Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Information and Services in Turkey Section => Residency in Turkey, Visas, Work Permit Questions => Topic started by: Marggie on December 05, 2012, 16:10:49 PM
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Turkey to start issuing e-visas for foreign nationals - could start in January.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-to-start-e-visa-for-foreign-nationals.aspx?pageID=238&nID=36183&NewsCatID=339
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Yeh, I can see the Customs Police at Dalaman knowing all about this and everything being as smooth as........???????
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Does anyone know if there have been any updates regarding this please?
Thanks.
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I'm not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere but the e-visa (for tourists) system is now in place.
I used it this morning and it worked well. However the payment is made in US dollars and at $20 is a little more than the £10 at the visa desk at the port of entry. Payments have to be made by credit card (debit cards do not appear to be acceptable).
You can enter the date when you want the visa to start and it is valid for six months with the usual restriction of spending only 90 days in Turkey within the life of the visa
https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/
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For those who wish only to work out exactly when their visa expires, the site provides the start and finish dates.
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Entering the date when you want the visa to start. Could this be different to the first day you arrive in Turkey?? My thought being you could have it start on eg 1st January but enter Turkey on 1 April for 90 days then get another one to start on 1 July so you could visit for another 90 days from mid August. Or is this just wishful thinking?
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Sneaky.
Unfortunately, it asks for date of arrival in Turkey.
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I have just had this reply from the British Embassy. I asked them if the eVisa was in force and if so why some people are having no problems but others are having to pay again at Dalaman having already paid on-line.
I don't think anyone was aware officially, that it only applies if you fly THY (Turkish Airlines) at the moment. It still doesn't answer why some people have got through and why some haven't.
There is a new e-visa regime for tourists which has been announced by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is available for "tourism or trade purposes". We have established that it runs alongside the existing system of a £10 sticker/stamp-type visa which can still be acquired at airports for the foreseeable future. For the time being it is only available for foreigners arriving in Turkey on flights of the Turkish Airlines (THY), the country's state-owned air carrier, in line with a protocol signed between the government and THY.
The system is up and running. It is a little more expensive than the paper visa (US$20 for UK nationals paid by credit card). It is apparently easy to use and has been successfully used by UK nationals.
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Thanks for posting their reply Dave :) At least people will know now Not to bother getting a E-visa. Especially given that some were lucky getting through - some weren't, it's probably best to avoid it altogether (even if flying with THY and/or for business).
As you say, it doesn't explain why they are accepting payments from everybody who applies regardless of who they are travelling with or what they are travelling for!
If they are only applying this facility to their own National Airline (at this time) why the heck doesn't the E-visa website make that Clear! No thought (again) to the distress & cost this is causing people arriving in Turkey :(. Surely their website can be adjusted to reflect the eligibility of the person travelling!
I hope that they are going to apologise & re-imburse the people they have taken this money from, I wonder how many $20 in E-visa fees that adds up to so far?........... :-X
I have just had this reply from the British Embassy. I asked them if the eVisa was in force and if so why some people are having no problems but others are having to pay again at Dalaman having already paid on-line.
I don't think anyone was aware officially, that it only applies if you fly THY (Turkish Airlines) at the moment. It still doesn't answer why some people have got through and why some haven't.
There is a new e-visa regime for tourists which has been announced by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is available for "tourism or trade purposes". We have established that it runs alongside the existing system of a £10 sticker/stamp-type visa which can still be acquired at airports for the foreseeable future. For the time being it is only available for foreigners arriving in Turkey on flights of the Turkish Airlines (THY), the country's state-owned air carrier, in line with a protocol signed between the government and THY.
The system is up and running. It is a little more expensive than the paper visa (US$20 for UK nationals paid by credit card). It is apparently easy to use and has been successfully used by UK nationals.
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I'm surprised to read here that the E-visa is for only those flying with THY.
I have not heard of this anywhere else and I didn't have any problems when arriving at Dalaman three weeks ago or on departure last week.
There is no mention of any such restrictions on the E-visa website (https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/) which suggests that it is available to a wide range of nationalities (although limited payment methods).
The system is very easy, whether it is worth it is another matter. You are unlikely to leave the airport any sooner, unless you only have hand luggage, or if there is a very big queue at the visa desk
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Only worth it if it works Nick :)
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Entering the date when you want the visa to start. Could this be different to the first day you arrive in Turkey?? My thought being you could have it start on eg 1st January but enter Turkey on 1 April for 90 days then get another one to start on 1 July so you could visit for another 90 days from mid August. Or is this just wishful thinking?
Lizdev, check out the following link, it appears that you can. The validity period of your e-Visa begins from the date specified in your application. You can enter Turkey on any date within this period.
Print out the page in Turkish in case you need to show to Passport Control.
https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/info/do-i-need-to-enter-turkey-on-the-exact-date-specified-in-my-application/
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I have just had this reply from the British Embassy. I asked them if the eVisa was in force and if so why some people are having no problems but others are having to pay again at Dalaman having already paid on-line.
I don't think anyone was aware officially, that it only applies if you fly THY (Turkish Airlines) at the moment. It still doesn't answer why some people have got through and why some haven't.
