Visa Requirements for Turkish Citizens (2026)
Turkish passport travel guide
Turkish passport holders need a visa for the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and the Schengen Area, but travel visa-free to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Brazil. The practical complication for Turkish applicants is Schengen: four different outsourcing partners operate in Turkey, and each destination country uses only one of them. This guide covers which centre handles which country, current requirements for every major destination, and what to prepare before booking an appointment.
Schengen refusal rates for applications submitted in Türkiye
Official European Commission figures, reference year 2025.
Applications submitted in Türkiye were refused less often than the worldwide average in 2025 — 14.6% against 14.6%. Of 1,268,376 applications, 183,196 were turned down.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, reference year 2025, published 2026-05-28. “Refused” is the Commission’s not-issued rate, calculated on decided applications. Figures cover every application lodged at consulates in Türkiye, whatever the applicant's nationality — the Commission does not publish a breakdown by passport. For most countries that is predominantly Turkish passport holders; where a country hosts a large resident foreign population, the figures reflect those residents too.
Popular Destinations for Turkish Travelers
Japan
No visa needed for Japan. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 90 days.
View Japan visa detailsSingapore
No visa needed for Singapore. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 30 days.
View Singapore visa detailsThailand
No visa needed for Thailand. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 60 days.
View Thailand visa detailsUnited Kingdom
United States
Visa-Free Destinations
Turkish citizens can visit these countries without a visa.
Japan
No visa needed for Japan. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 90 days.
View Japan visa detailsSingapore
No visa needed for Singapore. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 30 days.
View Singapore visa detailsThailand
No visa needed for Thailand. Bring your valid passport, return ticket, and proof of accommodation. You can stay up to 60 days.
View Thailand visa detailsVisa Required
Apply for a visa before traveling to these destinations.
Travel Tips for Turkish Citizens
- Confirm which company handles your Schengen destination before searching for appointments — iDATA for Germany and Italy, TLScontact for France and Switzerland, BLS for Spain, Kosmos for Greece, VFS Global for most others
- Appointment scarcity, not processing time, is usually the bottleneck for Schengen applications from Turkey — start looking 8 to 10 weeks before travel
- Build travel history with visa-free Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand or Malaysia before applying for a first UK, US or Schengen visa
- Travel insurance with at least €30,000 of medical cover is mandatory for every Schengen application and is checked at submission
- Türkiye is not in Canada's eTA expansion program, so budget for the full CAD 100 visitor visa and biometrics — a valid US visa does not unlock the cheaper eTA route
- US interview wait times at Ankara and Istanbul move constantly — check ustraveldocs.com before committing to travel dates
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visa centre do I use for a Schengen visa from Turkey?
It depends entirely on the country you are applying to. Germany and Italy accept applications through iDATA. France and Switzerland use TLScontact. Spain uses BLS International, and Greece uses Kosmos Vize. Most other member states — including Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark — use VFS Global. These are separate companies with separate booking systems, so confirm the provider for your destination before you start hunting for an appointment.
Will ETIAS replace the Schengen visa for Turkish citizens?
No. ETIAS is a pre-travel authorisation for nationalities that are already visa-free for the Schengen Area. Turkey is a visa-national country, so Turkish passport holders will continue to need a full Schengen visa for every trip once ETIAS launches. Anyone telling you ETIAS is a cheaper alternative to the visa is describing a different nationality.
Where can Turkish passport holders travel without a visa?
Japan (90 days), South Korea (90 days), Singapore (30 days), Thailand (60 days at present under the 2024 scheme — a cut to 30 days was approved in May 2026 and takes effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication), Malaysia (90 days), Brazil (90 days) and South Africa (30 days) are all visa-free. Mexico requires an electronic authorisation (SAE) rather than a visa. The UK, US, Canada, Australia and the Schengen Area all require a full visa.
Do I need a visa for the UAE as a Turkish citizen?
Yes, ordinary Turkish passport holders need a visa for the UAE, typically arranged as an eVisa through ICP Smart Services, an airline, a hotel or a travel agent, with processing around 24 to 48 hours. Diplomatic and service passport holders are visa-free for 90 days, which is a common source of confusion in older guides.
How long does a UK visitor visa take from Turkey?
The standard service is around three weeks from the biometrics appointment, with priority options available at extra cost at most centres. Apply from the VFS Global centre in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya or Adana, or use one of the premium centres in Bursa, Gaziantep or Trabzon. Book the appointment only after completing the online application on GOV.UK.
Can Turkish citizens get a Canadian eTA instead of a visa?
No. Canada operates a conditional eTA route for citizens of a specific list of visa-required countries, and Türkiye is not on that list. The countries that qualify include Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Philippines, Thailand, Morocco, Indonesia and Malaysia among others. Turkish passport holders need a full visitor visa, with the CAD 100 fee, biometrics and roughly four to eight weeks of processing. Holding a valid US visa does not change this.
Prepare Your Application
Draft cover letters, plan your trip, and prepare invitation letters
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