Visa Durations and Exemptions in Türkiye: The 90/180-Day Rule, e-Visa and Conditions of Stay

How is the visa period determined in Türkiye?

It is not correct to determine how long a foreigner who will come to Türkiye may stay by looking only at their citizenship or at the last date of the visa in their passport. The type of travel document, the purpose of arrival, the stay permitted by the visa, the number of entries and previous visits to Türkiye must be examined together. For persons who benefit from a visa exemption as well, the duration and scope of the exemption matter. The starting point of the travel plan is therefore determining the current conditions that apply to the person's own document and purpose of travel. [1, 2]

Article 11 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection provides that a stay based on a visa or visa exemption cannot exceed 90 days in any 180 days. This limit does not automatically give everyone a right to stay for 90 days. For example, if a person has been granted 30 days, they cannot continue to stay in Türkiye by arguing only that the general upper limit is 90 days. For a longer stay, another legal basis suitable for the person's situation must exist. [1]

Differences between a visa, visa exemption, residence permit and work permit

Confusing these four concepts makes it harder to plan travel correctly. Each document answers a different need:

The distinction between a visa and a residence permit rests on the definitions in Law No. 6458; the explanation of the relationship between work and residence rests on Law No. 6735 and the current statements of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. There is an exception to the rule that a work permit takes the place of a residence permit with regard to work permits issued to international protection applicants, conditional refugees and foreigners under temporary protection. [1, 3, 4]

Under what conditions is a visa exemption assessed?

An exemption should not be applied by looking only at the name of the country. Ordinary, diplomatic, service or special passports of the same country may be subject to different rules. Some regulations contain additional conditions such as the purpose of travel or age. For this reason, when examining the country table, the type of document the person holds and the scope of the exemption they wish to benefit from must be read together. [5]

In addition, the visa exemption provisions of the law come into play for persons who hold a valid residence or work permit on the date of entry into Türkiye. However, the fact that an application for a permit has been made does not mean that the application has been accepted or that a valid permit document exists. Before travel, the nature of the existing document and its start and end dates should be checked separately. [1]

How are the visa validity period, length of stay and number of entries read?

Each of the dates and numbers on a visa answers a different question. The validity period shows the date range in which the visa may be used; the length of stay shows how long one may stay in Türkiye within the conditions of the document; and the number of entries shows for how many entries the visa may be used. In electronic visas in particular, the validity period and the permitted stay must be assessed separately. [6]

Does a long validity period provide a right of stay of the same length?

As an example, let us consider a document with a validity of 180 days and a right of stay of 30 days. The 180 days here does not mean that one can live in Türkiye uninterrupted for 180 days. The plan must be consistent with the 30-day stay condition, the last validity date of the document and the total period limit arising from previous visits. The figures in this example are for explanation; it should not be assumed that all Türkiye visas are issued with the same periods. [1, 6]

If entry will be made close to the last day of the document

Basing the travel calendar only on the date of entry would be a risky method of calculation. The date of return should also be compared with the validity and stay conditions of the document. Seeing the permitted number of stays on the document does not mean that the other date limits are automatically extended. In case of doubt, the date until which the document permits a stay should be confirmed with the issuing authority before the journey.

What is the difference between a single-entry and a multiple-entry visa?

When one enters and leaves Türkiye using a single-entry visa, the fact that unused days of stay remain on the document does not mean that a new entry can be made with the same document. A multiple-entry visa, on the other hand, allows more than one entry within the validity period and other conditions. A larger number of entries cannot be interpreted to mean that the general 90/180 calculation is reset at each entry. In a new journey, both the entry and stay conditions of the existing document and previous visits are checked. [1, 6]

The practical way of applying this distinction is to write the journey in three lines: the start and end dates of the document; the stay and number of entries permitted by the document; and a record of visits in the last 180 days. A line being suitable does not lead to the conclusion that the other two are also suitable.

How is the 90/180-day rule calculated in Türkiye?

The 180 days is not a fixed calendar half-year

The restriction in the law is a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period for short stays made on a visa or exemption. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also explains the assessment on the basis of total stay in the last 180 days. Therefore it is not correct to leave previous visits out of the calculation at the start of the year, when the month changes or when a new visa is obtained. [1, 2]

The calculation does not end with the question of how many days were spent in the past. The days of the new planned visit must also be assessed going forward. As the calendar advances, some of the old days may fall outside the last 180-day period. By contrast, every day of the new visit is added to the calculation. For this reason, the "remaining days" value on a single date should not be used as a balance that stays unchanged for all future journeys.

