Changes to the Turkish tourist Visa system in the recent month, has left many people bewildered and confused. A quick clarification for you. It was recently announced that any English traveler could only stay for a period of 90 days out of 180 days.
Anyone wanting to go over this allowance would have to apply for a residency visa. Then yesterday the Turkish Government announced that this change had been frozen until the foreseeable future. Apparently the British ambassador to Turkey whispered a few words in people ears, and pointed out to them the impractical implications of this change. Namely…
Implications of Turkish Tourist Visa Changes
1 – Turkey has many English travelers that come here for 180 days. They are either permanently traveling and staying in campsites, therefore would have no fixed abode to use as an address for a residency visa.
2 – Turkey has sold many houses to English people who stay here in the summer and return back to the UK in the winter. These expats have already had to face a drop in interest rates on their savings which they live off. They are now being asked to apply for a residency visa which was recently increased in price by a massive 56%. Hhhhm. Anyone think that was deliberate?
3 – Take Mrs A as an example. She visits Turkey for the first time, loves it that much, stays three months, returns to the UK but wants to go back to Turkey 30 days later. She can not, therefore Turkey is actually kicking themselves in the foot by limiting the income to their tourism industry.
So what are British travelers to do when entering Turkey? Well, you are going to keep a firm eye on the latest news where ever you go, however don’t take it personally as 62 other countries were also involved. I am sure Turkey is going to see the negative aspects of their plan and come up with another one just to confuse us all.
What do travelers from other nations do? Be sure to check with the Turkish embassy in your country as to the rules and regulations of Turkish tourist visas for your nationality.
Update : Since this post was published, the Turkish government has altered the rules a number of times. Readers can find out the latest status by reading the FCO website on entry requirements to Turkey. FCO website on entry visas to Turkey.
Update : Since this post was published, Turkey has now introduced the e-visa system. Please see here for further details
This is very good news indeed. Guessing this applies to all nationalities, like Americans?
Hi Megan, Thanks for commenting. Americans are not affected as far as I know, by the recent tourist visa changes. However Americans have always had to pay double the price than Uk travelers.
will will just have to watch this space I suppose and always keep our eye on the news.
hi natali
i want to ask you something ,i am iranian and i live in ireland ,i want to get marriage in turkey wit a morocco women ,but we are not a residence in turkey ,can we get marriage in turkish civil law
please if you can help us let me know
thank you
regards
sharam
You can get married but you will need to get in touch with your consulate in Turkey to find out the procedure as you will need to submit papers and have blood tests
It’s a fine way for them to generate money. For an American married to a Turk, I pay between 700-800 YTL a year to get my residence permit, and that doesn’t include work permission. Last time I checked, the cost of a tourist visa for Americans was 60USD, so really, it’s just another way to take foreigners’ money and give them not much in return.
A lot of language schools will be scrambling when all the illegal foreign teachers’ tourist visas are up…
Hi Stranger,
I think it is a bit of both as in that want more money and also a lack of communication between relvent authorities etc.
If you are married, then I would suggest gaining your Kimlik as soon as possible. I got mine just before the charges went up.
By kimlik, do you mean citizenship or the residence permit? I’ll pass on citizenship, but I can’t renew the residence permit till next year. Pooh that it’ll be even more expensive.
A few months ago, my husband got me a yabanc? kimlik numaras?– I’m not really sure of the point of it, but it has the same number of digits as a TC number. It didn’t cost anything. Apparently banks require them now, and I need it to use my husband’s Ba?-Kur to go to the doctor. No one has actually required it yet, though, and I still just use my passport or ikamet when ID is needed…
Two questions for stranger: I’ve heard that an American married to a Turk can only renew the ikamet five times. What happens after that, if I want to continue living in Turkey with my husband? I have also heard (and this rumor would be a GREAT one to be true) that after living in Turkey for eight years with a Turkish spouse, a permanent ikamet is just given. Any ideas?
Thank you,
Martha
Hi Martha, I hope that Stranger returns to answer your question. Is it different for an American than a Brit?
If not, at present for a Brit after three years of marriage you are expected to go for your kimlik. I have never known the authorities to enforce this though, and know many british wifes living here on residencies.
Re living in Turkey with a Turkish spouse, I am assuming you mean living as man and wife. If so a british person can obtain citizenship after three years eliminating the need for renewed residence.
Hope that helps, I am sure stranger will clarify if it is any different for an American.
Hello Natalie,
I suspect there are differences bewteen U.S. and U.K. expats. As an American I must pay more than 700 TL per year for my ikamet. Also, if a U.S. citizen goes through an application process for Turkish citizenship, they (can) lose their U.S. citizenship. Perhaps that too is different for U.K. citizens. Most people do not want to give up their citizenship of origin.
Martha
Hi Martha, It is different then. I have dual citizenship now and do not face any worry of losing my British citizenship. Such a shame and it is things like this that people must think about when they get into a mixed culture relationship because as in your case, I presume it causes a lot of stress.
when are you are you going to up date information about visa the information on here is nearly a year old
Hi Kathleen, As this is a blog and not a website, I try to only make changes to blog posts if absolutely necessary. This blog post was a reflection of the news at the time. It is not a stand alone website page.
No other readers have asked me to update them on the Turkish visa situation however as you asked I will post an update above.