Travelling to Turkey

Passport Control: When flying to regional airports such as Izmir, Dalaman, Kayseri or Nevsehir you are currently required to complete all immigration and visa formalities in Istanbul (or Ankara). This usually means you have to fully exit the International Terminal and then re-enter the Domestic Terminal. This process can take up to 1.5 hours at busy times, so make sure you leave a long enough gap. Booking a through ticket is a better idea, as the airline will have the responsibility to get you onto the connecting domestic flight, and your bags will transfer automatically.

Visas and Travel Formalities: The following visa regulations now apply for stays in Turkey of up to 90 days:

Australia: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

Belgium: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

Canada: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

Germany: No – not required

Ireland: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

Netherlands: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

New Zealand: No – not required

South Africa: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

Switzerland: No – not required

United Kingdom: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

USA: Yes – apply for an e-visa before you go

To apply for an e-visa, please go to https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ at least a few weeks before you go. The visa costs can change at any time and with little notice depending on the political climate of the region. A valid passport is sufficient for citizens of most other countries including New Zealand, Argentina, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland for stays up to 3 months. All other nationalities please check with your nearest Turkish embassy. Passports for some nationalities (eg Dutch) indeed need a very long validity even after the visit to Turkey! I think it must still be valid for 8 months even after your return. It is very important to check the required validity in plenty of time before the tour in case you need to apply for a new passport!