A concrete example: a 15-day journey after 75 days of past stay

The following example assumes that the person travels only with a visa or visa exemption, has no other visits, and that no special shorter limit applies to their country and document. It is also assumed that the stay periods of the previous visits in the official records are the values shown in the table:

The 180-day period going back from and including October 15, 2026 is the range April 19 – October 15. Since all of the May, July and September visits in the example fall within this range, the total reaches 90 days when the 15 days of the new visit are added. In this scenario, where the earlier days have not yet left the calculation period, another 90 days cannot be planned on the ground of "I have made a new entry". This table is not a legal decision of admission or a person-specific calculation of stay; it is an arithmetical example showing how the rule operates on the given assumptions. [1, 2]

When applying the calculation to your own records

First collect all entry and exit records in a single calendar. Then assess the relevant 180-day period for each day of the planned visit. If there is a difference between the days of stay in the official record and your personal calendar, clarify this difference first. Where there is a passport renewal, a change of document, periods spent on a residence permit or a different legal status, it may not be appropriate to add up all the days as the same type of short stay. The legal basis that the documents provide for which period should be examined separately.

Does leaving the border and re-entering reset the period?

An exit of one day or a few days does not automatically remove the previous days of stay from the last 180-day period. Obtaining a new visa also does not cause past visits to be disregarded. Whether re-entry is possible is determined by assessing together the current day calculation, the relevant visa or exemption, the number of entries of the document and the admission conditions. [1, 2]

Can a new 90 days be used with a second passport?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressly states that foreigners holding two passports cannot stay 90 days each, separately, by using different passports within the same last 180-day period. For this reason, doing the calculation only according to the stamps in the passport to be used in that journey may give an incomplete result. If previous visits were made with another passport, they too should be included in the examination. [2]

For how many days must a passport be valid on entry into Türkiye?

General rule: at least 60 days beyond the permitted period

Article 7(1)(b) of Law No. 6458 provides for the requirement of a passport or a document in place of a passport valid for at least 60 days from the end of the visa, visa exemption or residence permit period. According to the examples of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, document validity of at least 150 days on entry is required for a right of stay of 90 days, and at least 90 days for a right of stay of 30 days. [1, 7, 8]

In making this check, the planned short holiday and the length of stay that the document grants should not be confused. For example, having a one-week hotel reservation does not mean that the official passport validity requirement will be reduced by taking only a seven-day visit as the basis. The last validity date of the passport should be compared with the applicable visa or exemption requirement.

Is the "six months' validity" recommendation the same as the statutory requirement?

In the same statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends holding a travel document valid for at least six months from the date of entry. This recommendation should be distinguished from the statutory requirement of an additional 60 days on top of the length of stay. It would not be correct to write a single and unchanging rule of "six months from the end of the journey" for everyone without checking whether there is a separate condition relating to a particular country, document or application. [7]

Entry with an identity card and special document exceptions

International agreements and special regulations may contain exceptions for those who can enter with a national identity card, those whose expired documents are accepted under certain conditions, and some official passports. If one of these exceptions is to be relied on, it must be verified that the document in question is actually within that scope. The granting of a visa exemption to the citizens of a country does not mean that entry can be made with every document of that country or with any expired passport. [7]

Who is eligible for the Türkiye e-Visa and how is it obtained?

For which travel purposes can the e-Visa be used?

The Türkiye e-Visa is the electronic visa that eligible applicants use for travel for tourism or business purposes. It is not a general electronic permit for other purposes such as work or study. A person planning to work for an employer in Türkiye should not treat an e-Visa issued for the purpose of a business visit as a work permit. The difference between a business meeting and actual work should be examined separately according to the content of the activity to be carried out. [9, 4]

How is eligibility for the e-Visa checked?

The nationality used in the application, the travel document and the date of entry matter. For some applicants there may be additional conditions such as a supporting visa or residence document. A country appearing on a list does not mean that the person meets all the conditions. The current check should be made, with application-specific information, through the official Türkiye Electronic Visa Application System. [10, 5]

If a supporting visa or residence permit is required

The supporting document condition is not applied in the same way to every country and applicant. In applications where such a condition exists, the suitability of the document belonging to the requested country group and its validity on the date of entry into Türkiye must also be checked separately. The official e-Visa statement says that the electronic visas of the stated countries are not accepted as a supporting document. For this reason, eligibility should not be concluded merely from the thought that "I have a visa for another country". [11]

Basic steps to follow in an e-Visa application

1. Open the official system. Check the address at which the application will be made; do not confuse an advertisement or intermediary site in the search results with the public system.
2. Base it on your own travel information. Enter nationality, document type, date of entry and identity details consistently with the passport to be used.
3. Read the conditions specific to the application. Assess additional document requirements, the length of stay, the number of entries and the validity period before payment.
4. Compare the information one last time. Resolve any mismatches in name, birth details, passport number and dates before completing the application.
5. Follow the payment and completion steps the system shows. Rely on the current information presented on the screen rather than on an old statement about the fee or payment method.
6. Keep the issued document. Download the result document; prepare a digital or printed copy that you can access during the journey. [9, 10, 6]

This sequence explains the basic logic of the application; the appearance of the screens and the information requested may vary according to the conditions of the application. The fact that an application can be completed in a very short time does not mean that every application will be concluded within a certain number of minutes or that it will necessarily be accepted.

