Turkey is one of the most popular tourist destinations among Russians. Every year a large number of families with children, young people, pensioners and middle-aged citizens go to this country. Not everyone needs a visa to Turkey, but it is better to understand this issue in advance.
Visa relations between Turkey and Russia for 2021
On May 12, 2021, the "Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the conditions of mutual travel of citizens" was signed. The agreement entered into force on April 16, 2021.
The document introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of the Russian Federation and Turkey, if the time of their stay on the territory of a state party to the agreement is no more than 30 days and no more than 90 days in 180 days; later the period was set as 60 days to 180 days.
In 2021, after the aggravation of relations, the Russian Federation decided to abolish the visa-free regime from January 1, 2021. In June 2021, visa relations were restored.
The repeated cancellation of a visa to Turkey has pleased a large number of private entrepreneurs, tourists and labor migrants from both sides.
Everything about the visa-free regime, the types of visas that a traveler may need to travel to the TR is described in the article "Visa to Turkey for citizens of the Russian Federation and CIS countries in 2021".
Do Russians need a visa to Turkey in 2021
To exercise the right to enter the Republic of Turkey without a visa, citizens of the Russian Federation must comply with a number of rules and meet the conditions established by the bilateral Agreement. Whether a citizen of the Russian Federation needs a visa to Turkey or not depends on the purpose of the trip and the planned time of stay in the country.
There are cases when it is required to collect documents and issue an entry permit at the Turkish consulate or embassy at the place of registration of the leaving person.
It should be noted that in most cases - for a vacation on a tourist voucher, independent vacation or for another reason with a stay of no more than 60 days in six months - a visa for Russians to Turkey in 2021 is not required.
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Conditions for the visa-free regime
Russian citizens do not need a visa to cross the Turkish border if the purpose of their travel is:
- tourist trip;
- transit;
- visiting family and friends by invitation;
- business visit.
If the border service has any suspicions about whether Russians can go to Turkey, its officers can request documents confirming the purpose of the trip and financial security for the duration of their stay in the country.
In 2021, visa-free travel to Turkey requires a valid identity document, which can be presented as:
- service passport (valid for at least 4 months);
- foreign passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
- seaman's passport (if there is a crew list (crew list) or an extract from it;
- certificate of entry (return) to the Russian Federation.
In addition, it is recommended to have additional documents with you for presentation upon request:
- medical insurance;
- hotel reservation;
- confirmation of financial security for the duration of the trip;
- return tickets.
Special conditions are provided for the following categories:
- employees of diplomatic and consular services, as well as members of their families (enjoy a visa-free regime for the entire period of accreditation);
- who have a temporary residence permit or a residence permit (they can cross the border of Turkey and stay on its territory for the entire period of validity of these documents).
Thus, how long Russians can stay in Turkey without a visa directly depends on their status and the purpose of the trip.
When Russian citizens need a visa
Citizens of the Russian Federation need to issue a permit to enter Turkey in the following cases:
- stay in the country for personal needs over 60 days;
- study (with the exception of courses, the duration of which does not exceed 2 months);
- marriage with a Turkish citizen;
- Job.
Citizens of the Russian Federation are not required to obtain a transit visa when traveling to other states through Turkish territory.
What kind of visa is needed for Turkey is determined by the purpose of the trip. In some cases, it requires documentary confirmation: an invitation to study, an employment contract, an invitation from relatives.
The Turkish authorities may, at their discretion, request additional documents for visa processing.
In most cases, personal submission of documents to the consular service is required. A long-term visa to Turkey for Russians under the age of 18, people with disabilities and incapacitated persons is issued by their legal representatives.
Types of visas for staying in Turkey
When applying for a long-term visa, you need to decide on the main purpose of the trip, collect the necessary package of documents, pay duties / visa fees and contact the consular service of the Republic of Turkey in advance. If the applicant cannot submit documents in person, his legal representative or an employee of the visa agency can do so.
A ready-made visa to Turkey for Russian citizens can be single-entry or multiple-entry.
