You will need a visa if you plan to leave Australia for Turkey. A visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is permitted to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time under the Turkey government’s protection. Following this article, you will find out more about how to get one as an Australian national and what specifications you need to comply with.
Do Australians Need a Visa for Turkey?
Yes, absolutely! In Turkey, just like most other foreigners, Australians need a visa to enter and travel around this country under the protection of the Turkish government. Without a Turkey Visa, your existence is illegal, and thus your basic rights and interests would be far from guaranteed. To apply for a Turkey Visa before you set off to this country, in comparison with traditional paper-based documentation, e-visa is now available to streamline visa application procedures as long as you have network access.
Turkey Visa Requirements in 2024
A visa is an official document granted by a government. It requires formal documentation to seek permission from your destination country. In most cases, the requirements for an Australian to apply for a Turkey visa vary based on visa type and applicants. Nevertheless, below are what most applicants need to prepare in common for Turkey Visa application online.
- A valid Australian passport, whose validity will remain for at least 6 months from the date you intend to enter Turkey with two blank pages. If you need to renew your passport, click here to view the whole process.
- A valid and active E-mail address to submit your application documents and receive an approved travel document.
- Means of payment such as credit card, debit card, and PayPal account for you to pay the embassy fee as well as the service charges to get a visa online.
Apart from the basic documents listed above, the following is also required in the application process for identity verification.
- Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation or a letter of invitation from a host in Turkey
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Turkey
- A digital Turkey visa photo
- Proof of travel insurance
- A return or onward flight ticket
It is highly recommended to keep yourself updated on visa application regulations from the official information source because those requirements may change depending on your Turkey visa type or other traveling demands. So having a check of the official website ahead of visa application will make it more effective and efficient.
How to Apply for a Turkey Visa Online?
If your eligibility was determined and had the necessary documents on hand to support your identity check, the following steps are of great help to apply for a Turkey Visa from Australia online at home. Online applications for an electronic visa are much more streamlined than mail applications or other traditional options.
- Visit the official website. On the interface shown below, select your info on the scroll-down menu and click the green button “Save and continue” at the end to move on to the next page.
- Select your arrival date to Turkey on the calendar at the top of this page. Then you will see the charge as indicated in the below image. Click the green bar “Save and continue” to the next page.
- Fill out the online application form shown below. To have a valid e-visa, you should fill in information that matches that on your passport. Have the box checked and a detailed provision will pop up for your reference. Click the green bar “Save and continue” to the next page.
- After completing the online form and pay the charge. Submit your Turkey visa application form with supporting documents such as a scanned copy of your passport, flight confirmation ticket, etc.
- Check your mailbox to keep yourself updated on application status. Once your online visa application is approved, you will need to download and print it before you set off to Turkey.
How Much Does a Turkey Visa Cost?
As you can see from the screenshots shown above, the cost of a standard e-visa application for an Australian intending to Turkey is around $60, including the embassy fee and service fee. It is important to note that the Turkey visa cost will be charged per the exchange rate on the day of the application. In addition, if you want to rush the process, it will take around $154.49 for rush processing and $198.49 for super rush one in total.
How Long Will I Receive a Turkey Visa?
If there is no errors or mistakes on your application form and no need to update your personal information in this course, it will usually take about 24 hours to reach application approval. Still, it is recommended that you make a plan on it well before your preferred date of entry to Turkey because the processing time may also vary depending on different times of the year. For instance, if you unfortunately catch with application jam in peak travel seasons, it will take longer to have your application approved. However, rush processing (4 hours) and super rush processing (30 mins) are also available with extra charge mentioned in the last section.
Turkey Visa Validity
The validity of a Turkey visa varies depending on visa type. On the one hand, with a Turkey electronic visa, the duration of stay for Australian citizens is up to 90 days in total. Besides, the visa document is valid for a maximum period of 180 days after being issued. On the other hand, for conditional e-visa, for example, a single entry visa, the validity is 30 days to the max. So, when applying for a Turkey visa online, choose the type with validity that fulfills your expectations.
How to Make a Turkey Visa Photo Online
During the application for a Turkey electronic visa, a recent color photograph for the visa is one of the most important identity proofs of the applicant. Ideally, the photo is supposed to present your recent and clear facial features to prevent fraudulent use of a visa. In compliance with photo requirements on Turkey e-visa, you can get your visa photo from the comfort of your home. Keep reading and the article explains more details.
Step 1. Learn the Turkey visa photo requirements:
- The Turkey visa photo size must be 50×60 mm (width × height). There must be a 3 mm to 5 mm space between the top of your hairline and the picture frame.
- The color of the Turkey visa photo must be natural and true. So, high or low contrast and flash reflections in the eyes should be avoided so as to prevent blurry facial features.
- Turkey requires a solid white background with no shadows to build clear contrast for the applicant’s facial features.
- Your photo must have no creases or marks when scanning or printing it. High resolution of your photo is also a must.
- No accessories are allowed as they will steal the focus of your visa photograph and undermine the legal effect of such an official identity proof.
Step 2. Bearing the above specifications in mind take a digital photo for Turkey e-visa on your own at home.
Step 3. Crop the Turkey visa photo online. To simplify photo adjustment, you can visit AiPassportPhotos, a photo editor for quick and compliant results with only two steps:
- Click the blue bar to upload an existing portrait from your device.
- Wait for seconds for the AI-driven tool to crop and improve your headshot according to Turkey’s requirements for visa photos.
- Download and save the result to your phone or laptop for visa use.
What Countries Can Enter Turkey Visa-Free?
Seventy-eight countries and regions are allowed to travel to Turkey without a visa for tourism or business. All those countries are grouped based on the different permitted periods of visa-free stay. We have listed all the countries below. However, Australia is not on the list.
- Albania
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Colombia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Iran
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
What Countries Need e-Visa to Enter Turkey?
Based on the relations with Turkey and the purpose of the trip, citizens from many other countries and regions need a visa to enter Turkey. Those who need a Turkey visa will need to pay a small fee before arrival to apply for a visa. Moreover, the majority of this group is permitted to stay in Turkey for up to 90 days. Australian holders with ordinary and official passports should prepare a visa for their trip to Turkey. Below is the full list:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Timor-Leste
- Fiji
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Jamaica
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Oman
- Poland
- Portugal
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Suriname
- Taiwan
- United States
Can I Apply for a Visa on Arrival When Entering Turkey?
Visa upon arrival is available only for some countries. Chances are that you get a refusal of your visa on arrival in Turkey and have to go back to apply again. Therefore, scheduling your e-visa application in advance will increase your possibility to visit Turkey as planned.
Conclusion
Turkey has long been a well-known tourist resort. It is definitely not worth too much time on visa application once you seize the idea of paying a visit to Turkey. So, I believe the above suggestions will be a great time saver in shortening the application course for Australian nationals.
Dolores Xiao