US passport, Turkish Airlines, Transfer in Instanbul, traveling in December. Visa Issues?
I am flying Turkish Airlines from the United States to the Seychelle Islands and back in early December. USA and Turkey are in a visa hold and not issuing visas to each other at this time. Does anyone know if I might be able to visit Istanbul during one of my 10 hour layovers?
Best Answer
Thanks for all your inputs, I appreciate it. I was able to talk to the Turkish Consulate today. As @hnltraveler mentioned, I am OK if I don't leave the airport.
If I wanted to leave the airport, they suggested that I fly to Canada and obtain a visa there. Since my layovers are only about 10 hours and I can't change my ticket, I am going to wait it out. I may be able to do a tour on the backend return.
There is a delegation working on the issue, I will hope for the best.
https://www.oyster.com/articles/62012-u-s-and-turkey-suspend-visa-services-for-travelers/
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Do I need a visa for a connecting flight through Turkey?
Do I need to get transit visa? Answer: If you will not leave the transit lounge at the airport you are not required to have transit visa. Otherwise, you have to make visa application to the nearest Turkish Representation.Do you have to go through passport control on connecting flights Istanbul?
Disembark from the aircraft with your cabin baggage only. The baggage will be carried to the final destination. Obtain your boarding pass at the related airline's transit counter and go to the boarding gate without conducting any passport procedures at the international arrival terminal.Do I have to go through security again for connecting flight in Istanbul?
In Turkey, as in most of the world, clearing immigration is not required for an international to international connection. The passenger can remain airside, and does not need to enter Turkey. HOWEVER, the transfer passenger may have to go through transfer security inspection.Can I transit through Istanbul?
Indian nationals may please note that a valid visa for Turkey is required for transfer between Ataturk Airport, Istanbul and Sabiha G\xf6k\xe7en Airport, Istanbul during transit at Istanbul. Without a valid Turkish visa, travel from one airport to the other airport within Istanbul is not permitted.Istanbul Arrival and Visa latest Information
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Answer 2
UPDATE (as of December 2017) : The Turkish government is once again issuing e-visas (US$20) and visa-on-arrivals (US$30) to US Citizens.
The details below are, at this point in time, incorrect but left for historic reference.
As stated in Timatic, the database used by airlines:
Visa required, except for Nationals of USA can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 3 months. This does not apply to nationals of the USA departing from the USA and traveling directly to Turkey or transiting in a third country less than 24 hours
So you can get a visa on arrival at the airport visa desk if not arriving directly from the US, and having spent at least 24 hours transiting a third country. In this case, you can visit Istanbul.
Otherwise, you will be refused entry, and cannot visit Istanbul, since no visas or e-visas in advance are being issued to US citizens
UPDATE: Timatic's been updated, now stating:
Visa required, except for Nationals of the USA can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 3 months. They must be arriving from a country other than the USA and have a residence permit issued by the country they are arriving from.
So Americans residing in the US can no longer get a visa on arrival at all
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