Turkish evisa application - BEWARE

[meldy]

I went online to get my e-visa for Turkey, entering 'Turkish visa' in my browser. A variety of websites came up, one of which had the word 'official' in its title. All of them were sites through which you could apply for a visa, at considerable cost. (The first would have charged me 89USD). So anyone else applying, beware these sites.
On further exploration on this forum I found a link to the correct site (thank you Philoz), which is:

https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

The process was very easy, cost 20.55 USD (Visa 20, administration fee 0.55), and was able to download my visa straight away. All done and dusted in a short time. Istanbul here I come!

[sophie]

These web sites have caught the unwary out for years. Regardless of which country you are looking at, they'll be out there!!!

[helendj]

Hi there, right I'm going to have to admit to being a bit thick here and I apologise for that!!!
I'm travelling from here to the UK in May via Istanbul of course. Its a flight I've done many times, but in the last couple of years I confess to going through Larnaca, but not this time; and I keep reading things about visas to go into Turkey.
Now I must ask - do I need a visa to stop in Turkey before ongoing flight? I've never had a visa before so don't really understand why people are getting them, but I'd rather find out now than wait until I'm going back, lol
Any advices will be appreciated, thank you

[Lovelife]

Heledj

If you are a transit passenger and are getting off the Ercan flight and going to Departures for your onward flight, then no you do not need a visa. I do my journey to the UK 3-4 times a year and have never had or required a visa as a transit passenger.

LL

[Dalartokat]

You only need a Visa if you are leaving the Airport, if you stay in the transit lounge you don’t need one.

[helendj]

Phew thank you both so much much appreciated ! As I haven't gone via ercan for a while I wasn't sure, but really thank you

[kerry 6138]

You only need a Visa if you are leaving the Airport, if you stay in the transit lounge you don’t need one.

technicaly its leaving the departure lounge that triggers the need for a visa.

if you travel with different airline on the second leg you leave departures collect luggage and recheck in with second airline without leaving the airport, therefore you would still need a visa presumably.

[ElectricianPete]

You only need a Visa if you are leaving the Airport, if you stay in the transit lounge you don’t need one.

technicaly its leaving the departure lounge that triggers the need for a visa.

if you travel with different airline on the second leg you leave departures collect luggage and recheck in with second airline without leaving the airport, therefore you would still need a visa presumably.

Yes my daughter got caught out with that when she came in from Nepal with one airline and then to North Cyprus with another.

[tomsteel]

Be aware also if your transit journey is interrupted in Turkey for whatever reason and you are required to leave the Transit Area for hotel accommodation etc, the Immigration Police require an entry visa. I am unsure if you can now purchase it within the airport, as used to be the case.

[Soner]

Had a similar problem once on connecting flight but was unable to go through transit for some odd reason. Luckily had TRNC Kimlik, so did not need to purchase visa.