Does e-Visa approval guarantee entry into Türkiye?

A visa does not provide an absolute right to enter the country. In addition to a valid visa, the travel document, the purpose of arrival and the applicable admission conditions are also assessed. For this reason, having an electronic visa document does not make it unimportant if the conditions stated in the application are no longer met on the date of travel. The supporting documents requested and the information explaining the accommodation and the purpose of travel should be prepared so that they can be presented when necessary. [1, 9]

What should be done if the e-Visa conditions are not met?

Not being eligible for an electronic application does not mean that all visa routes are closed. The application route of the competent Turkish diplomatic mission should be examined on the basis of the person's citizenship or the country where they are lawfully present. In a situation where the conditions for the electronic visa are not met, proceeding by selecting a different nationality or unsuitable document information in the form is not a correct solution. The application must be assessed on the basis of the real purpose of travel and real documents. [1, 2]

In a consular application, the current document list requested by the relevant mission should be taken as the basis. For example, the purpose documents to be submitted for tourist sightseeing, a business meeting and study may not be the same. The existence of an invitation does not make a separate examination of the passport, length of stay and other conditions unnecessary. When preparing the file, it is useful to check the consistency of dates and purpose among the documents: the invitation dates, the transport plan, the accommodation details and the requested stay should be explicable with one another.

If the date of travel is very close, the period between the application and the result should not be assumed to be certain. Completing a missing document or the need for additional examination may affect the travel plan. When setting the application calendar, procedures that treat the person's right of entry as settled before an official result is obtained should therefore be avoided.

Current visa list for 199 countries and regions for entry into Türkiye

Scope of the list and date checked

The main table, checked on October 25, 2026, contains all 199 country and region headings on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Turkish page "Visa Regime Applicable to Foreigners". This list explains the conditions of entry of foreigners into Türkiye. It should not be used for the conditions of travel abroad of Turkish citizens. The separate country and region entries in the source have not been merged and the source order has been preserved. [5]

The 134 country entries in the old article have also been matched with the new content. Of these, Grenada, because it does not appear as a separate heading in the Turkish main list but does appear in the Ministry's English list, is shown separately after the main table. The content therefore consists of 199 main entries and one additional Grenada entry. [5, 12]

How should the country table be read?

The distinction between ordinary and official passports

An ordinary passport ("umuma mahsus") is a regular passport. The heading "official passport" may cover diplomatic, service, special or similar official documents; however, the exemption is not the same for every document. If only a diplomatic or service passport is specified in a cell, the result should be read only for the specified group of documents. The name of the country or the colour of the passport cover is not a sufficient criterion on its own. [5]

Period, purpose and conditional e-Visa

In the table, "90/180" describes a total stay of at most 90 days in any 180-day period. If there is also a single-journey limit of 30 or 60 days for a country, that limit applies as well. The expression "visa required" does not mean that an e-Visa cannot be obtained; an electronic visa is also a visa. If a particular exemption is limited to tourism, or if the e-Visa is tied to an age and supporting document condition, a separate assessment is required for entry for other purposes. [1, 5]

Limited points that are unclear between sources

The official texts contain different explanations as to the visa requirement or exemption for Estonia's non-diplomatic official passports and Syria's diplomatic passports. For the Hong Kong BNO document, although the visa requirement is clear, there are different explanations about the application channel. These differences are shown in the relevant cells. For the stated groups of documents, current confirmation should be obtained from the Turkish mission before travel. [5, 12, 13]

Full list: 199 countries and regions

The rows below are a reference source for checking the personal application conditions that will apply on the date of travel. An e-Visa and an exemption do not provide a work permit or a long-term residence permit. In age-related rows, the threshold ages must be verified against the date of birth. For an entry carrying the note "period not specified", 90 days should not be assumed automatically. [5, 12]

Additional entry: Grenada

The Grenada entry is not included in the count of the 199 headings above. It has been added on the basis of the Ministry's English country list in order to preserve the continuity of the entry in the old article. [12]

How is the transition to a residence permit made before the visa or exemption period ends?

