Turkey is a favourite among many Indian travellers who are curious to see the land that connects Asia and Europe, rich in history, culture and a delicious cuisine! But as always, it is very important to check the visa regulations before planning a visit to this amazing country.
This Turkiye Tourist Visa for Indians thread is specifically to share latest and accurate information about the Turkey tourist visa as applicable to an Indian passport holder.
This is the current visa rule (as of July 2024):
- Indian passport holders are eligible to apply for a Turkiye Tourist Visa in one of two ways:
– Standard Visa (through authorised agents of the Turkish Embassy/Consulates in India)
– eVisa (through the official government visa portal, but only for specified, eligible travellers) - The authorised agents in India are Gateway and VFS (it is NOT possible to apply directly to the Turkish embassy or consulates)
- The visa is typically issued for 30 days of travel within Turkey with a visa validity depending on the individual’s application
- Once the visa is issued, changes cannot be made and it is best to immediately notify errors to the authorised agent to avoid deportation or prevent entry-related issues at the border / airport upon arrival
- At immigration, upon being stamped in, it is best to verify the visa date and stay duration allowed as per the visa stamping in the passport to avoid exit-related issues while departing from the country
Official Turkiye Immigration website: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
- Turkiye Tourist Visa website/portal (GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL): Touristic Visa | Gateway International
- VFS-Turkish application portal: Turkey Visa Information - India - Home Page (please change location of consulate depending on your resident status / home state in India)
Official Turkey e-Visa portal: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/
evisa can only be applied by Indian passport holders with existing USA, UK, Schengen multiple entry visas (single entry tourist visas are also eligible as long as they are valid)
Important: Turkey visa on arrival is NOT available for Indian passport holders.
Documents typically required to apply for the visa:
- Original Passport and copies of its front and back page
- Cover letter of travel plans with Day wise itinerary / travel plan for entire duration of stay
- Proof of entry and exit (flight, land transport or sea transport bookings)
- Proof of stay (hotel reservation or details of host with invitation letter)
- Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, sponsorship documents)
- Proof of employement (business registration documents or employment letter and leave letter)
- Photo as specified in the visa portal
- Insurance coverage for the duration of stay in Turkey
(since documentation requirements change depending on the background of the application, make sure to check the official links above, for the latest requirements) - if applying for the evisa, you must have an existing “power visa” as mentioned above in the evisa section
Processing time for the visa:
Usually minimum six working days as per the official note on the Gateway/VFS agent portals. Sometimes longer as reported by applicants (some upto one month). Best to apply atleast one and a half months before date of travel.
Cost of the visa:
~INR 5,000 for 30 days visa fees (pay to the Turkish consulate) and a service charge of ~INR 12,300 (pay to the compulsory agent Gateway). VFS correspondance and application managment charges extra (depends on if you go through them or go to Gateway International directl).
Immigration requirements:
At the airport or seaport, present the passport and eVisa to the officer along with any additional documents sought (such as accommodation details, exit flight details, etc.) to obtain a visa entry stamp for 30 days
Share your latest experiences of obtaining the Turkey Tourist Visa or passing through immigration, as replies/comments in this thread. This will be very helpful to fellow travellers and members of this travel community who are planning a trip to Turkey.
