Do I need a visa?
According to the "Visa Information for Foreigners" page of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, consulted on 8 October 2026, holders of an ordinary passport from these countries do not need a visa:
| Nationality | Rule for tourism | Ministry detail |
|---|---|---|
| France | 90 days without a visa | Ordinary passport |
| Belgium | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport |
| Switzerland | 90 days without a visa | Ordinary passport |
| Spain | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport |
| Germany | 90 days without a visa | Ordinary passport |
| Canada | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport |
| United States | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport |
| United Kingdom | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport, tourist travel |
| Japan | 90 days without a visa | Ordinary passport |
| China | 90 days in any 180-day period | Ordinary passport, since 2 January 2026 |
Information noted on 8 October 2026. Official or diplomatic passports sometimes follow other rules (Canada and the United States, for example, require a visa for official passports). These rules apply to a tourist stay: staying to work, study or settle requires a specific visa, to be requested from a Turkish consulate.
The electronic visa (e-visa)
Citizens of other countries should check the official portal evisa.gov.tr, the Turkish government's online application system. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the e-visa is valid only for tourism or commerce, it takes a few minutes to apply with a bank card, and its fee is lower than that of a visa bought at the airport. The portal shows, for your passport, whether you are eligible, the price, the length of stay and any conditions. We do not repeat these figures: fee tables published in the past no longer match current rules, and only the portal is authoritative.
Beware of sites that imitate the portal and charge service fees: use only the official address, typed yourself into the browser, and pay nothing that is not displayed on the government portal.
Passport: validity and documents
- Validity: the ministry advises a passport valid for at least 6 months from arrival in Turkey. It also states that the passport must expire at least 60 days after the authorised length of stay.
- ID card: the ministry mentions a category of countries whose citizens may enter with their national ID card. Travel with your passport unless the ministry's site confirms that this applies to you.
- Return ticket and address: keep your hotel booking and exit ticket handy; proof may be requested.
- Length of stay: count your days: for most nationalities above, the 90 days apply in any 180-day period.
Children and minors
On this page the ministry publishes no rule specific to minors. A child travels with their own passport. For a minor travelling alone or with one parent, ask the Turkish consulate in your country and your airline, and carry a birth certificate. See also Istanbul with children.
On arrival in Istanbul
On arrival you go through passport control before collecting your luggage. The journey into the centre is described in from the airport to central Istanbul. If you are only changing planes, a visa may be required even for a few hours if you leave the airport: see layover in Istanbul.
Checklist before departure
- Check your nationality on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival.
- E-visa requested on the official portal if your nationality requires it.
- Exit ticket and accommodation address.
- Travel insurance (health in Istanbul) and payment means (money in Istanbul).
Information checked on 8 October 2026; only official sources are authoritative.
Going further
Before booking, read our tips for a first trip to Istanbul, the best time to visit Istanbul and the Istanbul travel budget.