A foreigner who wishes to stay in Türkiye for longer should take as the basis the lawful period of stay given by their own visa or visa exemption. The requirement of a residence permit is not a common obligation for everyone that begins on the ninetieth day after entry into Türkiye. A person with a shorter right of stay should act taking that period into account. Persons exempt from a residence permit and holders of valid documents that take the place of residence are assessed according to their own status. [1]

In a first application, the purpose of stay and the documents are assessed together

According to the Göç İdaresi's statements, a residence application from within Türkiye is made through e-Residence (e-İkamet) within the lawful period of stay; the appointment is attended with the required documents. The type of permit selected in the application must be consistent with the foreigner's real purpose of stay. The mere ticking of tourism, study, family unity or another ground on the application form does not mean that the permit will be granted. The conditions of the relevant type of permit are examined separately. [18] [19] [1]

The application record, the appointment and the permit decision are different stages

Completing the electronic application does not remove the obligations to attend the appointment and submit missing documents. The application number, the appointment printout, the fee receipts and the application certificate issued by the administration should be kept. Especially if one will travel abroad while the application is continuing, the right that the document in hand gives in terms of re-entry must be checked separately. YİMER explains conditions such as proving, in travel with the application certificate, that the fee has been paid, staying within the requested residence period and making each return within fifteen days. [18]

When is a residence permit extension application made?

The extension application is made in the period beginning sixty days before the end of the current residence permit and, in every case, before the permit ends. Under Article 24 of the Law, the document given to a foreigner who makes an extension application enables residence in Türkiye until a decision is made on the application, even if the current permit period has expired. This provision is applied on the basis of a duly made extension application and the document relating to it. [1]

What does the ninety-day assessment period mean?

The Law provides that residence applications are to be concluded within ninety days at the latest. YİMER explains that this period starts from the complete submission of the required information and documents. The assessment period cannot be used, regardless of the application, as a new tourist right of stay given to every foreigner. The notification of missing documents, the type of application and the scope of the document issued should be followed together. [1] [18]

Which permit is required for arrival for education, family reunification and work?

A visa relates to the purpose for which one comes to Türkiye; a residence permit relates to the legal basis on which one stays in Türkiye. The right to work is regulated separately. The same person may need to satisfy the conditions of entry, stay and work separately. For this reason, the statement of purpose on the visa should not be interpreted as authority to stay in Türkiye indefinitely or to carry out every activity. [1] [4]

Education visa and student residence permit

A student residence permit is provided for foreigners studying in an associate, bachelor's, master's or doctoral programme at a higher education institution in Türkiye. If the programme of study is shorter than one year, the period of the permit cannot exceed the period of study. A student permit does not automatically give a right of residence to the student's mother and father or other relatives; their grounds for stay are assessed separately. [1]

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that the residence applications of foreigners who enter with a visa or exemption and enrol in certain higher education and exchange programmes can be accepted without requiring a visa with an explanatory note for study. This special case should not be extended automatically to all courses or educational activities. [2]

A language course and university enrolment are not the same application

Direct enrolment in a Turkish course and referral to TÖMER after enrolment in a university may give rise to different permit processes. YİMER explains a short-term residence permit, on condition of a Turkish language course visa, for direct course enrolment, and a student residence permit, on condition that the situation is documented, for those enrolled in a university who are referred to TÖMER. When preparing the application, it must be determined to which educational programme the acceptance letter belongs. [18]

Family reunification and family residence permit

An entry visa obtained for family reunification does not take the place of a family residence permit. A family residence permit may come into play for the foreign spouse of a sponsor within the scope of the Law, for the sponsor's or the spouse's foreign child who is a minor, and for a dependent foreign child. The permit may be granted on each occasion for at most three years; if the sponsor has a residence permit, it cannot exceed its duration. Conditions relating to the sponsor and the applicant are also sought separately. [1] [4]

Why is a marriage certificate not sufficient by itself?

Alongside the document showing the family tie, living together or the intention to live together, accommodation, income, health insurance and other applicable conditions are assessed. The Law also provides for some exceptions depending on the situation of the sponsor. For this reason, marriage to a Turkish citizen or having relatives in Türkiye does not give rise to an automatic permit outcome in every file. For children, custody and the required consent documents are also important. [1]

Work visa, work permit and the relationship with residence

The basic regulation on the work of foreigners is Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force. The former Law No. 4817 has been repealed; it is provided that references to the old law are deemed to have been made to the new law. A foreigner within the scope must obtain the required work permit or work permit exemption before starting work. [4]

Which work documents take the place of residence?

A valid work permit or work permit exemption takes the place of a residence permit as a general rule. However, there are special status rules for work permits issued to international protection applicants, conditional refugees and foreigners under temporary protection; these documents do not take the place of a residence permit. In addition, holding a tourist, family or student residence permit does not by itself give a right to work. The work of students is also subject to its own special conditions. [4] [3]

What protection exists for humanitarian situations and victims of human trafficking?

