Frequently Asked Questions

VISA FORMALITIES

USA - CITIZENS ONLY

A visa is required for all U.S. citizens entering Turkey. U.S. citizens may obtain their visas upon entry point in Turkey or in advance from one of the Turkish Consulates around the U.S. Please see the Jurisdiction list of the Turkish Consulates for your state.

Application for a business visa must be done ahead of time, before entering Turkey. The tourist visa is valid for a year starting from the issue date. There are two different visa types. With a single entry visa, you can enter Turkey only once and stay up to three months. Multiple entry visa, on the other hand allows you to enter and exit the country more than once within one year period specified on your passport and you can stay in Turkey for three months each time. Visas given at entry points are valid only for three months. Therefore, visas must be obtained in advance for visits lasting longer stays and for study, research or employment purposes. The passengers who do not leave the international airports do not need any visas.

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CANADIAN CITIZENS

Canadian Citizens can obtain a multiple-entry sticker visa at the Turkish International Border Gates to stay in Turkey for a maximum period of three months. If the planned stay exceeds three months or the individual intends to study, work or be engaged in any kind of gainful employment in Turkey, visa must be obtained in advance by applying personally to Turkish Embassy in Ottawa. Please click here for detailed information

NON-U.S. CITIZENS

Non-U.S Citizens need to have to apply for their tourist or business visas in advance BEFORE going to Turkey. Applicants should directly contact a Turkish Consulate in person, by mail or by a courier service. Please see the Jurisdiction list of the Turkish Consulates for your state.

Turkish Consulates and Embassies Abroad

WHAT TO WEAR

Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts: Light, cotton summer clothing and cardigans for evening.

Black Sea, Central and Eastern Anatolia: Summer wear, warmer clothing should be taken for cool evenings at high altitudes.

-Comfortable shoes are necessary for visiting archeological and historical sites.
-Sun hats and sunglasses are advisable in the summer.
-Headscarves should be brought by women for visiting mosques.

WHEN TO VISIT

Marmara, Aegean, and Mediterranean coasts: These coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters.

The swimming season becomes shorter the further north one goes: Marmara and North Aegean - June to September; South Aegean and Mediterranean - April to October.

Black Sea Coast: Warm summers, mild winters, and relatively high rainfall.
Central Anatolia: Steppe climate with hot, dry summers; cold winters.
Eastern Anatolia: Long snowy cold winters with mild summers.
Southeast Anatolia: Hot summer with mild, rainy winters.

HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR ANIMALS

For those who wish to bring domestic animals into the country the following are required: a) A 'Certificate of Origin' giving the health record of the animal. b) A 'Certificate of Health', issued not more than 15 days before the animal's entry into the country, stating that the animal is in good health and that it has been vaccinated against rabies. Note: if you have an official certificate, you may bring one cat, one bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the country.

CURRENCY REGULATIONS

Limits: There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than $5,000 worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country.

Exchange slips: The exchange slips for the conversion of foreign currency into Turkish lira should be kept, since you may be required to show these when reconverting your Turkish lira back into foreign currency, and when taking souvenirs out of the country (to prove that they have been purchased with legally exchanged foreign currency).

Other Useful Information

Time: Local time is equal to GMT + 2 hours. Same time zone all over the country (seven hours ahead of U.S. eastern standard time).

Electricity: 220 volts a.c. throughout Turkey

Weights and Measures: Metric and Kilo system

Language: Turkish (uses Latin Alphabet)

Currency: New Turkish Lira (YTL) as of 01/01/2005
1YTL = 1,000,000 TL (Turkish Lira)

Capital: Ankara

Foreign Exchange

There is no limit to the amount of foreign and Turkish currency to be brought into Turkey.

- More than US$5000 worth of Turkish currency can not be taken out of the country.

- Up to US$5000 worth of foreign currency can be taken out of the country.

- US$5000 in cash may be taken out of the country by foreigners living abroad, or Turkish citizens working abroad, and those settled in Turkey, if they document that they have purchased currency from authorised banks.

- Larger amount of foreign or Turkish currency must be transferred abroad through banks.

- All personal belongings and articles made of precious stones or metals (with no commercial purposes) worth under $15,000 may be brought into and taken out of the country. Jewellery worth more than that may only be taken out of the country providing it has been registered on entry or purchased in Turkey with legally exchanged currency.

- Cash brought into the country to be purchased for exportation and brought out of Turkey must be declared on entry.

List of Duty-Free Goods

Acquirement of Property in Turkey

As stated in the constitution, foreign real persons will acquire real estate in Turkey through mutual agreements indicated in Real Estate Law, article 35. According to this agreement, both sides of the agreement have the right to attain property in each others country. Should the attainment of property for Turkish citizens in the foreign country of the applicant are supposed to some conditions and limitations, the same procedure will be carried out for the other side of the agreement.

- According to the constitution, the foreigners are not allowed to acquire property within the limits of a village through purchasing .Therefore the real estate that a foreigner going to acquire is to be within the limits of the Municipality. The foreigners will also acquire properties outside Military and Saftey Zones.  

- Juridical persons from a foreign country will not acquire property in Turkey. However should the case conform to the Law for the Promotion of Foreign Capital Investment, the applicant will attain real estate in Turkey.

For further information , please contact General Directorate of Tittle-deeds and Cadastre.

Address : Başbakanlık Tapu ve Kadastro Genel Müdürlüğü Yabancı İşler Dairesi Başkanlığı Dikmenyolu-ANKARA
Tel : 90 (312) 417 12 60
Faks : 90 (312) 417 03 60
Web Site : http://www.tapu.gov.tr