Turkey is an amazing place rich in culture, heritage and history. While Istanbul entices you with its vibrant bazaars and beautiful mosques, there is Cappadocia in center with magical hot balloon rides. Further south are the beaches like Kas and towards the West, you can explore old Roman and Ottoman ruins. If you are looking for hiking and mountains, then go to national parks of Eastern Turkey like Kaçkar Mountains National Park. If you are planning for a Turkey Trip, here are two ways to get Turkey Visa for Indians. Please note that Turkey does not issue any Visa on Arrival.
- Apply Turkey E-Visa Online (Easiest, Fastest and Cheapest process)
- Apply for Turkey Visa at VFS Global Center in nearest city (16 cities)
- Comparison between two Processes – Turkish E-Visa vs. Application through VFS Global
Getting Turkey Visa through online E-Visa process is the simplest and easiest. You can get your E-Visa immediately (10 minute online process). Also, charges for E-Visa is 3 times (~3.2K) lesser compared to application at VFS Global centers (~10.5K). Visa application process at VFS is also tedious as it requires travel insurance and lots of documents. So we will suggest you to go through E-Visa route only. However, to apply for Turkey E-Visa, having a Visa/Resident Permit from Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland is must for Indians. In case, you do not have above, applying through VFS Global Centers or Turkish Consulate is the only option to get Turkish Visa for Indians.
Below are details of each Visa application process for Indian Citizens –
1. Turkey Online E-Visa for Indians
(Go to the Top) Turkey offers E-Visa to citizens of selected countries (including India) provided they meet defined pre-conditions. Turkish E-Visa Application process is pretty smooth and also cost effective. However there is a catch – Indians must have a valid Supporting Document (Valid visa OR valid residence permit from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland). E-visas are not accepted as supporting documents. This is a mandatory requirement.
In case you do not have any of the above, you can only apply either through Turkish Consulate of VFS Global Centers. You may read more about Turkey E-Visa application process at our blog here – How to Apply for Turkey E-Visa Online
Eligibility criteria for Indians to apply for Turkey E-Visa
(Go to the Top) Here is a catch – Indians must have a valid Supporting Document (Valid visa OR valid residence permit from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland). E-visas are not accepted as supporting documents. This is a mandatory requirement.
Here are all the conditions that Indian citizens need to fulfill to be eligible for applying Turkey E-Visa
- You have a valid Supporting Document (Valid visa OR valid residence permit from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland). E-visas are not accepted as supporting documents.
- You can prove that you hold a return ticket, hotel reservation and at least 50 $ per each day of my stay.
- Your passport covers the period that you will be staying in Turkey.
How can Indian Citizens apply for Turkish E-Visa Online
(Go to the Top) Turkey E-Visa for Indians is a single entry visa which allows 30 Day stay in Turkey within 180 days of eligibility period (starts from the day of Visa issuance). Within these 180 days, you can enter Turkey any time for a single stay of not exceeding more than 30 days.
You can apply for Turkey E-Visa here on Turkey Government Official website –https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/. We have written a detailed blog for how Indian Citizens can apply for Turkey E-Visa online which you may read here – How to Apply for Turkey E-Visa Online
This is how Turkey E-Visa looks like –
Turkey E-Visa Fees for Indians
(Go to the Top) Turkey E-Visa fee varies from country to country. You may go to Turkey E-Visa application web-page and select your country to check your fees. For Indian citizens, Turkey E-Visa fees is $43. There is an additional $1.5 Processing Fee. Once you submit all your details, you can pay Visa fee online using multiple payment options (including debit/credit card).
2. Apply for Turkey Visa at VFS Global Centers
(Go to the Top) You can apply for Turkish Visa at VFS Global Centers in 16 Cities within India (New Delhi, Gurgaon, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Pondicherry, Hyderabad, Goa, Ahmedabad). VFS Global supports both Single Entry and Multiple Entry Visa processes for Turkey. You may find more details here on VFS Global page – VFS Global Turkey Visa in India.