In which cases can a humanitarian residence permit be considered?

A humanitarian residence permit is a type of residence regulated in Article 46 of Law No. 6458. The best interests of the child, the situation in which the foreigner's departure from Türkiye is not considered reasonable or possible, the existence of the guarantees in the Law against deportation, and other limited situations can be assessed within this scope. It is not mandatory to satisfy all of the conditions required for other residence permits; however, the humanitarian ground stated in the Law must be demonstrated. [1]

The duration of humanitarian residence and the limit of the application

After the 2019 amendment, the Law does not define humanitarian residence with a fixed one-year period for everyone. The permit may be granted and extended by governorships for periods determined by the Ministry and through the relevant approval process. For this reason, the expression "at most one year" in old texts should not be used as the current rule. Merely overstaying the visa period also does not by itself give rise to a right to a humanitarian residence permit; the ground in the Law must be demonstrated in the specific case. [8] [1]

Residence permit for victims of human trafficking

A thirty-day residence permit is granted to a foreigner for whom there is strong suspicion that they are or may be a victim of human trafficking, so that they can recover from the effects of what they have experienced and decide on cooperation with the authorities. If the victim's safety, health or special situation requires it, the permit may be extended on each occasion by at most six months; the total period cannot exceed three years. This arrangement is also a special residence permit. Suspicion of human trafficking may be reported to law enforcement or to YİMER 157. [1] [18]

What happens if the visa or lawful period of stay is exceeded?

Fee, fine, entry ban and deportation are assessed separately

In a violation of lawful stay, financial obligations, the prohibition of re-entry into Türkiye and deportation proceedings are different legal consequences. Payment of a fine does not automatically lift an existing entry ban or provide a new residence permit. Likewise, the expiry of the period of an entry ban does not remove the examination relating to unpaid public receivables or another obstacle to entry. [1] [8] [20]

Why can a single "2026 visa violation penalty" not be stated for everyone?

It must be seen to which legal basis, which period of violation and which items of calculation the assessed amount relates. Fees and obligations linked to fees and a separately imposed administrative fine should not be regarded as the same procedure. For this reason, it is not sound to announce a fixed penalty amount applicable to everyone without examining the decision and the statement of account. If payment has been made, the receipt, the assessment information and the relevant decision should be kept together. [1] [20]

How should the June 9, 2020 statement on entry bans be read?

The Göç İdaresi's statement of June 9, 2020 explains the conditions of application relating to violations of lawful stay within the framework of Article 9 of Law No. 6458. In addition to the length of the violation, it distinguishes elements such as voluntary departure, prior detection of the violation, compliance with the period given for departure and payment of financial obligations. For example, in a violation shorter than three months, voluntary departure before detection and payment of the relevant amount is one of the situations in which the ban in the statement is not applied. [20]

The tables in the statement do not replace an individual decision

The application statement of this date should not be used as a penalty calculator that gives an unchanging result for every foreigner. The current law, the reasoning of the specific decision and the person's other obstacles to entry are examined separately. Article 9 of the Law also regulates grounds relating to public order, public security and public health, and the lifting of an entry ban or permitting entry for a certain period. [1] [8]

The ten-day deportation criterion is not an additional visa period

Article 54 of the Law lists exceeding the visa or exemption period by more than ten days among the grounds for deportation. In the sub-paragraph on exceeding the residence period there is also an assessment of an acceptable justification. These provisions do not mean that a free and unconditional additional ten-day right of stay is granted to everyone after the date on which lawful stay ends. Special application or departure periods apply within their own conditions. [1]

The principle of non-refoulement and the examination of the personal situation

In a deportation assessment, the principle of non-refoulement and the guarantees in Article 55 must be observed. The risk of torture or inhuman treatment, certain serious health and travel obstacles, the need for treatment and situations such as the protection of a victim of human trafficking are examined on an individual basis. For this reason, a deportation outcome cannot be determined by a table showing only the day of violation. Health reports and documents showing the need for protection must be submitted to the file in good time. [1]

Which route is followed against a rejection, entry ban, deportation and administrative detention decision?

