Turkey Airport Transit Visa (e-ATV)
A visa is a travel permit which entitles the individual to cross the borders of nations legally. Visa is issued by the travelling country permitting the individual to enter and travel within the country. The eligibility and requirements of visa differs depending on the nationality of the individuals applying for visa. Turkey offers different types of traditional visa and electronic visa or e-Visa.
Adding to the list, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey introduced a new category of e-Visa called the Electronic Airport Transit Visa (e-ATV), which came into effect from April 15, 2024. Travellers in transit through Turkey are mandated to apply for e-ATV, to secure their transit permit.
Turkey e-Visa or Turkey Visa Online is an electronic travel authorization or travel permit to visit Turkey for a period of upto 90 days. Government of Turkey recommends that international visitors must apply for a Turkey Visa Online at least three days before you visit Turkey. Foreign citizens can apply for an Turkey Visa Application in a matter of minutes. Turkey Visa application process is automated, simple, and completely online.
Turkey Electronic Airport Transit Visa (e-ATV):
The initiative of the new e-Visa is a measure to streamline the irregular immigration entry into Turkey and to reinforce the security protocols. The electronic airport transit visa is effective from April 15, 2024, for travellers travelling through the Turkey transit route. The electronic airport transit visa is mandatory for travellers transiting through Istanbul Airport to Panama, Venezuela, Mexico and Colombia. The airport transit visa is used only for transit purposes for crossing the Turkey borders. Furthermore, the travellers obtaining airport transit visas are not granted permits to enter Turkey.
The airport transit visa initiative was introduced in response to the growing number of irregular immigrants in North America from the Middle East region, Central and Latin America region through the Turkey transit route.
Read here to learn more about Turkey transit visa
Who Needs the Turkey Electronic Airport Transit Visa?
Electronic airport transit visa is mandated for the citizens of the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Guinea
- Mauritania
- India
- Nepal
- Somalia
- Yemen
Passport holders of the above-mentioned countries, transiting through Turkey airport are mandated to obtain Turkey electronic airport transit visa to cross the borders of Turkey before their departure from destination. The new initiative aims to streamline and enhance the security standards.
Eligibility of Turkey Electronic Airport Transit Visa
The applicant of an electronic airport transit visa should need to fulfill the eligibility criteria in order to secure their transit permit for travelling through Turkey air borders. In that regard, applicants should own an ordinary passport. Only ordinary passport holders are eligible to apply for a Turkey electronic airport transit visa. Applicants should have a booked flight ticket for the destination country they are travelling to using the Turkey transit route. Additionally, applicants should provide the visa of the destination country. In case of visa-free entry, a document supporting visa-free entry of the destination country should be provided.
Besides the passport and required details, the applicants should have a valid and working email ID to receive the Turkey electronic airport transit visa and further information regarding the visa process. Never forget to check the payment methods, such as a valid credit or debit card that supports international payments and has the required funds for successful international payments.
Read here to know Turkey e-Visa requirements for Cruise ship visitors
Turkey Electronic Airport Transit Visa Application Process
The electronic airport transit visa application is an online process that entitles the applicants to a simple and comfortable way to obtain their transit permit. Knowledge about the eligibility, online requirements and application process is important.
e-ATV Application Form: The first step is to fill out the electronic airport transit visa application form. Once choosing the airport transit visa, applicants can witness a noticeable change in the entry fields such as country of citizenship, travel document, destination, etc.
Filling Out the Application Form: Fill out the entry fields with required information. The application form has the basic personal information, passport information and the eligibility details which include the flight number and ticket information.
Double-Checking: After filling out the information, double-check the provided information for accuracy. Make sure the provided details match exactly with the passport, if not carry forward the necessary edit before hitting the submission or proceed to the payment tab.
Successful Payment: Applicants can choose from the mentioned payment methods to complete the electronic airport transit visa application process. Ensure the payment is successful, the approval process will start only after completion of successful payment.
Check out the step-by-step guide to Turkey e-Visa application
Validity of Turkey Electronic Airport Transit Visa
The validity of Turkey electronic airport transit visa is 24 hours. The e-ATV is granted only for transit purposes, this means that the individuals are not granted a permit to enter Turkey using the electronic airport transit visa.
Travellers are mandated to have a print-out of their electronic airport transit visa. Upon arrival they should present the e-ATV for inspection by the airlines or service providers or authorities at the departure airports and transit passenger arrival points in Istanbul Airport, Turkey. Do not forget to carry a print out of the electronic airport transit visa.
Read here to explore Turkey e-Visa validity
Checking and ensuring the required documents and eligibility criteria leads to a smooth and hassle-free electronic airport transit visa application process. Travellers transiting the Turkey borders using e-ATV are advised to stay within the airport transit area. The electronic airport transit visa is valid only for 24 hours, make sure to apply at the right time to ensure the transit permit is secured.
Summary
- The electronic airport transit visa is mandated for travellers using the Turkey transit route to reach the destination
- The electronic airport transit visa is valid only for 24 hours
- Know how to get your Turkey e-Visa with our Turkey e-Visa online application process
- For further assistance or queries, reach out to our help desk
Check your eligibility for Turkey Visa and apply for Turkey e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. American citizens, Australian citizens, Chinese citizens, Canadian citizens, South African citizens, Mexican citizens, and Emiratis (UAE citizens), can apply online for Electronic Turkey Visa. Should you need any help or require any clarifications you should contact our Turkey Visa helpdesk for support and guidance.