It costs $20 bucks for the visa, I heard last summer it was raised to $26 and I was prepared to give that when I landed, but it was still only $20. I am going in about a month and will let you know. I would be prepared to give $26 but it will most likely be the usual $20 charge.

Just did a google: $45. US for 90 day visa is currently quoted.
Guess we'll stay on the ship in May.
M

It was $20 in November for a visa at the airport.

Well worth it as Turkey is an amazing place to see!!

Great question - my guidebook says $26, but the U.S. State Department website and most travelers on this board say $20. I'm interested to hear what people who have been there very recently say.

Like Musis28 said, I plan on being prepared to pay $26 when we go in May.

I'm 99% sure it's still $20. The last time I came into Turkey was the beginning of February (this year) and it was $20. I have heard no mention of it changing since then.

mmikemo,

I have been to Turkey twice on cruises, most recently in 2006. For a day stop from a cruise ship, we did not need to get a visa.

When I was there last, it was uS $40 in US currency, no ifs ands or buts.

A quick web search says it's now $45, cash only, and some other web site says $20. Just make sure you have at least $50 in US bills, with exact change and you will be allowed to enter.

Even the hotel that I sayed at charged in US dollars, not in Turkish Lira.

You are stopped before you get to baggage claim, so be prepared.

The good news is that their duty free shops are pretty good, at good prices, so you'll make it back up. Even had some La Prairie cheaper than France.

We are just back from Istanbul and the visa was $20. You must purchase your visa before you go to passport control. We paid with one crisp 20 and two crisp 10 dollar bills.

definitly $20 NOT more then that unless you are looking for a visa more then 3 months

have a nice trip in Turkey

Sinan Akdeniz

Oops, do they really want a visa for US citizens? I only need to show my ID card.

We were just in Istanbul about 2 weeks ago. We were charged 15 euros each (so about 20 US dollars). We were flying from France, hence why we were charged in euros.

15 Euro or 20 Usd in "Cash Only" at enterance visa booth before passport control.

Happy travelling,
Murat

"We were just in Istanbul about 2 weeks ago. We were charged 15 euros each (so about 20 US dollars). We were flying from France, hence why we were charged in euros."

I'm confused by this. So even if I'm an American, I will be charged in Euros if I'm flying in from a European country? I'll be flying in from Frankfurt.

Turkey just wants 'hard' currencies because of inflation problems they've incurred, and still incur.

Pay them 15 euros or $20, or....

Liquidsunshine,
Visa fees set as 20 USD in cash but just to make it easier they also accept 15 Euros. Does not matter where from you are flying into the country, but your citizenship counts. As I mentioned also one of my posts above.

For a Turkish citizen to apply a visa in Ankara costs 118 USD, without guarantee of getting a visa or not....

http://www.travelatelier.com/visa_information.htm

at the link there are other countries and visa fees can be checked.

Happy travelling,

Murat

Have been 3 different times and it's always been $20 (or 15 Euros).

Can't you get one in advance in New York City?

I am not sure you can get one in advance - but even if you could I wouldn't bother. It is just another line before passport control and took us very little time.

Isnatbul is a wonderful city - please don't just "stay on the ship"!

I am going to Turkey this summer. You can download the visa application forms online at: www.mfa.gov.tr/mfa , and find all info on where to send them. I'm not sure if it's worth it or not since most people seem to say that the line at the airport for visas is pretty short.

for non US citizens, but are permanent residents of US, they would need to apply for a visa to Turkey in the US? is this right?

The visa process at Istanbul airport took us about three minutes. Perhaps we were lucky.