First, it must be determined which decision has been notified

Visa rejection, residence rejection, entry ban, deportation and administrative detention are different procedures. If more than one decision has been issued to the same person, the date, reasoning, notification and route of application of each decision should be recorded separately. Bringing an action against a residence rejection does not automatically remove the need to apply against a separately issued deportation decision. [1]

The procedures in the table cannot be merged under the same "objection period". The start and calculation of the general administrative time limit for filing suit and of the short periods in special laws should be assessed on the basis of notification. [1] [4] [21] [22] [23]

The seven-day period in a deportation decision and the guarantee of judicial review

Under Article 53(3) of Law No. 6458, as amended on November 30, 2024 by Law No. 7533, the foreigner, their legal representative or their lawyer may apply to the administrative court within seven days of notification. The fact that the court has been applied to is also notified to the authority that issued the deportation decision. Subject to the foreigner's consent, there is a guarantee that they will not be deported during the time limit for filing suit and, if recourse is had to the courts, until the proceedings are concluded. [21]

The court's fifteen-day period is not a time limit for applying

In the current text, the court's fifteen-day period for decision begins from the completion of the file or the end of the interim decisions and hearing procedures considered necessary. This period must not be confused with the period the foreigner can use to bring an action. The Law states that the court decision given in this action is final. For actions brought after the 2024 amendment, the procedure provided for should be taken as the basis. [21]

An application against administrative detention is separate from a deportation action

Administrative detention is a separate decision relating to the person's being held in a removal centre. An application to the criminal judge of peace does not automatically stop the detention; the judge concludes the examination within five days. A new application may be made on the ground that the conditions of detention have changed or ceased. The necessity for the continuation of detention is assessed by the governorship every month, and earlier when necessary; the Law also regulates alternative obligations. [1] [8]

A stay of execution in other actions is assessed separately

Bringing an action before the administrative court does not, as a general rule, automatically stop the act. In a visa, entry ban or residence dispute, a request for a stay of execution and its conditions are addressed separately when necessary. The special statutory guarantee relating to a deportation decision should not be transferred to all foreigners' procedures. Copies of decisions, notification documents, entry and exit records, permits, payment receipts and evidence explaining the personal situation should be assessed together. [22] [23] [21]

How should the travel and application plan be prepared?

Information that is useful to have in the same file before the journey

To make the calculation of the period correctly, it may not be enough to look only at a photograph of the latest passport. Previous journeys, other passports used, existing permits and application results should be assessed together. The list below enables a person to set out their own situation in an orderly way; it does not take the place of the official document list requested by the relevant mission or administration.

1. The type of passport to be used for travel, and the dates of issue and last validity.
2. Citizenship information, any second citizenship and other travel documents used in previous visits.
3. The Türkiye entry and exit records for the last 180 days and the planned dates of the new visit.
4. The validity period, length of stay and number of entries of the existing visa or e-Visa.
5. The age, purpose of travel and supporting document conditions to which the exemption or e-Visa is linked.
6. Any residence or work permit, pending application and the application certificate issued by the administration.
7. Any rejection, cancellation, entry ban, deportation or administrative detention decisions and their notification documents.
8. Receipts for payments made and the invitation, education or accommodation documents supporting the purpose stated in the application.

If there is a contradiction between the dates

Before a new travel plan is made, it must be determined which document covers which period. For example, if the stamp in the passport differs from the exit date remembered by the person, the calculation of the period should not be based only on the remembered date. Visits made earlier with another passport should also be taken into account. If there is uncertainty about the country entry, the type of document or the supporting visa, application-specific information should be verified with the competent authority. [2, 5]

Situations in which a legal review is particularly useful

Where the plan for a long stay does not fit within the existing visa period, where there has been a previous violation of the period, where periods spent under different statuses overlap, or where an administrative decision has been notified, the file needs to be assessed as a whole. The review addresses not only whether a new visa can be obtained but also the right type of permit, the last day of the existing lawful stay, the time limit for filing suit if any, and document problems that may be encountered during travel. The aim is to determine, in good time, the legal route suited to the person's real situation. [1, 21]

Conclusion

Determining the right visa or exemption for entry into Türkiye depends on reading together the country, the passport type, the purpose of travel and person-specific conditions. The 90/180-day rule is the general upper limit; it does not automatically extend a special 30- or 60-day right of stay. Making a new entry, changing a passport or obtaining a new visa also does not automatically erase previous short stays. [1, 2]

The 199 country and region entries in this guide, with the separate Grenada entry, make it easier to compare the relevant conditions. Before travel, the official country statement and the application system should be checked again. In a plan for study, family life, work or a longer stay, the appropriate permit process should be addressed before the current lawful period expires. Where rejection, entry ban, deportation and administrative detention decisions are involved, the route of application and time limit for each procedure are assessed separately. [5, 12, 1, 21]

Frequently asked questions

Is the visa-free period of stay in Türkiye 90 days for everyone?

No. Shorter periods may apply depending on citizenship, passport type, purpose of travel and special regulations. The general 90/180 limit does not raise a 30- or 60-day right to which the person is subject to 90 days. The country table and the person's own document should be read together. [1, 5]

Does the 180-day period start again when a new visa is obtained?

A new visa does not take previous short visits outside the last 180-day period. For each new visit, past stays and the conditions of the new document are assessed together. A change of calendar year or month also does not by itself create a new 90-day right. [1, 2]

Does leaving the country for one day earn a new 90 days?

