Guide On How To Apply For A Turkey Transit Visa

A Turkey Transit Visa allows you to travel via Turkey to reach another nation. The permit is required for all passengers under the Turkey visa regime who plan to:

• Pass through the immigration.
• Stay in Turkey overnight for a connection.

Do I Need a Visa For a Layover in Turkey?

If you plan on using Turkey as a transit point to reach your destination country and must pass through immigration or stay in Turkey overnight, you may require a visa.

All those who need a visa to enter Turkey for tourism and the other purposes of entry need a visa for transit purposes as well.

Depending on your nationality, you may need one of the following to transit through Turkey:

• A Turkish e-Visa
• A Turkish Sticker Visa

Even if your nationality requires one of the visas listed above to transit Turkey, you may not be required to obtain one if you fall into one of the visa-exempt categories.

How to Apply for a Turkey Transit Visa?

When applying for a Turkey Transit Visa, you will need to go through numerous steps. The processes are as follows:

• Figure out what Turkish Transit Visa you need.
• Check when is the right time to apply.
• Find out where to apply.
• Complete the online form at the Turkish Pre-Application System.
• Collect the documents required to apply for a Turkey Transit Visa.
• Attend the Turkish Transit Visa interview.

Ensure that you perform each operation in the sequence specified and in accordance with the requirements. The application process for a transit visa to Turkey is detailed in detail below.

Figure out what Turkish Transit Visa you need

• E-Visa. The process for this visa is easy, quick and cheap. You can find it explained below in this article.
• Sticker visa. To get a transit sticker visa you need to collect documents, attend a visa interview and pay a visa fee. The sticker visa for transit can be:
• Single Transit
• Double Transit

Check our article on who needs a Turkey visa, to learn which visa you need. If you figure out you need a Turkey Sticker Visa, then continue with the steps listed below.

Check when is the right time to apply

The earliest you can apply for a Turkey Transit visa is two months before your trip to Turkey. The application deadline is one month before your vacation. Apply as soon as possible to avoid any delays in visa processing.

Find out where to apply

Apply for a Turkish visa at the Turkish mission in your country of residency, which may be an embassy or consulate. It should be noted that in various countries throughout the world, Turkey has outsourced visa filing to third-party visa processing centers.  You should check with the Turkish mission in your country of residency to find out where you can apply.

Complete the online form at the Turkey Visa Pre-Application System

The first solid step in applying for a Turkish Transit Visa is to fill out the online form at the Turkish Visa Pre-application System. The form asks about your identification, nationality, and the purpose of your journey to Turkey. Complete each question properly. Once completed, the system will provide you with a date and time for your visa interview, which you must attend.

Documents to apply for a Turkey Transit Visa

To apply for a Turkish visa, you must present a few documents on the day of your interview. Make sure these documents meet the criteria and specifications established by the Turkish consulate.

The required documents for a Turkish transit visa application are:

• A completed Turkish transit visa application form, travel insurance, proof of occupational status, etc.
  Passport or another travel document. It should be valid for at least another six months on the date you reach Turkey
• Two identical photos that comply with the Turkish visa photo requirements.
• Proof of income or savings. You should submit proof that you have enough money for your stay/transit in Turkey, and in your destination country. You should have about €50 for every day you plan to spend for Turkey.
• Proof of purchased travel medical insurance.
• Onward Ticket. Present proof of the ticket of the airplane that will take you to your destination country.
• Visa for your final destination. Present a visa or other document that authorizes you to enter in your destination country, if applicable.
• Proof of accommodation in Turkey. This could be a hotel booking or a letter of invitation from the host in Turkey.
• Police Clearance Certificate. This document should show that you have not been involved in any criminal activities in recent years.

It should be noted that, depending on your nationality and country of residency, you may be required to submit other documents in addition to those specified above.

For a more detailed overview of the required documents for a Turkish visa, visit the article.

Turkish Transit Visa interview

An interview is required for a sticker visa for transit through Turkey. You must attend the interview on the designated day and time. The interview is a meeting with a consular officer who will ask you certain questions about your trip. You should carry all of the documentation provided in this article.

How Long Does it Take to Obtain a Transit Visa for Turkey?

The Turkey embassy in your country of residency will take around 15 working days to process your visa application. In some nations, this timeframe can be as short as three working days. You can track the status of your application on the same website where you started it.

Applying for a Turkish e-Visa for Transit

If you qualify for a Turkish eVisa, you will not have to go through the entire procedure of obtaining a sticker visa. Instead, in minutes, you can apply for an eVisa, which allows you to enter Turkey for transit.

• To get an e-Visa you should first complete the online application form at the Turkish eVisa Website. Within minutes, you will receive an email asking you to confirm that you have started an application for an eVisa. This email may be stored in your inbox or your spam folder.
• Through the email, you will confirm the application, which will take you to the same website to pay the eVisa fee.
  You will then receive another email with a button that will take you again to the same website, where you will have to download your eVisa.
• Print the document so you can present it at the Turkish port of entry.

Do I Need a Different Visa to Transit Through the Airports of Istanbul?

A Turkish Transit Visa may be required to transit via Istanbul Ataturk Airport on the European side of Turkey or Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the Asian side. So, you will need an Istanbul Transit Visa to travel through an Istanbul airport to your target country, but only if you also require a Turkish visa for tourism or business purposes.

An Istanbul Transit Visa is essentially a transit visa, with the official name Turkey Transit Visa. Nonetheless, this visa is also known as the Istanbul Transit Visa among tourists who pass via one of these two airports.