Travelling to Istanbul

Citizens of certain countries do not require a tourist visa to enter Turkey, but may need a sticker visa. Popularly known as on-arrival visa, sticker visa is available at any airport, maritime port or border-crossing point of Turkey.

Those visitors who need a visa for travelling to the city of Istanbul can obtain the same from the Turkish Embassy or Consulate located in their respective countries.

Nationals of countries like Argentina, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland, among many others need only a valid passport for a 3-months stay in Istanbul.

However, citizens of other countries like Romania, Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia can stay in Istanbul for 2 months without a visa. Those belonging to Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Maldives, Costa Rica and many other countries can also stay in Istanbul without a visa for as long as 1 month.

Citizens of many other countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, UK and USA are liable to obtain an on-arrival visa for 3 months at the border gates. Some other nationals like those of Ukraine, Bahrain, Hungary, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Romania, etc. can also enter Istanbul with a sticker visa, which is applicable for a month or two.

Nationals of all other countries, except for those exempted from visa requirement, are required to obtain visa at the nearest Turkish Consulate or Embassy, before entering Istanbul in the country of Turkey.

Indian nationals, both ordinary and official passport holders, require a pre-arrival visa for visiting Istanbul. They can obtain a Turkish visa from the Turkish Embassy in New Delhi. Indians holding diplomatic passports are exempted from visa for travelling to Istanbul for a period of 90 days.

However, those who have a valid Schengen, UK or US visa, along with other ordinary or official passport, can get an on-arrival visa. Applicable for single entry, this sticker visa is available at Turkey border gates and expires within a month.

Submission of valid passport and visa application form is necessary for filing a visa application. Applicants also need to submit 1 recent photograph, a cover letter, a copy of airline tickets or itinerary and proof of hotel confirmation. After all the required documents are submitted, it may take a minimum of 72 hours for visa processing.

Visa is issued to Indian applicants only after submitting a fee of 1,960 INR for single-entry. Charges for obtaining a double-entry visa are 1,805 INR and 3,010 INR for multiple-entry.

Besides, payment for visa needs to be done with a demand draft, at the time of submission of documents. This draft has to be drawn in favour of the Turkish Embassy, New Delhi. Furthermore, visa holders are allowed to carry a maximum of 2,271.91 INR for each day of their stay in Istanbul.

For more information, please contact:

Turkish Embassy
N-50, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
India
Tele: +91-11-2410-1921
          +91-11-2688-9053
          +91-11-2688-9054
Fax: +91-11-2688-1409
E-mail: tembdelhi@mantraonline.com