If previous visits remain within the relevant 180-day period, they continue to be counted. A short exit is not an act that resets this calculation. Re-entry further depends on a valid visa or exemption, the number of entries and the admission conditions. [1, 2]

If I have two passports, can I stay a separate 90 days with each?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that separate stays of 90 days each cannot be used with different passports in the same last 180-day period. Even if earlier journeys were made with a different document, they must be taken into the assessment. [2]

Does an e-Visa being valid for 180 days mean I can stay 180 days?

The validity period and the length of stay are different. If the document has a validity of 180 days and a stay of 30 days, no right arises to be in Türkiye uninterrupted for 180 days. All the date, entry and stay conditions of the document apply together. [6, 1]

Does a multiple-entry visa give the full period again at each entry?

A multiple-entry visa can be used for more than one entry during the period in which the document is valid. It does not cause earlier stays to be deleted from the 90/180 calculation; nor does it remove the stay conditions in the document. The length of the new visit is assessed within these limits. [1, 6]

Does the Türkiye e-Visa replace a work or study permit?

The e-Visa is a visa used for tourist or business travel. It does not take the place of the permits required for actual work or study. Attending a business meeting and working in a job in Türkiye are not the same legal situation. [9, 4]

Is my valid Schengen visa alone sufficient for the Türkiye e-Visa?

The same conditions are not applied to every applicant. In addition to the supporting document, citizenship, passport type, age or other conditions shown by the system may be required. The validity of the document on the date of entry into Türkiye should also be checked. Eligibility for the e-Visa is assessed in the official system with the person's real information. [10, 11, 5]

Do Chinese citizens need to obtain a visa with an ordinary passport?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' current entry states a 90/180 exemption for ordinary passports of the People's Republic of China from January 2, 2026; the tourism and transit scope of the practice is explained in the relevant official announcement. The 30-day rule for official passports is separate. Hong Kong and Macao documents should be checked from their own entries. [5, 15]

Can Indian citizens come to Türkiye without a visa?

There is no general visa exemption for ordinary passport holders. If the supporting documents stated and the other conditions are met, there is a 30-day single-entry e-Visa route. The diplomatic passport exemption does not apply to an ordinary passport. [5]

Can Russian citizens stay 90 days on a single visit?

For an ordinary passport, the single-journey limit within tourism and business meetings is 60 days. The periods for diplomatic and service passports are separate. The general 90/180 upper limit does not convert the single-journey right of an ordinary passport into an uninterrupted 90 days. [5, 1]

Why is Grenada listed separately when the country table has 199 entries?

The main list covers all 199 headings on the Ministry's Turkish page. Grenada has been preserved as a separate additional entry because it appeared in the previous article and in the Ministry's English official list. In this way, the scope of the main list and the basis of the additional entry can be clearly seen. [5, 12]

Does the exemption for an ordinary passport also apply to all official passports?

There can be no automatic crossover between passport types. Ordinary, diplomatic, service or other official passports of the same country may be subject to different rules. If only the diplomatic passport is listed in the table, the exemption should not be extended to other documents. [5]

In an age-related visa exemption, is it enough to look only at the year of birth?

Whether the age condition is written as under, over or a certain range affects the result. At threshold ages, a check must be made against the date of birth and the date of travel to which it will apply. The exemption of one family member does not mean that the other family members are within the same scope. [5]

Is it enough if my passport is valid for 60 days after the trip?

The general rule is validity of at least 60 days from the end of the permitted visa, exemption or residence period. The end date of the planned short holiday alone should not be taken as the basis. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' example, validity of 150 days on entry is required for a right of 90 days and 90 days for a right of 30 days; special document exceptions are assessed separately. [7]

Can I wait until the 90th day after entry for a residence application?

If a shorter visa or exemption period has been granted to the person, that period is the basis. A suitable application that can be made from within Türkiye should be planned within the existing lawful period of stay. There is no common 90-day waiting right for everyone. [1, 18]

If I have a tourist residence permit, can I work?

A tourist residence permit does not by itself provide a right to work. A foreigner within the scope must obtain the required work permit or exemption before starting work. The rule that a work document takes the place of residence and the matter of a residence document conferring authority to work are different subjects. [4, 3]

Are the ten days after the visa period expires an additional penalty-free period?

The deportation criterion in the Law for a violation exceeding ten days is not an unconditional additional visa period granted to everyone. When the legal basis of the stay ends, the situation is assessed separately; special application or departure periods apply only within their own conditions. [1]

Does paying the violation penalty lift the entry ban?

Payment of a financial obligation does not automatically remove an entry ban decision in every case. The length of the violation, the manner of departure, the detection and payment information and the basis of the decision are examined together. The expiry of the period of an entry ban also does not mean that there are no other obstacles to entry. [1, 8, 20]

What is the time limit for filing suit against a deportation decision?

