Do UK citizens need a visa for Turkey?
No visa for tourism on a British citizen passport, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Your passport must expire at least 150 days after the day you arrive and have at least one blank page.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa needed? | No, for tourism on a British citizen passport. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs states the exemption for touristic travel. GOV.UK also describes it as covering business or tourism. |
| Maximum stay | 90 days in any 180-day period |
| Cost | Free for a visa-exempt stay |
| How to apply | You do not apply for a tourist stay. If your passport is not a British citizen passport, or the trip is not tourism, check with a Turkish embassy before you travel. The MFA says diplomatic and service passports, and British National (Overseas), British Subject, and British Protected Person passports, need a visa. |
| Passport validity | GOV.UK: an expiry date at least 150 days after the day you arrive, and at least one blank page. The Turkish MFA requires a passport that expires at least 60 days beyond the length of the visa-free stay, which for 90 days is the same 150-day point. |
| Other documents | If you enter at a land border, GOV.UK says make sure the stamp is dated. A stay for work, study, or medical treatment needs a visa. |
| Official link | Use the authority’s own website. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications. · Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa information (opens in a new tab) |
How to apply
- Check the passport expiry date is at least 150 days after the day you will arrive, and that there is a blank page.
- Count previous days in Turkey. The limit is 90 days in any 180-day period, not 90 days per trip with a reset on exit.
- If the trip is for paid work, study, or medical treatment, do not rely on the exemption. The Turkish MFA points those trips to a visa.
- If you are not travelling on a British citizen passport, contact the Turkish Embassy before you book. Other British nationality types are not covered by this exemption.
Tourism and business
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says ordinary British citizen passport holders travelling for tourism are exempt for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. GOV.UK says you can visit for business or tourism within that same limit. If the trip is business rather than tourism, check the Turkish Embassy, because the MFA wording is limited to touristic purposes.
A day trip from Turkey to a Greek island is a Schengen entry. Greece uses the EU Entry/Exit System. Read the Schengen guide before you book a day trip.
Recent changes
- Checked against GOV.UK Turkey entry requirements and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page. Both state 90 days in any 180-day period for ordinary British citizen passports. · source (opens in a new tab)
FAQ
Is the 90-day limit per visit or per 180 days?
Per 180 days. Both GOV.UK and the Turkish MFA say up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Do I need a visa for a cruise or a short holiday?
Not if you hold a British citizen passport, the stay is tourism, and the 90-day total is not exceeded. The passport still has to meet the 150-day rule.
What if my passport is British National (Overseas)?
The Turkish MFA says British National (Overseas), British Subject, and British Protected Person passport holders need a visa from a Turkish mission. This page does not cover those passports.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Turkey entry requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa information for foreigners (opens in a new tab)
Related reading
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.