Turkey e-Visa: how to apply online and arrive connected
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Turkey sits at the meeting point of Europe and Asia, and getting in is straightforward for most visitors once you know which rule applies to your passport. Some nationalities enter visa-free for tourism, while others buy a Turkey e-Visa online before they fly. This guide explains how the e-Visa system works, how to apply, and how to have mobile data ready the moment you land in Istanbul, Izmir, or Antalya.
We inform rather than advise, so always confirm the current rule for your nationality on the official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa portal and on your Yoogo corridor page before you book.
Do you need a visa for Turkey?
Whether you need a visa depends entirely on the passport you hold. Broadly, travellers fall into three groups:
- Visa-free for tourism. Many nationalities, including British passport holders, can enter Turkey without a visa for short stays. UK visitors, for example, may stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
- e-Visa required. A large number of nationalities need to buy an electronic visa online before travelling. The e-Visa is issued digitally and linked to your passport, so there is no sticker or embassy visit.
- Sticker visa required. A smaller group must apply through a Turkish mission in advance.
To check which group applies to you, open your Turkey corridor page on Yoogo, choose your passport, and read the entry status alongside the link to the official government source. Because rules change, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information is always the final word.
How the Turkey e-Visa works
The Turkey e-Visa is an electronic entry permit tied to your passport number. You apply online, pay a fee through the official portal, and receive the approved document by email, usually within a short window. You then carry a printed or digital copy to show on arrival.
A few points worth understanding before you start:
- The e-Visa is for tourism and short business trips. It does not cover work, study, or long-term residence.
- It is linked to a single passport, so everyone travelling, including children, needs their own.
- Approval is not a guarantee of entry. Border officers make the final decision when you arrive.
There is a fee for the e-Visa, payable online during the application. We do not quote figures because they change, so check the amount on the official portal at the time you apply.
How to apply for the Turkey e-Visa, step by step
The process is designed to take only a few minutes for eligible travellers.
- Go to the official portal. Use mfa.gov.tr directly. Avoid third-party sites that add charges for the same document.
- Select your country and travel document. The portal confirms whether you are eligible for the e-Visa or need another route.
- Enter your travel dates and passport details. Take these straight from your passport to avoid a mismatch at the border.
- Provide your contact and payment details. Pay the fee online using a supported card.
- Receive your approval by email. Save a copy to your phone and print a spare in case your battery dies in the queue.
Apply a few days before departure rather than at the airport, so you have time to correct any error in a name or passport number.
Passport validity and entry rules
Turkey, like most destinations, expects your passport to have a good margin of validity beyond your trip. Travellers using the e-Visa are commonly asked to hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, though the exact requirement can vary by nationality. Confirm your own case on the official portal.
If you are unsure how validity windows work, our guide to passport validity rules explains the common six-month rule and how to count the days. It is also worth reading how to apply for a visa if this is your first time navigating an online entry system.
At the border you may be asked to show proof of onward travel and accommodation, so keep those to hand.
Getting connected in Turkey
Turkish airports have free wifi, but it is time-limited and patchy once you leave the terminal. For maps, ride-hailing, translation, and messaging from the moment you land, a travel eSIM is the simplest option. It installs before you fly and switches on automatically when you arrive, so you are online without hunting for a local shop or paying roaming charges.
Saily offers eSIM data plans that cover Turkey, and you can set everything up in advance from home.
If eSIMs are new to you, our explainer on what an eSIM is walks through how the technology works and whether your phone supports it. Most handsets from the last few years do.
What to know before you land
- Currency. The Turkish lira (TRY) is the local currency. Card payment is widely accepted in cities, and cash is handy for markets and small towns.
- Language. Turkish is the official language. English is common in tourist areas, less so in the east.
- Driving. Turkey drives on the right.
- Regional advice. UK government travel guidance advises against travel to some areas near the Syrian border. Check current advice for the specific regions you plan to visit.
Once your entry is sorted, the fun part begins. Our Bursa travel guide covers the first Ottoman capital beneath Mount Uludağ, and our Ephesus guide helps you plan a visit to one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the Mediterranean.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Turkey?
British passport holders can currently visit Turkey visa-free for tourism for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Always confirm the current rule on the official e-Visa portal before you travel, as policies can change.
How long does the Turkey e-Visa take to process?
For eligible travellers the e-Visa is often approved quickly after payment, sometimes within minutes and usually within a day. Apply a few days ahead of departure to allow for any delay or a correction.
How long is the Turkey e-Visa valid?
The e-Visa is typically valid for multiple entries across a set period, with a maximum stay per visit. The exact validity and stay length depend on your nationality, so check the details shown for your passport on the official portal.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Turkey instead?
Turkey has moved most visa processing online through the e-Visa system. Relying on arrival for a visa is not recommended where an e-Visa is available. Apply online before you fly.
Do children need their own Turkey e-Visa?
Yes. The e-Visa is linked to an individual passport, so each traveller, including infants and children, needs a separate application and their own document.
Which website is the official Turkey e-Visa site?
Start from the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs at mfa.gov.tr, which sets out the visa rules and links the current application route. The address widely published as the e-Visa portal, evisa.gov.tr, was redirecting to a private company's website when we checked it on 7 September 2026, so check where any link actually takes you before you enter passport details or pay a fee.
What passport validity do I need for Turkey?
Travellers using the e-Visa are commonly asked to hold a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. The exact requirement varies by nationality, so confirm your case on the official portal.
Will my phone work in Turkey?
Most modern phones work on Turkish networks. To avoid roaming charges, install a travel eSIM such as Saily before you fly so you have data as soon as you land. Check that your handset is eSIM compatible and network unlocked first.
Can I work in Turkey on an e-Visa?
No. The e-Visa covers tourism and short business trips only. Work, study, and long-term stays require a different permit arranged in advance.
Is the e-Visa the same for every nationality?
No. Eligibility, fees, validity, and stay length differ by passport. The portal tailors the application to your nationality once you select your country and document type.
Once the admin is done
The e-Visa is the gate, not the trip. When the authorisation is sorted, the useful next question is where the route actually goes, and Turkey is large enough that the answer changes the shape of the whole visit.
Related reading
- Turkey entry requirements, for the wider entry picture beyond the e-Visa itself
- One week in Turkey, for a worked route
- Bursa, the first Ottoman capital below Mount Uludağ
- Ephesus, the classical city on the Aegean coast
- Cappadocia, for central Anatolia
- Malatya, for eastern Anatolia and Arslantepe
- Best eSIM for Turkey, for connectivity once you land