Turkey Visas

When I looked into the issue for a trip (never made it there sadly) All sources indicated that there was either a counter prior to Passport check, or as part of the passport check in the case of a ground crossing. Many sources indicated that payment, in cash, in US funds(or home currency) (or Euros I suppose)is required as opposed to Turkish currency. I really do not see any need to go through a third party for this type of Visa.

You have to purchase your Visa when you arrive at the airport.

Cash only - the last I heard it was USD20.00

You get them at a grubby little hole in the wall, you can't miss it, your nose will guide you to the overpowering smell of body odour.

You hand over twenty bucks and the man in the grubby uniform stamps your passport.

If you believe that the cash goes anywhere else but his back pocket - well that's your business.

For a scam like that, they stay open 24 hours a day.

It's stuff like this that is keeping Turkey out of the EU.

I just got back from Turkey. You can purchase the visa at the airport, which looks newer, so no dirty hole in the wall. There is a counter to the left of the passport check point. They accept Euros and USD. I think it was 20 or 30 EUROS.

What do you expect? The English have only recently bcome marginally comfortable with travel to FRANCE, let alone further afield !!!!

Get your visa before you go. Turkey can be a nightmare for travel documents. Duane

Having traveled to Turkey 3 times in the last 3 years--I just returned two weeks ago--I advise to NOT get your Visa ahead of time. It is a snap at any port of entry. $20 USD or 15 Euro is the present cost. They put a visa stamp in your passport, stamp the entry date and you are on your way. Very easy. Go to Turkey! Turkey is a breeze to travel in--friendly people, great prices, history, natural beauty. Don't worry about fear stuff from the media, the Turkish people are so wonderful.

I have entered Turkey from 5 different ports of entry, including the main Ataturk Airport, and there is absolutely nothing like what was described. The border personnel are professional, courteous, and-of course-clean. The experience is on par with crossing any EU border post, it is NOT a third world experience at all. It is laughable to accuse the agents of pocketing the visa money. No way. I have found the Turkish people to have very high integrity. Theirs is not a culture of scams and corruption. On the contrary. Turkey is a modern, fascinating, friendly country that will reward any traveler who takes the chance. I remember my first trip to Turkey, I entered with anxiety and misconceptions and left with many friends and great memories. I returned the next 2 years to explore deeper. Go to Turkey!

I've been looking into Visas for Turkey as well. I found a place online where I can get it in advance but the documents they wanted you to send in got me worrying about getting it there at the airport. They wanted my hotel confirmation, a bank statement showing that I had enough money to travel throughout my vacation, and various other things. Is there anything that I need at the airport to get my Visa besides my passport and the visa fee?

My passport and 15 Euros/20 US Dollars is all that I have ever been asked for, and I did this again only a few weeks ago. You will be in a line before the one to passport control at the airport and your time at the window will be less than 5 minutes. You will hand over the money and your passport, they will put in the Visa stamp. You will then go to passport control and they will stamp it with the entry date and you will be on your way to a great time in Turkey. Don't worry people. It is the quickest and easiest way to get your Turkish Visa.

Thanks Rich! I feel so much better now that I know that's all I need :)

We returned from Turkey a month ago, and I completely agree with Rick. Getting the visa was a snap, even at midnight. We spent three weeks traveling in western and central Turkey, and found most everyone friendly, polite, and helpful. I felt completely safe. We tipped the taxi driver 6 YTL for the trip from Istanbul to Attaturk, and he gave us back 5! Turkey is very clean; we saw very little litter and only one instance of graffiti.

One tip: there is a shuttle service that charges 25 euro from the airport to the old city, or, you can take a private cab and pay 25 YTL. As always, you should verify this before getting in the cab.

Have a great trip!