I'll start my Turkiye blog by sharing with you how we got a Turkish visa. I'll try my best to remember what we did so you don't have to experience the inconvenience we went thru during the process of applying for a visa. I hope this blog can be a helpful guide for you to get your Turkish visa.
Early this year, my brother and I finally traveled again after well, the pandemic. And since it's our first travel again after the long hiatus, I wanted to document and blog everything if my motivation and time will allow me to do so. Hahaha! Anyway, I'm not sure how long this blog would take me to finish but I'm still gonna write it anyway.
Last January 2023 we applied for our Turkish visa and we actually had a hard time at first in preparing the documents because we hardly found any article online that could help us to start the process. Thankfully, we found some posts that can help us with it but most of them are posted pre-pandemic which is why some information is already outdated. So now I'm going to share with you an updated process for getting a Turkish visa.
There are two ways to get a Turkish Tourist Visa
- If you have a valid visa from any one of the Schengen countries or a valid US, UK, or Ireland visa, then you can get your visa online. Here's the website evisa.gov.tr/en/.
- And if you're not eligible with (1), then you're going to do what we did. Applied for a sticker visa at the Turkish Embassy.
Requirements for a Tourist / Business / Conference / Seminar visa;
1. 2 pcs. Recent photograph (not older than 6 months) 2 x 2 in color, must be a biometric type with white background.
2. Original passport with at least 6 months validity from the date of departure to Turkey (old passport w/ visa photocopy only – for supporting documents)
3. PSA Birth certificate original and PSA Marriage certificate original (if married)
4. Individual Latest Income TAX Return (ITR)
5. If Employed -
- Original copy of the certificate of employment (NO E-SIGH)
- Working record Monthly / Annual Income
6. If Business – Company Business registration (ITR / BIR / SEC / MAYOR’S PERMIT)
7. Original Bank Certificate and Bank Statement addressed to the Embassy – showing sufficient funds covering all costs (6 months updated).
- If sponsored by the company or other sponsored
- Original Bank Certificate and Bank Statement of the company addressed to the embassy
- Company Business registration (ITR / BIR / SEC / MAYOR’S PERMIT)
- Original Notarized Affidavit of Support / Guarantee letter from employer here in PHIL.
8. If by Government and Private Sector – Original Invitation letter Address to the embassy
- If Invited by Turkish National –
- Original Invitation Letter & should have been Notarized in Turkey
- Turkish ID and passport BIOPAGE scan or photocopy
- Bank scan or photocopy
9. Flight and Hotel reservation (they can provide this with a fee if you don’t have them)
10. Copy of Detailed Itinerary
11. Turkish Insurance (they can provide it with a fee)
12. If there is no VISA result yet, don’t buy a flight ticket
13. If under 18 years old consent letter from both parents.
- Original notarized Affidavit of support and consent to travel from parents
- School Registration and School ID
14. Visa fee (USD CASH).
After preparing all your documents, you need to submit your requirements to the Turkish Visa Application Center (AgentTR) personally because of the biometric fingerprint.
Office Address:
Unit 17E Petron Mega Plaza,
358 Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati / Philippines
Office Hours: 8:30 - 17:00
Email: ph@agenttr.com
Website: www.agenttr.com
When we applied last January, my brother and I paid a total of 230 USD each to the agency. 210 USD for the visa fee, 10 USD for the flight and hotel reservation, and another 10 USD for Turkish Insurance. I suggest that you bring extra USD (they don't accept PESO) in case they increase the fees again. By the way, they will give you a choice on how you want your visa to be processed, I suggest getting the regular one. We got the regular/cheaper choice if you're going to ask. After you complete the process, the next step is to wait for the text message.
PS: There is no guarantee that your visa will be approved. Okay?!
It took us about a month of waiting for the result of our visa application. My brother got a text message just two weeks after we submitted our documents while I got mine almost a month after. We're not sure why we didn't get the results at the same time even though we submitted our documents together. Anyway, both the text messages we received didn't mention if we passed or not, you'll only know after you pick up your passport in their office.
If you passed, you'll see the Turkish visa sticker on your passport. And that's it. Welcome to Turkiye!
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