Work visa
Any work activity in Turkey requires a work visa and appropriate licenses / permits / employment contracts. Having issued a work visa, a foreign citizen gets at his disposal 90 days, during which he can enter the country and apply for a residence permit.
A residence permit gives the right to stay in the country from 12 months to 3 years. If you do not submit the documents on time, you will need a new work visa to Turkey to continue your activities.
Entry permit for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence
Applying for a temporary or permanent residence permit in Turkey does not require a special visa. Any foreign citizen who has legally stayed in the country for more than a month has the right to apply for a permit for a longer stay.
For the period of consideration of documents, even if the validity of the entry permit has expired, re-issuance of a visa to Turkey is not required. A foreigner has the right to remain in the country until a decision is made on his case.
Is it possible to enter Turkey with a valid Schengen visa
Schengen visas are not valid on the territory of the Republic of Turkey, since the country is still not a member of the EU and a party to the Schengen Agreement. Thus, holders of a Schengen visa will need, like other foreign citizens, to make a visa to Turkey or use the conditions of visa-free entry, if allowed.
Transit visa at a Turkish airport
Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need to issue a special permit to transfer from one aircraft to another at an airport in Turkey. In this case, the visa-free regime rules come into force. You can freely move from one terminal to another, or transfer to a plane at another terminal.
Since the citizens of the Russian Federation do not need special documents for entry, transit through Turkey is free for them.
Plane tickets may be requested as confirmation of the purpose of arrival.
Travel to Northern Cyprus and Greece via Turkey
Northern Cyprus is under the jurisdiction of the Turkish Republic, therefore a separate visa is not required to visit this territory. Russian citizens can visit the northern part of the island as part of a visa-free regime with Turkey.
To visit the southern part of Cyprus, a Schengen visa is required, corresponding to the purpose of the trip.
Turkey visa for children
General rules for visa-free entry to Turkey apply to minors of the Russian Federation. No special entry permits are required for children.However, small travelers can cross the border only when accompanied by their parents / legal representatives.
If a child crosses the border accompanied by third parties (teacher, leader of the tourist group, coach), consent for the export / import of the child abroad will be required.
How to apply for an e-visa to the Republic of Turkey
Currently, it is possible to apply for a visa to Turkey anywhere in the world via the Internet.
To apply for an entry permit, simply follow the link www.evisa.gov.tr/en/. The site does not have a Russian version.
The procedure for applying for an electronic visa:
- filling out the form on the official website;
- online payment for services by bank transfer (MasterCard, Visa, UnionPay);
- loading the petition.
The link to download the e-visa will be sent to the applicant's e-mail. After that, it is recommended to print the document so that you have it with you when crossing the border.
Similarly, a permit to enter Turkey can be obtained for Russians and for the purpose of long-term stay.
List of documents and visa cost
If the planned period of stay in Turkey does not exceed 60 days, it is enough for a Russian to have a valid foreign passport with him. Adult and capable Russian citizens do not need any additional documents to cross the Turkish border.
The minimum validity period of a passport should be 4 months. It is not possible to enter Turkey with an internal Russian passport.
To travel with minor children and incapacitated citizens, additional documents are required, presented by their legal representatives.
If a visa to Turkey is issued for a long term, all additional papers are provided along with the basic package.
Basic documents for a visa to Turkey:
- completed visa application form in Turkish, English or Russian;
- biometric photo of the established sample;
- copies of the pages of the passport with the applicant's personal data and information about his registration in the Russian Federation.
