Visas and Permits

When coming to Turkey, whether it is for a week on holiday or to live after buying property as a British and EU citizen you are required to get a visa.

Upon entering the country will have to purchase a sticker type tourist visa. These cost £10 (or €15-$20) per person and is paid in cash before going through passport control, make sure you have the exact money in notes (change is not given and coins are not accepted). Your tourist visa will be stamped with the date you entered the country allowing you to stay in the country for up to 90 days; during this time you can come and go as often as you like.

If you are planning on staying more the 90 days there are two different ways of extending your stay. Many people who wish to stay in the country for longer head over to one of the nearby Greek islands for the day. Kos is only 1 hour away from Bodrum by ferry, during the summer they depart everyday and during the winter (November-April) the travel 3 times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Tickets cost approximately 55TL (as of March 2009) and when you re-enter Turkey you can purchase another 90 day visa. There is no limit to the number of times you can do this but beware that staying once your visa has expired will incur a hefty fine.

If you are planning on staying in the country for long periods or for work you should apply for a residency visa. This can be done by either; applying through the Consulate General when you are in the UK, this must be done at least eight weeks before the intended date of departure; or you can apply while in Turkey. It is easier and cheaper to apply whilst in Turkey and you can apply at the nearest police headquarters after your 90 day tourist visa expires. This may seem like a daunting task but if you are a Cumberland Properties customer our after sales team is happy to help you with your application. For details on the costs and what documents you require for a residency visa please check the Turkish Consulate

If you are wishing to work in Turkey then you should apply at the Consulate General and will require a letter of job offer or employment contract on which the application could be based since work permit applications are always for a specific position and they are employer driven.

Applications should be made simultaneously by both you and your employer and can take up to 2 months or longer though you can usually start work while the application is being processed. Also you are also expected to get a residence permit within 30 day’s of entry.

Visas & Passports

• In general, visitors to Turkey need a visa.
• Visas may be obtained at the Turkish diplomatic representation outside Turkey.
• In most cases, a passport must be valid for at least 3 additional months from the date of entry to Turkey.
• EU citizens do not need a visa but a sticker-type entry visa must be obtained at the point of entry for a fee of £10-€15-$20
• There is an additional group of countries whose citizens may stay in Turkey on presentation of a passport only, without a visa, for a period of 1 - 3 months.

Residential Permits

• Residential permits for foreign residents are granted for a period of up to two years, with an option to extend.
• Separate residential permits must be obtained for the spouse and children of a foreign worker.

Work Permits

• Foreign residents who are interested in working in Turkey must obtain a work permit.
• A work permit may be obtained, subject to an investigation to ensure that the worker is skilled, and has no criminal record.
• The Turkish employer must deal with obtaining a work permit before the arrival of the employee.
• A work permit is usually valid for two years, with an option to extend.