There is a new e-visa regime for tourists which has been announced by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is available for "tourism or trade purposes". We have established that it runs alongside the existing system of a £10 sticker/stamp-type visa which can still be acquired at airports for the foreseeable future. For the time being it is only available for foreigners arriving in Turkey on flights of the Turkish Airlines (THY), the country's state-owned air carrier, in line with a protocol signed between the government and THY.
The system is up and running. It is a little more expensive than the paper visa (US$20 for UK nationals paid by credit card). It is apparently easy to use and has been successfully used by UK nationals.
Apparently the issue on the use of the e-visa to travellers flying with Turkish Airlines applies to certain nationalities only. According to this article UK passport holders face no such restriction
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-launches-revolutionary-e-visa-system-for-citizens-of-94-countries.aspx?pageID=238&nid=45583
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This is the latest update about the eVisa from the British Embassy. It seems the British Embassy gave me misleading information.
I understand you were recently in contact with one of my colleagues about the new e-visa regime introduced by the Turkish Government. I am sorry to say that one part of the advice she gave you was incorrect. It does not matter what airline British nationals arrive on – the e-visa should be valid. The airline protocol conditions apply only to certain other nationalities listed on the e-visa website. I apologise for any inconvenience caused.
I was concerned to read in your email to my colleague, that some travellers are having trouble using the e-visa. The feedback we have received, including by people travelling through Dalaman, is that the system is working and they have successfully been through the immigration facilities with an e-visa. We will shortly be publishing our quarterly Embassy newsletter (you can sign up by emailing UKTurkey.Newsletter@fco.gov.uk) and I have included an article about the e-visa, reproduced below, asking for feedback on people’s experience of the new system.
I hope this information is of use.
E-visas for tourists and business visitors to Turkey
On 24 April 2013 the Turkish government formally launched a new online system for applying for and receiving visas for Turkey. In the first week of operation, more than 5,300 e-visas had been processed. According to the Turkish MFA, of the 30 million visitors to Turkey each year, 10 million received their visas on arrival. This is the target audience for the e-visa. By enabling people to apply for and receive their visa before they travel, visitors will no longer have to queue for a visa on arrival. The eligibility criteria for the visa have not changed, only the delivery method. One advantage for travellers is that they will know in advance if there is going to be a problem with their visa and have the opportunity to resolve this with the Turkish Embassy in London before travel.
We have been informed that this system will be made compulsory in 3-4 months and the visa-on-arrival service will be withdrawn. So please tell family, friends and other contacts to check before they travel and encourage them to use the new system if they can.
The practicalities of applying for and receiving the visa are fairly straightforward. The website is currently available in English and Turkish although other languages will follow. There is a contact form on the website and replies should be received within 24hrs. Fees are payable by Mastercard or Visa credit or debit cards. The visa cost remains the same (£10 for UK nationals) although credit card payments attract an additional charge. The Turkish government plans to introduce kiosks at airports, travel agents and airline offices where applications can be made. Travel Agents or other third parties can apply on an individual’s behalf as long as they have all the relevant information.
Although this is a Turkish government system, we would welcome comments on how this system is working for British travellers to Turkey. You can send feedback to britembcon@fco.gov.uk
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Entering the date when you want the visa to start. Could this be different to the first day you arrive in Turkey?? My thought being you could have it start on eg 1st January but enter Turkey on 1 April for 90 days then get another one to start on 1 July so you could visit for another 90 days from mid August. Or is this just wishful thinking?
Lizdev, check out the following link, it appears that you can. The validity period of your e-Visa begins from the date specified in your application. You can enter Turkey on any date within this period.
Print out the page in Turkish in case you need to show to Passport Control.
https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/info/do-i-need-to-enter-turkey-on-the-exact-date-specified-in-my-application/
Thanks Marggie that's good news for us
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These are the quotes I love;
'We have been informed that this system will be made compulsory in 3-4 months and the visa-on-arrival service will be withdrawn. So please tell family, friends and other contacts to check before they travel and encourage them to use the new system if they can.
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'The Turkish government plans to introduce kiosks at airports, travel agents and airline offices where applications can be made."
So you arrive at Dalaman with no visa, you then go to a kiosk to get one online from the country you are now standing in! You can bet your life on there being only one kiosk open in the middle of July!
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Or the one visa official standing smiling at you waving a telecom plug on the end of the cable, which leads to the back of the kiosk. like they do in restaurants when you offer a credit card for payment :)
Where do the Turkish government expect to find Travel Agents to put a kiosk in? I can't think of a single place. Maybe Lama Travel in Fethiye could have a visa terminal. Except of course you won't be allowed entry, let alone to go to Paspatur.
The other option is for the Turkish Government to pay to install, pay a rental and to keep them running at Heathrow, Gatwick, Schipol, Frankfurt etc. Can't see that happening either for some reason :D
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Its just a sign of the times - a similar system for the Visa Waivers has been operating in the USA for the last couple of years. You now have to buy a visa online (it used to be free when you filled in a card on arrival).
Ian