Visa Details, Validity, And Approval

A turkey tourist eVisa (180 days validity) can be availed multiple times within the visa’s validity period. However, depending on the nationality of the applicant, the day of highest stay in the country ranges between 30 to 90 days.

Most tourist eVisas are approved within 24 hours of application. However, it is recommended to appeal a minimum 72 hours before your tour.

Student Visa: Studying Or Attending Courses In Turkey

Students arriving in Turkey often get confused about how to get a visa for Turkey. Here is what it means to get a student visa.

Who Can Apply For A Student Visa?

Student visas are provided by the Turkish government to foreign students coming to attend university or for different types of internship opportunities. Any formal education program that makes the students stay more than 90 days will require them to obtain a student visa. Students attending a program with less than this duration can enter the country with only a residence permit.

You can only get a student visa if you have been admitted to Turkish academic institutions. Once you enter the country using a tourist visa, it is mandatory to get yourself registered with the local authorities.

Activities Restricted With A Student Visa For Turkey

Students staying in Turkey can not be involved in any type of permanent employment. Moreover, it is also not recommended to change or drop out of the course they are studying. If they do so, they must communicate with the embassy to change their Turkey visa type; otherwise, exit to avoid overstaying.

Student Residence Permit

Students coming to Turkey with a student visa must have a student residence permit, which allows them to stay more than 90 days. To get this, they have to apply online to Turkey’s immigration portal. These documents need to be uploaded to get a student residence permit:

• Valid passport of your home country and an approved Turkish visa.
• Biometric photographs as per the requirement.
• A copy of your university acceptance letter. This must be a Turkish educational institution.
• The copy of the official confirmation of accommodation and or the university’s dormitory acceptance letter.
• A valid health insurance.
• Bank statements or sponsor letters to prove that the students can afford their expenses.

Visa Details, Validity, And Approval

The general validity of a Turkish student visa is 90 days. But getting a student residence permit will allow them to stay in Turkey up to a year. Students can renew this permit prior 60 days of its expiry. The student visa processing time may take up to 3 days.

Work Visa: When You’re Hired By A Turkish Employer

A Turkish work visa is required for foreigners who are seeking or have been employed by any Turkish organization. A work permit is needed along with it.

Who Can Apply For A Work Visa?

Foreigners who have a confirmed job offer or professional contract from a Turkish employer will need this visa. This employer should hire a minimum of 5 Turkish individuals per foreign hiring and must be registered with the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette.

Moreover, applicants looking for work visas must have a specific skill or credentials. Employees in any assigned role, like lecturers, artists, journalists, repairmen, and free zonal workers, would also need a work visa.

Professions Or Roles Restricted For A Foreign Employee Working In Turkey

In Turkey, there are different professions for which foreigners can not apply for public interest and safety reasons. These include:

• Private security officers
• Financial consultants
• Members of the BOD of Cooperatives
• Assistant consultant for customs
• Responsible manager for private hospitals
• Pharmacy
• Dentistry

Getting A Work Permit

Only a Turkish employer can apply for a work permit for their foreign employees. The work permit application must be submitted to Turkey’s Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MLSS). The documents the employer needs to submit would include:

• An application letter
• Employer’s trade registration proof
• Financial documents that show that the employer is hiring foreign employees in line with the employee-to-foreigner proportion.

Typically, the work permit is approved within 30 days of application.

Residence Permit

You must obtain this within 30 days from your arrival in Turkey. To get this, every foreign worker has to get themselves registered with the Directorate of Security’s Foreigners’ Branch. The requirements for a residence permit include the following:

• Approved work permit
• Health insurance
• Proof of staying in Turkey

Visa Details, Validity, And Approval

The work visas are generally single-entry visas. Moreover, the work permits are commonly valid for one year, but renewal is possible. From visa application to approval of the residence permit, it may take one and a half to two months.

Official Visa For Diplomatic Purposes

The official visas are mainly needed for official delegates and diplomatic passport holders.

Who Can Apply For An Official Visa?

These types of visas are generally needed for embassy staff, official delegates, and diplomatic passport holders from certain countries. Plus, those carrying a courier or coming to Turkey on an official mission need this visa. Many visa rules do not apply for this visa.

These are the visa requirements for Turkey for an official visa:

• Diplomatic passport
• A completed application form
• A note verbale issued by the foreign ministry of the applicant’s home country.
• Official Letter of Assignment given by the foreign ministry
• Recent passport-sized photos
• Proof of employment or other official documents

Visa details, Validity, and Approval

The duration of an official visa depends on the completion of the assignment. That being said, official visas can be renewed after one year. They can enter Turkey repeatedly. However, the approval for these visas takes a longer time.

Medical Visa: People Needing Medical Treatment In Turkey

Among other visas offered by Turkey, a medical visa is given to people considering medical treatment or surgery in Turkey. This visa can be obtained in the form of an eVisa or by visiting the embassy.

Who Can Apply For A Medical Visa?

Turkish medical visas are given to people who have health treatment verification from a Turkish medical institution. Along with this verification, applicants must submit proof of their medical condition, which proves the purpose of their travel to Turkey is to receive treatment. Moreover, the applicant needs to have health insurance that will cover the medical expenses in Turkey.

Visa Details, Validity, And Approval

Applicants need to apply a month prior to get this Turkey visa type approved. A medical visa is valid for 90 days for most countries, and it takes around 5-10 days to get the visa approved. It is better to get an eVisa for a smoother experience.

Comparison Between Different Visas

Pick The Right Turkish Visa!

Traveling to Turkey is easy if you have the documents and consider all the processes to be of equal importance. However, it is important to check the website for current updates and changes in the visa regulations.

Planning to visit Turkey? Apply for an eVisa as per your purpose, and upload the right documents to avoid any kind of delay or denial.

READ MORE:
So if you’re planning to pay a visit to the country, you should first apply for your Turkey business visa from our portal.

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Check your eligibility for Turkey Visa and apply for Turkey e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Armenian citizens, Chinese citizens, Cambodian citizens and Cypriot citizens can apply online for Electronic Turkey Visa.