Documents required for Turkey Visa for Indians
(Go to the Top) Turkish Visa Process is very particular about document requirements. While you may check complete list of required documents here, below are few guidelines basis our experience –
- Turkey Visa Photo Size – Please note that Turkey Visa photo be 2.5 inch X 2.5 inch with White Background. Please note size as this is quite big compared to normal Visa photos. VFS Bangalore has a photo booth for instant photo but we will request to keep your photos handy.
- Local Address Proof (For all cities except Mumbai) – We submitted a copy of our rental agreement but same had to compulsorily notarized.
- Turkish Visa Application Form (Online/Offline) – You have to fill in online form at Turkish Consulate website, take print our and submit a signed copy. In case, you do not fill form online, VFS supports you for the same but they charge extra and also, it takes around 30 minutes wait time. Carry a copy of offline form filled up and signed also. Links – i) Online Form ii) Offline Form. Also, please note that both forms have to be compulsorily filled in CAPITAL LETTERS else they will not be accepted.
- Hotel Reservation – You need to present Hotel Reservation for your complete trip and this should match with your Tour Itinerary details.
- Travel Insurance – Getting travel insurance is mandatory.
- Leave Letter/Pay Slips/Bank Statement – If you are salaried employee, all three documents are compulsory and Pay amount in pay slips should match with respective entries in your bank account statement. Bank account statement is accepted only for the account in which your salary is credited.
- Passport/E-Visa/US Visa/Marriage Certificate Copy for Co-Traveller: I have US Visa and thus had applied for Turkey E-Visa (it costs only ~3.2K vis-a-visa applying at VFS Global ~9K). For Anu, she does not have US Visa so, for her, we applied at VFS Global Bangalore. As we were travelling together, so we were asked to attach my passport, Turkey E-Visa, US Visa and Marriage Certificate Copy with Anu’s Visa Application.
There are additional documents requirement which we will suggest to check on VFS Global website here – Documents Required. Turkey Visa Process is very particular about document requirements, so we will suggest to duly prepare all documents for Visa application.
Turkish Visa Processing Time
(Go to the Top) It takes around 8 to 15 days (depending on city of application) to process your Visa. Our Visa was processed (applied at VFS Global Bangalore) within 10 days of application. Post document submission, you can check the status of your visa here – TRACK YOUR APPLICATION
You can collect your passport (with Visa) either from VFS Global Centers or can also get it couriered at your address (with extra charges)
Appointment Process for Turkish Visa at VFS Global Center
(Go to the Top) You can book an appointment by calling at 022 67866029. This is also the helpline for Turkey Visa Application Process for VFS Global. For us, we actually went to VFS Global Bangalore without an appointment and our application was processed without a hassle as there was no other applicant. We will suggest to give a call to above number so as to avoid any last minute inconvenience.
VFS Global (Turkey Visa) Submission Timings:- 09:00 to 16:30 (Monday to Friday). Few centers also open up at 08:00 AM. You may check timings and address for your city VFS Global Center here.
It took us almost half a day to apply for our Turkey Visa. We reached VFS Bangalore at around 9:00 AM but our application was not accepted for we had hotel booking only for initial week, did not have photographs in specified format, our rental agreement was not notarized. We filled up all above gaps in our application and again went to the center at around 11:30 AM. This time, person at counter realized that we have not filled in online form in capital letters and this form can not be edited. So, he filled in the form for us again (~30 minutes) and then our application was accepted. We made payment for our visa application and were issued a receipt.
Turkey Visa Fee for Indian Applicants (VFS Global)
(Go to the Top) Turkey Visa fee for Indian Citizens for a Single Entry Visa is INR 4270. Below are Visa fees details basis Visa requirement –
In addition to Visa fee, VFS Global charges a Service Fee of INR 4201 for Visa processing. This includes 18% GST and 20% fee paid by VFS to Embassy as Consulate Fee.
If you want to get your passport couriered at your address, there are an additional INR 450 charges. To get SMS updates, charges are INR 200. We will suggest to skip both these optional charges as you can check your application status online here and also pick your application yourself from VFS center. Also, Fee is accepted only in Cash.
