Turkey Tourist Visa for Indians – Requirements & Detailed Guide

For most travellers, Turkey is a daydreaming destination. For weeks, months, and years, we’ve just been looking at this beautiful country in pictures and scrolling through Instagram reels.

We wait for that college trip, farewell tour, honeymoon trip, or for saving up money for the vacation we are longing for. But when the time really comes, you need to be prepared with A-Z. 

And getting the Turkey tourist visa for Indians is part A. Once this is done, all subsequent processes will be smooth

I will help you with the process step-by-step. Then, you can start planning a trip to the land of fairy chimneys, vibrant bazaars, ancient ruins, and postcard-worthy beaches.

So, what’s the Turkey tourist visa for Indians all about? Do you need to visit the embassy, or can you get it online? How much does it cost? And what documents do you need?

I know everyone has all these questions. That’s why this blog answers all your questions. 

Types of Turkey Visas for Indians

There are two types of Turkey visas for Indians- E-visa & Sticker visa. I will explain what each of these visas means and which one you need to choose. 

E-visa

If you want a quick visa with no sweat, then an E-visa is the fastest way. However, the catch is that you need a visa for certain countries, such as the Schengen, the USA, the UK, or Ireland.

Here are a few essential things to know about the E-visa-

• You should have a Schengen, USA, UK, or Ireland visa, and a residence permit from the country you are in. Or you will be denied in the application process for the Turkey E-visa.
• If you successfully pass the process, you will receive your visa within a few hours or 2 days. 
• If you are in any of the countries listed above, whether you’re studying, working, or on vacation, you can book a flight from there to Istanbul. However, you will need to take a one-way ticket to Turkey from the places mentioned above.

Application Portal for Turkey E-visa: DTV E-visa Services

Sticker Visa

A sticker visa is the most important and preferred by many. It is the traditional visa, where you go to the Turkish Embassy. If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria for an E-visa, you can apply for this. If you get approved for a sticker visa, you can stay up to 90 days in Turkey. 

Here are a few essential things to know about the Sticker Visa-

• Although the visa processing time can be 10-15 days, this visa is the most recommended. An E-visa has its constraints, which I’ll outline for you. 
• While obtaining a Schengen, USA, UK, or Ireland visa is possible, they are hard to get. Plus, if you are in India and travelling to Turkey, you can get a Sticker Visa. 
• So, I will lay out the step-by-step process for getting a sticker visa.  

Turkey Tourist Visa Requirements: Essential Documents To Carry

Document processing is a crucial part, but it’s also a hated thing to do for many. We must have thoroughly listed the necessary documents, but somehow, by the end, we always miss the simplest thing. 

This article focuses entirely on the Turkey tourist visa for Indians. So, I’ll share everything you need to know to travel stress-free and enjoy all the best things in Turkey.

Here is the list of Mandatory Documents for a Turkey Tourist Visa

This list is the most important one for the approval of a sticker visa. So, make sure you take notes of these and have them all ready when applying for it. 

In the Visa Application Form

Use blue or black ink when you are filling out the Visa application form. Write only in block letters. Then, your signature/respective applicant’s signature must match on all pages. 

Your Passport 

Just like for other countries, when visiting Turkey, your passport must have validity for a minimum of 6 months. Plus, you need to have 2 blank pages.

Biometric Photos

On a plain white background, take a biometric photo. It must be a recent picture of yours taken within the last 6 months. And, for the Turkey Visa, the photo size should be 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches. And your photos must have full face coverage and must be completely visible without shadow. 

Cover Letter

In this letter, please outline your entire planned Turkey trip. Here are the things you need to mention when writing your letter-

• Your purpose of stay
• Accompanying person’s details
• Stay duration
• Your occupation
• Contact details
• Expenses clause
• Travel dates mentioned in your cover letter should be the same as the dates in other documents. 
• Get a leave letter from your company. It must also state your designation, period of work, salary, purpose of visit, duration of travel and the accompanying person being mentioned. Then seal it with a stamp. 
• If you are a student, you should have a no-objection letter from the school or an official holiday scheme along with your ID card copy. 

