Entering Türkiye: Visa-Free Stays, e-Visas and the 90/180 Rule

Whether you need a visa depends on the passport you travel with. Many visitors are visa-exempt, some need an e-Visa, and others must apply through a Turkish embassy or consulate.

For many passports, the maximum stay is 90 days in any 180-day period. Always check your own passport’s rule before travelling.

Entry and residence rules can change. This guide is practical information, not legal or immigration advice.

Check your passport first

Use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ country-by-country visa table and the official e-Visa eligibility check.

Your possible entry routes are:

• Visa-exempt: enter without a visa for the period and purpose set for your passport.

• e-Visa: apply online before travel.

• Visa through a Turkish mission: apply through an embassy or consulate before travelling.

• Visa on arrival: available only to a limited list of nationalities and conditions.

Do not rely on someone else’s experience, even if they hold a similar passport.

The 90/180 rule

For many visitors, stays in Türkiye cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. Some passports have shorter or differently structured limits, so check the official country table.

Your days add up across separate visits. Leaving Türkiye and returning does not automatically give you another 90 days.

Keep your own conservative record of entry and exit dates, particularly if you travel in and out of Türkiye often.

The e-Visa

Apply only through the official e-Visa portal.

Third-party websites may charge additional fees and do not operate on behalf of the Government of Türkiye.

• Apply at least 48 hours before departure.

• Eligibility, fees, number of entries, and permitted stay depend on your passport.

• Some applicants need a valid visa or residence permit from the Schengen area, the US, the UK, or Ireland.

• Your details must match your passport exactly.

• If travel dates change, the system does not amend an e-Visa; apply for another one.

• Save a copy on your phone or print it.

• An e-Visa does not guarantee entry; border officials can still refuse admission.

An e-Visa’s validity window and your permitted length of stay are not the same thing. Check both in your application.

What an e-Visa is not for

An e-Visa is for tourism or commerce. It is not the route for study or employment.

If you plan to study or work in Türkiye, apply for the appropriate visa through a Turkish embassy or consulate before travelling. Working also requires the appropriate work authorisation.

Working remotely

Türkiye has an official Digital Nomad route. At the time this guide was checked, the programme requires:

• Age 21 to 55

• A university diploma or equivalent

• A contract with a company outside Türkiye, or an appropriate business contract if self-employed

• Income of at least US$3,000 per month or US$36,000 per year

• A passport from an eligible country

• A passport valid for at least six months from arrival

The process starts with a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate. You then apply for the visa through a Turkish visa centre or consulate.

The official YİMER FAQ says successful Digital Nomad applicants may apply through e-İkamet for a six-month short-term residence permit during their visa period.

Check the official Digital Nomad portal and the relevant Turkish mission before making plans.

Passport validity

Your passport or travel document generally needs to remain valid for at least 60 days beyond your permitted stay.

For a 90-day stay, that means at least 150 days of passport validity from entry. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recommends travelling with at least six months’ validity from arrival.

Some travellers entering with eligible national ID cards and certain official-passport holders are exempt from the 60-day rule.

Staying longer

If you want to stay beyond your visa, visa-exemption period, or allowed 90 days, apply through the official e-İkamet system for a residence-permit type you qualify for.

For a first application, you must submit the online application and attend the appointment with the required documents. Applying does not guarantee approval and does not simply extend an e-Visa.

You cannot apply for a new e-Visa from inside Türkiye once your e-Visa has expired. Leaving may be necessary before another application, but it does not reset the 90/180 limit.

If you overstay

Overstaying can lead to a fine, removal, and an entry ban.

Overstaying a visa or visa-exemption period by more than 10 days is a statutory ground for a removal decision, subject to legal exceptions.

The Presidency of Migration Management’s published entry-ban notice says that a person who leaves voluntarily before being detected and pays the fine may face:

• Less than 3 months overstay: no entry ban

• 3 to 6 months: 1 month

• 6 months to 1 year: 3 months

• 1 to 2 years: 1 year

• 2 to 3 years: 2 years

• More than 3 years: 5 years

Bans can be longer where a fine is unpaid, a removal decision has been taken, or someone ignores a conditional-entry requirement to apply for residence within 10 days.

If you may have overstayed, contact the relevant Turkish authority or a qualified immigration lawyer before travelling.