So in total you end up paying a fee of ~INR 9000 for your Turkey Visa Application with VFS Global. And if you include charges for travel insurance (~INR 1500), total cost of visa application goes to INR 10,500 per person. This is almost 3 times of applying through online E-Visa process ($46.5 ~INR 3,200).
3. Comparison between two Processes – Turkish E-Visa vs. Application through VFS Global
(Go to the Top) Here is the comparison of both processes to help you quickly compare and make your decision –
| E-Visa Online Application | Application through VFS Global | |
| Process | Completely online | Visit to VFS Global + Online Form Filling |
| Type of Visa | Single Entry Visa only | Single Entry/Multiple Entry both |
| Efforts | 10 minute process | Multiple days in arranging documents and half a day at Application Center |
| Documents Required | Valid visa OR valid residence permit from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland | Large Set of Documents – Address Proof, Leave Letter, Pay Slips, Bank Statement, Tour Itinerary, Declaration etc. (Click here for complete set of documents) |
| Travel Insurance | Not Required | Yes, Required. |
| Processing Time | Immediate. You can download Visa immediately post online submission and fee payment | Minimum 8 to 15 days – Depends on city of application |
| Charges | ~INR 3200 ($45 Visa Fee + $1.5 Processing Fee) | ~INR 10,500 (INR 4270 Visa Fee + INR 4201 Processing Fee + INR 1500 for Travel Insurance) |
What do we suggest – In case you are looking for 30 day single entry visa and have valid visa from one of the Schengen Countries, USA, UK or Ireland, then please go for E-Visa application without second thought. In case, you do not have above, you have no other option but to apply through VFS Global Centers only.
We hope that this information helps you smoothly apply for your Turkey Holiday Visa. In case, you need any additional details, please feel free to drop us comments below. We will be happy to guide you through the process.
Offbeat explorers bravo, information shared by you is really helpful and was in very lucid manner. I wish you keep on writing and helping the travelers with such a valuable research regarding visa application of countries.
My query is:
1) As you had applied for stamp visa, what is the validity period you received and what is the duration of stay you got stamped with on your passport or is it the same as you have mentioned in evisa format.
Regards,
Thanking you,
Thanks so much Moaz. Honestly, such words keep us inspired. Yours is first comment on our Turkey Blog. Happy to have you with us 🙂
For your query, we actually have to collect our passport and visa from VFS and should do sometime next week. While during application, VFS official mentioned that Visa will be allocated only for specific travel dates but I doubt. In my view, it should be at par with evisa format. Give us sometime, we will update in blog and also drop a note on your email.
Pleasure is all mine Offbeat Explorers, I am really pleased with your blog as this is the first blog I have ever come across or else everybody over youtube are talking about evisa which is off the topic for many.
Yes please do let me know about your stamped visa as I am also planning to apply by next week and I am little bit worried about airfare which is increasing as days are passing. If it is like evisa then it would be a good relief for me as I can choose the travel dates as per my convenience of airfare. But I think VFS is correct otherwise they would have not mentioned it this way about travel insurance i.e. travel insurance date should be 02 days extra with the departure date.
I think one must first go for Schengen visa and then E visa for Turkey as both the way it is costing the same, which in my case I learnt from your blog.
I would be really obliged by your note on my email.
Thanks so much Moaz 🙂 Give us just couple of days and we will be able to get back to you. In my view, there should not be much difference between both visas. Still, we should be able to come back on this quite soon.
I will say, if you are a frequent traveller (even once or twice a year), then go for US B1/B2 Visa. It costs around 11K but it remains valid for 10 years and with US visa, you become eligible for Visa on Arrival or E-Visa for many more countries. Schengen visa remains valid only for couple of months.
Yes sure would be awaiting for your reply, hope so it works out the way we are expecting.
No, this will be my first foreign trip but will definitely heed your advice as all these future visa prospects will ease my efforts for the same. Thank you for such a valuable advice, enjoy :).
Nice and informative
Thanks Natasha 🙂