Invitation letter

The letter is not mandatory, but if you know anyone from Turkey, such as a family member or friend, they can write an invitation letter for you. The letter must include the passport number and the full name of the person who wrote the letter. 

Also, it should have clearly mentioned the full name of the person to whom the letter is addressed. Additionally, it must include specific information on the person who writes the letter-

• Turkish identity card copy
• Passport or visa copy, or the foreign resident permit
• Address proof 
• Contact number

Employer/Proprietor/Partner/Director Form

If you are a business owner, then the company registration documents are required, and they should include the applicants’ and the company’s name in them. 

Additionally, the GST registration attestation is a must. If you don’t have a GST or Udyam registration certificate, you must submit an explanation for this. 

Monetary Documents

When it comes to a background statement, Turkey is known to be strict with that. This is an expensive country, so with all the documents they ask for in this section, they just want to see how much money you have. Here is the list of documents that you need to have-

• Last 3 months’ salary slips, complete with a letterhead (containing your name, contact information, and your position within an organisation, which confirms you are working there), your original signature, and a stamp. 
• Your salary and personal account bank statement for 6 months. It should have a stamp and a signature of the bank on all the pages.
• Any of the bank balances must have a minimum of 1 lakh INR for one person.
• Your bank statements must be updated for at least the last 15 days.
• In all bank statements, the closing balance should be mentioned clearly. If it is not mentioned on the bank statement, a Bank balance certificate from the bank is required.
• Income Tax Return/ITR documents for the past 3 years. If you don’t have Income Tax, then an explanation is required on the cover letter.
• Form 16 is necessary if you are an employer.
• If you are retired, you should have retirement documents and income proof for the last three months.
• If you are a freelancer, please provide a contract document, proof of regular income, and the last 3 months’ personal bank statements, all of which must be stamped and signed by the bank on every page.
• If you are unemployed, please include a detailed explanation of your source of income in the cover letter, accompanied by the relevant proof of income.
• In case you are attaching an educational qualification, it must be a coloured copy. 

Flight Tickets

When applying for a visa, you must submit flight tickets as part of the visa process. However, for a Turkey visa, they clearly state that you should not buy tickets until your visa is issued.

Hotel Reservation

You need to submit the hotel confirmation for the Visa process. You can book any fully refundable hotel and provide the check-in and checkout dates. So, even if you cancel, you will get a full refund. 

Travel Insurance

Getting travel insurance is mandatory for a Turkey visa. And the insurance should cover the number of days you are staying in the country. 

Original Authorisation Letter

This document confirms that the individual applying for the visa has authorised the specified person to submit their documents on their behalf. You can look at the attached image to see how the letter must be written. Take a printout of the letter of authorisation if you require one. 

Passport Copies

Take a first and last page copy of your present passport. Also, take copies of the visa pages of your passport.  

Proof of Civil Status

You need to have copies of the Aadhar card and PAN card, and these must be high-quality images. Also, take your original cards with you.

Original Previous Passport

You also need to provide the previous passport; if it’s been lost, submit a police FIR document.

Additional Documents

At last, they will ask you about the tour itinerary. For the number of days you stay, you need to have a structured plan for each day. Also, you need to list the place you are visiting on a particular day, and the activities you are going to do there. But it is optional to submit. 

However, it is recommended that when you submit your cover letter, you also include your day-to-day itinerary. 

How to Fill an Application for a Turkey Sticker Visa for Indians: 

The application forms can be tricky, and we often forget the required information. In this section, you will get a detailed view with images. So, you will know you are on the right website and filling in the correct information. 

Step 1: To access the visa application form, you need to visit the VFS Global visa application portal. Then, you will see that the Gateway Management company is accepting Turkey applications. You will then be shown a link labelled “Click here” to make an appointment with the call centre. 

