Visa for Turkey
Jun 24, 2008 | 9:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bethesda, MD
Programs: UA Million Miler, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 819
Visa for Turkey
I have read in a few guide books and online that a three-month tourist visa is $20. So last week, I dragged my kids with me to the Turkish embassy in Washington to get visas for our family of 5. When I got there, they said that the visa is $35 each. When I asked about the $20 three month visa, they said they are only available upon entry into Turkey and they can't be purchased at the embassy. I didn't feel like wasting the extra $75 for the visas so it looks like we will wait until entry.
Again, I just find this a bit of a pain that I couldn't purchase the three month visa in advance.
Again, I just find this a bit of a pain that I couldn't purchase the three month visa in advance.
Jun 24, 2008 | 10:04 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 259
Hi dlwalt,
I do not know how much time it took you to gather the kids and go to the embassy and ask your questions, but getting the visa at IST last month took us about 4 minutes. We did sit towards the front of our plane ( just plain ol economy class).
You probably know this, but go to the visa line FIRST with 20 dollars US in hand per person, it is just a sticker they put in the passport and voila it is done. We saw folks that were sent back from passport control to get the sticker because they did not stop first.
I do not know how much time it took you to gather the kids and go to the embassy and ask your questions, but getting the visa at IST last month took us about 4 minutes. We did sit towards the front of our plane ( just plain ol economy class).
You probably know this, but go to the visa line FIRST with 20 dollars US in hand per person, it is just a sticker they put in the passport and voila it is done. We saw folks that were sent back from passport control to get the sticker because they did not stop first.
Jun 25, 2008 | 3:35 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Miles&More Blue, SPG Silver
Posts: 3,452
Just remember to do this before you get in line for the immigration control. At Atatürk Istanbul Airport the office for the Visa is on the left side of the immigration stations. It is clearly marked.
Jun 25, 2008 | 4:06 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern Nevada
Programs: DL,EK
Posts: 1,653
I have entered Turkey dozens of times both by land and air and have never been to a Turkish Embassy. It takes just a few minutes at the airport and is more efficient than you'd imagine - most of Turkey is like that.
Jun 25, 2008 | 11:43 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,781
The wait can be longer if you arrive into a gateway that has a lot of charter flights (e.g. Antalya) - but you'd still have to wait for your luggage to come out - so it's not much of a loss even if it takes 15-20 minutes or more.