Travelling, discovering new cultures and collecting memories in different corners of the world is every traveller's dream. Yet one of the biggest obstacles when planning a trip abroad is usually the long, tiring and uncertain visa process. Documents gathered weeks in advance, consulate appointments and the stress of a possible refusal can drain all motivation. Fortunately, there is a wonderful alternative that lets you grab your passport and simply set off, reducing bureaucracy to a minimum: visa on arrival. Thanks to this system you can travel freely to many parts of the world with nothing more than your plane or ferry ticket. So what exactly is this scheme that makes travellers' lives so much easier?
A visa on arrival is a visa issued at the airport or border gate during passport control, instead of being obtained beforehand through a consulate. When you reach the border of your destination country, you pay the required fee, present a few basic documents, and the visa is stamped into your passport within minutes. Today it is possible for Turkish passport holders to find countries all over the world offering visa on arrival. Here are those countries and their entry conditions:
Azerbaijan (Baku): Turkish citizens holding a standard (maroon) passport can obtain a visa on arrival at Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport. (Note: under the agreement between the two countries, visa-free travel with the new chip ID cards is also possible.)
U.A.E. (Transit): Passengers travelling to a third country via Dubai or Abu Dhabi can benefit from a transit visa on arrival through certain airlines.
Bahrain: A visa on arrival allowing stays of 7 or 15 days is issued at the border; the period can be extended on request.
Bangladesh (Dhaka): A tourist visa on arrival can be obtained at Dhaka Airport by presenting a return ticket and hotel booking.
Bhutan: This mysterious country famous for its natural beauty issues visas at the border, provided pre-approval is obtained through authorised travel agencies.
Burkina Faso: For travel to this West African country, a visa can be obtained at border gates for a fee of about 75 euros.
Burundi: A visa waiver or visa-on-arrival procedure applies at Bujumbura International Airport.
Cape Verde: Entry to this exotic Atlantic island is possible by purchasing a visa stamp at the airport on arrival.
Djibouti: A visa on arrival is available at the airport and border gates upon payment of the required fee.
East Timor: In this young Southeast Asian country, a 30-day visa is issued at the airport for about 30 dollars.
Dominican Republic: On arrival at the airport, a "Tourist Card" can be bought for about 10 dollars for direct entry.
Armenia: Except for holders of official, service and diplomatic passports, Turkish citizens with maroon passports can obtain a border visa at the airport.
Indonesia: Home to popular destinations such as Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia grants Turkish citizens a 30-day visa at the airport for roughly 25-35 dollars.
Ghana: A visa on arrival can be arranged at Accra Airport if the necessary approvals are obtained before travel.
South Africa: For touristic entry, a visa-on-arrival / fee-stamp procedure at border gates and airports allows easy entry.
Iraq: Visa-on-arrival facilities are offered to Turkish citizens at certain border gates and especially at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.
Cambodia: Famous for its historic temples, Cambodia issues a visa on arrival at the airport for about 20-30 dollars with a photo and a form.
Qatar: Turkish citizens receive a free visa/entry permit on arrival at the airport allowing stays of up to 90 days.
Kenya: A visa on arrival is available at border gates or via online pre-approval for about 50 dollars.
Comoros: A visa on arrival is offered to every passport holder at the airport.
Kuwait: A visa on arrival can be obtained at the airport visa desks by showing a return ticket and hotel booking.
Madagascar: Enchanting with its exotic nature, Madagascar grants 30- or 60-day visas on arrival at the airport upon payment of the visa fee.
Mali: A visa on arrival is possible at Bamako Airport with the required documents and fee.
Egypt: Previous age limits and pre-application rules have been updated. Under current rules, Turkish citizens can obtain a 30-day visa on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada or Cairo airports for about 25 dollars. (The visa is free for those staying only in Sharm El Sheikh and the Sinai Peninsula.)
Mozambique: A border visa is available at airports for touristic travel.
Nepal: On arrival at Kathmandu Airport, visas are issued for 15, 30 or 90 days at fees starting from about 30 dollars.
Rwanda: A 3-day transit visa or a tourist visa on arrival is available at the border.