I've been to Turkey twice in the last 6 months. You do not need to apply for a visa in the US. Once you've landed in Turkey, you will see a few long (maybe short if you're luck like Wombat) lines to purchase tourist visas. Many nationalities have to get them- not just citizens of the US. It costs $20. The whole process is very easy, and unless the line is long, it won't take more than a couple minutes.

for the ones arriving to Turkey or departing from Turkey (after acruise)
do needd visas.
If you are in Nyc or other cities where there are Turkish consulates you can take visa in advance otherwise you may take one at airport.
pasangers arriving with cruisship to Istanbul and flying out of istanbul same day or next day etc should take their visas in advance.
the fee is still 20 $ for U.S. citizens

nejat incedogan

For US citizens you need $20 in CASH when you arrive in Turkey to pay the entry tax . They only accept CASH, NO TRAVELERS CHECKS ETC. You need to pay for your visa before joining the immegration queue at Passport Control.

herself is correct.

go to the visa line, then pay 20US then proceed to immigration.

Ok, I'm a US citizen but I'll be flying into Turkey from the UK. Do I really have to pay in USD?? I never carry USD with me when I'm abroad. As a US citizen, can I pay in euros or quids?

I recall paying in GBP and the visa guy - the one with the magnificent moustache - grumbled about it and did a conversion which I'm sure ripped me off. I'd get some Euros or USD next time.

Last time i was there, and it obviously was a long time ago, there was no Visa - just show passport - when did this tourist rip-off begin?

I imagine about a millisecond after your country began ripping Turkish tourists off for visas to get into America.

Apparently Canada has decided to charge Turkish tourists a premium - our entry visa in March was $60 US - ouch! Needless to say Canada has the most expensive Visa rate for entry to Turkey.

A visa has been needed for Turkey for many years, and it used to cost a lot more.

It's not a real "visa" it's really just an entry tax. They stick a little stamp in your passport page.

Just stick a crisp $20 in your passport and you're good to go.

Mikemo, I'm pretty sure cruise passengers are exempt from the visa requirement. Don't stay on the ship, Turkey is fabulous. Are you visiting Istanbul or Kusadasi?

Exact same situation as Flanneruk noted in Brazil, and no doubt many other countries as well. Tit for tat so to speak.

Actually, no visa fee for disembarking for the day at Kusidasi/Ephesus in mid May.
Course, we bought a neat 80 y/o antigue Kalim.
M

<I imagine about a millisecond after your country began ripping Turkish tourists off for visas to get into America.>

flanner ole chap - tourists? shant it have been tourist?

Oh my god -- I hope you people are right -- I just opened my cruise packet which has been laying on my desk for 3 months and discovered I am too late for a visa through them. So, to be sure... two Americans can just get their visas for $20 each as we get off the plane? Do we need any paper work or photos?

Thanks for reanswering the same questions -- I'm a nervous wreck

No paper work, no photos, nothing to fill out, just have the $20 in cash.

Just make sure to get the visa before you get on line for the passport control. The visa booth is in the same area.

Thank you -- I'm so relieved. Why in the world would anyone pay the $50 -$100 visa service companies ask for to get this stamp? What a rip off!

Sylvia

OAT sent out visa applications in our packet for our trip to Jordan/Egypt. Cost over $100 each to get them that way. We spent $15 each for our Egypt "visa" (really just an entry tax stamp) and didn't need one at all for Jordan since they seem to let groups in for free.

I complained to OAT about the misinformation and they send everyone in our group a letter offering to refund their visa fee if they had used their "recommended" visa handler for get-ahead visas.

Turkey is still $20 for a 30 day tourist visa for US citizens and you can buy it at the little window to the left of the immigration lines at the airport

Gee, dont know where you get $20; we got back last month, and it cost us (at the airport) $60. US...and boy oh boy, what a frenzy at the wicket!! I would totally avoid that at all costs, ie., try and buy from your local consulate if possible....they are pushing and shoving, trying to get first...we were shocked...but the rest of the trip to Turkey, FANTASTIC...LOVED IT ALL

Came from Samos by ferry just 2 days ago. Yes it is $20 for visa and 10E for tax. They will take euro for visa but if you give them 20E you will not get any change(you do the math) so keep some $20's from home.