Every way into Türkiye.

Online visa for tourism and trade visits, issued in minutes via the official evisa.gov.tr portal to citizens of around 40+ countries (e.g. India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, Vietnam). Fee varies by nationality (roughly USD 20-80); validity is 180 days from the chosen entry date, with stays of 30 or 90 days and single or multiple entry depending on nationality. Some nationalities qualify only conditionally (valid Schengen/US/UK visa, approved airline, etc.).

Service fee

$54

Processing time

1 day

Max stay

90 days

Validity

180 days

Citizens of most EU states, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Latin American countries and many others may enter Turkey visa-free, typically for 90 days in any 180-day period (some nationalities 30 or 60 days). A December 2023 presidential decree added the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Oman to the exemption list for tourism stays of 90/180 days. Passport must be valid at least 60 days beyond the permitted stay.

Government fee

$0

Max stay

90 days

Passengers who remain airside in the international transit area of a single Turkish airport for less than 24 hours do not need a visa. Since 15 April 2024 citizens of certain countries transiting Turkish airports en route to Mexico, Panama, Colombia or Venezuela must obtain an electronic airport transit visa (e-ATV) via evisa.gov.tr. Travelers who pass through immigration (leave the airport, recheck bags, change airports) need a regular visa/e-Visa instead.

Service fee

$54

Processing time

1 day

Max stay

1 day

Nationalities not eligible for visa-free entry or the e-Visa (and travelers with purposes beyond tourism/trade) must apply for a sticker visa at a Turkish embassy or consulate, with pre-application via konsolosluk.gov.tr. Tourism and commercial-purpose visas generally allow up to 90 days in 180; fees vary by nationality and entry type. The e-Visa itself also covers commercial/trade visits for eligible nationalities.

Service fee

$160

Max stay

90 days

Turkey, a major health-tourism destination, issues medical-treatment-purpose visas through its consulates for patients of nationalities that need a visa; visa-exempt and e-Visa nationals can enter under their normal status for treatment. Patients needing longer care can obtain a short-term residence permit on medical treatment grounds, issued for the duration of treatment at an accredited hospital.

Service fee

$160

Students accepted by a Turkish university or school apply for a student visa at a Turkish consulate (pre-application via konsolosluk.gov.tr, processing commonly around 8 weeks), then within 30 days of arrival apply for a student residence permit issued for the duration of study. Undergraduate and postgraduate students may work with a separate work permit after their first year. Financial proof of roughly one year of living costs and health insurance are expected.

• Work: up to 24 h/week
• Study: Primary purpose; enrolled study

Service fee

TRY 9,000

Processing time

56 days

Launched in April 2024 for remote workers aged 21-55 from 34 eligible (mainly European/CIS plus US, Canada, UK) countries who hold a university degree and work remotely for a non-Turkish employer or their own foreign business. Applicants must prove monthly income of USD 3,000 (USD 36,000/year), obtain a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate via the official goturkiye.com platform, then apply for the visa at a Turkish consulate; in-country, nomads can apply for a short-term residence permit on the same grounds. Stays are typically up to 1 year with renewal possible via the residence-permit route.

• Work: Remote work for foreign employer/clients

Service fee

$220

Processing time

30 days

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

$3,000

Employer-sponsored permit applied for through the Ministry of Labour's e-Permit system, either from abroad (after a work-visa application at a Turkish consulate) or in-country if the foreigner holds a residence permit valid at least 6 months. Issued initially for up to 1 year tied to a specific employer, extendable by 2 then 3 years; employers must generally employ 5 Turkish citizens per foreign worker and meet capital criteria, and the permit counts as a residence permit. The 2026 fee is TRY 12,574.90 for permits up to 1 year plus a TRY 964 valuable-paper fee; complete applications are decided within 30 days.

• Work: Employer-tied; permit doubles as residence
• Study: Study allowed alongside work
• Residency after 8 years
• Family: Family residence permit for dependents

Government fee

TRY 12,574.90

Service fee

TRY 9,000

Processing time

30 days

Validity

365 days

Foreigners who own residential property in Turkey can obtain a short-term residence permit (up to 2 years at a time, renewable while ownership continues) for themselves, their spouse and minor children. Since 16 October 2023 the property must have an officially appraised value of at least USD 200,000 (raised from USD 75,000) and must be a dwelling used as such; properties bought before that date are grandfathered. The permit does not by itself lead to citizenship; the citizenship-by-investment route requires USD 400,000.

• Study: Study allowed; children get schooling
• Residency after 8 years
• Family: Spouse & children under 18 as dependents

Government fee

TRY 964

Processing time

90 days

Validity

730 days

Min. investment

TRY 200,000

Foreigners can acquire Turkish citizenship by purchasing real estate worth at least USD 400,000 (3-year no-sale annotation on the title deed), or by investing USD 500,000 in fixed capital, a Turkish bank deposit, government bonds, real-estate/venture-capital fund shares or private pension funds (each held 3 years), or by creating jobs for at least 50 people. No residence, language test or physical-stay requirement applies; the spouse and children under 18 are included, and processing typically takes 8-12 months via a special-category residence permit followed by presidential approval. Thresholds were last raised in June 2022 (real estate from USD 250,000 to 400,000) and remain unchanged as of June 2026, though further increases are periodically discussed.