List of additional documents
The set of additional documents directly depends on the specific purpose of the trip. All papers are presented to the consular service at the same time.
| Type of Entry Permit / Purpose of Travel | Required documents |
|---|---|
| A student or other study visa to Turkey for a long time. | an invitation from an educational institution; certificate of no criminal record; confirmation of financial security (sponsorship letter, bank statement, income statement); confirmation of the place of residence (certificate of the provision of a hostel, confirmation of rental housing, an invitation from a sponsor); certificate of registration at an educational institution; agreement with an educational institution (for language schools) / certificate of enrollment. |
| Work visa (for private entrepreneurs, business owners, drivers, seasonal workers). | an employment contract with a Turkish employer; an invitation from the employer on the official letterhead. |
| Long-term tourist visa to Turkey (more than 60 days). | an invitation certified by a Turkish notary; confirmation of financial security (income statement, account statement, sponsorship letter); hotel reservation / lease agreement / sponsorship letter about the place of residence. |
| Treatment | medical insurance policy; proof of place of residence (reservation / rent or sponsor's letter); a document defining the duration of treatment, signed by the head physician and the attending physician, certified by the seal; confirmation of financial security; an invitation from a medical institution. |
| Entry for property owners. | copy of the TAPU document (TAPU - certificate of ownership of real estate in the Republic of Turkey); certificate of income from the place of work or a bank statement. |
| At the invitation of a spouse - a Turkish citizen. | an invitation from a spouse, certified by a Turkish notary; a copy of the ID of the spouse of a Turkish citizen; a copy of the marriage certificate. |
| Mandatory documents for traveling to Turkey with a child. | passport (for children over 14 years old); a copy of the birth certificate; the parent's visa application form, in which the child is entered (under 14 years old) or a separate application form; power of attorney from the second parent / legal representative. |
How much does a visa to Turkey cost
All payments for issuing a Turkish visa by citizens of the Russian Federation are made in dollar terms; settlement in euros or any other currency is not allowed.
Mandatory and additional costs include:
- issuing a long-term tourist visa - $ 80-480 per person, depending on the multiplicity of the visa and the timing of its issuance;
- registration of a work visa: at the time of submission of documents, a consular fee of $ 50 is charged. After a positive decision to issue a visa is made, another $ 150 is paid;
- registration of a temporary residence permit in the country - $ 24 per person.
The total cost of a visa to Turkey includes the cost of copying and translating documents, as well as their notarization by a Turkish or Russian notary.
Cashless payments are not allowed.
Crossing the Turkish border as part of a visa-free entry does not require any fees.
When submitting documents through an agency, the price of a visa to Turkey increases for the cost of the services provided. For example, the visa fee at VFS Global is $ 35.
Where in the Russian Federation can you apply for a visa to the Republic of Turkey
To personally apply for an entry permit, you must make an appointment in advance and at the appointed time visit the official representative of Turkey in the Russian Federation for a specific region.
| Name | Contacts | Regions served |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish Embassy in Russia, Moscow | Mailing address: Rostovskiy lane, house 12 Phone: 00 (7 495) 994 4808 Fax: 00 (7 495) 956 55 97 Email: [email protected] Consular department phone: + 7-495-9949359 Urgent phone (mobile): + 7-926-7328238 Website: http://moscow.emb.mfa.gov.tr | All regions |
| Consulate General of Turkey in Kazan | Postal address: st. Maxim Gorky, 23/27. Phone: (+7 843) 299-53-10, 299-53-11 Fax: (843) 264-25-11. Email: [email protected] Website: http://kazan.cg.mfa.gov.tr | Tatarstan, Mordovia, Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Samara and Samara region, Mari El. |
| Consulate General of Turkey in Novorossiysk | Postal address: st. Freedom, 73. Phone: 00 (7) (861) 764 59 79, 00 (7) (861) 764 59 52 Fax: 00 (7) (861) 761 39 00 Email: [email protected] Website: http://novorossisk.bk.mfa.gov.tr | Krasnodar Territory, Rostov Region, Republic of Adygea, Sochi, Krasnodar. |
| Consulate General of Turkey in St. Petersburg | Address: st. 7th Soviet, 24. Phone: +7 812 577 18 12; +7 812 577 19 88 Fax: 00 (7 812) 312 41 41 Email: [email protected] Consular service: +7 812 577 44 69 Emergency phone: +7 981 120 7797) Fax for urgent matters: +7 812 577 42 90 Website: http://stpetersburg.bk.mfa.gov.tr | Arkhangelsk, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod, Pskov, Vologda, Rep. Karelia and Komi, Nenets Autonomous Okrug and St. Petersburg. |
What to do in case of refusal
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to get a visa to Turkey the first time.
