How to get E-visa for Turkey?

For the moment, Turkish visa can be obtained on arrival (if you are eligible), from the Turkish missions or over the e-Visa Application system (if you are eligible). Please note that visa on arrival will no longer be available as of 10 April 2014.

E-visa is the easiest way to obtain your visa for Turkey if you are allowed to use it. 

See the list for the countries eligible for e-visa. You can get it online without waiting in the queue at the Turkish embassies or consulates or at the border crossing and enter into Turkey.

As of April 17, 2013, electronic visa (e-Visa) replaces “sticker visa” which was issued at the border crossings.  Applicants just need to log on to www.evisa.gov.tr , provide the requested information, (after the application is approved) make online payment and download their e-Visa.

Please note that e-visa is only valid when the purpose of travel is tourism or commerce. Other purposes, such as work and study, require regular visa given by Embassies or Consulates.

To be able to get e-visa you need a minimum 6-month-valid passport, flight (or any other possible means of transportation) reservation and a credit card (Master or Visa).

You must also know :

-      If you do not enter Turkey within the period of the validity of the e-Visa, you must apply for a new e-Visa.

-       If you obtained an e-Visa and did not enter Turkey, you will not be refunded your payment.

-      Each traveler must have his or her own e-Visa.

-      You must enter Turkey with the same passport with which you applied for an e-Visa. Otherwise, your e-Visa will be invalid.

-      You should apply for your e-Visa at least 24 hours before your departure. However, its beterr to do it one week before your departure.

What I need for Turkish Visa?

If you are one of those countries need visa then you should have :

- A Passport should be valid at least six months longer than the expiry date of the requested visa.

- Cash money ( US$ or EURO) as they do not accept credit card, travelers cheque or local currencies! Be sure you have the exact amount with you.

- Click here to learn how much you need to pay or check the short list below

Visa fees on arrival and E-visa

* Information can change please check www.mfa.gov.tr for most recent one.

How to get Visa For Turkey?

Whether you are coming from China or America, you need visa for Turkey. 

Don’t be offended as you may never know how many papers I had to present to US Embassy to be able to get my tourist visa plus paid over 100 USD, hours at the security controls, interviews, questions and questions “ Why you wanna go to America?”

For many countries, Turkey does not ask you why you want to go to Turkey. Because they want you to come and spend your money. This is the secret of being alive while many other  countries effected by financial crisis.  

See below the list of countries who need visa for Turkey ;

United States of America & Canada : Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can get three month-multiple entry visas from Turkish diplomatic representations abroad and also via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

Australia: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain three month-multiple entry visas from Turkish diplomatic representations abroad and also via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapure, Japan, South Korea : Ordinary and official passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels up to 90 days. 

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru : Official and ordinary passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days. 

Costa Rika: Ordinary and official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 30 days.

Venezuela: Ordinary passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days in each six-month period. Official passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 30 days. 

South Africa: Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. They can obtain one month multiple entry visas at the Turkish border gates and three-month period multiple entryn visas from Turkish representations abroad or via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

Dominican Republic: Ordinary and official passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary passport holders can obtain three month-multiple entry e-Visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

Mexico: Diplomatic passport holders are exempted from visa for their travels up to 90 days. Ordinary, Service and Special passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary, Service and Special passport holders, with a valid Schengen, UK, Canada, Japan or US visas or residing in these countries, may get their three-month multiple entry e-Visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr. 

India: Diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visa for their travels to Turkey up to 90 days. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders are required to have visa to enter Turkey. Ordinary, Special and Service passport holders with a valid Schengen or OECD member's visa or residence permit may get their single entry e-Visas valid for one month via the website www.evisa.gov.tr, provided that they meet certain conditions. 

Indonesia: Indonesian nationals holding diplomatic and official/service passport are exempted from visa for their travels up to 30 days. Ordinary passport holders are required to have visa. These passport holders can obtain their one month period entry e-Visas via the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

This is what you get at the end:

Sticker Visa

The information above was copied from www.mfa.gov.tr for most accurate information you must consult the nearest Turkish consulate to you or check the website.

Explore Black Sea Region of Turkey

On the route of the historical and exotic Silk Road, Trabzon is one of the pearls of the Black Sea region of Turkey. Situated on the Northeast coast, this large city has been home to numerous civilizations throughout history.

Woman in Traditional Black Sea Clothing in Tea Farm

Many Turks have nicknamed it the city of sultans, mainly because the notable sultan Suleiman the magnificent was born there. Without a doubt, the main attraction is the historical Sumela Monastery clinging to the side of a cliff face.

