Do EU Citizens Need a Visa for Turkey? Visa-Free & Visa-Required Countries
Turkey is popular among travellers from the European Union (EU) countries. It was among the top four popular European destinations in 2023. More than 550 million people from Europe entered Turkey in that year.
However, you should familiarize yourself with all the information associated with the electronic visa for the Republic of Turkey before you go for the trip This way, you can avoid unwanted issues or hassles.
EU Citizens with Visa-free Entry to Turkey
At present, citizens of some EU nations and territories are not required to have a stamp or electronic visa for the Republic of Turkey. These territories and nations are:
- Belgium
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Portugal
- Spain
- The Netherlands
- Cyprus
- Poland
- Bulgaria
- Hungary
- Romania
Your passport will still be considered valid if it has expired within a certain period, if you belong to these EU countries:
- Germany: Passport expired within Last year
- France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain: Passport expired within Last 5 years
- Bulgaria: Passport expired within, Valid ordinary passport
Citizens of the above-listed countries can stay in Turkey visa-free for 90-days maximum within a six-month period. This stay and validity duration is also applicable to visa holders. Every foreigner traveling to Turkey must adhere to the same stay period.
EU Citizens Requiring eVisa
For the rest of the citizens not belonging to any country mentioned in the lists above, a visa application is a must. There is no point taking a trip to Turkey and marvelling at its beautiful architecture without holding a visa!
EU Countries requiring eVisa
The following is a list of EU countries whose citizens can apply for a tourist e-visa without any conditions.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Spain
But what is the application process for the eVisa? Let’s take a look at that below:
How to Apply For eVisa?
People who are citizens of the above-listed e-visa eligible countries can apply for an electronic visa to the Republic of Turkey via our online portal. You will need to have a passport with at least a five-month validity period after you enter Turkey.
Make sure you submit the right documents along with your newest passport-size photograph, and then pay the required fee through a valid card.
The eVisa will be sent to you at your email address once it is prepared. But you will need to get a stamp visa from the consulate if you are travelling for something other than tourism or commerce.
You should apply for the visa at least 30 days before you travel to Turkey. This will be convenient in case there are delays in your application processing.
Is The Visa-On-Arrival Option Still There?
The citizens of following EU countries are eligible for a visa-on-arrival:
- Croatia
- Estonia
- Cyprus
- Latvia
- Lithuania
You can obtain a visa upon arrival at any one of the international airports in Turkey. Some of these include Antalya Airport, Hatay Airport and Ankara Esenboga Airport
We would recommend storing all important documents in a folder inside your bag pack so as to make them accessible. Let’s list all the documents you need so that you don’t miss carrying any:
- A valid passport with at least a five-month validity from when you enter
- A proof of accommodation in Turkey. It can be the receipts of your booked hotels.
- A proof that you will leave Turkey and go home or travel to another country. These will include your flight tickets.
- Ways to pay for visa fees, including cash and cards.
When to Apply for a Visa in Advance?
The visa-on-arrival option in Turkey is no longer available for most countries. Hence, most tourists have to apply for an eVisa at least 30 days in advance. If you’re from a visa-exempt EU country, you will require a passport or a national ID card.
Special consideration: EU citizens wanting to extend their stay beyond the permitted duration of 90 days have the option to apply for a Short Term Residence Permit.*
*Note: You can apply for this permit in case you wish to stay beyond your current tourist visa duration. The maximum validity of this permit is two years*
Additional Requirements and Travel Tips
Passport validity: Your passport should be valid for a total of at least 150 days from the arrival date. At least one blank page must be there on your passport. That’s because the land crossing border officials will issue a stamp and a date if you decide to enter via the road.
Travel and medical insurance: While neither travel nor medical insurance* is necessary, we would highly recommend that you get insured anyway. That way, you can avoid a hefty bill if you get sick or injured when traveling in the country.
*Note: Your GHIC and EHIC will be invalid throughout your stay in the country. The GHIC is your Global Health Insurance Card, while the EHIC is the European Health Insurance Card*
COVID-19 rules: You do not need to provide any special COVID-19 vaccination proofs for entering Turkey as per the update in January 2022. The requirements for entry are the same for every traveller, irrespective of whether vaccination is done or not.
There is no special requirement to produce proof of vaccination even if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past six months.
Ready to Fly to Turkey?
The citizens of EU member nations like Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands, Cyprus, Poland and Bulgaria, among others, don't need a stamp or an electronic visa for the Republic of Turkey. You will nonetheless require your passport or some form of national identification card to gain entry into the country. However, you should apply for a visa at least a month by visiting the website if you do not belong to any of these EU countries.
Also, remember that you can also apply for a traditional stamp visa if you are not eligible for either visa-free entry or an e-visa. You should also get medical and travel insurance, as an added precaution. It will help you save on unwanted medical expenses like hospital bills and doctors’ fees, etc. Don’t forget to apply for the “Short Term Residence Permit” in case you want to stay longer than your validity period.
We would also recommend learning some Turkish phrases to communicate with the native citizens easily. You should also pack the right kind of clothes, and necessary toiletries to enjoy a beautiful trip. You can get in touch with us or your Embassy in case of any assistance.
Finally, just remember to let go and have fun!
Check your eligibility for Turkey Visa and apply for Turkey e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. Bahamas citizens, Nepalese citizens, South African citizens and Mexican citizens can apply online for Electronic Turkey Visa.