Samoa: This Pacific island nation grants a visa on arrival allowing stays of up to 60 days for a fee of around 34 dollars.
Sri Lanka: A visa on arrival — or via the ETA system — is easily obtained for about 25-35 dollars.
Sudan: A visa is stamped on arrival at the airport upon payment of a fee of about 100 dollars and submission of the required documents.
Seychelles: Visitors presenting a return ticket and proof of accommodation receive a free visitor's permit (visa on arrival) at the airport.
Tajikistan: A visa on arrival is available at Dushanbe Airport subject to pre-registration.
Tanzania: At the gateway to Zanzibar and safari country, a visa on arrival is issued at the airport for 50 dollars.
Togo: A short-term visa on arrival is available at border gates and the airport for a fee.
Tonga: Turkish citizens receive a free stay permit on arrival at this Pacific island.
Uganda: Visas are issued at airports and border gates with online approval obtained before travel.
Ukraine: Under the agreements between the two countries, entry is possible visa-free / with border control using the new chip ID cards.
Oman: A visa-on-arrival waiver or facility is provided for touristic travel on arrival at Muscat Airport.
Zambia: A visa on arrival can be obtained at airport border gates for a fee of about 50 dollars.
Zimbabwe: A visa on arrival is issued at the Victoria Falls border gate or at airports for fees ranging from about 30 to 100 dollars.
Greek Islands You Can Visit with a Visa on Arrival
Countries in far corners of the world are wonderful alternatives, but the islands of our neighbour Greece — just a few nautical miles from the Turkish coast and enchanting with their magnificent beaches — top the list of the most popular routes for holidaymakers from Turkey. Especially in summer, the opposite shores of the Aegean are among the most searched-for destinations for Turkish passport holders.
Although Greece is an EU member, thanks to special arrangements with Turkey it shines on the list of European destinations offering a visa on arrival: for certain islands, Turkish citizens enjoy an express door-visa facility. Under the Greek visa-on-arrival scheme you can skip those long Schengen queues at the consulates — just prepare your ferry ticket and basic documents and enjoy the islands with the Tilos Travel difference. Here are the Greek islands you can easily reach by ferry:
Chios: Reachable in just half an hour by regular ferries from Cesme, famous for its mastic trees and medieval villages. With the Chios door-visa procedure you pass through customs with ease.
Lesbos: The huge island right opposite Ayvalik, famous for its olive oil and traditional flavours. With a Lesbos door visa you can enjoy an unforgettable holiday of up to 7 days.
Rhodes: The great historic island known as the city of the knights, reachable from Fethiye and Marmaris. With a Rhodes door visa you can tour the medieval castles and enjoy the lively nightlife.
Samos: The peaceful route right opposite Kusadasi, known for its tranquillity and its wines.
Kos: The popular, bicycle-friendly holiday island reachable in minutes by ferry from Bodrum.
To set sail for the blue waters and start a delightful journey to the Greek islands, take a look at the current ferry timetables on the Tilos Travel schedules page and book your place now.
Things to Watch Out for in the Visa-on-Arrival Process
Obtaining a visa at the border is comfortable and fast, but to avoid any surprises at the gate you should follow a few golden rules:
Passport validity: It is a global rule that your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months from your return date and contain at least 2 blank pages.
The TRNC stamp problem: If you plan to cross to the islands with a Greek island visa, your passport must not contain a previously stamped entry/exit stamp of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). If it does, Greek customs will refuse your entry.
Submitting documents in advance: The door-visa process for the Greek islands does not start from scratch at the port. The required documents — biometric photo, bank statement, hotel booking and return ferry ticket — must be sent to your ferry operator by courier at least 5-7 days before your travel date. The customs police run the pre-approval process on these documents.
Carrying cash in euros/dollars: Both the Greek door-visa fee and the visa fees of countries such as Egypt or Indonesia are collected in cash at the border. In case card terminals are not working, always carry the exact fee amount in cash.
Proof of return: Border officers will want to see your return plane/ferry ticket and accommodation voucher to be sure you will not overstay. Keep printouts of these documents ready in your hand luggage.
Choose your route, prepare your documents and enjoy your holiday with the practicality of a visa at the border — without losing time in long visa procedures!
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