Turkey is a beautiful country to visit and it gets thousands of visitors each year. It is a great step to allow so many nationalities to enter and enjoy the beauties, and the history that Turkey has to offer without having to worry about going through the hassle of a visa or an e-visa. This new rule is also expected to spread the Turkish culture further and improve its relationship in Europe.

Turkey already allowed 4 countries to enjoy visa-free status. This means, their nationals did not require a visa to travel to Turkey. This rule is now including 7 new countries from Europe who will now be able to enter Turkey without worrying about the formalities of a visa. This rule applies to a 90 day stay out of the maximum 180 days to stay in Turkey and if the traveller wants to stay longer, they will then need a visa as well as the formalities surrounding it..

Chosen Countries for the Visa-free Travel to Turkey:

The 11 countries which are now eligible to enter Turkey visa-free. 9 out of these 11 are eligible for a Schengen national as well.

The list of countries includes:

• The United Kingdom
• Portugal
• Spain
• Malta
• The Netherlands
• Ireland
• Poland
• Croatia
• Austria
• Norway
• Belgium

Requirements for a Needed Visa to Turkey:

After the new rule In effect, Turkey will allow a total of 83 countries to enter Turkey visa-free. However, the rest still have to follow the guidelines given on the official Turkish e-visa site and get themselves an e-visa. Those countries with higher restrictions may need to go to a Turkish embassy and get a sticker visa. All the requirements for a sticker visa, an e-visa, and the countries ineligible to enter Turkey are available on the country’s official webpage.

Requirements for Visa-free Travellers to Enter Turkey:

The nationals of the eligible countries to enter Turkey visa-free will still require their passport to confirm their identity, nationality, and basic information. They will not require any other documents. The only necessity is that there is at least a one-page space on their passport to record the time of entry and the time of exit from Turkey and that the passport has a minimum time period of 6 months to its expiry.

Reason Behind Addition of Visa-Free Countries by Turkey:

Turkey has always been a great vacation spot for many countries in Europe. It is known for its beauty and gets thousands of visitors from Europe yearly. The reason behind adding these 11 countries to the list is to improve the relationship between Turkey and these nations as well as increase the overall trades, the economic values, as well as spread the culture of Turkey into Europe.

Duration of Effect for the Visa-Free Travelling Rule:

The new rule is expected to start applying from 2nd March 2022. After the date has passed, the mentioned countries will not require visa formalities to visit Turkey. This includes any tourist-related activities that the traveller might involve themselves in, or any business-related activity as long as it is expected to end within 90 days.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need to bring my passport even though I don’t need a visa?

Yes, your passport ends up being your mode of identification when passing through the border. It is used to confirm your nationality as well as your basic identity.

Does my passport require an expiry date?

Yes, it is compulsory that the passport you use has a 6 month expiry period at least with one page empty to record your entry and departure.

Can I enter Turkey without a vaccine certificate?

No, along with a passport you are required to carry a vaccination card and a negative PCR test to enter Turkey.

Do I need to follow the steps for visitors with visas?

No, you can directly enter the Turkish visa and enter the country after your identification, nationalism, and vaccination are confirmed.

Do I need to leave if my visa is allowed?

The visa-free travel allows the passenger to stay in Turkey for thirty days only and the visitor is required to leave the country after this period ends.