Step 2: Once you click the link, you will be redirected to the new page. Here, simply click on the country “India”.

Step 3: Now, on this page, you will be shown four different options: Create an Appointment, Application Tracking, Documents Required for Visa, and Our Services. 

Step 4: Click on the “Documents Required for Visa” section. Then you will be shown different types of visas. Click the one that you want. In this case, we are focusing on a Tourist visa, so click that. 

Step 5:  When the page takes you to the next step, you can see the red box that says “Important Update for Türkiye Visa Process” Click that link. 

Then you will be shown a letter, which you must fill out, sign and take with you when going to the embassy. The attached image below is the letter format you need to print out. 

Step 6: Now, come back to the page where you clicked the link to the letter. Scroll down to find your city, then click on the document list. I have already detailed this under the topic “Turkey Tourist Visa Requirements”. At the end of the page, you need to click the link given to access the visa form. 

Step 7:  Now fill out the visa application form. In the form, you’re required to fill in a lot of information. But don’t worry, I will attach clear images to each part of the Visa application.

• Personal Information
• Passport-Related Information
• Details on Occupation
• Visa Details
• Purpose of Trip & Financial Information
• Family Details

How to get a Turkey Tourist Visa from India: Scheduling Your Appointment at the VFS Embassy

So far, we have seen what documents you need and how to fill out the visa application. However, you must have all these documents in hard copy and physically hand them over for verification at the VFS office.

• Step 1: To do this, you need to book an appointment on the same website, VFS Global. You need to select the “Create an Appointment” section. 
• Step 2: Click on the “Schedule your Appointment” 
• Step 3: Now you are directed to the VFS Global Website. The page will give you an option to make your own account. You can create your account login with an email and a password. Then, on the following page, you can schedule your appointment. 

Turkey Tourist Visa & Application Fees for Indians 

There are different types of visas, and it is based on the duration of stay. Let’s see the cost of each one of them. 

Important Note: 

When you schedule your appointment, a certain amount will be charged. Then, when you visit the office, you will be required to pay the remaining amount. 

In the office, you will be offered the option to upgrade to a Premium Lounge, which is optional unless you are willing to spend 7,710 INR for the upgrade. 

Then, the most important thing is that you are given the option of receiving your visa by courier or holding it at the location. Always go to the location, hold it there, and collect it. 

You have to pay 450 INR for each of those services. There’s a high chance you will not be able to get the courier, and they will take the visa back. Alternatively, the visa might be missed, so it’s recommended to collect it in person. 

Conclusion

Planning your trip to Turkey can be exciting, but getting your visa sorted is the hardest part. If you know the proper process for applying and have all the necessary documents ready, it can make the process easier.

Once you cross this part, you’ll no longer need to fill out forms or travel back and forth for the visa. Then, you can go ahead with booking your flights and start thinking about all the amazing days you will spend in Turkey. 

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Get a Tourist Visa for Turkey from India

Can I get a Turkey tourist visa from India?

Yes, you can apply for a Turkey tourist visa from India. For an E-visa, you can apply through DTV E-visa Services if you are eligible. Or, apply for a sticker visa in the VFS Global portal. 

What is the Turkey tourist visa fee for Indians?

When it comes to a Turkey visa, you need to keep in mind that there is an application cost, which makes this visa more expensive. So, along with the application fee for a 3-month validity visa, it costs 17,723 INR. For a 6-month validity visa, the cost is 19,779 INR. 

Is travel insurance compulsory for a Turkey tourist visa from India?

Yes, you need to have travel insurance when applying for the Turkey tourist visa. 

Varshini IR

With a passion for traveling and storytelling, the job found me for my crazy obsessions. For all the beauty I saw, I was still left wanting more. I guess that's what travel does to you. Now, I am on a quest to discover surreal places and connect with new people. And the longing to know every corner of the world will always be unstoppable for me.

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