Entry/Exit Requirements

You need a valid passport and visa to travel to Turkey. Your passport must have at least 60 days beyond the expiration date of your visa, visa exemption, or residence permit. Turkish tourist visas are generally valid for 6 months, therefore U.S. citizens should have a passport that is valid for eight months beyond entry date. Passports should have enough blank space to allow for Turkish entry and exit stamps. If there is not enough space for entry and exit stamps in your passport, you will be denied entry into Turkey.

All foreigners must obtain a Turkish visa from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-Visa application system prior to arrival, depending on eligibility. If you are traveling for tourism or commerce for up to 90 days within a 180 day period, you can apply for an e-Visa online on the e-Visa website or at any Turkish Embassy or Consulate. There is one exception to the visa requirement: U.S. citizens who are traveling to Turkey by cruise ship are allowed to enter Turkey without a visa for a maximum period of 72 hours, with permission given by the local security authorities at the port of entry. Check with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey for the most current visa information.

You should get Turkish entry stamps on the passport page containing your visa at the first Turkish port of entry before transferring to domestic flights. Failure to obtain these stamps may cause serious difficulties when you leave Turkey. On multiple occasions, Turkish authorities have detained travelers overnight in such situations. You should also get an exit stamp in your passport when leaving Turkey. Otherwise, you may face difficulties re-entering Turkey and be subject to a fine on your next visit.

The U.S. Embassy is unable to assist with Turkish immigration and visa related matters. U.S. citizens are strongly urged to obey all Turkish visa regulations and to maintain valid residence permits at all times. Turkish authorities do enforce the laws, by imposing fines, deporting violators, and banning future travel to Turkey for people who overstay their visas or do not maintain valid residence permits.

If you are planning to work, study, or conduct academic or scientific research in Turkey, you should apply for a visa from a Turkish Embassy or Consulate before arriving in Turkey. Doing these activities while on a tourist visa in Turkey could lead to deportation. For more information, please visit the “Living in Turkey” section of the U.S. Embassy’s American Citizen Services website.

For questions about student visas, residency permits, volunteer or missionary trips, and work visas, travelers in the United States should contact the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey at 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008, telephone: (202) 612-6700, or the Turkish Consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, or New York. Overseas, U.S. travelers may contact a Turkish Embassy or Consulate abroad. If you are already in Turkey, in order to obtain a tourist residence permit, or any other class of residence permit, please contact the nearest Foreigners Police office.

Official and diplomatic passport holders traveling on official business must obtain a visa from a Turkish Embassy or Consulate before arriving in Turkey. If you are traveling as a tourist, you may obtain a visa online at the Turkish government’s e-Visa website.

Additional information can be found at the Turkish Consular Information website and at the Frequently Asked Questions page of the website.

Syria: On March 3, 2015, the U.S. Department of State updated the Travel Warning for Syria. This travel warning remains in effect. The U.S. Embassy in Damascus closed in February 2012. If you are in Syria holding an expired U.S. passport and need to enter Turkey, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Ankara for assistance.

Iraq: Crossing the border with Iraq can be time-consuming as the Turkish Government tightly controls entry and exit.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any specific HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or for foreign residents of Turkey; however, Turkey will generally deport foreigners once HIV-positive status is discovered.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international parental child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about U.S. customs regulations, please read our customs information page.