Under the current Article 53(3) of Law No. 6458, application is made to the administrative court within seven days of notification. The court's fifteen-day period for concluding the file is different. An application against an administrative detention decision, on the other hand, is made to the criminal judge of peace; if the two procedures were issued together, they should be addressed separately. [21, 1]

Sources and legal bases

1 — Grand National Assembly of Türkiye (TBMM) — Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection (Yabancılar ve Uluslararası Koruma Kanunu) — original adopted text. The original adopted text has been used together with the relevant amendments of 2016, 2019 and 2024 and current institutional statements. Source.

2 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — General Information on Visas (Vize Genel Bilgileri). Source.

3 — Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye — Working Life of Foreigners — Frequently Asked Questions (Yabancıların Çalışma Hayatı — Sıkça Sorulan Sorular). Source.

4 — Grand National Assembly of Türkiye — Law No. 6735 on International Labour Force (Uluslararası İşgücü Kanunu) — original adopted text. The relevant provisions of the original adopted text have been assessed together with current Ministry statements. Source.

5 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — Visa Regime Applicable to Foreigners (Yabancıların Tabi Olduğu Vize Rejimi). Source.

6 — Consulate General of the Republic of Türkiye in Antwerp / Ministry of Foreign Affairs — E-visa — information note dated 8.04.2014. The statement of April 8, 2014; used only for the distinction between visa validity, length of stay and number of entries. Source.

7 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — Passport Validity Requirements While Entering Türkiye in Accordance with Law on Foreigners and International Protection. Source.

8 — Grand National Assembly of Türkiye — Law No. 7196 — the 2019 amendments made to Law No. 6458. The relevant amending provisions on the passport requirement, entry ban, humanitarian residence, deportation and administrative detention have been assessed together. Source.

9 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — Türkiye Electronic Visa Application System — What is an e-Visa? The relevant official statement has been checked through the search index; direct access to the old information page is limited. Conditions specific to the application must be verified in the current system. Source.

10 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — Türkiye Electronic Visa Application System — What do I need for an e-Visa application? The relevant official statement has been checked through the search index; direct access to the old information page is limited. Conditions specific to the application must be verified in the current system. Source.

11 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — Türkiye Electronic Visa Application System — Validity criteria for supporting documents. The relevant official statement has been checked through the search index; direct access to the old information page is limited. Conditions specific to the application must be verified in the current system. Source.

12 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Visa Information For Foreigners. Source.

13 — Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Tallinn — Visa Procedure in Estonia (Updated information for holders of Estonian Alien’s Passport). Source.

14 — Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Relations between Türkiye and Australia. Source.

15 — Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) – GoTürkiye — Visa-Free Entry Policy for Chinese Citizens Traveling to Türkiye. Source.

16 — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye — List of Countries Whose Citizens May Enter Our Country with National Identity Documents (Vatandaşlarının Ulusal Kimlik Belgeleri ile Ülkemize Girebileceği Ülkelere İlişkin Liste). Source.

17 — Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Ashgabat / Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Procedures — announcement for Turkmenistan citizens who will travel to Türkiye. Source.

18 — Presidency of Migration Management — YİMER — Frequently Asked Questions — Residence Permit, Visa and Human Trafficking. Source.

19 — Presidency of Migration Management — Residence General Information. The relevant statement has been checked through the official search index; direct access to the full page is limited. Source.

20 — Presidency of Migration Management — Malatya Governorship Provincial Directorate of Migration Management — Statement on Entry Bans to Be Applied to Foreigners Who Violate the Right of Lawful Stay (Yasal Kalış Hakkı İhlalinde Bulunan Yabancılara Uygulanacak Giriş Yasaklarına İlişkin Açıklama) — June 9, 2020. The application statement of June 9, 2020; it does not replace the current law or the specific decision. Direct access to the page is limited. Source.

21 — Grand National Assembly of Türkiye — Law No. 7533 Amending the Law on Ministry of Interior Officials and Certain Laws and Decree-Law No. 375 (Dahiliye Memurları Kanunu ve Bazı Kanunlar ile 375 Sayılı Kanun Hükmünde Kararnamede Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Kanun) — November 21, 2024. Source.

22 — Ministry of Justice — Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 (İdari Yargılama Usulü Kanunu) — Ministry of Justice 2020 PDF copy. The copy of 2020; used together with the current official index only for Articles 7 and 27. Source.

23 — Ministry of Justice — UYAP Legislation — Administrative Procedure Law No. 2577 — Articles 7, 11 and 27 in the current index. The relevant current article statement has been checked through the official search index; full-page access is limited. Source.