How to get a Turkey visa on your Indian passport? A step-by-step guide
Among the many enticing destinations frequently popping up on our Instagram feeds, Turkey stands out as one of the most mesmerising. Its pristine Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines offer idyllic beaches and crystalline waters, while the rugged Taurus Mountains provide breathtaking vistas.
And who can forget the hot air balloon experience where a fleet of colourful balloons rises above the otherworldly terrain, creating an ethereal spectacle? However, if you're an Indian passport holder, obtaining a visa for Turkey might seem tricky.
What
If you're planning a trip to Turkey and hold an Indian passport, you might find yourself a bit confused about how to obtain the necessary visa. The world of visas, including e-visas and visas on arrival, can be rather bewildering. But fear not; we've got you covered.
DailyO reached out to Leena, a customer care executive at Gateway International, to shed light on how Indian travellers can obtain visas for Turkey. Before we dive into the details, let's first explore the types of visas available for Indian tourists.
According to Leena, Indian passport holders can obtain two types of visas for tourism purposes: the regular sticker visa and the e-visa. Visas on arrival are not an option for Indians.
Types of visas
Now, here's the crucial distinction: the process of obtaining an e-visa is much simpler, and you can apply for it 48 hours in advance. However, not everyone is eligible for an e-visa, and certain conditions apply.
To be eligible for a Turkish e-visa, Indians must possess a valid visa or residence permit issued by one of the following countries:
A Schengen Member State
United States
United Kingdom
Ireland
If you hold a visa or residence permit from any of these countries, obtaining a visa for Turkey will be a breeze. However, if you don't meet these criteria, you'll need to follow the traditional method, which involves filling out a form, scheduling an appointment, submitting your documents, and waiting for the visa to be processed.
This type of visa allows the holder to stay in Turkey for up to 30 days. Here's breaking down each step.
READ MORE: Who keeps the money for your visa application? A complete breakdown
STEP 1: Gather the required documents
Your first task is to collect all the necessary documents for your Turkey visa application. This part can be a bit tricky and time-consuming, but having all your documents in order will make the application process smoother.
STEP 2: Schedule an appointment
After you have all your papers ready, you have to set up an appointment with a facilitation service called gatewayinternational.com (partner of VFS). Since, Turkey visas are high in demand, finding a slot cannot be easy, so schedule your appointment at least a month earlier.
The Gateway International portal will help you submit your visa application.
STEP 3: Pay the visa fees
When you make the appointment, you'll need to pay the visa fees for Indian citizens.
STEP 4: Wait for approval
Your visa application will be sent to the Turkish Embassy or Consulate in India. They'll decide if you can get a visa or not. They'll keep you updated through email, or you can pay extra for text message updates. You can also call or email the visa application centre if you want to know how it's going.
STEP 5: Get your approved Turkey visa
If they say yes, you'll get your Turkey visa, and you're ready to go!
But if they say no and your visa gets rejected for whatever reason, you will not get your money back. You also cannot re-apply for a visa for 15 days after your visa application has been rejected.
(Remember these are the conditions for single-entry visas to Turkey).
Price? For single entry, valid for three months, the charges are Rs 17,335. This includes your visa fee, Gateway International charge, and travel insurance charges as well. Additionally, you have to pay Rs 450 for courier services as well.
Tourism in Turkey
In 2022, Turkey ranked seventh globally in terms of overseas tourism receipts, exceeding $41 billion, a significant increase from $26.6 billion in 2019. It was also recognised as one of the top 10 destinations in 2022, according to Travel and Tour. There's no denying that Turkey has become a hotspot for the perfect vacation... provided your visa is sorted.
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