The main reasons for refusing permission to enter Turkish territory for citizens of the Russian Federation:
- violation of local legislation and the regime of stay in the country during previous visits;
- incomplete set of documents;
- providing false / deliberately false information about the identity of the applicant or the purpose of the trip;
- forgery of papers;
- submission to the Turkish Consulate of a visa request that does not correspond to the purpose of the trip;
- lack of a check for payment of the consular fee.
The decision of the consular service can be challenged only in court (in the court of first instance of the Russian Federation). The chances of changing the previously adopted decision is extremely small, since in this case a private person is suing the state. It is much more constructive to find out the reason for the refusal, hire a lawyer, once again clarify how to get a Turkish visa, and re-apply.
Entry rules to Turkey for citizens of the CIS countries
Turkey remains a popular holiday destination for residents of the CIS countries.For 2021, such entry rules apply for them.
Conditions for crossing the Turkish border for citizens of the CIS countries:
| Citizens | Availability of a visa-free regime | The duration of the visa-free regime (number of days) |
|---|---|---|
| Belarusians | + | 30 |
| Kyrgyz | - | 30 |
| Tajiks | - | 30 |
| Uzbeks | - | 30 |
| Turkmens | - | 30 |
| Azerbaijanis | - | 30 |
| Armenians | - | 30 |
| Kazakhs | - | 30 |
| Ukrainians | + | 60 |
| Moldovans | + | 90 |
Citizens of these countries also do not need a transit visa to Turkey to transfer from one plane to another at local airports.
If you want to stay in Turkish territory for a longer period, you need to open a visa that corresponds to the main purpose of the trip. The rules for filing an application and a package of documents practically do not differ from those that are necessary for citizens of the Russian Federation.
Citizens of the CIS countries wishing to visit Istanbul and other cities can come to Turkey without a visa for a period not exceeding 90 days within 180 days. You can apply in Kiev and other capitals, as well as in some large cities.
Is it possible to extend a visa to Turkey
If a visa to Turkey for citizens of the Russian Federation and other countries has expired, it can be extended by submitting an application a month before the expiration of the visa, to the local Department for Foreigners, indicating the reason for a longer stay in the country. The maximum period for which an expiring visa can be extended is 90 days.
Required papers for visa extension:
- international passport;
- statement;
- confirmation of the need to extend the visa;
- confirmation of solvency;
- photo of the established sample;
- a check confirming the payment of the state duty for registration.
Consequences of violation of the visa regime in Turkey
Stays in Turkish territory beyond the validity of an open visa will lead to the following types of punishment:
- up to 15 days - a fine of 250 ₺;
- more than 15 days - a fine and a ban on entry for a period of 1 month;
- more than 1 month - a fine of 285 ₺ and a ban on entry for 3 months;
- more than 3 months - a fine of 374 ₺ and a ban on entry for 6 months;
- more than 6 months - a fine of 510 ₺ and a ban on entry for up to 1 year;
- more than 1 year - a fine and a ban on entry for 2 years;
- more than 2 years - fine and ban on entry for 5 years.
In case of refusal to pay the fine and for any period of violation, there is a threat of cancellation of the visa-free entry permit and a ban on entry for a period of 5 years.
Refusal of entry is received by persons who have an outstanding criminal record, a closed conviction for especially grave crimes, unfulfilled economic obligations, as well as those who are blacklisted as capable of harming the national interests of Turkey.
Already at the border, persons transporting prohibited substances and items may be denied entry.
Summarizing
The need for an entry permit in 2021 depends on whether Russians travel to Turkey for 60 days or more.
Visa-free entry does not require additional documents, except for a foreign passport. Payment for short-term stays in the country and border crossing is not taken. Medical insurance is optional for travel to Turkey.
Violation of the terms of stay turns into fines and even a ban on entry.
If you need a long-term work, study or visitor visa to Turkey, you must collect the documents and submit them personally / through the visa center to the Turkish consular service on the territory of the Russian Federation.