Sumela Monastery 

It is said the reason for its location was a statue of the black Madonna was found in a cave by two priests and they assumed it was a sign from the angels.

Although it is no longer in use, the frescoes adorning the ceiling are marvellously well preserved. The monastery can be reached within a half hour drive from Trabzon city centre.

What to see in Trabzon?

Gulbahar (mother of Yavuz, the Ottoman sultan) Mosque is a monumental landmark for the city. Built in 1510, it displays innovative Ottoman architecture from that time.

The Hagia Sophia is not as large as its counterpart in Istanbul but this ancient church / mosque has wonderful frescoes depicting scenes from the bible.

The House of Ataturk is a musuem with many artefacts from the 1920s. It was given to the founder of Turkey as a present by the citizens of Trabzon. It has a marvelous view over the coastline. 

Beehive Houses of Harran

On our second day in Sanliurfa, we travel to the outskirts of Urfa to see the beehive houses of Harran. 

Harran Houses

After an hour drive by car we reached to Harran village and met by our local guide Ahmet who helped us to visit first settlement of the village. 

Ruins of Harran University

First inhabitants of Harran worshiped to the sun and planets. Thus it became the center of astronomy and they found the world famous university which dates back to antiquity. A number of luminaries including Sabit Bin Kurra, Battani, Cabir bin Hayyam and Ibn-i Teymiyye had educated in this university. 

Resim yazısı ekle

Not surprised to see camels in the village as Harran more influenced by Arabic and Kurdish culture. Most of the people speak Arabic or Kurdish in their houses rather than Turkish.

The cheapest material to built the houses is mud and people live in these beehive houses during winter and summer. The temperature inside the houses are around 18 C summer and winter thus they do not need air-co.

Harran Family

Syrian war negatively effected their life as their main incomes are tourism and farming. Ahmet says the number of tourist decreased slightly after the war started. Although we were also worried by the war, we wouldn't remember it till we have seen the boards of refugee camps.

Some pictures ..

 

 

Visiting Gobeklitepe

Our main purpose to travel Urfa was visiting the oldest settlement of Gobeklitepe which is a pre-historic site, built, roughly twelve thousand years ago, circa 10,000 BC. 

Mysterious Stones of Gobeklitepe

With no settlement or society to speak of, with farming still a far cry away, in a world of only roaming hunter-gatherers, the complexity and developed blueprints of these temples represented another enigma for archaeologists. 

The site had been used for agriculture before the archaeological work started. Only numerous flint artefacts had been visible at the surface, but no architectural structures. All the monumental buildings, visible mainly in the excavation area at the southern slope, had been unveiled during the excavations.

The main features are the T-shaped megalithic pillars. Sometimes arms and hands are depicted on the pillars, which can be recognized as stylized anthropomorphic beings. There are always two in the centre of an enclosure. Important are the reliefs of the two central pillars depicting a net made of snakes above a ram and a vertical row of a bull,a fox and crane.

Archaeological and geophysical surveying could prove that the complete mound consists of similar stone age buildings, dating to 10th and 9th millennium BC.

Absolutely an amazing place which forces your imagination and destroys historical knowledge as you can not figure out how people done these structures thousands years before and what was the reason?

There are daily tours from Istanbul to visit Gobeklitepe , if you would like to see that amazing place you can check out www.turkeytourspecialist.com 

Visit to Sanliurfa " The Land of Prophets"

Although the negative effect of Syrian war, Southeastern Turkey is still charming for explorers. With recently discovered Gobeklitepe and its history Sanliurfa is an amazing place needs to be visited once in life time.

Sacred Pool and Halil'ul Rahman Mosque

We took 1,5 hour flight from Istanbul. Pegasus and Turkish Airlines have daily flights to Sanliurfa (GAP Airport). Upon arrival, we met by our local host. It was my second visit to Sanliurfa after 10 years. I could see changed a lot but still preserves its authenticity. Many new hotels including a Garden Inn by Hilton as well as authentic boutique hotel such as Manici Hotel. We preferred to stay in Hilton due to my epicurean travel partner. The prices are amazing comparing the hotels in big cities.

Spice Market in Urfa the best spices and herbs ever

People, places, food and bazaars...Everything is genuine, natural and friendly. So cheap comparing to other touristic places. Try traditional Urfa cuisine mostly meat and kebabs.Upps really spicy...

Local Kebap Shop

Sanliurfa has strong connections to Abraham who features in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.Take a walk around Balikli Gol, the place where Nimrod is suspected to have thrown Abraham into the fire, is the main reason to visit but there is also the castle to see.

Feeding Fishes in Sacred Pool