• Work: Full work rights as Turkish citizen
• Study: Full study rights as citizen
• Residency: Direct citizenship by investment
• Family: Spouse & children under 18 included

Processing time

300 days

Min. investment

$400,000

Foreigners who enter Turkey can apply via e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr for a short-term residence permit on tourism grounds, issued for up to 2 years at a time, with proof of accommodation, health insurance and sufficient financial means (in practice roughly the Turkish minimum wage or more per month). Since 2022-2024 the route has been sharply tightened: over 1,100 neighborhoods where registered foreigners exceed about 20-25% of the population are closed to new registrations, first-time touristic applications face heavy scrutiny and renewals based purely on tourism are frequently refused. The 964 TRY card fee (2026) is payable plus a residence permit fee that varies by nationality.

• Study: Study allowed; may need student permit

Government fee

TRY 964

Processing time

90 days

Validity

730 days

Turkey has no dedicated retirement visa; foreign retirees use the short-term (touristic) residence permit, showing pension income, accommodation and Turkish health insurance, issued for up to 2 years at a time. Approval has become harder since 2024 amid the general tightening of touristic permits and closed neighborhoods, so retirees increasingly rely on property ownership (USD 200,000+) for a more secure basis. After 8 years of uninterrupted residence, long-term residence is possible.

• Study: Study allowed; may need student permit

Government fee

TRY 964

Processing time

90 days

Validity

730 days

Turkey has reciprocal work-and-holiday arrangements with Australia and New Zealand, allowing young citizens (18-30) of those countries to live and work casually in Turkey for up to 12 months, with small annual quotas (around 100 places per country). Applications are made through Turkish embassies/consulates in Canberra/Wellington; the scheme is little-publicized on Turkish official sites and details (fees, exact quotas) are thinly documented. No other partner countries are confirmed.

• Work: Work max 6 months; AU/NZ only

Service fee

TRY 9,000

Max stay

365 days

Validity

365 days

Granted to the foreign spouse, minor children and dependent children of Turkish citizens or of foreigners holding a residence/work permit (foreign sponsors generally must have resided in Turkey at least 1 year). Issued for up to 3 years at a time, never longer than the sponsor's own permit; the sponsor must show income of at least the minimum wage plus one-third per family member, suitable accommodation and health insurance covering the family. Holders may transition to other permit types, and children may attend school.

Government fee

TRY 964

Service fee

TRY 11,000

Processing time

90 days

Validity

1,095 days

Foreign spouses of Turkish citizens receive a family residence permit (up to 3 years per issuance, renewable) sponsored by the Turkish spouse, who must show minimum-wage-level income, housing and family health insurance. After 3 years of continuous, genuine marriage the foreign spouse may apply for Turkish citizenship under Article 16 of Law No. 5901, subject to cohabitation checks, good conduct and no national-security concerns. Time on a family permit also counts toward long-term residence.

Government fee

TRY 964

Service fee

TRY 11,000

Processing time

90 days

Validity

1,095 days

Former Turkish citizens by birth who renounced citizenship with permission (typically to naturalize abroad) and their descendants up to the third degree can obtain a Blue Card from NVİ offices or Turkish consulates. Holders live, work (employed or self-employed, no work permit needed), study, inherit and buy property in Turkey like citizens, excluding voting, military service and civil-service posts; the card is valid about 10 years and renewable. Former citizens themselves can also re-acquire full citizenship under Article 13 of Law 5901 without a residence requirement.

Validity

3,650 days

Indefinite work-and-residence card for highly qualified foreigners: top-tier professionals (assessed on education, salary and experience), qualified investors, scientists/researchers, internationally successful athletes and artists, and people promoting Turkish culture abroad. Issued with a 3-year transition period after which it becomes indefinite; holders enjoy permanent-work-permit rights and their spouse and dependent children receive residence documents. Applications go through the Ministry of Labour (e-Permit) from Turkey or via consulates abroad; a points-based assessment applies.

• Work: Indefinite work right
• Study: Study allowed
• Residency: Permanent work right; path to citizenship
• Family: Spouse & dependent children get residence doc

Service fee

TRY 11,000

Indefinite residence permit for foreigners who have lived in Turkey at least 8 years without interruption on residence permits, with stable income, valid health insurance, no social assistance in the last 3 years and no public-security concerns. Time on student permits counts at half; refugees/conditional refugees and humanitarian permit holders are excluded. Holders enjoy near-citizen rights except voting, military service and certain public-sector employment.

Government fee

TRY 964