As of the 10th of April 2014 there will be a new Visa system for entering into Turkey. Anybody who would have previously entered on a tourist Visa is going to need to have a new E-Visa. E-Visas will replace the Visas you once received on your arrival to Turkey.
So what is an E-Visa?
E-Visas are your ticket to entry to Turkey but must now be applied for online. The recommended place to do this is through the official government website at http://www.evisa.gov.tr/. There are already many websites that claim to be able to do this for you and there will be more to come, make sure you avoid these as they will cost you more time and money.
To obtain the E-Visa you will need to fill in the online forms. You will need to do this for every member of your group that is travelling to Turkey as each one, even children, will need their own Visa. If you have a child listed on an adult’s passport then this child will need their own E-Visa.
The cost is £12 or $20 (USD) and you have to pay via a credit or debit card so make sure you have one handy. If you don’t have a Credit or Debit card then you cannot obtain an E-Visa as there is no other way to pay.
You will need to make sure that your passport is valid and has at least 6 months left on it before its expiry. Make sure you fill all the details in correctly as the E-Visa is checked and if it is found to be invalid or there is a mistake then you will lose your money and have to re-apply. You are also unable to receive a refund should your travel plans change. You would have to enquire with your travel insurance to see if they will refund this money.
If your application is successful then the E-Visa will be sent to your registered e-mail address. You will need to print this out and take it with you on your holiday. The E-Visa after a successful application will be returned to you within 24hours. We recommend that you make this application at least 2 weeks before your arrival date.
You do not have to enter the country on your Visas start date you can enter anytime from the date your Visa starts. If the date of your trip changes outside of the dates on your E-Visa then you cannot update or edit the Visa and you will need to apply for a new Visa and pay again.
The new Visa system for Turkey is a good way for the Turkish government to earn more money but it should at least help with the queues at Passport control on your arrival.
If you are thinking of travelling to Turkey then Panoramic Villas have a fantastic selection of Holiday Villas and Apartments in Turkey for you to choose from.
