Entry to and exit from Turkey is done at border gates with a valid passport or passport substitute documents. In order for foreigners to enter Turkey, 3 conditions must be fulfilled. 1- Entering through entry and exit gates 2- Having a passport or passport substitute document 3- Obtaining a visa.

A visa is defined as “a permit granting the right to stay in Turkey for up to ninety days or allowing transit”. A visa indicates that there is no obstacle for the foreigner to enter the country. However, visas do not provide an absolute right to enter Turkey. Despite obtaining a visa, the entry of a foreigner into Turkey is at the discretion of the authorities at the entry-exit gate.

Foreigners who will stay in Turkey for longer than the period granted by a visa or visa exemption or for more than ninety days must obtain a residence permit. The residence permit loses its validity if it is not used within six months.

Therefore, a foreigner arriving with a visa can stay in Turkey for the duration of his/her visa; a foreigner who is a citizen of a state with a visa exemption agreement can stay in Turkey without a residence permit during the visa exemption period. Foreigners whose visa or visa exemption period expires or who will stay in Turkey for more than ninety days must obtain a residence permit.

*We would like to state that you should consult expert lawyers and get professional support in order not to lose your rights due to the long and complex processes of the applications.

Please contact our office for detailed information.