Turkey removes e-visa requirement for the US and Canada

Turkey has recently announced changes to its visa policies, effectively removing the e-visa requirement for tourists from six countries: Bahrain, Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. As of December 22, 2023, travellers holding ordinary passports from these nations can enter Turkey visa-free for tourist stays of up to 90 days within 180 days.

This decision was formalized through a presidential decree signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette on December 23. The move is expected to enhance tourism and simplify the travel process.

Presidential decree on visa changes

Turkey’s current e-Visa system (launched in April 2013) allows eligible travellers to apply for their visas electronically and receive them via email, typically within 24 hours. Previously, the fee to obtain an e-visa for Canadian passport holders was $60, and for US passport holders was $20—handy savings for those headed to Turkey in the coming weeks. The changes are not yet reflected on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Once updated, Bahrain, Canada, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and the United States will join the current list of 20 countries whose citizens are allowed to enter Türkiye with their national ID’s;

1. Germany
2. Belgium
3. France
4. Georgia
5. The Netherlands
6. Spain
7. Switzerland
8. Italy
9. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
10. Liechtenstein
11. Luxemburg
12. Malta
13. Portugal
14. Ukraine
15. Greece
16- Poland
17- Bulgaria
18- Hungary
19- Moldova
20- Azerbaijan

The recent announcement is part of a broader effort by Turkey to improve international relations and travel accessibility, reflecting a trend towards visa liberalization and enhanced global connectivity.

Hat-tip: Fennec_YUL